A Fun Post {for a special day}

Today is a special day...
And I am offering up endless thanks for God's grace in my life... for the gift of yet another year to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with the One who loves me with extravagance!

"A-I-M-E-E." Loved one.

God is always good and I am always loved and eucharisteo has made me my truest self, "full of grace." Doesn't eucharisteo rename all God's children their truest name:

"Loved one."

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

I find it fitting to be writing this fun blog post today, as I celebrate being another year older. Fellow Compassion Advocate and blogger, Jill, from the blog Compassion Family, has nominated me for a Liebster Blog Award.

The word liebster is the German word for beloved or dearest one. Not only does my name, Aimee, literally mean loved one... practicing eucharisteo, the counting grace-gifts, these past couple of years has enabled me to live out the truest meaning of my name. It is also how God sees us all to be... His beloved ones!

So, here's what I'm supposed to do with this Liebster Blog Award...

1. Post 11 random facts about myself.
2. Answer 11 questions that Jill has asked.
3. Create 11 questions for my blog nominees.
4. Nominate fellow bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

Without further ado, here we go...

11 Random Facts About Myself:

:: I am a recovering perfectionist. I still have my moments, but I am much better than I was... say, 10 years ago! That's progress, right? ;)

:: I am an introvert. While I really don't mind being around people, I need my alone time in order to re-charge. Actually, I really honestly do like being around people... like having Home Church here at our house every week or serving with others in the community... just not the whole day, every day! :)  

:: I went to architecture school, but I do not practice the profession. I now work in marketing because it allows me to be home for my family.

:: I do not like olives. Really, I've tried to "like" them... I just don't find them palatable.

:: I do not like driving. I just came to this realization myself these past few years. Good thing I am married to someone who absolutely loves to drive! I think being a passenger is so much more fun and relaxing! He doesn't think so. ;)

:: I didn't like sports before getting married but decided I would learn to love them because my hubby is a huge sports fan. I still don't quite like watching hockey but you can now hear me cheering during the NBA and NFL playoff seasons. Go Spurs!!! :)

:: I can't wait to ditch my socks each year when the weather starts to get just a tad bit warmer. I love it in years when I can do this as early as March! Sadly, it wasn't the case this year.

:: I now drink my coffee without sugar. Just with cream. It's so absolutely yummy. Why didn't I try this earlier?!?

:: I don't actually like cooking. I only cook because my family has to eat... but you wouldn't know it from the food that comes out of my kitchen because I actually cook up some pretty delicious meals. I guess it's my creative side kicking in... the benefits of attending architecture school, I suppose. ;)

:: I didn't think I could get used to reading an eBook, but I now absolutely love my Kindle app on the iPad. I am still a die-hard, stay-with-the-basics kind of girl when it comes to my calendar. I still *love* writing in my Day-Timer. :) 

:: I love my sleep. I am not a happy camper when I don't get enough sleep.

11 Questions From Jill:

1. Why do you blog?

This is the main reason why I write: "I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1).

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Right now, it would be Micah 6:6-8 ~ "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

I recently wrote about these verses and how they prompt me and guide me to serve others. Check out the blog post here.

3. What are your hobbies?

Reading and gardening! :)

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I would visit all of our sponsor children and correspondent children... I would head back to the Philippines in a heartbeat, then visit Haiti, Tanzania, Guatemala, Honduras, Burkina Faso and Malawi.

5. Share a special memory with us.

My boy got baptized this week! What an awesome birthday present for me! :)

6. What do you want to be remembered for?

That I lived my one life well... loving God with all my heart, my soul and my strength... following Jesus and loving the least of these brothers and sisters of mine.

7. Who is the most important person in your life?

Hands down, Jesus. But if we're talking people here on earth... I would have to name three... my hubby, my girl and my little man! ♥ 

8. List the guests from your dream dinner party.

In no particular order and only a few of them... because this introvert wouldn't be able to keep up and soak in all the conversation: Jesus, Katie Davis, Ann Voskamp, Shane Claiborne, Tony Campolo, Mother Teresa. 

9. If you could live in any era, when would you choose to live?

I think I might like to try and live in the era when things were simpler... farming and growing my own food, before processed food ever existed, before instant communication existed. The simpler life. Mind you, I think I might get bored pretty quickly and would want to hurry back into this technology-filled life once again.

10. Do you have a favorite musician (singer, group)?

Not really. I don't have a favourite. I pretty much love all worship songs. I guess nothing too loud and crazy. :)

11. What would you do with 1 million dollars?

I think hubby and I would move our family to a third world country and start a ministry there helping to alleviate extreme poverty.

11 Questions For My Blog Nominees:

1. Who or what inspires you to write?

2. Share an unforgettable moment.

3. What is your favourite comfort food?

4. Do you prefer winter or summer? Why?

5. Do you prefer the city or the country? Why?

6. If money isn't an issue, what would you rather be doing?

7. What books are you reading right now?

8. Are you an early bird or a night owl? And what do you like to do when you find yourself the only one awake in your house? 

9. What makes you tick?

10. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

11. What is your earliest memory?

My Nominees:

Judy @ Passionate For Compassion

Ingrid @ reading HIS kids

Vilma @ writerteacher

Deborah @ A Different Drum

Teresa @ Our Adoption Journey

Diana @ whenhippostalk

Stephanie @ This Kind Handyman And I

Have a GREAT weekend, friends...

Live life fully as God's beloved... He is jealous for you and He loves you extravagantly!

Compassion is a command, an act of worship, a song of thanks to Him.

Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!