Happy Birthday, Happy Blogaversary, and Bestowing Some Blogger Love!!!!!


 

Having got my notice that my blog domain was up for renewal, I have decided to evaluate my 1st year as a blogger.  Was it what I expected?  Should I renew my domain for another year, or just let it slide?   If I continue to blog, is there changes to be made?   Is there a new direction I want to go?  So many hard questions!!!!  As far as renewing my blog for another year, it wasn’t too difficult a decision.  The writing has been therapeutic.  It has been good for my health.  And I have made many wonderful connections and friendships.

How I have grown to love the friendships, the connections and the camaraderie.  Through YOUR blogs, I have visited amazing destinations all over the world, am learning to take better pictures, and been inspired by many runners and outdoor adventurers.  I have learned a lot in the field of mental health from bloggers who empty their hearts and souls, as they try to break down stigmas so prevalent in society.  As I run, I sense you all running with me, giving me inspiration and strength.

Should I renew for another year?  My answer is absolutely YES.  But my “blog tray” is overflowing with stuff that requires my attention, and I would really like to start this new year of this blog fresh.

The 1st thing that really demands my attention is “awards”.  I now have 6 of them since the middle of February.  Very, very honoured that I have been thought of, the hard part for me is I just wish they could be for EVERYONE, because EVERYONE is deserving of them.  But I will be honest, I really dislike the word “award”. My Webster’s dictionary defines “award” as “a decision, as by a judge; a prize.”  So I have been really struggling with this, “How do I respond when I am struggling?”  I honestly don’t blog to win any prizes.  Then on the other hand, how do I decide which blogs to “award”.  What if there is a blogger who really wants that recognition, that award, but is passed by again, and again, and again.  This would be EXTREMELY disheartening for that person.  Reminds me so much as a child when sports teams were picked, and with each pick I would be passed by again, and again and again.

Love Lowell and Joan's creativity for my 57th birthday! :)

I did not earn this, or work hard for it.  Not a prize, not an award.  It is an acknowledgement that says “I’m special”! 🙂

My answer of how to go about it came in the form of a birthday card (cards) from a very dear couple, who are by far the most giving people I have ever witnessed.  Over 24 years ago, Lowell and Joan simply “adopted” our family.  With my wife’s family in New Zealand, my dad being dead since I was 15, and also with my mom now gone, they have been like grandparents to our children, and like and mom and dad to me.  They never forget a birthday, ever, love getting their cards in the mail.  Probably I am guessing, between all of our birthdays, anniversary’s, graduations, Christmases, and other occasions, Lowell and Joan have most likely have mailed us at LEAST 200 cards over these 24 years.  SO AMAZING! A birthday card is not an award, it is not a prize.  I did not do anything to earn this, or work for it.  It is simply an “acknowledgement”, that says “hey…. you are very, very special”.  And I absolutely LOVE receiving these cards that acknowledges me!  🙂 So for the remainder of this post, I’m not going to use the word “award”, but I will use the “acknowledge”.  One thing I have noticed, is the recognition and acknowledgement seems to make more of an impact when the blogs are new and/or have a smaller readership and following. So  I went  through each blog that follows me on my reader individually, to see how many followers each blog has.  My eventual goal with this post is to have each blog with under 100 followers acknowledged here, divided EQUALLY between each acknowledgement, despite what the rules say.

Premio Dardos Award

Premio Dardos Acknowledgement

The 1st acknowledgement is called The Premio Dardos  given to me back in February from Prajakta, my friend from India, who has the blog An Armchair Perfectionist.  Going back to me e-mails, Prajakta started following me on December 24 of last year.  Each and EVERY post that I have written since that time, Prajakta has dropped in, ALWAYS leaving such an encouraging and uplifting comment.  She has been such a tremendous support.  Thank you Prajakta for the acknowledgement. I am honoured to receive this from you.  And thank you for such amazing support.

Premio Dardos Rules

Premio Dardos Rules

For each blogger that receives an acknowledgement, there is no obligation to pass it on whatsoever.   Rules vary,  I like to present them to new and up and coming bloggers with under 100 followers. (that is just my own little variation, I vividly remember how hard it was to get established as a new blogger).  Without any further ado, I’d like to present my 1st group of blogs.  Please check them out

1:  Rachel Ann at Start With Sparkles……12 Followers.  Rachael describes her blog as “The ramblings of a full time lady and her loves”.  Looking at her blog, it is easy to see she is one who embraces life, living life to, the fullest.  And yeah, she is a runner.  🙂

2:  Ana Clare at Golden Moments Photography….56 Followers.  Ana Clare’s subtitle is “Life is short, let’s make it golden”.  A stop by her blog you will notice a love for life through her words and her photography!  🙂

3:  Elizabeth of Looking Closer….20 followers.  Elizabeth shares nature in her blog.  It is easy to tell, she is very much in tune with nature on a day by day basis.  She is very knowledgeable about nature.

4:  Becca of The Persephone Perspective……68 followers.  Becca is a travel writer, who has lived and travelled through more than 40 countries.  She shares her posts with such emotion….the people, the culture, the beauty found in different destinations, that one is drawn rigfht in.

5:  Biochemlife…..26 followers.  Accompanied by absolutely gorgeous photos, this unique blog has the feel like I am sneaking to read this person’s diary when no one is watching.

6.  Life Through my Eyes….79 followers.  McKenna is a Christian blogger, who has just graduated with a degree in both biology and wildlife management, and is now working towards her bachelors.  In this blog, you will read about her love for life….and her 4 adorable pet turtles.

7.  The Traveller Kaur….78 followers.  Accompanied by wonderful photography GurPreet takes you along in her travels.  You will go to new destinations, sample some East Indian cuisine, and get a sense what it must be like to be a lone female travelling in India.

8.  The Mental Runner….4 followers.  Brendan, a 31 year old accountant from Dublin names his blog “The Mental Runner” because of the mental challenge that running is.  You will follow his journey from the shorter community runs, into the half marathons, and into the tough challenges of a full marathon.

9.  Runamokmichelle….1 follower.  In this blog Michelle shares her running experiences and pursuing a healthier lifestyle.  In future posts, we can look forward to outdoor pursuits, which would include hiking, trail running and camping!

10.  The Running Granny….14 followers.  With her most recent post titled, “My 1st 10k….and I loved it”, this blogger is setting her sights on a half marathon next March.  There are race recaps, gear and energy food reviews and a whole lot more.

 

Liebster Award

Liebster Acknowledgement

 

The 2nd acknowledgement is the Liebster and was kindly given to me from Adi , The Happy Lifeaholic.  A random bit of information that blew me away, is that the 2 bloggers here presenting me these 2 acknowledgements started following my blog the VERY same day, December 24 of last year.  What are the chances?  One of the coolest discovery was that at the time last December Adi was residing in the Sultanate of Oman, in the Arabian Peninsula.  Then she travelled to the United States to attend university.  Adi has a very “busy” blog, with always lots on the go.  She does guest interviews, features guest bloggers on top of her own writings.  On top of her university, she hosts a radio show.  Thank you so much Adi for this acknowledgement.  I am truly honoured.

Liebster Award Rules

Liebster Acknowledgement Rules

Using the rules listed in the picture, I’ll start with the questions Adi left me.  She left me with 5, which are as follows:

i) If you’ve had a really long and tiring day, what’s guaranteed to make you smile?  Getting home and having a little bit of space, putting the feet up, and listening to some music!  🙂
ii) Who is the most important person in your life? And when was the last time you let them know how important they are to you?  This would be my wife Lynne.  I try to let her know, as I give her a hug on the way out the door for work.  There are days when I head out early to go to the gym, and my wife is still in bed, so I miss those times!  🙂
iii) Have you met anyone in the blog world who you’ve really connected with? Tell us a little bit about them!  Yes, there are several bloggers, but the one which REALLY stands out is CC et al from the blog website Refractory Ramblings From the Darkside.  A blog that “looks into an uncensored DID life”, I have developed a very endearing friendship(s).  “DID”, stands for “Dissociative Identity Disorder”, and I started reading because I knew nothing about this.  But very soon, we were connecting, with a very caring friendship.   This is my 2nd Liebster, and a post regarding our friendship, was written by CC in response to my nomination of this blog the 1st time around.  🙂
iv) What’s your favorite food?  It would be East Indian curry.  I only got introduced to this when I met Lynne, who would be my wife.   🙂
v) Do you have a childhood memory that stands out most to you? Is it happy? Sad? Why is it important to you?  It would be sad, the day when my dad died.  I was 15 at the time.  Blogging is very therapeutic to me, and I eventually wrote about that day, after having it buried for 41 years, in this post.

Part 3 is the 11 random facts about myself.  This is actually my 2nd Liebster.  Never being one to talk much about myself, I have decided to pull up the “original 11”.  My concern is, if I don’t take a few short cuts, it will be my 2nd Blogaversary when this finally gets completed!  Here goes!  🙂

1.  I am one who likes to arrive early for work, or any social function. (preferably 10-15 minutes early).  This was the way I was raised, but annoys my children big time.  They prefer to arrive right on the dot.  For me, I am in a much better frame of mind if I do arrive early.  🙂

2.  My favourite month of the year is September.  In Canada there are 4 distinct seasons.  Summers can reach temperatures of 34C, winters can reach -34C.  Septembers are very pleasant, with temperatures of 15C-20C depending on which end of the month. This is a temperature for great hiking, cycling and running.  🙂

3.  With major life decisions, I am not very impulsive.   I really takes me a lot of time in research and weighing the pros and cons, but sometimes this indecision works against me.  An example being missing out on a 35 acre dream property, with a million dollar view, all because I was dragging my feet trying to decide.  Since then property values have skyrocketed, and a property such as this are no longer within my reach financially.  😦

4.  While on the same topic of my indecision on major life decisions, way back when my wife Lynne and I were dating, Lynne noticed I was dragging my feet trying to decide, whether she was the one to spend the rest of my life with.  So she took it in her own hands, and asked me to marry her. I said yes!   🙂

5.  My most “extreme” sport I have ever done is ice climb (climb frozen waterfalls).  Absolutely LOVED it!  🙂

6.  I am a Christian, and also a lay minister for a wonderful, small church in my community. The church work is on top of my regular job, so life is VERY busy. With my blogging I have endeavoured to remain very low key regarding my faith. (Did not want to scare off anyone).  It is incredible to have such a wonderful group of bloggers, from all walks of life….marathon runners, artists, photographers, Christian writers, stay at home moms,  fashion writers, inspiring writers, political writers, food writers, fitness writers, health writers, travel writers and writers who at times struggle with health and mental health issues. You have all come along to follow my little blog.  In return, I have learned SO much from each one of you, and call you all my friend.  Thank you for taking me as I am!  🙂

7.  I graduated from a 2 year program in college, when I was 53 years old.  I was one of the “older” students, but there were a small handful of students older than myself.  The program was Social Service Worker.  I never got direct work as a result of the training, but it has been very helpful on many occasions with my church role.  There has been grief counselling to families who have just lost a loved ones, social support, advocacy, and acting as a liaison between established community groups.

8.  My earliest memory in life, was when I was 4 years old, which is quite late compared to some people.  We were building an addition on our very small farmhouse, and my brother who was two and a half years older lifted a cement block.  “Mom and Dad, look at how strong I am”.  Not to be outdone, I did the same, but dropped the cement block on my foot, which resulted in 2 broken toes.  Ouch!!

9.  I have been attacked by a dog on 3 occasions over the years.  Twice was while cycling in the countryside, and once simply walking at a crosswalk in a local city, when a dog on a leash lunged at me and tore into my leg.  Even though I am an animal lover at heart, dogs new to me, I am ALWAYS cautious around, even when the owner will say “Oh, she’s friendly.”

10.  Even though I am 6’4″ now, growing up in school, I was one of the “smaller” students in stature.  When I was in Grade 12, or the final year of high school, at 17 years old, I grew 7 inches in those 10 months.  My closer friends gave me a new nickname, because of  that growth spurt.  It was “Lurch”.

11.  I am a Canadian (canuck), and my wife is a New Zealander (kiwi), and Lynne’s car has a licence plate that reads “CANUKIWI”.  For the 7 months leading up to our marriage, I was in Canada and Alaska, and Lynne was back in New Zealand.  It was the 1980’s, before e-mail becoming a way of life, before texting, and the telephone was literally $3.00 a minute between our 2 countries.  We “dated” those 7 months through the good old fashioned letter writing.  My most memorable letter I received was in Alaska.  I was leading a wilderness outpost camp for teens, in a remote area.  The main camp was a few miles away, and even it was remote with mail pickup once a week.  One day  I was cooking supper over a fire with a couple of the teens, heard a bit of commotion, looked up and 8 horses came galloping over to where I was.  In the mail was a birthday card from my sweetheart in New Zealand, and my friends wanted me to get the card right away instead of getting it 4 days later, when I returned to the main camp.  Talk about “Special Delivery”!  😀 I arrived in New Zealand 2 weeks before the wedding, meeting Lynne’s family for the very 1st time.  Five others came from Canada for the wedding, the rest (over 150 guests) were all New Zealanders.  I was a real novelty to everyone with my Canadian accent!   🙂

Parts 4 and 5 is where I have the honour to list the next group of blogs!  🙂

1.  Emily at Emily and Her Artist……38 Followers.  Talking about college, as one of my random facts, I met Emily in college.  She is the only WordPress blogger follower I have met in person.  She has a delightful blog.  Easy to see how much her artist hubby and herself are still so madly in love.

2.  Christy at Love Plunge…….91 Followers.  I found Christy’s blog, during my 1st trip to the “Community Pool”.  She is a very gifted writer.  As a Christian writer, she talks about her experiences as a career woman making the adjustments as a stay at home mom, with a lot of analogy’s that link to her faith in God.

3.  Salt Life & Clemson……34 Followers.  This is pretty cool.  Both husband and his better half wife Keli, from Running Boston and Beyond are runners, and each have their own blog.  An exciting milestone for Andy, is he completed his 1st full marathon last year.

4.  Barbara of Courage Through the Storm…….80 followers.  Barbara describes her blog as “Life has many challenges…this is my journey…”.  Since becoming a Christian, her life has been fraught with difficulties.  But through it all, she finds herself very blessed.

5.  Walking the Derwent River….77 followers.  All the way from Tasmania, Australia, this dear follower often drops by to read and comment on my posts.  This is a hiking blog, as the author walks in stages the Derwent River in Tasmania.  It is inspirational and informative, as he writes about this very significant personal challenge.

6.  Running Fifty….29 followers.  Now married over 35 years, this dear couple has very ambitious plans…..which is to run a road race in all 50 states of the US.  They have done tons of races where they each ran their own race, they now cross the finish line hand in hand.  A very endearing blog.

7.  JJR Writing….73 followers.  “From my head to the keyboard for you” is Jessica’s tagline. You will find poems, fiction and random thoughts that change depending on her life, mood and situation.

8.  Michelle on Bell….32 followers.  Having now lived in 3 countries, Michelle shares her insights on food, friendships and destinations.  Plus she is a runner, having shared a very inspirational post called “Why Running a Marathon Changes Your Life”, about her completion of the Chicago Marathon.

9. Pursuing Polaris….5 followers.  With this very catchy and creative name, Jo’el is “transitioning from the corporate life, and into the unknown.  Through travelling, and listening to her gut, she is on a journey to find her North Star.  Her blog is here to document her adventures and her journey”.

10.  Running to Fabulous….5 followers.  The blog, for the most part is to document author Jennie’s running journey more, “the races, training, food, goings on, along with the emotions and feelings along the way”.  So much enthusiasm in her writing, a half marathon done, and the Paris full marathon booked for next spring.

Part #5.  My 11 questions.

1.  What possession do you prize the most?

2.  Who was your favourite cartoon character?

3.  What is the earliest memory you can recall?

4.  How did you come up with the name for your blog?

5.  What is the one food or beverage you could never give up?

6. Which day of the week is your favourite, and why?

7.  If somehow you could put money aside, what would be your dream career or job?

8.  What is your best blogging advice?

9.  How do you like to spend your free time?

10.  Which blog post are you most proud of?

11.  Which is your favourite season?

Versatile Blogger Award

Versatile Blogger Award

My third acknowledgement that arrived is called “The Versatile Blogger“, and was presented to me by Lucy of Peacecrafting. It is a blog that supports healthy lifestyles, through the foods we eat, down to living a simpler life for a greener world.  I really appreciate Lucy for the awareness she brings through her writing. Also for her encouragement to myself, whether it is through comments or reblogs.

The Rules

  • Thank the person who gave you this acknowledgement.
  •  Include a link to their blog.
  •  Next, select 15 blogs/bloggers that you follow.
  •  Nominate those 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger.
  •  Finally, tell 7 things about yourself.

Full details of the acknowledgement can be found on the VBA website through this link.

Here is the acknowledgement of the 2nd group of blogs.  🙂

1. Adriane of The Drawing Page……37 followers.  Adriana is a very gifted artist.  Not only does she share her art work, she describes techniques used in the process.  For a non-artist, it is written in layman’s terms and very educational.

2.  Positive Snapshot…..36 followers.  From Western Australia, this photography blog features stunning pictures, while discovering beauty in life, family and culture.

3.  Beth of The Exercise Hitlist…..72 followers.  Beth is one of my earlier followers.  She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, and has been very helpful with advice regarding me, and maintaining my muscle mass as I get older.

4.  Hunter of My Hiking Adventure…..79 followers.  The Pacific Crest Trail is a long distance hiking trail that runs 2,663 miles from the US/Mexico border to the US/Canadian border.  Much of it is through mountain wilderness.  Hunter is planning on backpacking it, this blog is about Hunter’s preparation.

5.  Chipper ChelseaKay….72 followers.  The hand that Chelsea has been dealt in life has not been easy.  Severe OCD and Tourette Syndrome, as well as other illnesses, she is currently on a medical leave from college.  Yet she continues to be upbeat, positive, and as the title says, “chipper”.

6.  Life As Christy’s Blog….55 followers.  Christy is a “girl who loves God”.  This Christian devotional blog reflects the deep faith within Christy, the author.

7.  Missinformation….70 followers.  It is hard to label what type of blog this is, because it has a lot going on here.  There is a wide variety of topics, which include “fashion, makeup, health, motherhood, food, education, employment, God, relationships, lessons in life, movies, and so much more”.

8.  Czech Adventures….12 followers.  I have learned a great deal through this blog.  Often think of the Czech republic for it’s history and culture,  BUT it is also very much an adventure playground.  Definitely somewhere to put on your adventure bucket list.

9.  Lee and Blog….22 followers.  Lee shares random, yet very insightful posts of what is on his heart.  You will find posts about his bucket list,  identity, woodworking, money, walking, photography, and so much more.

10.  Find and Become….11 followers.  Written by Nancy, this blog is her journey to find and become the person she is meant to be., and “not become what everybody else is becoming or what everyone else wants us to become”.

Seven Things About Myself!

1.  I have a tendency to get sick on amusement park rides, particularly the spinning, looping ones.  Thirty years ago, during one of earlier dates I got sick on a ride at Canada’s wonderful during an early date with my bride to eventually be, Lynne.  I was a mess, but she lovingly cleaned me off.  For better, for worse, we later got married. and are now married over 26 years.  🙂

2.  If my wife were to drive somewhere, she is the one who usually does the driving.  Just prefer to watch the scenery and let the world go by.  If I had the choice to take the freeway, or go country back roads, which takes me twice as long, my choice is always the back roads.  Just prefer a slower, less hectic pace.

3.  I am not too tech savvy, do all my blogging on a desktop computer.  My famjam gave me a tablet for father’s day/birthday, which I am still trying to figure out.  It will be wonderful in places that offer free Wi-Fi, such as hotels, during my races, when I figure it out.  I am on Twitter, my following is growing pretty fast, credit to some runners who retweet and “shout out” me often.  But I have no idea how to link my Twitter to this blog.  My account is @canuckcarl.   Have tried numerous times to link it over.  Anyone who can help me link this thing, will definitely be my hero!  🙂

4.  With me growing up on a farm, the foods we grew pretty much was what we ate.  Some foods found in supermarkets, I never really tried until just a few years ago.  Such as avocados, which I now love.

5.  Probably with me often being sleep deprived, I will seldom stay awake watching something on TV, within a few minutes of watching something with the family, I am fast asleep.

6.  I have a scar on my forehead from a hockey puck when I was 9.  I was an ice hockey goalie for many years, and my brother was practicing taking shots at me.  I did not have my helmet with me, but he promised he would not raise it above my waist.  The very next shot, I got nailed on the temple. The way it hit me, it left a gaping “v” shaped hole.  Blood everywhere, when I raced to the house to see mom, she simple said “What now”!  She cleaned and bandaged me up, no trips to the hospital in those days (unless you are pretty much on your death bed).

7.   I have started to always read the labels on packaged foods.  Very conscious of my sodium intake.  With my running and watching what I eat, my blood pressure is in the normal range, without medications, which makes me very pleased.

One Lovely Blog Award

One Lovely Blog Acknowledgement

My 4th acknowledgement presented to me was from Amanda from the blog Inside the Life of Moi.  Amanda is one of the most “dedicated to her followers” bloggers I have come across.  She knows her followers extremely well, and despite having maybe several hundred comments on some of her posts, she will reply to each comment with a very personal response.  She is such fun and full of wit, but also has a heart full of care and compassion.  Despite having a current total of 9,618 followers, she frequently drops in for a visit at my blog.  I honestly don’t know how she does it.  The acknowledgement presented to me is The One Lovely Blog  and is part of a massive mega post.  It is the most incredible acknowledgement post I have ever seen and is found on this link here.  Thank you Amanda so much for this acknowledgement.

 The Rules Are as Follows:

1) Thank the person who nominated you, and provide a link to their blog

2) List the rules and display the picture of “One Lovely Blog”

3) Add 7 facts about yourself

4) Nominate 15 other bloggers and comment on one of their posts, letting them know they have been nominated

5) Display the logo and follow the blogger who nominated you

Seven Facts About Myself

1.  I have a cell phone, which I guess now is a Smartphone (a Blackberry), which my wife bought used for me.  Have no media on it, and only turn it on for the odd text, and to check the time.  Still like to embrace the simpler things in life.

2.  Although my blog is called “The Old Fellow Goes Running”, I also have an equal passion for cycling and hiking/backpacking.  All are excellent for the soul.

3.  I love music, and mostly listen to contemporary Christian and Christian rock.  I can’t play an instrument, I am not a singer, but love to sing (and torture the family doing it).  Also as a lay minister of a small congregation, with no volunteers to lead the music, I’m the one to lead the music (poor congregation)   🙂

4.  Dark chocolate would be the hardest food I would have to give up, if required.  I eat a piece every day, and it is good for me!  🙂

5.  I am at car #11 since I started driving at 17.  Have never owned a car newer than 5 years old, most of them have been 8 to 10 years old.  Wish I could have kept one of the cars of my earlier years, but I am just not mechanically inclined as I wish.  For all these cars they were driven usually 5-6 years, until it cost more to keep running than what they were worth and were scrapped, and then off to buy another 8-10 year old car.  It gets to the point where you “weigh out” does it cost more to keep running than what it is worth.  Just once, I would love to own a new car in my lifetime.  But that’s okay, I am very blessed.  🙂

6.  I have no tattoos or piercings, never had a desire.  There are tattoos that are very beautiful, occasionally if I am comfortable with someone, I will ask this person to tell me what brought them to get a certain tattoo.

7.  I can’t swim, but am “trying” to learn at the gym, which has a lap pool.

Part 4 is where I list my next group of bloggers!  🙂

1.   One Life Adventure….45 followers  This is a blog full of adventure, with features on adventure races, different runs, and those good old mud/obstacle courses are featured.

2.  Shelby all Over….85 followers  Shelby is a “small town college girl, simply chasing dreams”  You will get to know her, as she shares about family, friends and school.

3.  Jimmy of My Alpine Obsession…..55 followers  It is easy to quickly find upon visiting this blog that Jimmy is a climber, and very passionate about it.  Personally, myself having climbed over 30 years ago, I get caught up in these posts.  Hope to some day get back at it.

4.  Todd the Hiker…..92 followers. A very informative blog for the hiker, Todd shares hiking tips, hiking destinations that have wonderful narrative and photography.  When not writing about hiking, Todd also shares his Christian faith through some well written devotionals.

5.  Wishing My Life Away….98 followers.  This recently revamped blog, formerly called “Cook, Drink, Hike”, has the caption, “Living for the weekend, loving the in between and dragging you along for the ride”.  With stunning photography, it has hiking destinations, food and so much more.

6.  Soon to Be More Fit….6 followers.  Majoring in Exercise Science, this blog written by Carley, is about “her journey in achieving her dreams in the fitness industry.”  But it also encourages others, and builds confidence in them.  A lot of great info and insights are packed into her posts.

7.  Satisfyingly Complicated….48 followers.  Maleeha is a 17 year old who through both her writings and poetry has a great insight on the world.  She speaks 6 or 7 languages, but eventually wants to bring that number up to 10.

8.  Running High….11 followers.  Hill and mountain running is a challenge I have not attempted yet.  Now that I have just registered for my own off road challenge in August with 836 metres of vertical, am finding this blog very useful.  There is race recaps, gear reviews, motivation, fueling, and a whole lot more.

9.  @IRunJoe….18 followers.  On the top of the list, which Joe is most proud of, is his 3 children.  Then comes his running.  His greatest achievement was running 250k across the UK in 7 days last September, all for charity and epilepsy research.  His baby boy suffers with a rare and devastating type called West Syndrome.

10.  Live More Happy….12 followers.  Erin is a yoga instructor and has her sights on being a Doctor of Chiropractic.  In her blog, you will read about half marathon training and healthy foods.

Infinity Dreams Award

Infinity Dreams Award

My 5th acknowledgement presented to me is The Infinity Dreams, and comes from Samantha from the blog Sincerely Sammy.  Samantha is a busy university student majoring in English literature and journalism, and starting blogging as an outlet for conversation and connecting with other people.  The amazing thing is that even though a couple of my children are older than she is, she takes me as I am, a fellow blogger, whom I have really grown to appreciate.  Given the different places we are in our present lives, I really appreciate this acknowledgement.  It means a great deal to me.  THANK YOU SAMANTHA!  🙂

The rules are:

  • link back to the blogger who nominated you
  • list 7 dreams
  • nominate other bloggers

Now to list my 7 dreams.

1. Having completing a dream last fall with the full marathon, I’m pushing the envelope a little bit more, and dreaming of completing an ultra, which is any where’s from 50km. and up.

2.  Would love to return to Stewart Island, New Zealand, where my wife and I spent 4 weeks as newlyweds.  As newlyweds, it was a unique honeymoon.  We backpacked some very rugged and gruelling trails, at times with mud to our knees.  But an incredible, growing experience together.

3.  Would love to get back into mountain climbing, after a 31 year hiatus, while raising the famjam.

4.  To be able to swim, so I can feel more competent on canoe and kayak trips, but also to maybe attempt a triathlon.

5.  Learn to play the guitar.

6.  Cycle across Canada.  Take my time, meet new people, and write about the places, people and experiences in possibly a book.

7.  In the church I am lay minister, to see growth.  Not just in the numbers, but also in personal faith.  The church role for the most part has been an amazing experience.  But there has been so many times I just feel so inadequate and weary, and at times it can get very lonely, yet God ALWAYS gives HIS strength.  My dream is to see this church carry on, as it continually has for 164 years since 1851, and still be here as a place to worship and meet with God in the generations to come.

Here is my next group of bloggers to present!  🙂

1.  E180541……17 followers.  This blog is all about technology, and boy do I need help in this area.   Via this blog, you can find some news, projects, experiments, announcements and efficient methods to use technology in education

2. Ashley of A Child’s Eye View…..26 followers.   Ashley is a School-Based Counselor.  She works with Children and Adolescents, K-12, with their parents to develop a healthier, happier life for everyone.

3.  Anelia of Aspen and Pine……54 followers.  Anelia is currently pursuing bookbinding and photography.  Living a life of simplicity, and keeping our planet is very important to her, and her blog posts reflect this.

4.  One Canvas at a Time…..27 followers.  As the name implies, this is an artists blog, and Jeanette does a great job of sharing her creations.  But there is much more for even the non artist such as myself.  Some examples are being, and Jeanette even talks about her time working out in the gym.

5.  Dizzy Feet….92 followers.  As the name implies, the writer of this blog has chronic dizziness, 24/7.  I cannot imagine what this must be like, the blog is upbeat.   Her faith in God gives her strength.

6.  Written Wisdom….90 followers.  A runner, a long distance hiker, and an environmental geologist, Thady also writes about philosophy, religion and books that have impacted him.

7.  Instructional Technology at Albany Law School….58 followers.  I was very intrigued when a law school began following my blog.  Darlene, the blog administrator is extremely kind and encouraging, and is also a runner!  🙂 There is a wealth of information on this blog not for just attending students, but for everyone.

8.  Lace by Lace….20 followers.  Shawn has been such an encouragement to me in the short time he has been following me.  Through cycling, running and healthier eating, Shawn has dropped over 50 pounds in the past 3 years.  Like myself, he finds running extremely helpful for  his physical, mental and spiritual health.

9.  Semper Filelis….56 followers.  Sometimes known as “Mrs. Spike”, her blog is a reflection of what is on her mind.  Christian faith, time management, organization are some of the topic found here.  well written and engaging!

10. Go.ing….16 followers.  The “Go.ing” stands for “Going Globetrotting”  Written by Beka, she is addicted to travelling.  In her blog, she shares travel tips, such as “how to be the perfect house guest”, down to “how to show respect to hotel front desk staff”.  Lots of useful information here.

 

Starlight Blogger

Starlight Blogger

My 6th acknowledgement, the STARLIGHT  blogger acknowledgement comes from Tonya from the blog Fourth Generation Farmgirl.  Thank you so much for this acknowledgement Tonya.  It is a fun to read blog, that includes returning to, and living in a farmhouse that goes back 4 generations, originally purchased by her great-grandparents in 1912.

The rules for this one is as follows:

1. Thank the giver and link their blog to your post.

2. Answer the 3 questions given to you.

3. Please pass the award on to 6 or more bloggers and notify them of their nominations.

4. Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog, and never alter the logo or change the rules.

There are 3 questions given to me by Tonya, which are as follows.

1.  What is your earliest memory?   My earliest memory was a bit traumatic.  I was 4 years old, and was trying to copy my big brother by lifting a cement block.  I dropped it on my toes, and broke 2 toes.
2.  Do you write thank-you notes?  Yes I do.  It is an acknowledgement, and really feel they are important.

3.  Tell us one thing people might not know about you.  I am a 1 finger typist.  I love commenting on other people’s blogs, but it takes a HUGE chunk of time.  And to do a blog post such as this one,  it has taken me a LONG, LONG time.  But to get these acknowledgements out there…..it will be worth it!!!  🙂

 
For those who choose to pass the Starlight acknowledgement to other bloggers, just use these 3 same questions.  Full info on copyrights on this one can be found on Tonya’s post.
It is now an honour to present my last group of bloggers:
1.  Fever Dreams……79 followers.  A vibrant, fascinating blog, that describes ” it is about a life populated by others so interesting that I gratefully pale in comparison”.
2.  Something to Say…..13 followers.  After reading others blogs for a quite a while, this person has now started her own blog.  Now living in Alaska, on the one side some posts talk about the separation from dear close friends, but also a little about Alaska and the Yukon.
3.  The Wrighter’s Block/Blog…..46 followers.  The cool thing about this blog is Rebecca has the same last name as me.  Post by post and chapter by chapter she is writing a fictional book via her blog!
4.  Amanda Snodgras…..8 followers.  Amanda is a runner, who has often encouraged me on my running journey.  She works in a busy emergency department as a physician assistant.  Also loves to sing, dream on Pinerest and travel.  On her blog, she shares her stories of faith, fitness, food and fun.
5.  Elizabeth Peterson….89 followers.  An upbeat Christian blog, Elizabeth began blogging as an “outlet to heal from her past as well as her present”.  Her blog is about her faith, and to encourage and minister to others who are hardened or lost their faith along the way.
6.  I Run Off Road….5 followers.  For Rog, running is not a hobby, it is a passion.  Now in his 50’s, he has set his sights on the North Devon Coastal Marathon.  The aim of the blog is to share his love of running, and inspire and encourage others to discover it as well.
7.  The Love List….4 followers.  To go back to the very 1st post on the blog, on her 1st wedding anniversary, this lady gave her husband a big piece of paper with a list of a hundred things she loved about him, written on it……and called it “THE LOVE LIST”.
8.  Accidental Hippies….41 followers.  Living off the grid in a cordwood home, this is a wonderful blog about homesteading, living frugally to become debt free and living out their dream.  Very inspirational, with a wealth of great information for anyone wanting to live a simpler, and ultimately happier life.
9.  Denise Blog-Grace Filled Devotionals….67 followers.  Denise is one of my more recent followers, and pretty much we had an instant camaraderie. With beautiful photography accompanying Christian devotions that encourage and strengthen.
10.  A Guide to Getting Life Wrong….22 followers.   Paula has been a runner, but had to stop due to a serious illness that has changed everything.  Yet she is always so encouraging to me, through her comments on my blog, and her Facebook shares, and Twitter retweets.  Her blog “A Guide to Getting Life Wrong is about living imperfectly in this mixed-up, messed-up world of ours. It’s about finding ways to make the best of it and maybe even having some fun too”.
Paula has a couple months ago completed her 1st book, and shortly after asked me to do a review for her.  The book is called ‘Jump: Stories of Life, Love and Fear’  Clicking on the title will give you a direct link to where you can download the book for free.  Please don’t let the word “book” scare you.  This post I have written, is almost as twice as long as Paula’s “book’, which is only 4,000 words, and is a short book of short stories.
The 1st story is called “Jump”, where it is about a person about to jump off an airplane, and a stillborn birth.  The 2nd story is called “Tara”, when a young man comes to Tara’s assistance, he himself comes to benefit from this human encounter.   The 3rd short story is called “Mr. Philips”, is very intriguing, and is about a school girl, who has a crush on her teacher Mr. Philips.
Paula is an excellent writer, and what really “Jumped” out at me, is how well she captured the human emotions portrayed in her characters.  For the record, there are a few explicit words (which caught me a bit off guard).  But a great read.  Jump: Stories of Life, Love and Fear for a free download.  All the best in your future writing endeavours Paula.
Life is very precious, and to took at others you never really know what others are up against.  Many people struggle with their mental health. Learning about my mental health is important for me to stay on top of it.  There are a lot of great articles and advice about Mental Health in regards to depression, anxiety and therapy. Find all of this and more at Better Help.
This post was like a marathon, and I am so sorry.  Hope you are not too exhausted from reading it.  My wish has been fulfilled, everyone is on the same page (literally) :).  AND….my blog file is now empty.  As I reflect back over my 1st year, and look ahead into the 2nd year of this blog and website, and the direction I would like it to go, in my heart of hearts, I have decided to have an “award free” blog for my 2nd year.  There will still be lots of “acknowledgements and shout outs” from me, there will still be “pay forwards”, but without the ‘award’ part.  I would really like to see the small and new bloggers get the recognition they deserve, when it comes to awards.  There were established bloggers who did help when I was just starting out.  For those who have been “acknowledged” in this post, there is absolutely obligation to pass it on.  But the rules are there,  if you wish to pass it on.  And if I have missed someone in my acknowledgements, please let me know, and I will make sure you are mentioned in a later post.   Thank you so much for all your support over this 1st year.  You have all been so absolutely wonderful!!!  🙂
~Carl~

 

 

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98 comments

  1. What an extraordinary blog posting this was: massive in volume, massive in content, massive in emotion, massive in generosity. Massively wonderful. And thank you.

    Liked by 4 people

    • Thank you SO much, I really appreciate this so much. This is massively kind of you to actually read this, it is such a long post. You are very welcome. No obligation whatsoever to pay forward. Just wanted to acknowledge wonderful blogs such as yours, in the hope it will bring more readers your way.
      Thank you for your camaraderie and friendship!
      Have a WONDERFUL day! 🙂
      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Happy 1 year blogging! My head’s spinning from reading this! I totally get finding time to blog. It causes problems, but it’s worth it at the end of the day. I’ll be checking out a few blogs recommended!

    Liked by 2 people

    • LOL….yeah, Natalie, my head was spinning writing it. Lots of late, late nights, but it is posted. I really appreciate you taking the time to read through. You are DEFINITELY a dedicated follower! 🙂 Hoping it will help some bloggers get established, and thanks for checking some blogs out. 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Happy first year of blogging! My “birthday” wasn’t long ago, and I agree with you – blogging has been cathartic, introduced me to some amazing people, and taught me a lot about a crazy variety of subjects. Totally worth it.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Jimmy, you said this SOOO very well. All the crazy variety of subjects out there. Yours is the only dedicated climbing blog I have, and I REALLY do appreciate what you share, and with such a passion.

      Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this. 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

      • Nuts. I hate to disappoint, but it’s no longer solely a climbing blog. I just signed up for my first ultra and posted about it…sorry! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • Jimmy, are you serious? WOW, this is incredible. You are definitely one to go all out, an ultra on your 1st event. Was going to do one this year, a 50k, but bailed out, as I did not think I was ready. Still doing the 25k (1 loop of it), instead of 2, which would make it the ultra. The part that unnerves me it that it has 836 metres (2743 feet) of change in altitude per loop. Will see how this one goes, coming up August 8. All the best on this event. I KNOW you will be great! No apologies needed that your blog is now also a running blog! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. *stands up and applauds* bravo on such a wonderful post, filled with talented bloggers and kind words. Your words really warmed my heart. (Sat here smiling like a goon!) hehe! Thank YOU! It means a lot. I been feeling bad that I have taken so much time off recently (I’m on a blogging break!) and to know that you still have much appreciation for me really helps….and also makes me want to come back soon! (I’ll be back in August)

    Congrats on all your awards. Very well deserved.

    Oh, and one last note… During my blogging break I have taken up running! …and I LOVE it!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Ahhh, thank you so much for dropping in with true “Amanda fashion”. I loved it, you gave me a great big smile! 😀 It might have seemed like I was on a blogging break, but was actually working on this post. Have a deep appreciation of how hard you must have worked, and how many hours you clocked for your “award ceremony”.

      Thank you so much for your congrats, really means a lot. And WOW, this is really cool that you have taken up running. And the most important thing is that you LOVE IT!!! 🙂

      Enjoy the rest of your blogging break, and “see you” again in August. 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  5. WOW Carl! You are truly inspirational and I’m glad that you’ve decided to renew your blog! Everyday I see your kindness, your gentleness and your lovingness towards everyone that comes along path. I look forward to reading your blog for many years to come. Keep the inspiration coming!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Happy Blogaversary! I always look forward to your posts. I’m very happy you’ve renewed your blog! I know what you mean about trying to find time to blog – I myself am behind…. yesterday I saw that it had been 21 days since my last post and was shocked! Oh well, that’s summer for you. Winter will be here soon and we’ll all be glued to our computers. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much Fleck, I am glad I renewed. The time part, really is the big thing. With your blog, there is also the time for the creativity for your artwork. I feel bad, I just haven’t been reading too many posts, but just wanted to get this one done, and get out running again.

      I am extremely happy you are healing from your injury. All the best to you in your blogging and running. Thank you for your support and your friendship and camaraderie! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  7. YAY! So glad you’re staying and I loved learning more about you via these fabulous awards! Happy Bloggy Birthday 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Happy blogging anniversary! What a wonderful idea to acknowledge the work of others. I am looking forward to checking out some of the blogs that you have mentioned. There are so many inspirational stories out there, that is what makes the blogging world so wonderful.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Awesome blog. I too am up to my first year and I love it. It did slide earlier in the year when mum died but I do still want to write. Happy anniversary and keep on blogging, 😊😊😊 barbara

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Hey Carl. Thank you so much for your very generous acknowledgement for the mental runner. I will certainly endeavour to pass this on in the coming days. I really appreciate the effort you put into this post. It really shows serious dedication and generosity. Hopefully it will help drive some traffic so I can maybe inspire and help people to overcome anxiety and depression through physical exercise. Well done again.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much Brendan. It is my absolute pleasure. Your kind appreciation really means a great deal. Physical exercise really does overcome anxiety and depression in a huge way. Blogging is such a powerful median to inspire others, and I do hope this post will bring traffic your way. Interaction, like we are doing right here is the key. It builds wonderful connections, readers see that, that does ripple out into growth of a person’s blog.

      Thank you again for your very kind comment. I wish you all the best in your running and your blogging. May they both be an inspiration to others! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Fantastic! Congratulations, Carl! I really enjoyed your post and reading all of your answers. Thank you for your kind words regarding my blog. 😊

    Liked by 3 people

  12. I love that through my blog I have come to meet truly generous and wonderful people like you, Carl! Happy Birthday to The Old Fellow Goes Running!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much Becca for your kindness. It has been fun watching your blog grow. I think I originally ‘found you’ on Twitter, someone was retweeting one of your posts…and I was hooked. You have a great blog Becca! 🙂

      Thank you for reading, and your touching comment! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Huge congratulations Carl,on your 1 year anniversary! And on your HUGE post!! 😊

    Liked by 3 people

  14. I love the connections blogging brings from all around the world too:). And yet, I realize sometimes I ignore the people in my own backyard! How to balance the two is my challenge. Congrats on your first year!

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Wow…it’s abundantly clear that you have put in a lot of time and effort into this post and it is greatly appreciated! Happy blogaverssary I am glad you have decided to continue on! Great work! !

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Wow! I am honored to be nominated. God bless you and more power to your blog. Thank u for always visiting and encouraging bloggers like me.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog, they are really inspiring! Congratulations on renewing your blog! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Ohhh. Thank you so much. This means so much to me. Its really amazing, and its so long. Hahaha. So creative and very inspiring. “How can someone sit and write something this wonderful” #Thinking-out-loud#. Am so grateful. Thank you very much.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Christy, your precious, heartfelt comment absolutely made my day!!! Your gratefulness and joy have really jumped out at me through your words. It has made it all worth it. 🙂

      I was thinking, “No one is ever going to read through it” But you did, and your comment has touched my heart! THANK YOU!!

      Sincerely hope some new readers come your way! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Aww! I feel most honored! Thank you so much for the encouragement. And oh my, you apparently took your time on this post. Amazing! Thanks thanks thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

    • 🙂 Yeah, to be honest Nancy, it really did take a long time. It is tough being a blogger such as yourself, working SO hard to get established, and increase your readership. I have been there. When I see your response, and the encouragement that this has brought you, it makes it ALL worth it.

      Thank you so much Nancy, for dropping in to share this. It REALLY means a lot. 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Happy Birthday “Old Fella”…What a beautiful post this was. Thank you for your kind words for me. It has been a true blessing to connect with you and develop such a truly endearing friendship.
    I am so happy you are going to continue your blogging. You touch so many people. WP would not be the same without you, Carl. Enjoy your birthday! One year young, haha!
    Always, much love,
    CC

    Liked by 3 people

    • Awww, thank you for the birthday wish, and for your kind words. You’ll have me around for another year. 🙂 The blogging really has been a good experience. It does eat up time, but am finding more and more is definitely is not time wasted. Just reading some of the responses on this post above have touched my heart.
      Then there are the friendships. Thank you, as you described in what we have, “a truly endearing friendship”. You take me as I am, and remind me when I am struggling that “I have great worth”. You have taught me a lot this past year…not only about DID and awareness issues, but also about trusting me with this friendship. This has meant SO much.
      I know there has to be a reason behind this connection, even if it brings a little bit of healing for you.
      Thank you for dropping by. Always makes my day with your words of encouragement! 🙂
      Much love….as always!!! 🙂
      ~Carl~ xx

      Liked by 3 people

  21. I love how you have acknowledged so many blogs, and I love that I have a go to resource when I have time to read some great blogs! Never enough time! My ‘blogoversary’ just rolled around also but I haven’t worked out how to celebrate it yet. The same thoughts also ran through my mind, should I continue with the blog, where do I go from here, what could I be doing better…..but at the end of the day I do enjoy writing and I love having a snapshot of my life to look back on. So I think I will keep on keeping on and see where it takes me! Thanks Carl for being such a great supporter of my blog! Cheers, Beth.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Thank you so much Beth, and I am really happy you are continuing on. You were one of my earlier followers, am not sure how you found me, but woke up one morning with a whole bunch of notifications on comments awaiting moderation from you. I think you must have read my entire blog in one go, 🙂 The early followers such as yourself have meant the world to me. So I am very pleased you are continuing, and it indeed like a snapshot of our lives to look back on. Especially with both of us doing events from opposite sides of the world. When we get old and less active, we can say, “Yeah, I did that” 🙂

      There really is never enough time to blog. I am still working on visiting the 60 blogs I acknowledged with this post, to let them know they are appreciated, and there is a “shout out” for their blog on this post. Another 20 to go! But it is all good, and all worth it!! 🙂

      Thank you so much for support, and always being there, if I need to tap into your knowledge with you being an Exercise Physiologist!!! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Wow, you received so many awards! Congratulations Carl 🙂 and hope you are having a blessed weekend!

    Liked by 2 people

  23. I think you deserve another award for how adeptly you handled your awards. 🙂 Great post! I’m sure “year two” will be good to you. Peace! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  24. Thanks so much for that Carl. There was so much information in there that I feel I need to read it all again to take it in and I’ll definitely be checking out some of the websites! Sorry – I should had mentioned that there was adult themes/language in the book. I try not to be gratuitous, but strive to be honest in my representations of characters. Thanks also for all the encouragement over the months. It’s lovely to have made this connection with you.
    Cyber hugs,
    Paula 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much Paula. It really has been a wonderful connection with you. And I am glad your book is still available for free download. This post took a lot longer than I wanted, and was hoping the free download would still be there once this was published……and it was. 🙂

      I hope everything is well with you, and sincerely hope you are feeling stronger. Thank you so much for dropping by to read and comment.

      Cyber hugs in return!! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 2 people

  25. Thank you very very much for mentioning my blog 🙂 Keep up the great blog and many years to come!

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Dear Carl, happy one year year of blogging to you 🙂 And thank you so much for mentioning my blog. In my journey of blogging, I am glad to meet bloggers like you who are a source of inspiration for me to. And who indirectly inspire me to keep writing. You’re such a gentle and kind soul. Stay blessed always! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  27. Happy 1 Year blogging Carl!! This is an AWESOME blog!! Very brilliant!! You’ve definitely made a great choice by renewing for another year!! Amazing!! XxO

    ~Shanika (formerly Writrs.Gallore)

    Liked by 3 people

  28. Thank you bunches for mentioning me!! Happy one year! 🙂 Hope your day is fantastic!

    Liked by 3 people

  29. Happy Blogaversary! I’m new to running and blogging this year and I just found your blog. I hope you continue it. I really like it.

    Liked by 3 people

  30. *take a bow*
    How much time did it take for you Carl?? Hope you gave your fingers a good shake and a massage. I am so happy you chose to come around and acknowledge every award you got (and looking at this totally deserved).

    Awards-free is not a bad thing at all I am finding. In fact, it puts no pressure and gives me free reign to follow and network with people instead of making it an obligation. Writing and sharing and supporting is what we are here for and this free reign makes it much better! I feel nice that I could help in your decision-making process 🙂

    Congratulations for your awards! Make a shelf for them as a “retirement” party 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    • Oh and Happy One Year!! I am approaching mine end of this month. Mixed feelings

      Liked by 1 person

    • Always love your comments your comments Prajakta. They always bring a smile to my face. Yeah, I am not a “no” or “no thank you” person, but doing this “award free thing” will keep me blogging. Did not want to offend anyone if I did not participate, and quitting blogging was a very viable option for me. I won’t say how long it took to do this post, just that I did not drop by most of my regular’s blog to read for over a month! 🙂 But everything is now a fresh beginning! 🙂

      I have a lot of respect for you Prajakta. And I appreciate you did lead the way.

      Thank you for all your support! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  31. Congrats. This is wow. This is a lot of acknowledgements! You are the kindest person. No wonder you are able to keep up with so many different blogs. But we all know why you’ve received so many yourself, and that’s because your blog is encouraging, inspiring, and real. Your stories of leaning on others during runs, overcoming adversity, supporting causes, walking through the woods. We can ALL relate, and we just love, love, love it.

    Liked by 3 people

    • April, THANK YOU. This is such a touching comment, and encourages me to keep going. I am so amazed by the connections made, and appreciate the friendship and camaraderie from bloggers such as yourself. It means the world to me. Thank you for all your support! 🙂
      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Well Happy Bogaversary Carl! It’s amazing how quickly the time passes eh? What a wonderful read and such a kind tribute to our fellow bloggers. It’s a unique and special world we have here in Blogland, glad you’re a part of it. 😉

    Liked by 2 people

  33. Thank you Carl for “Acknowledging” me on your blog:) Very thoughtful of you!! Your “Acknowledgment” post is awesome! I keep thinking, “he’s typing with one figure!!” God bless you Carl! I look forward to checking the blogs listed. (I kept wanting to click in and look!!!) Wonderful list of talent people:) blessings to you friend, denise
    “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much Denise, and you are so welcome. My typing is improving, though it is still one finger….LOL. Knowing where all the keys are now, REALLY speeds things up! 🙂
      Thank you for checking many of
      these blogs out. I know they will appreciate it so much.
      Blessings to you as well friend, and Have a WONDERFUL week! 🙂
      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Happy Blog Birthday to you and congratulations for all the awards. Many more to go !! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  35. Happy one year and thanks for sharing!! Here’s to year two for you!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Carl I am sitting here with a warm heart and a big smile. I love the fact that you have been so thoughtful and purposeful in receiving and giving these special ‘awards’. I will admit I have not read every sentence of this post but I wanted to tell you that I think it is so fantastic that you have chosen those with under 100 followers to high light. Giving encouragement to those just starting or those beginning to grow a following is a super idea. Still smiling at your thoughtfulness.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Aww, thank you so much Sue for reaffirming what I have decided to do. I have been touched by the response of so many of these starting out bloggers.
      Love your honesty. My WP “reader” said estimated read time of 30 minutes, and if I saw that, I can imagine I would be looking at a few lines, and then jumping ahead to the next post…..LOL 🙂
      Thank you so much Sue for dropping by, and for your reaffirming words of encouragement! 🙂
      Hope you have a wonderful day! 🙂
      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Very cool post, thank you for the inclusion! I could write a blog post here on ways I can relate to your words, but I’ll summarize best I can; I am also a Christian but not overly out there, believing the saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words”, not super tech-savvy, music and dark chocolate. I am also tattoo free, although I have considered a small music symbol behind my ear. I could go on, but I’m thinking I may turn this into a blog post after all 🙂
    Thanks for the massive list of recommendations…

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Wow…that would have taken me two weeks to write, saving it in drafts in between. You showed empathy with the way you wrote this and it warmed my heart.
    I agree that it is good to take time to find the bloggers with no awards . It is also fun to give awards to them .
    I remember my first award. It was exciting.
    Annie ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much Annie. It did take a lot of time, but when I see the appreciation from new bloggers, and read beautiful comments such as yours, it makes it ALL worth it. I do remember my 1st award as well. 🙂

      Thank you for dropping by and sharing. It really means a lot! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Congratulations on the bday and acknowledgmts, Carl. I know it’s been exhilarating. I trust you will PaCe yourself in the year ahead and enjoy the journey. Glad to watch you grow out here.

    Diana

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much for your encouragement about “Pacing”…… a runners term. When it comes to blogging I am right at the very back of the pack. A one finger typist, not very tech savvy. I did FINALLY (after 3 months) figure out how to make the pictures bigger. In a comment in one of my blog posta you made a kind suggestion to make the photos bigger. I said I would (without a clue how to do it….LOL).
      I am getting there. I WILL make sure I will enjoy the journey. Thank you again for your encouragement! 🙂
      ~Carl~

      Like

  40. Congratulations Carl on your blog anniversary! It is so kind of you to acknowledge each award and come up with this post. I am glad to meet you at WordPress. Hope you have many more anniversaries to celebrate. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Hi Carl,

    Dunno where I was all these months and how on earth did I miss all these posts.Better late than never, I now got time to read all the wonderful posts that I missed.
    Belated happy birthday to your blog Carl. You know what, 16th July is my real birthday too. That means you started this blog on my 25th birthday. 🙂 You are really wonderful that you made it this huge in just one year.
    And this post, it is massive. At some point I even thought you must have deleted all your award posts and consolidated all of them into one. But then I realised it isn’t the case when I read the post in detail. It took me some time but your blog posts are the only solace in an otherwise mad day filled with work and only work. And more over, you never cease to amaze and inspire me. I wonder where you get all this energy from when I just struggle to get my office work done in one day. You are so cheerful and happy that those qualities spread like a contagious disease and make my day a bit better whenever i pass through.Thank you for all of this.
    And, have you figured out how to set up that twitter image on your site or do you still need help?(I just noticed that my once working link is not working any more!). I will have to fix mine and can help you with yours once I get mine working. 🙂
    Thanks for taking so much time to post such a wonderful post and have a great day. Take Care.

    Sahasra

    Liked by 1 person

    • Awwww, thank you Sahasra, what a beautiful, touching comment. Thank you so much for your extremely kind words. Wonderful comments such as yours are what gives me the energy to keep going. Really means so much. 🙂

      Not figured out the Twitter link to the blog, am not too concerned. My posts feed automatically to Twitter once published now, pretty much all I need. Still might take you up on the generous offer though, as it would be pretty cool to have the feed on the blog. 🙂

      Thank you sincerely again for such a beautiful comment. It really made my day. You have a wonderful day as well! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Congratulations on your many, many awards and the anniversary of your bloggin’!

    Liked by 1 person

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