How Did You Find Me?

I'm borrowing from two of my favorite bloggers, Meredith and Christine, and doing a "How Did You Find Me?" post.

So how (and maybe even when) did you find us? Do we know each other in real life? Did we meet in Ukraine? Did we connect through facebook? Did you find us while researching adoption? Did we find you first?

Leave a comment and let us know! It's fun to see all the different connections...

Monetizing your blog

Just curious - if you have a blog, do you use AdSense to monetize it?

If so, how has that worked out for you? Does it seem secure? Is it worth the hassle?

Blog roll update

I just updated the blog roll.

If you have a blog that's not on here and you'd like to be added, leave a comment with first names and blog link.

If you are on the list but your info is incorrect, leave a comment with the correct/updated information.

Click HERE to see the blog roll, or simply click on the BLOGS link on the right hand side of this page.

Blog Roll

I just updated our blog roll. Click HERE to see it.

Are you listed on it? If not, would you like to be? Just leave a comment with your first names & your link!

16 Days and Counting!!!

Cool Fundraiser

Just a friendly reminder - don't forget to check out my friend Shay's Auction blog. They are raising money to bring their daughter from China.  She has some great items up for auction, and is continually adding new items as well!



And if you haven't already done so, be sure to read the blog post below this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Post Worth Sharing

Sometimes I'll read a post on a blog and it will really stand out to me. Melanie's March 12th blog post did just that.

In this particular post, Melanie is totally transparent about the fears she experienced when she & her husband went to Eastern Europe eight years ago to adopt their daughter Natalie. She is also eloquent and humble in describing how God broke her and molded her through that experience.

Please click HERE to read the post. I pray that it will move you to pursue orphan care in some capacity. I honestly don't know how you can read it and not be moved to do something.

Ukraine Adoption Blogs

I've been working on updating the blog roll (see link on the side bar to the left).  If you would like to be added, please comment on this post. Include first names of you & your spouse, your blog address, and where you are in the process.

I know our first time around, I was always thankful to find blog rolls where I could follow other families and see the latest goings-on in Ukrainian adoption.  Hopefully this blog roll will do the same for someone else!

I made a new bloggy friend over the past few weeks!  She and her husband are in the midst of the fun of a Ukrainian adoption, and they just started a fundraiser auction site, too.  Take a peek by clicking the picture below (isn't it so cute?!?!)...

My first blog award :)

Thanks to Christine for my very first blog award! Christine is blogging to help raise funds for Kiril from Reece's Rainbow.

There are two rules to accepting the award:

1. Accept the award, and post it on your blog, together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they've been chosen for this award.

Fifteen is a big number (and a few of my faves have already been nominated). So you can label me a non-conformist rule-breaker. But here are my EIGHT nominees...

1. What Box? You've probably read posts about or friends the Davis family. Well this is my good friend Deanna! Deanna has such an amazing heart and is a gifted writer. She writes about day to day life, and on occasion she reflects on their 3 years of mission work in Germany.
2. The Never Ending Story This is Stefanie (& Bill's) blog about their 4 Ukrainian cuties. Peter was adopted in 2006. William, Patrick, & Joseph were adopted in 2008. And they're now in the process of adopting from Ukraine once again! (We're hoping we might get to see each other while in country next year!)
3. The Great Adventure I've gotten to know Marcie through blog, email, and telephone over the past year. She & Josh just returned from Ukraine a few weeks ago with their precious daughter Isabel. They used one of our fabulous facilitators :)
4. Just Living 'the dream' I love reading Shad & Jen's blog! This is another family that I've never met in person (we hope to meet one day, though!) but I feel like I know them. It was awesome to watch as they brought home Grace & Grady from Ukraine. And I so enjoy following along with the happenings of their 5 kiddos!
5. No Greater Gift Quite some time ago I was captured by the face of Ruslana on Reece's Rainbow, and began praying for her. And a few months ago I found out a family had committed to her. It's been great to follow their blog - and also exciting to watch as they were led to adopt an infant with DS while waiting to travel for Ruslana. They're about to leave the country to get Ruslana, so their blog will be private for a while. But please pray for this sweet family and their journey!
6. Georgia on my Mind, Ethiopia in my Heart Chad & Candy are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia. Candy and I met on fb through a mutual friend - it's funny how many people you meet through the word "adoption"! Candy has such a fun sense of humor, and it's awesome to watch as they wait for God's plan to unfold.
7. The Dahlbys Heather & I met in high school, and she is one of my sis-in-law's best buds. We reconnected during our journey to William, and now we enjoy keeping up with each other through our blogs. Heather is a fantastic photographer, and I always enjoy seeing her 2 blond headed cuties and their latest adventures!
8. Isn't She Lovely Shay is another friend with a great eye for photography! Her oldest daughter is my bro-in-law's girlfriend. Shay's youngest daughter was born in China, and this family is in the process of adopting another daughter from China.