For All the Little Guys Out There

Today's post stems from receiving the

This is for all those who struggle to get viewers to or comments on their blogs, wonder what to write, or need follower love. For many of us, we just haven't devoted the time it takes to build our blogs up.
Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome. The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers and fit the definition.
L. K. Hill awarded me this honor. Liesel is a Liebster herself!

The rules:
1. Each person must post 10 facts about themselves
2. Answer 10 questions the tagger has given you and give 10 questions for the people you’ve tagged.
3. Choose 10 people and link them in your post.
4. Tell them you’ve tagged them.
5. Remember, no tag backs.

10 Facts about me (Renae):
1. I am the mother of six and grandmother to soon-to-be number fifteen.
2. I’ve been eating healthier lately and exercising more. =)
3. Born and raised in Southern California. Lived in Utah since college.
4. I recently moved to Northern California for my husband’s temporary job.
5. I never had pets beyond goldfish and turtles due to my mother’s allergies.
6. My BS degree from BYU is in Clothing and Textiles.
7. When I decide to snack, sweets win. I love milk and dark chocolate, mints, and Hot Tamales.
8. I play piano and guitar, love to lead music, and have composed a few songs.
9. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang Happy Birthday to me in Poland.
10. I survived substitute teaching for 13 years, teaching grades K-12 with 6-9 most frequently.

Blogs I've tagged: (I am on vacation and can't take time to find more than these wonderful blogs. I encourage you to visit and follow them.) Grab the button award above.
kbrebes.blogspot.com
franklycreative.blogspot.com
lisaswinton.blogspot.com
lightbulbbooks.com
To everyone else: Feel free to add your blog info in a comment and I will follow you, hoping you will do the same.

Here are my questions to them, along with my own answers.
1. How long have you been blogging?
My first post was in September of 2010, so not quite two years.
2. Why did you start up a blog?
Other writers insisted that blogs were the best way to get your name out there before being published. It was a stretch for me at first.
3. What has been your weirdest experience with blogging?
There’s been a few frustrating times when something didn’t work as I wanted, but I wouldn’t call it weird. There was a time when I consistently had few comments and was about to give it up, but then the view count shot up. That was a good weird to keep me going.
4. What is your favorite book? 5. Who is your favorite author?
I never know what to say to these questions because I don’t have a favorite above all others.
6. What do you want to be when you grow up/what is your profession?
I already call myself a writer. Hopefully it won’t be long until I can claim published author.
7. How many books do you think you might have?
A lot at home, but can count on two hands how many are in my apartment. I do have a library card here though.
8. Do you prefer reading a proper book or a ebook?
I’m barely getting into the ebook mode so I can’t be objective on this one.
9. If you could choose to live one character's life in a book, who would it be?
Still thinking about this one.
10. If you were stranded on a desert island what 10 items would you want to have with you?
Sometimes being in this 1-bedroom apt. away from friends and family feels like a deserted island. All I need is sustenance and my pal the computer. Something like this: 1. Water. 2. My husband. 3. Favorite foods. 4. Computer to write on. 5. A supply of books. 6. Music. 7. Other people I love or enjoy. 8-10 Still thinking.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week and happy writing or reading.

Feel-Good Moments are the Best

Like most things, a writer's world is full of ups and downs. When a friend comes along to sweeten the pot by giving me an award just to say she cares and wishes me all the best, those are the moments that keep us going. Brenda Sills just awarded me the Sweet Blog Award. Yipee! Brenda has a great blog already and she just started. Check it out at http://www.brendasills.blogspot.com/

Now I get to tell you 7 random things about myself: (Gulp! Feeling exposed.)

1. Get ready to ooh and aah. Soooo cute. I just had grandbabies number 12 and 13 within 24 hours of each other. Grandmothering is the best. The oldest is only six. We had four boys born in the same year! And my youngest of six children just graduated from HS so we're not through yet! (Sorry--I couldn't get the picture to turn.)

2. Best weight-loss tip: long hours of physical labor. I learned to use power tools that I never imagined using while building our house. Wish the weight would have stayed off once life returned to normal. Here's the mosaic tile mural I created on a wet bar backsplash. I cut all the pieces with a tile saw.

3. My passion for writing exploded once we were settled in our new home. Finding a great critique group made all the difference in the world. Before that, music composition was how I spent my free time. I took a music composition class for non-majors at BYU (very intimidating). From then on it was learn by trail and error. Several of my works have been performed in our church choir, among other places. Music (many kinds) brings me joy.

4. I had a double wedding (technically back-to-back) with my sister who is one year and one day older than I. We never forget one another's anniversary or birthday.

5. I graduated from BYU with a BS in Clothing and Textiles. They don't even have that major listed today. Yes, I can sew but I don't do it much anymore. Moving on to other things.

6. I don't watch much TV but we do get Netflix movies. One TV show I like is Chopped. I've entered a few cooking contests and won a laptop computer when they were brand new. It was a tiny thing that printed on a roll of tape. The model was outdated by the time it arrived in the mail. The recipe was a cookie using Triscuit crackers. I was this close *pressing fingers together* to winning the grand prize of $10,000. Oh well! 

7. I've traveled to 15 countries. 11 of them were in a single trip with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when my husband sang with them. We spent our thirtieth anniversary in Italy with my sister and brother-in-law (mentioned above). I'd love to write a story set in Florence or Venice sometime.

Thanks for stopping by and getting to know me better. Thanks again to Brenda Sills. She got me a couple new followers. Now it's time to pass this award along to five blogging buddies who's blogs you'll want to check out and follow:

Angie Lofthouse- www.notesfromthewritingchair.blogspot.com

Rebecca Clayson - www.becinbrig.blogspot.com
Tamara Passey - www.whyigetup.blogspot.com

Kathleen Brebes - www.asuccorforwriting.blogspot.com

Carolyn Frank - www.franklycreative.blogspot.com
Congratulations, Friends!

To claim your award:

1. Copy and paste the award to your blog. 

2. Thank and link to the person who nominated you.
3. Share seven random facts about yourself.
4. Pass the award along to 5 deserving blogging buddies.

5. Contact those buddies to congratulate them.