April 10, 2007

Perspective on the Homeschool Blog Awards... and Prayer for Heather

Yes, the homeschool blog awards are neat. Yes it is nice to get a pat on the back. But when you sit and think about them in light of the rest of your life, they are just a silly waste of time. Who is going to remember that you won a blog award in ten years? You probably won't even be blogging anymore.

"What???" You ask. "The blogger who picked up the awards and ran with them after Spunky left the blogosphere is now saying they are a waste of time?"

Well, let me explain. I don't want you to think that I am trying to whine or complain. I have enjoyed this project (mainly because I have enjoyed getting to know my fellow HSBAwards team-members and a few other bloggers who have been there helping me through the whole thing). I hope to find a great many new blogs to add to my blogrolls through the process... and I am really thrilled with the ability to gather up prizes to offer to the winners. It makes me feel good knowing that there will be homeschoolers that are blessed by this - even if none of those prizes come to me. But... I'll admit to you that it has been a lot of work.

"What all does it take to pull of blog awards?" You ask.


  • Awareness (staring at your computer screen for hours and hours, emailing as many people and groups as you can think of to gain support).

  • Help (soliciting web designers and asking for their participation, soliciting businesses for prizes - basically for free, for a good cause).

  • Time (endless tedious moments pouring over email, spreadsheets, chatting with your co-hosts, working out issues, problems, and using all the basic HTML knowledge you have).

  • Patience (dealing with other people's emails when your toast is burning, your kids are fighting, all you have gotten done is Math, and you only got four hours of sleep because you stayed up creating clickable links with another blogger).

It hasn't been as easy as I figured it would be when I decided to tackle the task. Not only has it not been that easy for me, but there are at least three other people I know of (all bloggers and homeschoolers) who have equally given of their time and talents... and their family and homeschooling is likely to have also suffered their distraction.

Heather of Especially Heather
HEATHER
When I think about the time that one particular blogger put in to this task, I am humbled. Heather (of Especially Heather and Sand, Sea and School) has really risen to the task. It wasn't even her harebrained project, but she was so enthusiastic to get involved. She made ME more excited than I was to begin with about the possibilities for the awards. She is the one who graciously offered to give of her time, money (purchasing the domain for our site and offering free web design services), and expertise to this venture. Heather worked with me to get an idea of what type of site I was wanting. She chose the graphic from the ones I submitted to her. She and Laura worked together to code the site. She made the graphic icons that you all have on your blogs. She let me bug her endlessly helped me with questions and procedure in setting up the email account, the functions of the blog, and even offered a free web design as a prize for one of the winners.

Heather and I had planned on getting prize information up this past Saturday. I worked on a spreadsheet to get all the information we would need from each company offering a prize and emailed it to her Friday night. Saturday, she sent me a chat message telling me that she was dizzy and not feeling well. I told her to forget the prizes and I promised to pray. Sunday, I heard that she had an ear infection from Laura and that she was on medication and sleeping. Today, all that changed. Heather found out that she has a tumor on her brain and that it is supposedly cancer.

Finding out you have cancer is scary. Cancer and brain tumors kind of make blog awards (of any kind) seem a trifle unimportant. Laura, being Heather's best friend (and the one who set up the voting polls) is busy attending to her best buddy and beside herself with worry. I just want you to know that we are very shaken by this and I wanted to request that you all be in prayer for her.

Please email or comment to let her know you are praying. Be patient with the blog award process in the light of this traumatic event that has taken place in Heather's life. I believe that voting can go on; but that once the polls close on Friday, it may be a while until we can get prizes listed and winners announced. Be assured that everything will be done that is within our ability to ensure that all FAIR votes are counted and all errors are corrected. If your blog is listed improperly at this time, we apologize. It is certainly not due to our indifference. There are just bigger fish to fry right now. "Especially Heather".

All the fish will get fried. We just need to have a little perspective.

Please join me as a first priority in prayer for Heather. May the Lord heal her and bless her - and comfort her family and friends. I hope she feels the hugs and love we are sending from so many miles away through cyberspace.

God bless each of you. Thanks for understanding.


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39 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was going to say that I just stumbled onto your blog while surfing but no...I'm sure that it was our Father in Heaven who made the cyber-path here. I will certainly pray for Heather!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

I'm praying for Heather, for her family and her friends.

Laura said...

Thank you Heather for this beautiful post. Just thank you.

Laura
www.thejoyfulmom.com

Anonymous said...

I visited the blog awards site earlier today and then saw Heather's news on HSB late tonight...wow, life can change in an instant. You are so right, let's put these awards in perspective here...

Our family is praying for Heather and her family. Just a shock.

God bless,
Michelle

Anonymous said...

We'll be praying...

Eric Novak

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the post, my prayers are with Heather.

RG.

justjuls said...

I totally know what you mean - I did email - and I agree with you completely. The blog awards are fun - but there are things of far more importance. Keep everything in perspective.

Amelia Antwiler said...

May it be cursed at the root and May Heather be healed completely. That the enemy would not steal one moment of her life...that all Peace from the Throne of Grace be given unto her! In Jesus name!

I'll drop in on Heather and let her know we're praying for her here in the laundry Pile.

Anonymous said...

We will be praying for Heather. Thanks for your perspective on what the priority should be!

Disney for Boys said...

We are praying and couldn’t agree with you more about the awards! The awards are all in fun but we are talking about "Life". It really does put things into perspective! If there is anything at all I can help you with please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Hugs & Blessings,
Tiany


Tiany@cox.net
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Tiany

Blogger profile name said...

I just read about this and visited Heather's site, too. I think everyone will understand what's going on and what's most important. Thanks for the effort that you've done with the awards, but take care of your friend first. I'm praying.

Anonymous said...

Praying for Heather!

Jo said...

I like how you tried to put the blog awards into perspective for people. Alot of times unless it is us personally who are going through hard times, we forget what does and doesn't matter.

I hope to write a post on all my blogs later today for Heather. I don't know her and can't imagine the scare a brain tumor brings but I do know what it's like to have cancer and how much it helps to know others are thinking of you.

The least I can do is send a little moe love to another mama.

You all did a fantastic job on the HSB awards. It has been alot of fun and I've been introduced to alot of new blogs I wouldn't have found otherwise.

Hugz to all,
Jo
(I also have the Sona Creidhe blog)

Dianne - Bunny Trails said...

Count us among the prayer warriors for Heather and her family. May the Lord bring healing and blessing to her.

In Christ,
Dianne

Crystal Starr said...

My heart aches for Heather this is such hard news to bare. Please let her know that she does not have to bare it alone and that the Kunze family is praying for her and her family too.

{{{hugs}}}

Suzanne Temple said...

Praying for Heather.

Spunky said...

I will pour out prayers to our heavenly Father for Heather.

I know first hand the work involved in putting on an endeavor this large. But as I have also found out first hand, there is more to life than blogging and awards. If I can be of any help please let me know. I realize that I'm in the awards, but I'd gladly pull my name out and help tally votes etc.

Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience said...

I read all of this with these words from Gateway to Joy this morning whispering close: "God has no problems," Corrie ten Boom said, "only plans." When ours are interrupted, His are not.

As Heather said on her blog, God does have plans for our good--let's hold on--no problems--only plans!

Whispering to Father for you all this evening...
All's Grace,
Ann

Anonymous said...

God Bless Heather and her family, we are praying for them all and for her friends who are going through this with her!

Thanks Sprittibee!

Nancy Baetz

bubbebobbie said...

It is an honor to pray for Heather. I want to thank you for all you did to put this together, because if you hadn't posted this "fun" awrds program, if you hadn't made nominee buttons for us to post on our blogs, only a few would have known about the need for prayer. Only a few would have randomly found this sweet sister in the Lord BUT because you put your hearts and time into this Awards Ceremony we can put out hearts and time into pray. So it maybe silly, but God has been known to use foolish things. And He is using this. Thank you so much for being obedient to the nudge from the Lord.
Because of Jesus, Bobbie

Kelly Curtis said...

Oh my gosh, I didn't even know that was the Heather that started the awards site with you. She's had so much to deal with. Now this.

I'll pray for her.

Alexandra said...

I'm so saddened by this news! Many, many powerful prayer of healing and peace to Heather and her family.

CarolynM said...

Amen! to your heart-felt post!! Awards be hanged, if it means anything as silly as man's recognition of man (or woman) takes any precedence over the health of another person.

Praying for God to be glorified and for the name of Jesus Christ to be lifted up through this *temporary* trial.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all your hard work, and I'm praying VICTORY for Heather, peace for family, and God to be glorified.

Portrait of Peter said...

Upon finding out about Heather, I immediately left a message of prayer together with a particular prayer which I hope both Heather and her family would find strength of guidance.

Blessings to you.

TheNormalMiddle said...

Reminds me of how we should be spending our time storing up treasures in heaven, where moth doth not corrupt or destroy...

Praying for Heather and all of you.

Dreama said...

I woke up this morning thinking about Heather and said a prayer for her and her family. God willing everything will be alright!

Anonymous said...

I don't know Heather, but I am praying for her and her family. What a beautiful post you wrote about her.
P.S. You have all done a wonderful job on the blog awards! Holly

Anonymous said...

I am praying for Heather and for all of you as you!

Jamin

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jaminacema

Anonymous said...

1 Peter 5:8 - Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
It is often said, if you are not challenged in your life by Satan, you aren't a big enough threat to him. I am in awe when I lurk through all these blogs that you all have a passion for Christ and you live your lives as Christ with skin on. I will proudly join the masses of those in heaven and here on earth in praying for a complete healing of this tumor. I will pray for peace, for wisdom, for grace and mercy, for highlights of joy, and that God will make himself known in a mighty way to Heather, her family, and her many friends.

Mycrazylife said...

God is a big God and a God of miracles. He will take care of Heather. We are praying hard.

Hallie

Anonymous said...

Having survived brain surgery for a tumor~ by the grace and mercy of God, Heather (and her precious family) will definately be in my thoughts and prayers. Blogs will pass away, but not the love we have for each other through Jesu Christ

Anonymous said...

I have an idea that the Blog awards are not about votes this time but about prayer for Heather. I went there to vote but I left with a burden of prayer....

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to stop by and let you know that my prayers are with you and your family, Heather.

Mary Nix

Anonymous said...

Peace and comfort, healing and mercy.
My prayer for you Heather

Sprittibee said...

I'm letting Heather know to come in here and read all your wonderful prayers for her family. Thanks so much for your support. God bless each of you!

Anonymous said...

Wow!

I will certainly be praying!

Sprittibee said...

Thanks Janne. :)

Anonymous said...

We've started a bloggy prayer chain over at my site for sweet Heather. Thank you for encouraging others to pray!

 

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