Thursday, April 29, 2010

The First Inspiration Party!

Welcome to the first Inspiration Party at the White Farmhouse!


Photobucket

I hope that everyone has on their party hat!

Ok, so here are the rules.

I put a McLinky for you to use to post about someone who has inspired you lately. Big or small. It takes alot to put together the wonderful and thoughtful posts that are out there. So now is the time to thank them for all their hard work!

You have to invite them to read the nice thoughts that you read about them.

You can also give them the above button as a gift.

Thanks again to Jan @ Bobbypins Boardwalk for making me the button!

You can also just leave a comment cause I am a tramp for comments!

So now onto my inspiration. There are so many wonderful people that I have met out in blogland. I told my husband that I want to win the lottery so I can go meet all of you. And cook for you. And clean for you. For a week. Because for some odd reason I just LOVE to clean other people's houses. I don't want anyone to feel slighted by not being my first choice. It was really hard to pick just one!

But....

There is one out there that is an exception.

When I started blogging, I almost gave up on it. The only followers that I had were family members that I could threaten with death or great bodily harm unless they joined.

She was my first though. She made my day in so many ways that year + ago that she will ever know. My daughter feigned blindness when I did my "I got my first follower" happy dance.

Since then she has gained a special place in my heart. I actually cried when she gave me my first award.

She has inspired me to continue on. For that, I am truly a better person.

Hell, she even inspired me to lose weight! 7 lbs down now! About 200 more to go though.

Who is this wonderful person?

Lori @ Wildflowers!

If you haven't visited her blog you must! She is just the sweetest, upbeat, happiest person on the face of the earth! She is encouragement and inspiration all rolled up in one sweet little package.

She calls her an ordinary girl, but she is anything but ordinary. She is married to a wonderful man who loves her deeply, she loves and is dedicated to her family and likes to keep momentos around to remind her of them.

I am so proud to call her my friend!

I guess she has been on my mind lately because I have been working on the kids rooms. She was my inspiration for their rooms. I have tried to decorate them to what they would like them to be, not what I want. To express their individual personalities. To encourage them to grow. Every time that I go in them I smile cause they make me think of her and how she has improved my life.

So.... there it is! My inspiration for the month. My friend who I absolutely love! Lori!

Thank you for being my friend, for your support and just for being you! You truly make the world a better place to be!


Party ends Monday night!

16 comments:

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Maggie, This is such a wonderful idea for a meme and your tribute to Lori brought tears to my eyes! You are such a special woman! I am so much better for knowing you! YOu make everyone you love feel special. I certainly do. And Lori sounds like the kind of friend you deserve! God bless your sweet heart... and hers too.

I am leaving to speat at a retreat this weekend and won't be home until Monday. I have schedudled posts to go up until then. Let's cross our fingers about that one.

I'll be coming late to the party. When I get home I'll do a post and join you.

I am so proud of you for hosting this!
You are very loved!
Yvonne

Lori said...

OMG Maggie ~ I have tears in my eyes right now. All I can say is THANK YOU!! You are very special to me as well. I found the bloggy world hard at first ~ doing a happy dance when I started to get followers and then trying to come up with something interesting to write about because you know ~ I do not profess to be a great writer! I cannot remember how I found your blog but I loved your wit and style so I decided to stick around!!

I will be linking up in the morning but wanted to comment tonight. Hugs & Love to you my friend and thank you again for being your first. xo

Julie Johnson said...

Maggie this is so sweet....and 7 pounds, you are doing great!! I need to think about this for a bit...I have been so inspired by this thing called blogland...and inspired by so many. To think people follow me is mind boggling....and on many a bad day it has lifted my spirits. You are one of my favorite places to visit!

Anonymous said...

Maggie, thank you for hosting this unique party. I would love to eat those ribs your make -- I could literally smell them through the computer screen. Ribs are my all time favorite and when I saw yours, I had to go stick my finger in some barbecue sauce and take a little lick...somewhat yum, but surely not as good as your homemade barbecue sauce.

Maggie, it is very challenging, however, to come up with one person. I am glad that you currently plan to do this once a month. Maybe in about 3 years I will have properly thanked everyone haha!

This month I would like to thank Linda @ Itsy Bits and Pieces Blog! Linda is a lovely and gracious lady, full of talent and creativity. She has three grown children and three grandchildren, yet she always seems to have the time to post a thoughtful comment.

This month I was grateful to her for being particularly supportive to me when I found myself faltering a bit (nothing big, just the regular blotter self-doubts.)

Linda knew just what to say and how to say it and helped me reconnect with "me" -- which is what blogging sometimes needs to be about...me -- or in the case of your blog -- then you. We can't always write our blogs based on whether other people will approve or even like our post, and Linda gave me reassurance at a time when most needed.

I also want to tell you that this lady is so creative and talented. She recently enjoyed a spring house tour and took tons of great pictures. She has generously posted the pictures on her blog. You really must go visit her if you want inspiration, regardless of what room you are working on. She took pictures of the entire house!

Thank you, Linda! I hope that we continue our friendship and perhaps one day have the opportunity to meet up in person! It would be so much fun to sit down and create something with you!

So -- it did turn out to be a long comment, but Linda is worth is.

Also -- you're gorgeous!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I am truly overwhelmed by Jan's words...it's just the nicest thing ever...I guess we have a mutual admiration society! Thank you SO much!

Anonymous said...

Maggie
what a sweet post and how fun this will all be! I am so happy you thought of the Inspiration Party and look forward to meeting all the ladies that inspire each one of us! :) Have a great weekend!

Nancy

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Love this concept Maggie! I hope this monthly feature becomes a wild success!

Any chance on getting those thumbnails to be abit larger next go around? I'm OLD. :) xo

Donna
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Red Door Home said...

What a terrific idea. A great chance to tell someone a big thank you for all they have done for you.

Christine ~ JAZ Creations said...

What a great idea! I have added my inspiration.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea for a party! I haven't met Lori yet, so I'm going to click over and check out her blog. I hope you have an awesome weekend!

Chez Zizi said...

Lori is a wonderful person and I am sure you are as well. I am now a follower and look forward to hearing more from you.

Zizette @ Chezzizi

Anne Lorys said...

This is one of the greatest ideas for a blog party, ever!

I'm entering mine right now, it's a post I did last month on my marvelous friend, Theresa Cano of Garden Antqs Vintage.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Anne

deb said...

Great idea for a party! On the way to check Lori ☺
*hugs*deb

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Hi Maggie,
Thanks for your concern. I had a gremlin in my laptop and had to send it to the computer shop to be mended..... that's why I didn't join in with your Inspiration party. So sorry. ....but, all's well with me and I haven't fallen over again or eaten any oysters !!!! haha. A lovely post for Lori. I have been following Lori for ages. I was round about her 10th follower. She is so lovely and deserves this wonderful post. Will be back on track soon. Lots of love. XXXX

mary beth said...

This really is a neat idea! Choosing a fav is hard for me, because there are so many of you out there who inspire me and make my day a brighter place! It will be fun to read and discover so many more wonderful people ...I especially appreciate those of you who actually comment and even respond to my questions...it just thrills me to read your comments! Thanks to all of you who stop in and take time to say HI!

Unknown said...

Lori is a darling, a great friend of mine. What you wrote describes her perfectly, I know she must have been thrilled to read it....what a lovely idea :)