Angels aren't just in Heaven Part 2

The first Angel I have chosen to thank now is someone who gave me a lot of encouragement as I learned to become a lensmaster. Once again I was intrigued by her Avatar, and the support she gave everyone and wanted to know who she was.

Katinka Hesselink is better known on Squidoo as Spirituality. She also has several outside Blogs including this one that is mostly connected to her Avatar and online name. Katinka's Spiritual Blog

I remember when I was so worried about the Giant Challenge and if I needed to make more than the required 50 lenses. I went into SquidU and asked the question," when is enough enough", and afterward I kept getting email alerts to comments on different lenses. I thought it was because my lenses were being reviewed, but when I finally got over to the lenses they were all from Katinka. She made a comment that she wanted to see for herself if they were "good enough". Wow, I was happy that she took the time to go look, and not only did she look but she left comments, and a few blessings. The next thing I knew she commented that she was going to showcase some of my lenses. And what a shock when I saw this Blog Post she wrote on her Squidoo Friends Blog.

It's so important to new people that someone takes the time to visit their lenses, and even more so when they help them in other ways. I really think Spirituality was the first Angel I was really aware of, as she kept popping up on my lenses. Her Avatar is hard to miss!

So, Katinka, I would like to say Thank you! I am very happy you have that new position and your Angel powers have been restored through it. You're a great resource for SEO, one of the best, so being a Mentor is perfect!.

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There is no way I can skip Katherine Carington Smith this time. I met her on the Wiwon Team in the September 2009 Giant Challenge and was very impressed with everything she was doing to help our team. She seemed to be everywhere- helping others not just in our small Group, but throughout the larger Squidoo Community! I thought she was one of the best Angels, and was sad when her wings were retired.

I have to say thank you to 0ctavias0fferings (Katherine) for the hours and hours that she put in helping not just me, but a lot of other people too. I remember the first time I really noticed her was in the chat section of our group. She had a funny little hat on, and a great big long name.....Katherine Carington Smith! I love this name! And once again I didn't know she was OctaviasOfferings, or an Angel.

One of the things I wrote about was being a survivor, and I'm not sure how I found her lens on the same subject, but I did and the connection was there. We forget sometimes that Angels and Mentors are also lensmasters, mothers, daughters, wives, and friends with their own work and own lives off the computer. Katherine was one of the first ones that broke through the computer screen and I could feel a bit of who she was. This made me listen to her even more, even when I didn't understand something. I trust her and respect her, and miss her flying around the community with her Angel wings always fluttering to help someone else.

Katherine I don't know if you know how much you touched me, but you did. I thank you so much for being here for us, and for everything! Heck you were even in my head last night when I was making a lens, HYMALAT LOL :) Yep, the lessons you taught through your personal style are ones I will never forget. Angel wings can't really be retired, so whether you have official wings, or unofficial you will always be an Angel to me!

The third Angel I want to thank is AJ2008. I am not exactly sure when I first remember seeing AJ, I mean when her name became ingrained in my Squidoo consciousness, but I do know how important she is. I see her all the time helping people.

Just like the first set of Angels I wrote about, I saw AJ on Twitter. She didn't just write about updating her lenses, but actually paid attention to other people. That's a very important part of any community; engaging others, and doing what you can to make it better. AJ is always on Squid U giving advice and visiting other people's lenses. I know she has visited mine several times. But what really made me pay attention was that she has such a variety of interests, and most specifically writing.

It took me a long time to decide if AJ was real or not as I am not the most trusting person in the world. Just recently, I had written something on Twitter and AJ sent me a private message. That short conversation is what solidified in my mind that she was indeed real. That, and the fact that she follows through on things is what makes AJ so special.

I heard her wings are being retired, and that is a sad thing in some ways, but I know that she will continue to be one of the nicest and most helpful members of our community.

I truly want to thank you AJ. I know how much you do, especially in the forums, and your quiet words, and soft demeanor have been a real asset to all of us! I think you should frame your Angel wings, and add a little heart to them, because that is how I see you....an angel with a heart!

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When I joined the Wiwon Team I was assigned to the Stazjia Stars Group. The name sounded to me like some new wave type of thing, and I was so unsure about the whole Giant Challenge I really felt I wanted to be with someone I "knew". So I asked if I could be in a different group, and was given permission. During the challenge I kept seeing Carol and loved all the support she was giving to others. But I still didn't know she was the Lensmaster Stazjia. It was much later, that I learned who she was, and was quite embarrassed when I asked, "Oh, are you Stazjia?"

Michelle laughed when I told her that I shouldn't have asked to change, and boy did I hate that "I told you so." It turned out that Carol was a writer, and had so many of the skills that I admired, and experiences that I could identify with. Even though I wasn't in her group she, along with Katherine, took me under their wings and helped me every step of the way through the challenge. I had my own mentoring group!

I also didn't know she was an Angel, until one day I looked at something she had written. Wow, it seemed I was surrounded by Angels and didn't even know it. I even remarked "Are ALL the Coaches on the Wiwon team Angels?"

Just yesterday Carol wrote something about Critiques and I asked her if she would look at a few of mine, as I am always nervous as to quality and mistakes. Her reply is exactly why I am so grateful to her. This is what she said when I asked, "Kathy, of course I'll critique your lens if you give me the URL." That is the spirit of an Angel, a mentor, and someone that I admire a lot.

So Carol, you didn't know I was writing this, but I will add an extra Thank You to the million other ones I have for you. I truly am grateful for your help, humor, and guidance. You make Squidoo a fun place to be. Thank you!

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