I'm A Winner!!!

Ok, let me clarify... me making that statement is kind of like when someone says, "I'm hot!" and it sounds like they're being conceited but really they're just saying their body temperature makes them want to stick their head in the freezer.

When I say, "I'm a winner!" I don't mean that I'm cool and exceptional, I mean I'm actually a winner. And it should actually be plural because I now have won TWO different blog giveaways. I'm on a roll people. Somebody hand me a lottery ticket.

Now, if you've been reading this blog for awhile, you'll know that this is not the norm for me. I don't win stuff. And the one time I did win something, I made a complete fool out of myself by swearing into the microphone at church in front of the whole congregation. Now that was a situation where I'm sure many people have sarcastically thought to themselves, "Wow. She's a winner, that one." But hey, what comes into my head flies out of my mouth... we all have our flaws.

So, today I'll be talking about the first of my miraculous giveaway wins. Coloradolady (who ironically lives in Texas... that cracks me up) has been having giveaways on her blog... and not only did I win, but I won on the very first week. You could have knocked me over with a feather. It also happened around the week of Thanksgiving when I wasn't feeling so hot, which made it all the more fun.

But not as much fun as today when it came in the mail. I'm not going to lie, people. The exact same words flew out of my mouth that did on that day in church... only there was no microphone and Riley didn't know enough to point and laugh. But these boxes were amazing.

See that? It is a beautiful, handmade Christmas afghan knitted by Coloradolady herself. I wish you all could see it in person... it's so heavy and warm. My friend Katie, when we were growing up, had some of these blankets at her house that her Grandma had knitted, and we termed them 'Grandma Blankets.' (I know, you're all marveling at our linguistic creativity.) But when we were hanging out in her basement watching Dirty Dancing for the 763rd time, the first thing all of us girls would do is run to take ownership of the good Grandma Blanket.

And now I not only have one, but two.

I'm going to let my friends use my Christmas Grandma Blanket, but this Coloradolady Blanket is all mine. This lovely woman knitted me one to be left out year round, and said a prayer for me with each and every stitch. This blanket will always be treasured in my home.

I know this was above and beyond what she needed to do in that giveaway, and I want all of you to know that every time I wrap up in it I'm going to be grateful for the friendships I've been given by each and every one of you bloggers. There is nothing I could ever want more than what all of you and Coloradolady have been giving to me for so many months...  lovely comments and encouragement and friendship. It truly means the world to me.

But the cutest part of all of this? The fact that Coloradolady's two dogs, Sophie and Dora, didn't want Riley to feel left out. He has a Maltese-sized Grandma Blanket of his very own. And considering it was 3 degrees here last night, it couldn't have come at a better time. :)