Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Category Archives: Photography

France…a spiritually uplifting trip

10 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, Inspiration, Journeys: In Writing and Life, Photography, Travel

≈ 21 Comments

Tags

Anglican, Anglo-Catholic, Anglo-Catholicism, Bernadette Soubirous, Bishop Leo Michael, Chateau fort de Lourdes, Christianity, Crooked Lines, elisa Amati, Father Luca de Pero, France, grotto, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Immaculate conception, Inspiration, inspiring, Jesus Christ, Lourdes, Lourdes France, Our Lady of Lourdes, Spirituality, Tsunami 2004 Still Wading Through Waves of Hope, Virgin Mary

Sad to hear the news of the terrorism in France. My husband and I were just there in November–in Lourdes, a few days stop-over our way to India. The visit was amazing and spiritually refreshing.

Given the sadness of the muslim extremist’s attacks on Paris, thought it would be a good time to share some photos of the beauty and spirituality of France, in Lourdes, about a seven hour drive south of Paris.

A view from the top of Chateau fort de Lourdes

A view from the top of Chateau fort de Lourdes and below, looking up at the castle.

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More views from the top of the castle

More views from the top of the castle

climbing a steep staircase to the top of the castle

climbing a steep staircase to the top of the castle

Love the narrow, quiet streets. Me and My husband, Bishop Leo Michael

Love the narrow, quiet streets. Me and My husband, Anglican Bishop Leo Michael

Our wonderful friends, Elisa Amati and her husband Father Don Luca drove all the way from Northern Italy to join us. We had a blast!

Our wonderful friends, Elisa Amati and her husband Father Luca de Pero drove all the way from Northern Italy – about 15 hours drive – to join us. We had a blast!

Streets of France

Streets of France. Elisa had a map. We would find our restaurant!

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, Me, Father Don Luca, and his wife, Elisa Amati at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, Me, Father Luca de Pero, and his wife, Elisa Amati at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Our Lady of Lourdes grotto was our planned destination and it was an incredible spiritual experience. More photos:

In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl said that a "lady" spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar apparitions of the alleged "Lady" were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a Saint, and many believe her apparitions have been validated by the overwhelming popularity and testament of healings claimed to have taken place at the Lourdes water spring.

In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl said that a “lady” spoke to her in the cave of Massabielle (a mile from the town) while she was gathering firewood with her sister and a friend. Similar apparitions of the alleged “Lady” were reported on seventeen occasions that year, until the climax revelation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception took place. Bernadette Soubirous was later canonized as a Saint, and many believe her apparitions have been validated by the overwhelming testament of healings claimed to have taken place at the Lourdes water spring.

Bernadette

Bernadette Soubirous

Night at the grotto

Night at the grotto

An amazing blessing. Look to the left of the statue, considering the crevice a mouth. Do you see the face of Christ. We only saw this on our last night at the grotto

An amazing blessing. Look to the left of the statue, considering the crevice a mouth. Do you see the face of Christ? We only saw this on our last night at the grotto. Peace and Holy Spirit filled this beautiful holy place.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was told to by Our Lady "go drink at the spring and wash yourself there". Shortly after the first pilgrimages began Louis Bouriette was cured. He had lost his vision and washed in the miraculous water where he regained his vision.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was told to by Our Lady “go drink at the spring and wash yourself there”. At the time, the spot above place was nothing but a place in the dirt. Then, the spring miraculous bubbled up. Shortly after the first pilgrimages began Louis Bouriette was cured. He had lost his vision and washed in the miraculous water where he regained his vision. Through the years, many have been cured at the miraculous water of Lourdes. The water still runs and pilgrims can collect the water at faucets near the grotto.

The Basilica of Lourdes

The Basilica of Lourdes, built over the top of the grotto

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Where Bernadette was baptized

Where Bernadette was baptized

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My husband and Father Don Luca celebrating Mass.

My husband and Father Luca de Pero celebrating Mass

Father Don Luca and Elisa

Father Luca de Pero and Elisa

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Saints everywhere :-)

Saints everywhere 🙂

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Father Don Luca and Bishop Leo Michael walking up the hills toward the stations of the cross

Father Luca de Pero and Bishop Leo Michael walking up the hills toward the stations of the cross

Speaking of the Stations of the Cross, I plan to write and publish a Stations of the Cross book using some of my photos from Lourdes. Really excited about that project.  I’m also working toward finishing my sequel to Crooked Lines. (below)

Beautiful beach and seaAfter we left Lourdes, we went to South India to visit the places and people we helped after the 2004 Tsunami. After returning home, I published my then and now book, Tsunami 2004 – Still Wading through Waves of Hope. Some fascinating stories and pictures from the time of the 2004 Tsunami and after. We’d helped more than two hundred orphans after a national fundraising event. It was really great to return ten years later and visit the people and places and write their stories. Tsunami 2004 is now available on Amazon in Kindle and in print.

While in India, on our follow-up trip, we faced a horrific experience when my husband contracted dengue fever from a mosquito bite and nearly died. But, then and now, we held onto those peaceful blessed days at Lourdes and the wonderful fellowship with Father Don Luca and Elisa. ***

bookFor this weekend Crooked Lines, my novel, is on sale for .99 CENTS. Here’s the blurb: On the shores of Lake Michigan, Rebecca Meyer seeks escape. Guilt-ridden over her little sister’s death, she sets her heart on India, a symbol of peace. Across the ocean in South India, Sagai Raj leaves his tranquil hill station home and impoverished family to answer a higher calling. Pushing through diverse cultural and religious milieus, he labors toward his goals, while wrong turns and bad choices block Rebecca from hers.
Traveling similar paths and bridged across oceans through a priest, the two desire peace and their divine destiny. But vows and blind obedience at all costs must be weighed…and buried memories, unearthed.

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Crooked Lines: From America to India Along Life’s Crooked Lines

28 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Crooked Lines, India, Inspiration, Photography, Writing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

America, Author Holly Michael, Bishop Leo Michael, Christian Fiction, Crooked Lines, Darjeeling, Faith, fiction, Goa, Holly Michael, India, India to America, Mumbai, Novel, Spirituality, Tamil Nadu

My novel, Crooked Lines, is featured on India’s Crown, a premier site linking American authors to Indian Readers. Find out some fascinating facts about Crooked Lines and some awesome pictures of India, too! Read on!!

India's Crown in Christian Literature Excellence - ICICLE

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I’m so pleased to introduce my debut novel, CROOKED LINES, on our premier site, India’s Crown. It’s been such a pleasure launching this site with talented and acclaimed author Caryl McAdoo. We’ve also added new talent from India to our team, lovely blogger and social media expert, Natasha Lopez from the Mumbai area.

Like INDIA’S CROWN, CROOKED LINES–a novel set partly in India and partly in American–blends two cultures. Here’s my answers to a few of our interview questions.

How do you suppose a reader living in a different culture—such as India—will relate to your book?

Crooked3 (1)CROOKED LINES was inspired from stories of my husband and clergy friends who came of age in a religious order in India in the mid-1980s. Their tales as young seminarians (80s and into the 1990s and beyond) fascinated me—serving in a Mumbai slum, meeting Mother Teresa, freeing “untouchables” from bonded labor situations, rescuing youth out of radical communist situations, working in orphanages.

I also laughed with them at…

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Adventures in Wyoming…and Colorado

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, Photography

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

1928 BCP, 1928 Book of Common Prayer, Adventures in Wyoming, Anglican Church, Anglican Church in Wyoming, Bishop Ken Kinner, Bishop Leo Mchael, Blog, Casper, Casper Anglican Church, Church of the Holy Family, Church of the Holy Spirit, Church of the Morning Star, Colorado, Confirmations, Deaon Bill Brummett, Episcopal Visit, Greeley, HCCAR, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Holy Trinity Church, Lander, Lander Anglican Church, Lander Wyoming, Leo Michael, Meeteetsee, Sheridan, Sheridan Anglican Church, St. Gabriel's Anglican Church, St. Johns Anglican Church, Wind River Reservations Wind River Canyon, www.writingstraight.com, Wyoming

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael and I have been on a whirlwind Episcopal tour of our Wyoming churches with a final stop in Greeley, Colorado.

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Photo by Holly Michael of the Big Horn Mountains…taken by iPhone pano view

So much happened on this trip, many testimonies of God’s love, even a great writing related story, but that’s for other posts. For this post, pictures will best share our week’s adventures.

First stop: Left early in the morning from Kansas City and arrived at Casper, Wyoming in time for dinner at Bosco’s Italian Restaurant with Bishop Ken and Priscilla Kinner…

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Photo by Bishop Leo Michael

…there we met Wyoming Senator John Barrasso and his lovely wife, Bobbi. We showed them a picture we’d published of them in Koinonia, the Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite publication.

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Senator John Barrasso and his wife Bobbi, photo by Holly Michael

The next day, requiem Mass for our beloved Deacon Bill Brummett at the church where he faithfully served, Church of the Holy Family in Casper.

Church of the Holy Family, HCCAR, photo by Holly Michael

Church of the Holy Family, HCCAR, photo by Holly Michael

Then on the road to Lander, Wyoming…

AIWGOLDFLAKETRAIL AIWGOLDFLAKETRAIL3…to St. John’s Anglican Church (Below Bishop Leo Michael and Deacon Tony Sawick)

AIWLANDERCHURCHThen headed out to the Wind River Valley to Church of the Morning Star in Ethete for an afternoon service on the reservation.

On the way to the Wind River Reservation

On the way to the Wind River Reservation

Our Church of the Morning Star does not need stained glass windows. God provides the beauty:

Church of the Morning Star, Ethete

Church of the Morning Star, Ethete

Bishop Kinner preparing for Mass. Photo by Holly Michael

Bishop Kinner preparing for Mass. Photo by Holly Michael

Confirmations
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photo taken by Holly Michael

photo taken by Holly Michael

Confirmation of Chief Washakie's great, great, great grandson. Photo by Holly Michael

Confirmation of Chief Washakie’s great, great, great-grandson. Photo by Holly Michael

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Bishop Kinner preparing candidate

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Chief Washakie’s gravesite

Sacajawea's gravesite

Sacajawea’s gravesite

Then followed Bishop Kinner and Priscilla to Meeteetsee, Wyoming…

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Photo by Bishop Leo Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

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Photo by Holly Michael

 Meeteetsee is the coolest little cowboy town. Photos by Holly Michael
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Door to the restaurant. Photo by Holly Michael

Door to the restaurant. Photo by Holly Michael

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Some visitors at our hotel

Some visitors at our hotel

Confirmations in Meeteetsee and welcoming Church of the Holy Spirit to our Holy Catholic Anglican Rite Church Family
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Then on to Sheridan to Holy Trinity Church. Photos by Holly Michael
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Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sheridan

Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Sheridan

Then, back to Casper for a service at the Church of the Holy Family with reception of new members…
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And then on to Greeley, Colorado, our final stop before heading back to Kansas City.
photo (44)All in a week’s work! Well, can’t really call it work. It was a wonderful time. Loved visiting with our church family and welcoming new members. And the views weren’t bad either.

PS. If you like these photos of Wyoming, check out my friend’s Kristina’s blog, My Wyoming Adventure

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How Great Thou Art…

23 Friday Aug 2013

Tags

Arkansas, Arkansas Valley, Blog, creation, Holly Michael, Hummingbird, www.writingstraight.com

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Posted by Holly Michael | Filed under Inspiration, Photography, Travel

≈ 8 Comments

Video

Baptism: Praise God from whom all blessings flow…

29 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, Inspiration, Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Baptism, Bishop Leo Michael, Casper, Church of the Holy Family, Faith, family, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, Jesus, Kansas City, One Lord One Baptism, Rev. Bill Brummett, Savior, St. James Anglican Church, traditional faith, Wyoming

This short clip is so completely adorable! Sweet! Beautiful photos!! Great job at putting it together, Bishop Leo Michael! Love it!

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Adventures in India

27 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Holy Catholic Church - Anglican Rite, India, Photography

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

Anglican, Bangalore, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, cows in india, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, India, india hill station, jackfruit, Karnataka, monkeys, photography, South India, St. Mark's Cathedral Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu weddings, www.writingstraight.com, Yercaud

Just returned from a recent trip to India and after more than a week, I think I’ve recovered from jet lag and the time change issues and am ready to blog again. The trip, or what I prefer to call, “an adventure,” was a whirlwind of activities:

Visited a vestment factory in South India…IMG_7109

My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, (Holy Catholic Church, Anglican Rite) celebrated Mass and preached at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Bangalore. St. Mark’s Cathedral, more than 200 years old, is a beautiful colonial structure with roman archers along the walls and lovely stained glass windows. IMG_7222st-marks-cathedralIMG_7236IMG_7237 Spent time with a newly formed mission in Erode, Tamil Nadu, South India…

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Visited the hill station of Yercaud, in the state of Tamil Nadu, to check out the family’s coffee plantation…

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IMG_7310…coffee plants look great…IMG_7307…pepper plants vining around the trees…

IMG_7292 had a picnic on the plantation…photo (9)More Yercaud scenes…photo (10)photo (12)

photo (2) mist on the mountains

photo (11)Monkeys on the roadside

photo (8)And hanging around the hotel

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In town, a jackfruit vendor
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And, a trip to Tiruppattur to see our good friend Father Michael, (who is a character in my novel, Crooked Lines) and next to me, Amma, my beautiful saintly mother-in-law.

photo (7) on the way back to the state of Karnataka, we saw goat crossings and…

photo (13)a roadside barber shop…

photo (4)a lot of temples…photo (14)

and back in the bustling city of Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka, we saw cows…

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photo (26)…and this lovely auto body parts store on the top of a roof. Picture taken from the third story window from where we were staying. One evening, from 9 pm until 3 am, they hauled the auto parts up onto the rooftop. Interesting and obnoxiously noisy.

photo (3)And niece Shilpa during some pre-wedding customs…IMG_6430
and, I’m so glad I didn’t know about this custom when I got married…

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Weddings…

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and niece Sandhya’s wedding pic:

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IMG_6941I’ll miss everyone and the fresh coconut drinks I had for breakfast…photo (18)

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Great Conversations

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration, Photography

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Altar of Repose, Bishop Leo Michael, Blog, getting to Heaven, HCCAR, Heaven, Holly Michael, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite, I am the way the truth and the life, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John 14, Maundy Thursday, St. James Anglican Church, The Father, Trinity, wisdom, www.writingstraight.com

A few years ago, on the way to the grocery store, a small voice spoke from the back of the SUV.

“Mom, how do you get to Heaven?”

Big question for my four-year old to be pondering while I was contemplating whether to buy white or wheat bread.

While I thought about the best answer to give a preschooler and also why he would even ask such a question out of the blue, he said, “Never mind, Mom. I know. Jesus comes and takes your hand.”

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“Yep,” I said. “That’s how.”

Simple wisdom from the mouth of a child. From that day onward, I had a deeper understanding about the pathway to Heaven, to eternal life, to our final home. Jesus will be there, with his outstretched hand. Who would not take it?

This morning, I read another beautiful conversation along these same lines that also left me in awe and wonder. 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going,” Jesus said.

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

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Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.”

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“Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”

What a conversation. Incredible messages. I could really “hear” this conversation, so full of hope, promise, love. And that last line, “You can ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Amazing.

It’s Holy Week. Happy Maundy Thursday! Tonight we have Mass, washing of the feet, stripping of the altar and adoration in the Altar of Repose. My husband, Bishop Leo Michael, took this lovely picture through the altar rail. Hope you all have a blessed Easter!20130328_171436_resized

 

 

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Gotta love Goa, India

27 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, India, Inspiration, Photography

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Blog, Goa, Holly Michael, India, St. Francis Xavier, www.writingstraight.com

Visiting an older blog and reblogging. About this time last year, we were in Goa, India. What a lovely place. Did you know the remains of St. Francis Xavier are there.  Gotta love Goa, India.

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Baptism

17 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration, Photography

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

altar, baby, Baptism, Bishop Leo Michael, Colorado, dedication, Frank Adams, God, Greeley, HCCAR, Holy Catholic Church Anglican Church, Sacrament, Saint Gabriel's Anglican Church, St. Gabriel's Anglican Church

I shot this photo at a recent baptism at our church, St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church, Greeley, Colorado. So cute! As customary, the priest dedicates the newly baptized to God at the altar. Bishop Leo Michael, Postulant Frank Adams and altar server, Jesus Macias.

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Award Time! Yay!

13 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Award, Best Web Sites for Writers, India, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Monday's Connections, Photography, Travel, Writing

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

Awards, Beautiful Blogger Award, Blessed Virgin Mary, Blog, Christmas movie, Colorado, Diabetic, Estes Park, flowers, Goa, Holly Michael, India, Inspiration, Isle of Iona, Jake Byrne, Kansas, Lily Lake, Lily of the Valley, New Orleans Saints, One Lovely Blog Award, Scotland, Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award, Spring, sunflowers, Sunshine Blogger Award, The Nativity, type 1 diabetes, White bell-shaped flowers, Wisconsin, www.writingstraight.com

I won a few awards! Just like the olympic athletes! Though I’m a writer, not an athlete, by any means. But if you read my blog, you might know my son is an athlete and a “saint.” (A New Orleans Saint and a saintly child, too). But, this post isn’t about him. It’s about ME and a few other fantastic bloggers. As part of my Monday Connections, time to connect with other bloggers. Come on in and join the fun!

Award Number One: I received a Sunshine Blogger Award….

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…from fellow writer, Maribeth Graham over at Writing Like Crazy

Thank you Maribeth. In accepting this award, I am required to answer a series of questions and then pass the torch (aka Sunshine Blogger Award) to other bloggers who I think deserve the award too, link my nominees to this post and comment on their blog letting them know of their nomination. Below are my answers and the blogs I have nominated.

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

The Nativity Story, because without the true “Christmas Story,” we couldn’t celebrate Christmas. The scenes and costumes appeared so authentic. The movie renewed my admiration for The Blessed Virgin Mary, a young girl from Nazareth and Joseph, her spouse. I appreciate his faith in God and his trust in the words of the angel from his dream.

2. What is your favorite flower?

White bell-shaped flowers, Lilly of the Valley, grew around the perimeter of our white farmhouse where I grew up in Northern Wisconsin. I used to pick them for my grandma and for my mom. Sweet memories and their intoxicating fragrance takes me back to my childhood and to Wisconsin in the springtime. Thinking about them, I can almost smell the fresh dew on the morning grass and can relive my delight in those perfectly crafted charming little bells. God is so creative!

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I also like sunflowers. My older brother Mark once planted fields of them on his acreage when I was a teenager. Recently, my husband and I discovered sunflower fields in the northeast corner of Kansas during a trip from Kansas City to Northern Colorado. Here’s a photo I shot:

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3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage? Chocolate milk!

4. What is your passion? Living life fully and giving glory to God while appreciating all of His creation. And if God’s plan is for me to be writing, then it works for me.

5. What is your favorite time of year? Spring. This renewing, fragrant, colorful time of the year fills me with hope.

6. What is your favorite time of day? Nap time!

7. What is your favorite physical activity? Riding bicycle. As soon as I get on a bicycle and pedal, I smile!

8. What is your favorite vacation? So many…hmm…I loved Goa, India.

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It was magical. Walks along the Arabian Sea at night, hearing its mighty roar. We had such a nice time.

Loved the Isle of Iona, Scotland.

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So green and lush and lovely

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A recent get-away to Lily Lake in Estes Park, Colorado was also very refreshing.

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Now, these bloggers have earned gold for their wonderful blogs:

1. Lada Ray is one of my favorite bloggers. Her site, http://ladaray.wordpress.com/ is totally worth the click over there. Lada was born in Russia and is a writer, internationally certified feng shui master practitioner, world traveler, linguist, financial consultant & investor, nature/animal lover and spirituality & metaphysics researcher. She’s really awesome!

2. Judith Evans at http://innerhomestead.wordpress.com/. I loved her post about “thin places” on her blog, Among the Pots and Pans. Her blog features her favorite aspects of everyday life, such as recipes, crafts, and natural health.

3. Cindy Dwyer’s: A Reason To Write is full of humorous terrific writing about the ups and downs of working full-time while raising a family.

Award Number Two: The Beautiful Blogger Award…

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….from Daniela at Lantern Post. Her blog is full of lovely poetry, prose, quotes, reviews of books or movies, and reflections on the weird and wonderful art of living in our time. You’ll love it. Go check it out.

Here’s the rules of this award: Post seven interesting things about myself and nominate other bloggers who I feel deserve the award, and let them know about nomination.

So…about me:

  1. I’m left-handed.
  2. I have a novel with an agent that’s being shopped around to publishers. Please say a little prayer that one grabs it soon because…
  3. I’m impatient.
  4. I’m crazy about a big-hearted guy who sticks a white band in his shirt collar every day and dresses in vestments on Sunday. (My husband! He’s an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church – Anglican Rite)
  5. I’m very proud of our kids and their accomplishments (The dynamic and cute diabetic NFL player, the beautiful darling who’s going off to study in London for a semester, and the sweet handsome boy (also an awesome football player) who will graduate before the year is over. They’ve been great kids and I’m one totally blessed mom.
  6. Both my husband and I are the seventh child in our families
  7. Um….I like chocolate

And for the winners. These bloggers also deserve gold:

1. Meri at ourdiabeticlife.com is my hero. She is the mom of four boys, three of which have Type 1 Diabetes. She is courageously and amazingly managing life with her sons’ diabetes and her husband’s cancer diagnosis. She’s a true hero who inspires. Her blog says: Through this blog I hope to share our ongoing story, to help others see that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Like you, I have muddled through all the emotional phases diabetes has to offer a parent. I know of the worry that sits with you like an old friend, because he is my friend too. I just try not to make him the life of the party. Take the ride with me. Visit her site, offer a prayer for her and her family, and come away a better person.

2. Melody Lowes at Melody Muses is full of beautiful prose and pictures. One of my fav sites and sure to be yours, too.

3. Becky Doughty deserves all the awards for her inspiring blog, Braveheart: Tales From the Front Line. She’s awesome and so is her blog!

4. Check out Brother Jon’s blog at http://ldsconvertblog.com/. He’s got great stuff going on over there!

5. Don’t miss Hugh Curtler’s blog

Ok, Next award: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.

Doesn’t it look cool?

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Thanks Ashley over at Author Ashley. She’s a teenager who writes about life and writing and everything in between.

First I’ll list the rules, and then I’ll follow through with what I was asked to do…

1) All recipients need to thank the giver 2) Post 7 things about yourself 3) Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of their choice and let them know that they have been nominated. 4) Include the logo of the award in a post or on your blog

***

It is my pleasure to nominate the following blogs:

1. Liza at http://mylifeisapictureshow.wordpress.com/ deserves this award. She’s an amazing writer and blogger who invites us to come along for the ride (if you dare). I took the dare and am so glad I did. She’s a wonderful person and very creative blogger.

2. All Things Boys is an awesome blog. Arnel’s humorous and inspiring blog is loaded with great reads and beautiful photography. She’s someone you want to get to know and check out her other blogs, too. I’m so glad I found Arnel and her blogs! You will be too. I promise!

3. I’ve been bragging about Glenda Mills in other awards I’ve given, so if you haven’t already checked out http://glendamills.com/, you need to. It’s so inspiring and beautiful!

4. Gracie Hill at Gracie’s Quest is full of Biblical, faith-filled messages. Check it out if you want your spirit to be renewed in the Lord

5. PT Bradley honors God with her stories

6. Emma Moore’s Blog deserves every blog award out there, dipped in gold!

7. And another great blog: http://pauletteharper.com/

And last but not least, the Lovely Blog Award…

Image

…given to me by Julie at The Read Room, a reading, writing, and word-related blog that catalogs the journey of a struggling writer.

The rules of this award are:

  • Give credit to the awesome person who nominated you,
  • Describe seven things about yourself,
  • Nominate 15 other bloggers.

Seven things about myself:

1. When I was fifteen, I purchased a solid little blue notebook and in it, I recorded funny and heartwarming stories about my little sister who had Downs Syndrome. I wrote about her every day and expressed my love for her and what a gift she was to our family. A week later, she unexpectedly died. I still have the notebook and used the basis of this story for my first novel, Crooked Lines.

2. I love coffee, but only with flavored cream in it.

3. On a long car ride recently, I had a Rollo Flurry from McDonalds and enjoyed every last bite with no regrets. It was awesome! And something good came out of that ice cream dream delight. I got inspired to…

4. …begin the “Couch to 5K” app run/walk program. I just finished day two. Gotta get in shape.

5. My current novel, I’ll Be Seeing You, centers around the American Indian people, in particular the Shoshone and Arapaho in Wyoming.

6. When I was in Kindergarten, at a small consolidated school in Northern Wisconsin, Mrs. King, my teacher wouldn’t let me be the princess. She said, “You’re too shy.” I remember being really mad at her because I wanted the part and I knew I wasn’t shy. How dare she judge me like that! Those words labeled me and affected me and I became somewhat shy after that. If I’d had that part, I probably would have been a much more outgoing child. But perhaps everything happens for a reason. Maybe I needed some humbling from the beginning. I grew up to be fairly outgoing after all.

7. I like this Bible Verse: Romans 8:28 King James Version (KJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

And last, but not least, Guilie, over at Quiet Laughter, nominated me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Guilie has a lovely site where she blogs about: Musings and stories on blurred cultural boundaries.

There are rules, four hoops that I must jump through. The first, most important, is to thank my awarders and link to them (check). Then I must answer these ten questions: (if your sick of me, scroll down and check out the cool blogs at the bottom.)

What’s your favorite song? I love most all music and can’t say I have a favorite, but this morning, while walk/jogging, I heard, “I’ll fly away,” done in a southern gospel/jazzy rendition and I totally got into it.

What’s your favorite dessert? Well, that Rollo McFlurry I had the other day was pretty awesome.

What ticks you off? When I’m writing and my computer gets stuck and I lose stuff.

What do you do when you’re upset? Probably Cry, pout, or something like that. But mostly, I don’t have much that upsets me.

Which is your favorite pet? I grew up on a farm, loved animals. We must have had about 30 dogs during my growing up years, puppies galore, hundreds of cats. How could I have a favorite? The kids had pets, too. Now, I avoid pets because we are never home.

Which do you prefer, black or white? Black for clothes that slim, white for iPhone color

What’s your biggest fear? Being out of God’s will and grace.

What’s your attitude, mostly? Happy! Grateful!

What is perfection? God is perfection. I fall way short.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Sleeping late

Hoop #3: I need to share 10 random facts about myself. Hmm…I think we are all done with this Holly Michael show. Let’s move on.

Hoop #4: PASS IT ON! These are my seven nominees for the Kreativ Blogger award, because they’re so wonderful:
Now, those who accepted the award must: thank the awarder, link back to them — answer the ten questions above — share ten random facts about yourself — pass it on to seven other bloggers. It’s all right if you don’t–no pressure, just a small token of my admiration, and a thank-you for being a part of my blogging community.

1. Wanda at the Watered Soul where she offers short, sweet nuggets of inspiration on Bible, Books, and Blogging.
2. OneEarthUnited has a great blog post up now. Don’t miss it. (heehee)
3. Love this blog. While I’m “Writing Straight” Barbara is Scribbling Outside the Lines. Lol!
4. Another great blog. Just click. I promise you’ll like it!
5. Damyanti @ Daily (W)rite blogs about writing on her fantastic site!
6. 4 AM Writer balances writing and life beautifully. 4 AM? Really? You go girl. You deserve this award.
7. Steven W. Watkins has a fantastic blog: OBSERVE. THINK. PLAN. WRITE. PURSUE. EXECUTE……… INSPIRE.. He delivers on all of these points. You can get lost in his posts. Wonderful professional writer.
8. Ms.Nine, a writer and a teacher, has a great blog going on over at her site.
9. Life on the Farmlet, my new life in Northern Alabama is another great blog site. Lynda’s got some great reads and photos over there. Entertaining for sure!
10. Want to be inspired by beautiful prose. Check out Lori Lipsky @ Poetry Patio
11. Check out Marney McNall at the http://volunteerfringe.com/. Another great blog site!
12. Diane at http://hometogo232.wordpress.com/ has a wonderful blog. She’s really a sweet inspirational writer.
13. Alex at Martian Sunrise has a fascinating blog about “the Expression of the Cross within Culture.” Be sure to visit his unique blog.

14. Bill Jones ponders life through the eyes and heart of a Christian man here.

15. And check out Dawn at Since You Asked. Great stuff going on over there.

Thanks everyone. If you’ve read this far you’re committed. No click those links and have some fun!

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Holly Michael

Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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