Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thankful Thursday-Candle Lighter Award

This morning I opened up an email from a special blog that I follow, One Spoiled Cat and discovered that I had received a huge honor, I had received an award,  The Candle Lighter Blog Award!


Thank you Sammy!!!!



What touched me the most about this particular award was that it was for bloggers who "light a candle in the darkness with their blog." or who "bring light into the world with their blogs"

THAT, in my opinion is an incredible honor.

I may not be the most knowledgeable, Facebook "liked" or Twitter "followed", technologically savvy, esteemed  or prolific of the cat writers on the web, but to know that Cat Chat made Sammy of One Spoiled Cat smile or brightened his day is the ultimate reward.

My goal when I started Cat Chat back in the Fall of 2009, knowing NOTHING about blogging, was simply to take my love of cats and create a warm and cozy corner where other cat lovers could convene, be made to feel welcome, and share their love of cats with mine through entertaining posts, videos, photos, stories and products.
My "Baby Bobo"

I never set out to be a cat maven, nor do I think that I am. I am merely like many of YOU. I love cats. Plain and simple. I dedicated Cat Chat to my beloved "soul kitty" Bobo...and wanted this blog to also serve as a THANK YOU to him, for the 18 years that he unselfishly gave ME the honor of sharing my life with HIM. For 18 wonderful years HE was the candle that lit MY life. The day he left this earth he took a portion of that light with him that will never be re-lit.

To my Bobo, I THANK YOU. I THANK YOU for your love, your life and for ultimately being the heart of Cat Chat. If you hadn't been on this earth, Cat Chat would never have been possible and I wouldn't have been able to meet so many other wonderful cat lovers such as Sammy and the other individual I am honored to present this award to. THANK YOU.

One cool thing about this award is when it is presented to you, you don't have to do anything. Being the contrary, cantankerous individual that I am, that translated to well of course I am going to give this to another deserving blog, if I HAD to I wouldn't, but tell me I don't have to and it's all systems go!
The handsome "Brian"
he bears a striking resemblance
to Bobo doesn't he?

The blogger/blog I would like to pass this special award on to is Brian from Brian's Home. Brian also has a blog that is a labor of love, his mission in his own words  is to "Adopt Cats, We Deserve It!" From the first day I started to follow Brian's blog there was never a time that I read it that I wasn't touched in some way, either through stories about his own cats, his unselfishness in helping other bloggers and primarily through his mission to help thousands of homeless cats find their furever homes, every day he "brings light into the world through his blog". Brian was the first cat who came into my mind when I was deciding whom to pass this most touching award on to.

To Brian I say, THANK YOU, thank you for your regular visits/comments to Cat Chat and the often hilarious comments that you leave, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO....please accept this award presented to you with love and gratitude, why? Because "YOU DESERVE IT!"

38 comments:

  1. Oh my goodnes, I am honored and touched, completely. Congrats on receiving such an outstanding award and thanks so much for sharing it with us. Caren, your blog always lights the way, and that light helps illuminate the smiles you bring with you. Thanks again dear friends.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on your award Caren, I agree you and Cody are a light in a dark place :-) I think you picked a wonderful recipient in Brian, he is a fantastic cat who does so much to help so many kitties!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful award!! Congratulations! You truly deserve this! May your blog continue to light up the blogosphere!

    Awww what a lovely tribute to sweet angel Bobo too!

    Hoorah for Brian's blog - me and Charlie love him and his wonderful sisfurs - they do so much too to help furriends in need!

    Take care
    x

    ReplyDelete
  4. This made my whole morning!!! You and BoBo deserve this and so many other awards for how you touch/touched lives every day. Wish I coulda met that wonderful kitty...but he lives through your wonderful blog.Thanks for making life in this day and age a little more bearable with his memory and your gift of blogging:D Sue and Rosie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations, Caren—you certainly deserve this award—your blog is a joy to visit every day, and your selfless desire to pass along the award to another deserving soul underscores your compassionate and caring heart.

    Happy New Year to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Caren and Cody.....Sammy was so excited when HE received this award for all the reasons you said here - it's nice to think that we make someone else's day a little brighter! CAT CHAT is so deserving of the award and when Sam suggested it (!!) I was totally on board....We're on our way to visit your friend Brian's blog now.

    BIG HUGS to you both from Sammy and me!

    xxoo Sam and Pam

    ReplyDelete
  7. Concatas to that great award. Brian is a wonderful recipient also. I started my blog with the hope that if I could make people laugh, then I would help make their day more enjoyable. Your blog makes me day more enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Brian...see what I mean about your comments always being great? lol!!! You had me teary-eyed!! You are welcome and I deeply THANK YOU!

    @Sammy and Pam as I said you DEEPLY TOUCHED me and I am so honored. It is moments like these that when I am feeling burned out (as I often feel), that remind me why I am doing this to begin with! Please give Sammy some extra treats, kisses and cuddles from Cody and I! Much love!

    @skkorman I am deeply touched!! Thank you!!! But......I passed it on because Brian truly deserves it! He deserves it more than I do! Thanks so much for your kind words! xoxoxo

    @catspoiler OMG that was just beyond sweet and is making me cry as well!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!! Congratulations on starting your FIRST blog and I told you girlfriend, I am here if you need me! xoxoxo

    @Old Kitty THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! You are also beyond kind and you are also one that is ALWAYS here visiting us and don't think for one moment that it isn't HUGELY APPRECIATED!! We love you and Charlie! xoxoxo

    @Cat I thank you from the bottom of my heart! You always make me smile and I thank you!! xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Congrats Caren and Cody. You do lighten up my days.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations on such a wonderful award! It is definitely well-deserved.

    Our Mom would like to send you a message about your comment on Samson's allergies but she can't find a 'contact' button. Can you send her a message on our contact button on our page so she can reply?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Congratulations, Caren. You so deserve this award. And sweet Brian is wonderful in the help he gives to cats getting their forever homes. I'm so happy that you passed to him.

    ReplyDelete
  12. @CK THANK YOU!! To me, making someone's day more enjoyable is what it's all about and that it the highest compliment that I could ever hope to receive. YOU also ALWAYS make my day more enjoyable whenever I read your fabulously written blog with its wicked sense of humor that I soooo love! Thank you!

    @Great Granny thank you!! Anyone that reads Cat Chat regularly knows that as a rule I don't like to pass on awards to other bloggers because I wouldn't be following all of the blogs that I am following if I didn't love them...but I agree that in this case it was an exception and in my opinion Brian was the choice that came flying into my mind! That being said, I LOVE everyone that I follow!

    @Bassetmomma thank you!

    @The Monkeys glad you found it!! Thank you!

    @Linda B thank you so much! That is what my intent is!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congratulations, Caren!!! What a beautiful and heartfelt award. You are so deserving of it...and to share it with Brian, well that couldn't be more perfect.

    We have not met Sammy before...so now we are off to discover One Spoiled Cat!

    Thank you for being a bright spot in our day too!
    xo
    Katie & Glogirly

    ReplyDelete
  14. Many Congratulations, Caren and Cody :). Very well deserved xox

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations! Well-deserved to be sure!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi, there,
    I'm visiting from One Spoiled Cat, being the one who passed this award to him. I just love Pam and Sam!
    I've seen Cat Chat mentioned here in blog-land, but never visited before.
    When I read about your Baby Bobo and how you referred to him as your "soul kitty", I knew that your relationship with him was exactly as mine was with my former kitty, Beezy. He was my kitty soul--mate.
    I'm signing up to follow your blog. My current kitty, the sassy Miss Sundae, occasionally takes over writing duties at my blog. Hope you'll visit!
    Dianna

    ReplyDelete
  17. Concatulations on your award, and I can't think of anyone more deserving to pass it along to than Brian! He and his humans work SO hard to help kitties find homes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Brian is adorable!
    ConCATUlations for so deserved award!
    purrs and love
    Luna - WE LOVE LUNA

    ReplyDelete
  19. Here Here... You both completely deserve it. The award is just where it deserves to be. I love both your blog and Brian's. Congratulations on doing such a super job.

    Pawhugs, Max

    ReplyDelete
  20. How exciting! Congratulations
    Benny & Lily

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on a really great award. We always like to visit you but don't always get chance to comment. It is impossibble to comment on every blog even though we wish we could.
    Brian is an excellent and very deserving choice to pass the award on to.

    ReplyDelete
  22. @Katie and Glogirly THANK YOU! That was so sweet and you know I think the world of you too!!!

    @Eric and Flynn I share your frustration on not always being able to comment. I'm not going to be able to tonight myself. Have a blog to work on for Dakota and a book to read for Cody's blog...believe me I know!!! I just meant that somehow Brian always does (not that it isn't good when others sometimes can't)...believe me I am guilty of it myself! There just aren't enough hours in the day! Brian was one of the first that I met in the very early days of my blog, you are all special!!!

    @Benny and Lily thank you!

    @Max thank you!!!!!! That means a lot! ((((hugs)))) back!

    @Luna deepest thank you!! xoxo

    @Sparkle thank you and sooooo true!

    @Dianna thank you so much for stopping by! I am on my way over as soon as I finish this comment. I just met Pam and Sammy a few months ago and I am thrilled to have found them, and now YOU! I can't wait to hear more about your former soul kitty "Beezy" (how cute, Beezy and Bobo!!) and I LOVE the name Miss Sundae (adorable!) Shame on me for not mentioning that my current kitty (Cody) also shares blogging duties with me as well and he deserves the award more than I do! Thank you for giving Pam and Sammy this most deserved award! I am on my way over!

    @Tucker thank you!!

    @Carolyn thank you sooooooo much! xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congratulations on your award Cody and Caren. A lovely tribute and a great start to 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Awww, that's wonderful. Congrats on your award!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear Caren and Cody, Yous has touched our lives so we knows exactly why yous should (and did) get the award and Brian, he is the bestest too!.
    Kisses and hugs to everybody
    Nellie

    ReplyDelete
  26. Aunty Caren,
    You made me wanna sing Debbie Boone's famous song....
    Coz you light up my life....

    Yeay for Brian! purrr....meow!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Congratulations to Caren and Cody! It's definitely well-deserved!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Caren - what a beautiful post. Congrats on the award, and I think it is wonderful you are sharing with Brian. You both are so amazing and really help the cats out there (and the human assistants who love them)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Congratulations! I love the bloggers who "light a candle in the darkness with their blog." or who "bring light into the world with their blogs" part, how cool is that??

    ReplyDelete
  30. @Au and Target thank you sooo much!!!

    @Kathy that is what I love about it so much too, it is a HUGE honor! Thank you!

    @Hilary you are beyond kind, I THANK YOU!!! (((((hugs)))))

    @Priscilla thank you!!

    @Cat From Sydney....lmao, leave it to YOU! lol

    @Nellie Awwwwwwwww you are the SWEETEST!!! ((((((hug))))))) LOVE YOU!!

    @Pat thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Congratulations Caren & Cody. [and Bobo who is surely watching down] I'm so happy for you. We all knew the blog was awesome, but it's nice to have an award so you know it too, lol. Thanks for all you do. Getting to know you and Cody has certainly brightened up my life!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow, what a great award! Congratulations, it is very deserved!

    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congratulations on receiving that special award, very well-deserved. And it is awesome that you passed it to Brian, they are truly special too.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Congratulations on an award well deserved! You have a great blog! We think you passing it on to Brian is a great idea...another well deserving blog. Have a great weekend. Hugs and nose kisses

    ReplyDelete
  35. You really deserve this award! You always light up my world with your blog, even if I sometimes get a little teary.

    ReplyDelete