• The ladies at 5 Minutes For Mom are always up to something! Currently they are sponsoring a giveaway for an Oreck XL Ultra vacuum. You can find more information and the rules of the giveaway here.

• 5 Minutes For Mom is also hosting another Ultimate Blog Party as a way for bloggers to introduce themselves to other bloggers. And there are prizes involved! The party invitations is for women bloggers and non-bloggers “regardless of parental status, religious affiliations, etc. This party is about having fun with friends and meeting new people.” You can find more information here or click on the banner below.

• The former Family Friendly Blogroll had now been transformed into the Family-Friendly Network and launched a new site called Blogged In News and Networking to help promote “the better side, the safe-for-the-whole-family side of the ’sphere.”

• Last but certainly not least, Julie at Joyful Days blessed me with this award that says “You encourage me to follow in His footsteps.” It was created by a new-to-me blogger named Karen at Karen’s Ramblings who says here, “What is on my heart this morning is Encouragement. A word of hope or affirmation is a real blessing to building one another up – with the view of leading us closer to God.
  I have been really encouraged, inspired, challenged and stirred up by a lot of posts that I have read. They have drawn me closer to God, desiring to follow in His Footsteps more and more. So, with that in mind I have designed this Award called “You Encourage me to follow in his Footsteps”.

Julie wrote, “Barbara at Stray Thoughts–faithful and constant, a true lady, I love the sense of peacefulness and serenity at Barbara’s blog. It’s obvious where she places her trust.” Julie, I can’t tell you how that blessed me. I want to convey those qualities, and I want more than anything else for my blog to be a testimony to Christ and to show that He is more than worthy of our trust. When someone tells me they have seen a glimpse of Him here, my heart is overjoyed.

A few of the bloggers who encourage me to follow in His footsteps are:

Kim of Life in the 10/40 Window. Kim and her family are missionaries in Japan. Her desire to see Christ in all her circumstances and reflect Him in all her actions shines through. I’ve only known her for several months here on the blogsophere, but I count her a true friend.

Melli at Insanity Prevails. Melli’s honesty with the things she deals with is refreshing to me, because we all have struggles. Her merry heart pervades her posts, as does her steadfast trust in God.

Barb at A Chelsea Morning has a sweet graciousness about her and a way of caring for and interacting with others that puts me to shame.

Susan at By Grace is a pastor’s wife in Canada. Her meek and quiet spirit and steadfast, faithful character are examples to me.

Laurel at Laurel Wreath’s Reflections. Encouragement to follow in Christ’s footsteps seem to me to be the essence of Laurel’s blog. She keeps her eyes on Christ and keeps following Him through good times or not-so-good times.

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story is another sweet, quiet, steady, faithful spirit who encourages me.

I am sure there are others I could name, and that’s always the danger of these things — I don’t want to leave anyone out. But these are the ones that first come to mind and who bless me often.