The Results are in ... Mother's Day Contest -- 2007

The results are in, and let me just say that it was tough! We had a first place winner, second place winner, third place winner, lots of honorable mentions (you'll see them at Extra Kisses of Sunshine) ... but all, in all ... I'd say EVERYONE submitted fantastic pieces!

You can read every single last entry by going to Extra Kisses of Sunshine... ENJOY!

Ladies, I will be contacting ALL of you on Monday to discuss addresses! And, thank you all for participating and making it extra difficult for us to choose the winners!

And now ... on to the winners:

Submitted by: Tara
Name of Blog / Website: Tara's World

My mother was given this advice when I was a little girl. Yes, the little girl in the story is me. Yes, I remember this bit of advice every spring when my little boys bring me dandelion bouquets with their grubby little hands. Their eyes light up when I express my gratitude over their love offering. I have a steady stream of yellow flowers in my house all during the spring. I do so love a good dandelion bouquet. Enjoy this story, written by my mother and passed on as great advice to me and all mothers of small children.

The Days of Dandelion Bouquets (originally submitted by Sheila Simmons, Tara's mom)

When I was a young mother I took my little girl to a yard sale. The possessions of a very elderly lady were spread out on tables to be sold. My little girl picked up a tiny glass vase and said, "Mama, this is for you. I can pick dandelions for you to put in it."

I turned to look, and as I did a frail voice caught my attention. An elderly woman said to me, "Treasure that little vase and the little girl who wants it. The days of dandelion bouquets will pass by and be gone before you know it."

And she was right.

Blog / Website Address: http://minnesotamamma.blogspot.com/




Submitted by: Tänia
Name of Blog / Website: Weir Blessed

I was 17 years old and about to graduate high school when my boyfriend asked me to marry him. We were absolutely head over heels in love and had been together for three years off and on. Naturally, we thought that the next step was to get married. We were attending marriage classes through our church and were in the big middle of planning our wedding. Everything was perfect! Then, that “still small voice” spoke to my heart and told me very gently to wait. I did not understand that. How could something so perfect be put on hold? I sought advice from my mother on what this meant? WAIT? My mother absolutely did not think I was ready to be married at all. But instead of telling me so, she had been praying for me. And when I came to her with the confusion I felt, instead of trying to persuade me one way or the other, she simply advised me to listen to “that still small voice and know that God never steers us wrong.” I took her advice and followed my heart. I waited. And just a short time later, God brought the man into my life that I have been married to for 26 years! That simple statement has carried me through many things in my life. I listen to that still small voice and as the years have gone by, God has never, ever steered me wrong. Thank you, Mom! You gave me the greatest gift – Faith!

Blog / Website Address: weirblessed.com





Submitted by: Rita
Name of Blog / Website: A Blog in the Life of Rita

Mom's Book -- When I got married my mother gave me a book that she had written just for me. It was just a blank journal filled with her Godly advice and insight about children, husbands, and Spiritual matters. It was a loving and careful way of giving guidance because she realized the importance of letting me grow up and make my own decisions. A tough thing to do when you’re a mom!

The book was titled, "What I Learned the Hard Way (So You Don’t Have To)" and I’ll just share one of her entries that I've been able to apply to my life:

A good rule of thumb for raising children is to say yes unless you can’t. “Can I finger paint?” (Yes) “Can I go play in the sandbox?” (Yes) “Can I have a friend over to play?” (Yes) “Can I eat this candy bar before dinner” (No)

Sometimes we say “No” just because it’s not convenient for us. We don’t want to deal with the mess; we’re too tired, too busy, etc. But, since these children are the most important of our gifts from God, they come first after Him. So say, “Yes!”

I am so thankful to my mom for doing this. It was not an easy gift to make or give, for in my family we are not always the most forthcoming about our feelings. But now, it has become a part of my mother’s legacy and a gift going on through the generations, for I will not only pass on my book to my daughter, but also write my own and let this generational link continue. Although, I can’t say that the "sequel" will be as good as the original.

Blog / Website Address: http://blog.myspace.com/lvlyrta

Mother's Day Contest -- 2007

Well, first let me start by saying that y'all are just blowing my socks off with the beautiful, and at times funny, entries that have even brought tears to my eyes. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such talented women that truly love their mothers! You have each made this contest difficult to judge!!! That, my friends ... is a very good thing.

Today is the last day that you can email me your entry. The topic is: "The one most special piece of advice your mother or mother figure ever told you" and should be 1500 characters or less. You have up until 11:59 pm, EST to email me your entries to: kissesof.sunshine@yahoo.com. They will be judged tomorrow, and the winner will be announced on Sunday.

Many people have asked if I could share all the entries with you... I would love to, and I will plan on placing them all on my Kisses of Sunshine "extra" blog and provide you with a link. If you have emailed an entry, and you would rather not have me publish it, please let me know as soon as possible. Also, if you provided an entry and did not provide your blog address, or your screen name (or, in some instances, do not have a blog or website), I will use your first name only as credit to the entry, unless otherwise notified.

Now ... on to the judges ... I am so excited to have these two ladies helping judge this contest ... they are my dear "sister's-in-love" -- SBee and Sunshine. They are both remarkable women who have really had a life full of experiences that have made them stronger, more compassionate, and wonderful mothers. I admire them, and love them dearly, and I am honored to call them my sisters. I will be sending them all the "blind entries" tomorrow so they can help me judge which one will be the winner of the Tommy Hilfiger Purse and goodies ... but as far as I'm concerned, each of the entries are winners already!

Thank you all for participating!

Calling all LADIES ...

This is a Reminder Re-Post: If you are a woman, and you have a mother or mother figure in your life ... you're invited to enter Kisses of Sunshine's Mother's Day Contest! All women are invited to enter, and you do NOT need to have a blog to enter.

In honor of Mother's Day, Kisses of Sunshine is hosting a special Mother's Day Contest. Mother's Day is a time to reflect ... a time to give thanks ... and a time to show your love and appreciation, honoring the woman that you call "Mother."

What to do:

All you have to do is submit a paragraph to me (no more than 1,500 characters, including spaces) via e-mail, that tells me the one most special piece of advice your mother or mother figure ever told you, no later than Thursday, May 10, 2007, 11:59 p.m., EST. My email address is in the sidebar to the left.

All the entries will then be reviewed, and the winner will be announced on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13th. Please feel free to submit a picture of you and your mother in either a jpeg, gif, or bmp format, and if your paragraph is chosen as the winning entry, I will post your picture also. In the subject line, please type the words: Mother's Day Contest Entry

The winner will: 1) have their paragraph (and picture, if included) posted on my blog; 2) receive a beautiful (brand new) fabric black and white floral-print Tommy Hilfiger bag (valued at $55) with black leather trim and silver-toned "Hilfiger" hardware, filled with all kinds of little goodies ... which will be mailed out via postal service the following week; 3) will receive all kinds of shout-outs and link love on Kisses of Sunshine (and you KNOW you want that -- lol!).

Ey -- Canadians ... please enter, too!!!!

Please submit real stories only, but you may, in order to protect the innocent, omit or change names in the story.

Important Rules:
1. All complete entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., EST, via email to kissesof.sunshine@yahoo.com, May 10, 2007
2. In the subject line, you must type the words: Mother's Day Contest Entry
3. You don't have to be a mother to enter.
4. Your mother doesn't have to be alive to enter.
5. Your mother doesn't have to have "given birth" to you in order to enter.
6. You must provide me with your real name and address if chosen as the winner (which will be kept confidential -- to my death bed).

Pictures of Prize: (sorry for poor quality -- taken with my cell phone, and plastic wrapping is still on the handles) -- 1) picture of actual purse; 2) close-up picture of fabric; 3) picture of tag; 4) picture of hardware.

Mother's Day Contest -- 2007

If you are a woman, and you have a mother or mother figure in your life ... you're invited to enter Kisses of Sunshine's Mother's Day Contest!

In honor of Mother's Day, Kisses of Sunshine is hosting a special Mother's Day Contest. Mother's Day is a time to reflect ... a time to give thanks ... and a time to show your love and appreciation, honoring the woman that you call "Mother."

All women are invited to enter this special contest! You do NOT need to have a blog to enter.





What to do:

All you have to do is submit a paragraph to me (no more than 1,500 characters, including spaces) via e-mail, that tells me the one most special piece of advice your mother or mother figure ever told you, no later than Thursday, May 10, 2007, 11:59 p.m., EST. My email address is in the sidebar to the left.

All the entries will then be reviewed, and the winner will be announced on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13th. Please feel free to submit a picture of you and your mother in either a jpeg, gif, or bmp format, and if your paragraph is chosen as the winning entry, I will post your picture also. In the subject line, please type the words: Mother's Day Contest Entry

The winner will: 1) have their paragraph (and picture, if included) posted on my blog; 2) receive a beautiful (brand new) fabric black and white floral-print Tommy Hilfiger bag (valued at $55) with black leather trim and silver-toned "Hilfiger" hardware, filled with all kinds of little goodies ... which will be mailed out via postal service the following week; 3) will receive all kinds of shout-outs and link love on Kisses of Sunshine (and you KNOW you want that -- lol!).

Ey -- Canadians ... please enter, too!!!!

Please submit real stories only, but you may, in order to protect the innocent, omit or change names in the story.

Important Rules:
1. All complete entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m., EST, via email to kissesof.sunshine@yahoo.com, May 10, 2007
2. In the subject line, you must type the words: Mother's Day Contest Entry
3. You don't have to be a mother to enter.
4. Your mother doesn't have to be alive to enter.
5. Your mother doesn't have to have "given birth" to you in order to enter.
6. You must provide me with your real name and address if chosen as the winner (which will be kept confidential -- to my death bed).

Pictures of Prize: (sorry for poor quality -- taken with my cell phone, and plastic wrapping is still on the handles) -- 1) picture of actual purse; 2) close-up picture of fabric; 3) picture of tag; 4) picture of hardware.