Playing Tag

Lori over at Life, Love, and Laughter… has been kind enough to award me with not one, but two awards.

The Love Friendships Award states: “These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

As for the Honest Scrap award: A) First list 10 honest things about yourself – and make it honest (hence, the award ‘Honest Scrap’), even if you have to dig deep! B) Pass the award on to 8 bloggers that you feel embody the role of the Honest Scrap. (This is an award only to display on your blog that everything you write on it is in truth, sincerity, and integrity.)*

A nice one, that Honest Scrap award. So I can honestly say that:

1. Though I no longer believe in monsters (and tell my kids such nearly every night), I still cannot sleep with any body part protruding from the covers and hanging over the edge of the bed. Just in case.

2. All those parties I went to in high school when I would end up stumbling outside and passing out in someone’s yard? I wasn’t drunk, and I’ve always hated alcohol. I just wanted to be by myself and watch the stars.

3. Up until the third grade, I thought there was only one letter in the alphabet between k and p, and that it was pronounced “ellemenna.” Seriously.

4. On our second date, I arranged things so that my wife would come by right at seven-thirty. Which, by some strange coincidence, just so happened to be when Jeopardy came on. While I was getting ready, I amazed her with my vast knowledge of inconsequential trivia by answering every question correctly (I even prefaced my answers with “What is…”). She thought I was a genius. And still does, I suppose. But I can honestly say that I am not. Because the Jeopardy that came on at seven-thirty was a repeat of the one that aired at seven on another channel. I had memorized the answers.

5. I’ve seen an angel. Honestly.

6. I’m not one of those End Times people who pour over magazines and newspapers for evidence of Armageddon. Still, when I look at this world and all this mess, I can’t help but think that something is about to happen. Good or bad, I suppose, is largely up to us.

7. I can honestly say that God will allow us to suffer just so we can better understand the pains other people feel.

8. My fifth grade teacher once told me I would never amount to anything. On the last day of school, I wrote my name down on a piece of paper, handed it to her, and told her to hang on to it. It might be worth something one day, I said. So far, it’s not. But I figure I have a lot of living left, and you just never know…

9. I can honestly say that faith will always overcome doubt, love will always conquer hate, and that there is as much power in a smile as there is in a bomb.

10. And finally, I honestly believe that out of all the thousands of years of human existence, God chose to place us here, now. Not by chance, but by reason. By holy purpose. And the sooner we realize that, the better off our world will be.

So, there are my ten honest things. And in the spirit of keeping the ball rolling, here are my eight new award winners:

Be sure to check these great bloggers out!

• Travis

  I liked the one about lying in the grass watching the stars. That is something more people need to do. It inspires you to sit and stare into the cosmos. I now feel compelled to quote a little known verse from Home on the Range,

  “How often at night, when the heavens are bright,
  With the light, from the glittering stars,
  Have I stood there amazed, and asked as I gazed,
  If their glory exceeds that of ours.”

• Leslie

  Thanks, Billy, for the great award. Maybe this is what I need to get me out of my blogging rut. Well, that and getting these sick kids out of my house and back in school.

• janelle

  Oh great – honesty…

  I have a blog “in the works” in honor of my daughter’s b-day later this week; guess I’m going to have to sneak one in between.

• Amy Deardon

  Billy, you write the blog I wish I could! Awards are well deserved

• God’s Not Finished With Us Yet…

  I met an angel once too, I know, that I know, that I know I did. (long story about my brothers passed and I hadn’t even heard the news yet). I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has seen on.

  I also relate to your #6 answer. Very awesome!

• Kelly

  I want to her more about this angel . . .

  And I agree with #’s 6,7,9, and 10. But I believe (I assume that you do, too) that there are other reasons why God allows His children to suffer.

• lynnrush

  I’m the same way, I have to be completely under the covers. LOL.

  That Jeopardy one was funny! You memorized the answers? You sneaky thing.

  I like your idea of the smile is as powerful as the bomb! NICE!

  Great list, Billy. Have a great day.

• Frisbies Forever

  I think number ten is my personal favorite. Your blog is inspiring and wonderful. I love your command of language that is so refreshing and full of hope. You have a real gift! I love how you say things! I would say your 5th grade teacher shouldn’t have been a teacher, obviously she missed out on the whole nurture a child thing, but your responses are always honest, warm and heartfelt. You remind me of my husband. It must be a southern thing. : ) P.S. I have seen an angel too. I believe you.

• gzusfreek

  An angel? WOW!

  I just love your blog and it deserves all the awards!

  Thanks for the little honest scraps!

• Tracy

  Billy, yours are so cool! I was a good blogger and played along, but mine wasn’t spiritual at all. You totally cracked me up about the covers though! I love the one about the stars too, but here in the big city, we don’t see many of them. Thanks for sharing!

• Stardust

  You've seen an angel?

  I believe you, especially #7 & #10.
  I've enjoyed reading this tag. =)

• Anne L.B.

  Not nice to give us the teaser about the angel and you still haven’t blogged about it after all this time. =( Or was it in a previous post?