2) Pass the award to another 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

As far as the 15 blogs that I am going to award this to, I don't know many of them personally, but they are some of my favorites from my bloglines subscription and I always like to share the blogs that encourage  me, challenge me, touch my heart, or brighten my day.

So without further ado: here are my 15 choices for the Excellence in Blogcasting Award!

1. Suzanne McMinn at Chickens in the Road: I just love her narrative style and her ongoing adventures with her goat, Clover. I never really new that dairy goats could be such divas, but I totally get it now.
   
2. Angie at Bring the Rain: You might know her better as Audrey Caroline's mom, but through the rain, all you'll see is God's grace workin in a real momma's life. She has really been a blessing to me.
3. Mary Beth Chapman at MaryBeth: I've been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan since way back. First I loved his music. Then I really admired him. Then I heard about he & Mary Beth's heart for orphans and I loved them even more. And then, I had just discovered Steven's blog when the unthinkable happened - their sweet little Maria died. After that I closely followed their road manager, Jim Houser's blog for updates and to know how to pray. And now I'm following along with Mary Beth, as she shares her heart and hope in the midst of a full busy life while longing for her Maria.  She really helps me to keep things in perspective.
4.  Marsha from Our Homeschool and Other Such Happenings: Marsha is a bloggy friend from WAY back. I started blogging back on May 18, 2005 and she came just two short months later on July 18,2005. HSB was just getting rolling back then, but everyone knew Marsha because of her friendly comments all over the place. Since then she has grown to be so much more. She has encouraged me time and time again with her heartfelt insights and funny stories about her boys. And she TOTALLY makes me realize that I need to take more pictures and have a way of saving them. She knows what a special gift those can be. 
5. Letitia from Sand Between My Toes: Ok, Letitia started her blog about a year later in March 2006, but we quickly realized that even though we are opposites in some ways (she has all girls and I have all boys), we are quite the kindred spirits! She LOVES the beach like I do, and she's great (like Marsha) about taking lots of wonderful pictures. She is a real encourager and is someone that I really do hope to meet in real life one day!
6. Julie from Raising Three Knights and a Princess: Julie actually IS an in real life friend and I've loved watching her grow her love of photography via her blog. We used to be neighbors and really shared life together in each other's backyards just as she & Tripp were starting their family. Whenever I smell a Midsummer Night candle, I always think of them. I blame my love for Yankee Candles on the Worthy family.
   
7. The Crafty Crow: I don't know her at all, but she has tons of craft ideas. Whenever I'm looking for a craft idea, I start there. Her entries are sure to brighten any day even if you aren't feeling crafty.
8. Ree from Confessions of a Pioneer Woman: You've probably already heard of her. She's mighty famous, but if you love fabulous recipes, a real-life love story, and pictures of life in the country. She's your gal. Really. She gives photoshop tips, has great contests, and stuff too. She's more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Just keep clicking around on her little headers and sidebars until you find what you're looking for.
   
9. Boomama: Her name kind of threw me off back when I was first blogging. I was afraid that I'd click on her link and she'd jump out and go "Boo!" or something! Nonetheless, I tiptoed quietly over there one day and learned that oh, sweet mercy, she's not scary at all. She's southern, and she has a little boy that she nicknamed, Boo (THAT'S why she's BooMama), and she loves her some Jesus, American Idol, and Beth Moore. And HERE is one of my very favorite BooMama posts of all times. Get ready to laugh about some hair disasters.  (And if someone could send me the link to her post about waxing, I'd be forever in your debt. It can make a girl laugh no matter WHAT is going on!)
10. Antique Mommy: Her name kind of explains that she was a little older than most when she was blessed beyond measure with her little guy. Her tag some sometimes sweet, sometimes tart, but always real. I love that she can weave all of it together. 
11. Barbara Curtis at MommyLife:  I admire how she writes in such a strong journalistic style on a variety of topics. I first discovered her because of how she celebrates motherhood and embraces homeschooling (even when she isn't doing it herself) and her ability to take-on hard topics without flinching. I don't agree with her on everything, but I totally respect how she digs into her research. She's had some really good stuff on health too!
    
12. Ray over at The Corn Blog: Now he's probably gonna say something really sarcastic about being lumped in with all these mommy bloggers, but he's one of my favorite bloggers too.  He's got a quirky sense of humor, an uncanny ability to find weird news online, a daddy's heart, and the vocabulary to keep you reading. Just don't play Scrabble with him on Facebook. Unless you can beat him. In which case, please take a screen shot of the winning announcement and email it to me. Someone has to keep him humble, and I don' think it's going to be me!
13.  Heidi, Toby, & Lynae at Under the Pines: Heidi started with this blogging stuff quietly with her usual online stealth. Even though we are in-real-life friends, I sometimes think I've gotten to know her even better through her blog. Her recent post on her Economic Wish List is a classic. But in true Heidi fashion, she's done a great job of getting her two oldest into the blogging act and I love hearing their unique spin on things too. 
14. Julie at Three Fold Cord: I'm not exactly sure when we met online, but I can remember just reading through tons of her entries once I found her blog. In real life friends of mine will know her as "the one who has a dog that looks just like Mary Jane". They are a few steps ahead of us on the learning curve with sheep, horses, cows, and a garden, but she never talks like a know-it-all. I really appreciate that. There's always more to learn and I just appreciate her sharing the ups AND the downs so we can learn along with her.
15. Meredith at Like Merchant Ships: Ok, this list is getting REALLY long, but I really do love Meredith's blog. She amazes me with how she keeps things simple, beautiful, and inexpensive without coming across as cheap.  I really like how she shares links to other helpful resources online too. Very practical AND inspiring. 

Have fun out there in Bloggyville y'all!