READY. SET. BID!!!!

Cheri (she's the one I just hosted a baby shower for) and Bob, along with a team of helpers, have launched a fantastic online auction to raise the money they need to bring their daughter home from Ethiopia. They have passed court and will probably be traveling in late June. Due to some miraculous timing, they will not have to meet Ethiopia's new requirement for adoptive parents to travel twice. However, international adoptions are still very costly and you have a fun opportunity to help them out by bidding in their auction.

The auction runs from 6/3-6/13, but I got a sneak preview last night. Oh my word!! I was blown away by all the items and services that were donated. It's amazing!

First, I want to thank my readers, some who have never met Cheri, who donated to the auction. You know who you are and I appreciate your generosity. Second, I'm asking all my readers to go check out the auction. While some things, particularly services, will work best for people in or around the Portland metro area, there are a gazillion other things that would be great for people living anywhere.

Shop for yourself. Shop for Father's Day. Shop for summer weddings. Shop for baby showers. Shop for Christmas. Shop for birthday gifts. And if you really don't feel like shopping, then you can just donate directly through a link on the auction site.

Still not convinced it's worth your time? Well, how about if I tell you a few of the things up for bidding? There is a little overlap between categories, but check out this list.

* Six different bed & breakfast or hotel accommodations, one including whitewater rafting, some in historic locations, others at the coast.

* Ten activities, including horseback riding, rafting, indoor gym for kids, and dance classes.

* Ten items relating to art & photography, including photo shoots, custom paintings, and yard decor.

* Fifteen baby & kid things, including professional childcare services, handmade clothing items, nursery decor, and books.

* Eleven health and beauty services, including tanning, massages, haircuts, and facials.

* Four classes, including cooking and coffee roasting.

* One music option, but it's a big one - a handmade, custom, acoustic guitar.

* Fourteen food-related opportunities, including a four course meal for eight, free monthly pizza for a year, free monthly dessert for a year, and organic Ethiopian coffee.

* Twenty-two goods and services, including $100 at Oil Can Henry's, designer soaps, 6' x 9' area rug, and a child's easel.

* Two jewelry offerings, one with Czech glass beads and the other sterling silver.

Surely there is something on that list that intrigues you. Maybe something you were already planning on paying for, but could do through the auction and have all your money go toward giving a little girl a family. If not, then know that there are items I didn't list, so you better go check it out for yourself!! Then tell your friends about it, post info about it on your blog, link to it on Facebook, etc. Just spread the word!