Sit Down in Our Thinking Chair

Award time! I love this award, because it is my very first bloggy-award, but also because it is not a stand alone award...once you are nominated you then get to go nominate not one, but five more bloggers who inspire you to think! Pay it forward! I was doubly nominated by Mad and Jen (no, not that Jen). I have only just begun reading over at Jen's, but I will definitely be making it a frequent stop. Mad herself would definitely be one of my nominees, but I think we're supposed to play by the no-tag-backs rule. She inspires me to think about larger issues on a daily basis. I often finish one of her posts and am unable to comment, because she does such a wonderful job that it makes me brain turn to mush. I cannot think of anything to add to what she has so wonderfully conveyed. I think one of the reasons the Blogosphere is such an amazing place is that we are all teachers and at the same time we are all students. We all post about things that are important to us, and through that we open each other's eyes to the large issues out there. It is an exchange of knowledge and passion and awareness. It makes us all better people. Without further ado, here are five bloggers who engage my heart and mind each and every time they post. (It was impossibly difficult to choose only five!)

1. Ben and Bennie. I know that Bennie does the blogging, but I had to list them both, because Ben does so much of the inspiring through his father's words and art. Posts like this one entitled "Don't Be Afraid." are what makes Bennie's writing so inspiring and thoughtful. The longer I am in the world of special needs, the more I realize that there is too much fear directed at people who are different, when really and truly, they are not all that different. Bennie and Ben remind me of that on a daily basis. No matter how different the outside might appear, the inside is all heart and passion and beauty and we all miss out when we don't take the time to see that in every person we encounter.

2. Christy and Elias, of course. Posts like these make my brain work in overdrive. With the birth of a special child, a special mother is born. Christy is articulate and inspiring. She brings up relevant issues and engages her readers to dive in and think of solutions or at least start a dialogue about them. She is all heart and it shows through her writing. This post entitled "Neonatology at the Edge" discusses the issues of resuscitation in micro-preemies. Her beautiful son Elias was born at 25 weeks and needed to be resuscitated. You cannot look at the photos of her gorgeous, thriving three year old without feeling the pangs of loss for the mothers whose children did not benefit from the same medical intervention. You cannot help but challenge the medical communities definition of a "positive outcome" or disagree with their view on "quality of life." You cannot ready Christy's writing and not be moved.

3. Moreena. Moreena is a gorgeous writer. She is passionate, funny, and intelligent. Issues like organ donation could not be closer to her heart and she does an amazing job conveying that. That post made Josh and I sit down and decide once and for all that we are organ donors. There is no reason to selfishly cling to organs we no longer need and that could go on to save the lives of others. Her writing is both entertaining and educational, and I daresay it may save more than one life in the future through the knowledge that she shares with her readers.

4. Her Bad Mother. Through sharing her darling nephew with us, she taught each of us a lesson in giving. She gave us the opportunity to step outside of ourselves and reach out to a special little boy and other children like him. She has taught my son what it is to love someone you've never met and given him an opportunity to do something for another child who needs him. We talk about Tanner at least three times a week. BubTar asks if we can go to Canada to visit, or if Tanner cane come play on the trampoline with him. He asks if he can send Tanner e-cards or call him on the phone. He tells his teachers that he has a friend in Canada named Tanner who he sends letters to. HBM has taught our entire family a wonderful lesson and I am so thankful for that. Outside of those priceless lessons, each day I put on my thinking cap as I visit her blog. She always has something to teach and does an amazing job tackling social issues.

5. Last, but not least, Raehan. I love visiting her blog, it is like cozying up with in front of a fire with great friends. The things things she teaches are more about living in the moment and being a better person than tackling the latest social injustice, but those are equally important issues. Her posts move you on the inside, they make your heart swell and help you realize that you still can be whoever you want to be. These are the things we stop thinking about as adults, as the windows for hopes and dreams to come true seems to close a bit more every day; and her blog is a priceless reminder that there is always still time to fufill hopes and dreams and become the person you always dreamt of being.