Last week I was interviewed for an article about blogging and one of the questions was, what do you like best about writing a blog?
My answer, without hesitation was, the connection I feel with people I might never otherwise get to know in person.
I have been encouraged and inspired by blogs I've read and my faith has been strengthened by the love and prayers extended to me and my family through my own blog. At the risk of sounding corny; my life has been incredibly blessed and forever changed because of blogging.
Monday morning when Pam pulled Annelies name from her red polka dot bowl and announced on her video that Annelies was the winner of the PamKittyMorning collectionof fabric I had not yet met Annelies. I was later to discover that she was a blog friend of my friend in real life, Beverly and through Beverly, had become a blog reader of mine.
Here is Annelies email to me when she learned she had won:
NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY....I am screaming and dancing up and down. I can't believe this joyous gift!!! OH MY OH MY OH MY!!!! I won't sleep a wink tonight because I am just so EXCITED. Suzanne and Pam...love you both. We aren't doing Christmas presents this year (that darn recession thing) so this is my BIGGEST SURPRISE. Bless you both DID I MENTION THAT I AM JOYOUS and SEW very thankful ?!!!!
At this point I felt so glad that Pam randomly picked Annelies name from that bowl and knew she was so deserving (and certainly appreciative and excited). But then a little later in the day I got this from Annelies:
Oh, Suzanne…you have NO idea how happy this has made me!!! I have kind of a sneaky plan, and I am wondering if you would help me accomplish it. We both love Beverly SEW much. I have never met her, but her joyous spirit and deep faith have inspired me many times. May I add, I wrote her and said the same thing about YOU!!!
SEW here is my sneaky plan (if it is NOT to much trouble). Would it be possible to take each of the fat 1/8s and cut it so each would be 9" by 11"? Then I would love for you to gift the other half to Beverly. I know she would enjoy the fabric too, she is SOOO deserving and we could both put on our creative hats to figure out what we can make with our prizes.
(Okay, at this point I'm crying as I continued to read)
I do not mean to make a problem for you and of course if it is to much trouble I graciously and happily accept my prize as is. I just thought that what is better than ONE over the top excited winner….I guess TWO (G)!!!!
Your journey, that I have followed on your blog, inspires me often. By example (yours and Beverly's) I find strength and hope.
I pray for your Christmas to be blessed with peace and joy. I send much love and look forward to visiting your shop (which looks tooooo lovely to imagine).
I am humbled by the gifts (that do not fit under a tree) that bless our Christmas season.
Lots of hugs and love,
Annelies
The day I decided to do a give away for the PamKittyMorning fabric I asked one of my employees to cut a 9" x 11" piece from each bolt, but then suddenly changed my mind and increased them to 9" x 22" pieces. Now I realize that was so today I could cut each piece in half so two friends, that have never met, could share the prize.
Encourage one another,
