I Am A Winner.........

For the first time ever, I have won something in a blog giveaway. This goes beyond the time that Hubby won a new Harley and gave it to me. It even goes beyond my winning a motorcycle the very next year.

My relatively new blogging pal Elena had a little giveaway contest, and I won! I also recently discovered (only because it was in front of my face the whole time) that Elena is the one from whom I shamelessly stole the idea for my 50 Things to Do list. She has a similar list in her sidebar of things to do before her birthday.

When I emailed her to give her my address so she could mail my prize, she said she loved my name. Said it sounded like poetry.

Poetry.

My name. 

That is such a sweet thing to say. It was only in adulthood that I came to grips with having an unusual name that people can't pronounce when they see it or spell when they hear it. I have finally embraced the name (did I have any other choice?), but to hear someone say it sounds like poetry is pretty special.

Sometimes a small thing happens and provides a pick-me-up that I wasn't even aware I needed until it happened. Such is the case with Elena's prize and her sweet remarks. I will hang her creation up at school, where it will remind me not only of Elena's kindness, but of the need to spread that sort of kindness myself. I can't wait for the package to arrive.