Wow! An award?????

my sweet friend, APRIL, gave me this award, so now it's time for me to pass it on. it comes with rules and they are below!

1.The recipient must link back to the award's creator. (The Babblings of Mere)
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids

So here are my 5 (which really are hard to choose, by the way...but i'm going to do like april did and try to choose people who won't necessarily choose each other, etc.)!

drum-roll, please................

1) LISA - my new friend that i have met through blogging. she is actually married to a guy who was a few years ahead of me at pillow! a mom of 2 precious kiddos, her family recently moved to fairhope, alabama, and she is keeping us all updated with pictures and stories!

2) NICKI - one of my favorite cousins-in-law. she and tommy are 2nd cousins. she's a blogger of all bloggers who updates the life of jonah ALL of the time so that those of us who don't live nearby never miss a beat! she's also a working mom and a pastor's wife. she deserves an award!

3) MELANIE - i really don't know melanie - just though blogging! she has 3 kids, is a wife to a husband that she adores, and keeps us all updated on their lives constantly! she is also a thrifty mom like me and posts her good deals and finds to help you out!

4) ALISON - my stranger friend (that i got to meet today!) has some unbelievably adorable kids! she is a working mom/wife who joins in my frustrations often of being a servant and not being served (i.e. doing doing doing doing and not having anything done for you in return!). she seems to never meet a stranger and i know that i could call her up and she'd be there to help me! oh - and today when i met her, she was in true southern form - she brought me fresh blueberries and even gave mary peyton 2 of mamie's old swimsuits! i love her.

and last, but certainly not least,

5) ASHLEY - one of my "real" friends (not just in the blog world) who is so incredible. she is still a newlywed (just had her 1 year anniversary!) who is also expecting her first child early next year! she is such a strong Christian who is an inspiration to me. she deserves this!

thanks, april, for giving me my first EVER blog award! i was shocked to be chosen and want to thank.....(hahahahaha - i've never had to give an acceptance speech and wouldn't be good at it anyway!)

but just so you know, here's what april said about me:
"1.) Suzanne - The busiest girl on the block, she always takes time to update her blog, her cake business blog, her SS class blog, and I am pretty sure she even created a blog for her daddy. She deserves an award, and I am giving it to her! "