BOOKS I FINISHED - FEBRUARY 2023

 

Gender Roles and the People of God: Rethinking What We Were Taught About Men and Women in the Church, written by Alice Matthews

A reading challenge I'm doing this year has a category of "a book that challenges your viewpoint". I won't talk publicly about my viewpoint on gender roles within the church, the things I feel either confident or unsure about, but my experience has been heavily on the complementarian side.

Every church I can remember attending has either been complementarian, meaning men and women have different roles within the church (and home) based on gender, or appeared that way on the surface (meaning the denomination wasn't, but the specific congregation happened to play out that way).

A book that teaches the egalitarian side, that roles are always based on skills or giftings instead of gender, but does so with biblical support instead of just an "anything men can do, women can do better" or "girl boss" attitude, would help me to have a more balanced understanding of the topic while also helping me cross another book off my challenge list.

This book was well-written and not emotionally charged or with an anti-men tone, which I really appreciated. The first two-thirds looks at the issue from a biblical vantage point and is filled with Bible verses. (Sidenote: If you're a follower of Jesus reading a faith-based book that takes a stance on an issue, I think it's critical that it have lots of Bible verses you can look up and study for yourself.) The last third looks at it from a historical context, moving from the first century to modern times. 

Regardless of whether you agree with the author's perspective, I think the book is worth reading because she's articulate, respectful, values the Bible, and is clear about her guidelines for interpreting scripture. 

The Last Thing He Told Me, written by Laura Dave

As if having her new husband mysteriously disappear wasn't hard enough, a woman soon discovers the man she loves isn't who she believed him to be. How does she follow his final request of her, that she protect his daughter, without actually knowing what she's protecting her step-daughter from? This is a novel of truth and lies, the danger that comes with each option, and what it means to love sacrificially. I chose this book for the "adventure/espionage" category of a book challenge I'm doing this year.

p. 266, This is the thing about good and evil. They aren't so far apart - and they often start from the same valiant place of wanting something to be different. 

The Memory Keeper's Daughter, written by Kim Edwards

An orthopedic surgeon and his nurse have to unexpectedly deliver he and his wife's baby. That one baby turns out to be unexpected twins, and one has Down's syndrome. The already life-changing moment of becoming a parent is made even more impacting when the man makes an impulsive decision that will radically and permanently change the lives of all five people in the delivery room. The consequences of deception have a ripple effect one can never fully anticipate and lies meant to protect can cause more damage than the truth. This book was the February part of a year-long gift from a friend, one book to unwrap and read each month.

p. 78, "You can't spend the rest of your life tiptoeing around to try and avert disaster. It won't work. You'll just end up missing the life you have."

p. 247, (S)he had been so young, so lonely and naive, that she imagined herself as some sort of vessel to be filled up with love. But it wasn't like that. The love was within her all the time, and its only renewal came from giving it away. 

p. 396, "(W)e have a choice. To be bitter and angry, or to try and move on. It's the hardest thing for me, letting go of all that righteous anger. I'm still struggling. But that's what I want to do."

Now I Am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth, written by Peter Mutabazi with Mark Tabb

This is the heart-breaking and hope-filled story of a ten year old who ran away from abuse and poverty at home to live on the streets of Kampala, Uganda for five years. It's a story about trauma and survival mode, of looking for the best in people and showing compassion toward those whose lives are messy in ways different than our own. It's about the power of offering and receiving opportunities for growth, of the incredible power of our words and the importance of forgiveness. It's about traveling to help with international humanitarian work, of committing to the personal work of local foster care. It's about that ten year old boy having his life changed by people who chose to see and nurture the good in him when he was unable to see or foster it in himself becoming a man who is able to pay that same kindness, respect, and help forward to others. I chose this book for the "biography" category of a book challenge I'm doing this year.

p. 40, When you live around garbage and you smell like garbage and people treat you like garbage, it's hard not to think of yourself that way. 

p. 66, When life beats people down for too long, they lose hope. They cannot see a way out of their circumstances. They cannot see their own value. When others cannot see their own potential, we need to step in and see it for them. 

p. 80, Hurting people do not deserve judgment. They need understanding. They need patience. They need love. They need grace.

p. 92, I caught a glimpse of a future that I could imagine becoming a reality, which gave me hope, but for hope to take root within a heart , a person must take another step. I had to stop seeing myself through the lens of my past. 

p. 134, Hurting people need to be heard. They need to know they are not alone. These children who had lost everything needed to know they still mattered. The only way I could do that was by listening to one story after another, even when I thought my heart could not bear hearing another child describe in detail what it was like to watch their mother and father die at the hands of people they once thought of as friends. The stories all sounded so much alike, but for these children, each story was as unique as they were. 

p. 137, I know firsthand that if you don't deal with the hate you experienced as a child, it will continue to influence your future well into adulthood. That's what hate does: it keeps us locked, stuck, and prevents us from the growth we are meant for. But forgiveness can set us free. 

p. 191, Is my life really devoted to making a difference in the lives of those who are most vulnerable when what I do requires zero sacrifice on my part? I knew the answer. Now the question was, What was I going to do about it?

p. 196, While we are all shaped by our past, none of us are chained to it.

Teresa of Calcutta, written by D. Jeanene Watson and illustrated by Robert E. Lawson

This well-known woman spent most of her life in India, living among and serving the poor and neglected. She took Jesus seriously when he said that the way we treat those in need is the way we treat him, a belief that was the driving force in her work. This is a school book that I read to Tyler.

The Year I Stopped to Notice, written by Miranda Kelling and illustrated by Luci Power

This random, charming book is filled with vivid imagery in brief descriptions of ordinary moments seen by the author. You can go through it in one sitting of light reading or pick it up occasionally and savor just a few descriptions.

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BOOKS I FINISHED - DECEMBER 2021

The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle, written by Joanne Huist Smith

A true story about a brief period of time in the author's life, this book serves as a strong reminder that looking for opportunities to bless others is really important and that small, ordinary gestures of kindness are often the most meaningful. It's a story of grief, healing, and the Christmas spirit.

p. 200, We don't all have to become gift givers dashing across darkened lawns in ninja outfits to experience the high that living a generous life can bring. But even in moments of deepest grief, we can turn off self-survival mode and share with others all that we've learned along the way. 

p. 201, I tell them one of the greatest gifts we all possess is the ability to give. Wealth isn't a prerequisite; compassion and a kind heart are all you need. < snip > A legacy of generosity can create memories that reverberate beyond the moment and outshine the brightest of heirloom ornaments. 

Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, written by Jen Schmidt

Opening our home to others is something I enjoy, and trying to make people feel welcome in various settings is something I'm very intentional about, but I want to grow in the area of hospitality. Reading this book was a way find new approaches to what I'm naturally wired to do, but it's also a kind (no judgment), helpful (has practical tips) encouragement to folks who are hesitant about opening their door to those around them. We all need each other, and we need the freedom to come as we are, so this book helps us learn to connect in meaningful ways by welcoming people into our world while having a genuine interest in theirs.

p. 8, Hospitality, unlike entertaining, treats everyone as a guest of honor rather than grasping at honor for yourself. Opening your door as nothing to do with the actual setting, the guest list, or the food. The atmosphere can be exactly the same yet have a very different results based on the heart attitude of the one who welcomes.

p. 19, Perfection is the enemy of done. Wait, forget that, sometimes perfection is the enemy of even starting.

p. 28, When discontentment begins to settle in your heart, turn a "have to" attitude into a "get to" attitude, and it will elevate your ability to press in and learn to love what needs to be done, regardless of how you feel. 

p. 32, The way we love our neighbor reveals something about the way we love God. And the way we love God reveals something about the way we love our neighbor.

p. 41, I yearned for our children to have a multigenerational love for those around them because for the most part our society doesn't think this way. Schools, churches, sometimes even whole neighborhoods are built around age segregation. That's why as a parent I've realized I must be purposeful in bridging the generational gap. 

p. 104, We need to get up from our safe, anonymous distance behind our heated Facebook debates and our opinionated rants and actually live like Jesus lived.

Get messy. Be real. Stir up your guest lists, instead of stirring the pot. 

Our table, like Jesus' table, should be one that offers radical, even scandalous grace. To all. To anyone. 

p. 123, Questions show humility. It means you want the focus directed at others and not on yourself. Questions give everyone a voice.

p. 143, But we do well to be honest with one another that, yes, sometimes all of us hurt. And just as we need others to notice and care for us through our low times, we should be watching for how to lift the burdens others carry, developing a spirit of empathy, compassion, and gentleness. 

p. 168, I would suggest the finest art of communication is in learning to listen with utmost humility, to attempt to really hear another's point of view, and then figuring out the questions to ask to draw out the thoughts of another. 

What I Carry, written by Jennifer Longo

A lifetime in foster care and a decade of trying to stay under everyone's radar are about to end for a teenager who's only a year from aging out of the system. This novel is a raw (which means there's a lot of language) look at what life is like for kids who don't have the security of knowing they always have a place to live and family to belong to. It's about fear, self-preservation, and isolation, but also about compassion, loyalty, and hope.  

p. 108, The exhaustion of working overtime all your life to prove you are worthy of human dignity, just because the people in charge are ignorant and suspicious of the circumstances of your birth.

p. 170, "Adopted is a past-tense verb, not an adjective ..."

p. 184, Francine blanched. "Muiriel isn't lucky, Eileen, she's entitled. To at least one good parent. I'm lucky this wonderful creature agreed to come stay with me."

p. 266, Memory, as a substance, is definitely water. It either evaporates completely, or it gets soaked into the brain sponge until the sponge gets squeezed by some unexpected something, and then the water spill everywhere. 

p. 269, "The purpose of adoption is not for parents to 'find a kid.' It is for children to find parents."

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BOOKS I FINISHED - AUGUST 2014

The Auschwitz Escape, written by Joel Rosenberg
Rachel loaned this book to me and, despite the heaviness of the topic, I liked it. Several of my friends read Rosenberg's books, though this was his first piece of historical fiction, but I'd never read one before. The title is pretty self-explanatory and the book is both disturbing and intriguing to read. Racism is never good, but the attempt to murder an entire race of people, to burn thousands of them at a time, is incomprehensible. But it happened.

The Waiting: The True Story of a Lost Child, a Lifetime of Longing, and a Miracle for a Mother Who Never Gave Up, written by Cathy LaGrow with Cindy Coloma
Ann recommended this book after I posted my July list and it intrigued me when I looked it up online. I put it on hold at the library and had it finished within hours of picking it up. It's the true story of a teenager who conceived a child when raped, a girl who still believed that babies were delivered by storks, and how her life was forever changed by that experience. Minka, the woman the book is about, died in June at 102 years old. I really enjoyed this book!

I also finished one non-fiction book that's relevant to something in our family, but I'm not listing it out of respect for someone's privacy.

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BABY SHOWER GIFTS FOR FAMILIES WHO DON'T NEED ANYTHING

Before we get started, let me clarify something.  There is not a 7th W on the way.  This is just a conversation that I think can be helpful for people.

Ok, moving on.

I don't use baby monitors, diaper warmers, changing tables, or some of the other things many families consider essentials.  I also have four kids, which means there's not much I needed by the time babies 2, 3, and 4 came along.  Additionally, I fall into the "less is more" category and don't want to accumulate a bunch of stuff I don't have a use for and don't want people spending money on things that won't get used.

However, people still like to bless new or expectant mothers (whether pregnant, adopting, or fostering) with gifts.  So, what are some gifts that you can give a family with a new baby, but without a need for more baby clothes or toys? After all, gifts that are neither wanted nor needed are not a blessing ... which sorta defeats the purpose.

While we have certainly appreciated and used all the cute clothes, both new and hand-me-down, that we've been given and have put the practical things, like some new crib sheets, to use, we've also had some non-traditional gifts that were great and some practical ones that were consumable time and money savers.

* Four passes to Sky High and a gift card to Baskin Robbins.  The intention was for Tim to take the three bigs out for a few hours to burn some energy jumping on trampolines while I rested with the baby in a quiet house, then to go out for ice cream and bring some home for me.  This gift was great a few weeks after Teebs was born, giving me a day to relax and for everyone else to have some rowdy fun.

* Handmade blankets.  I confess that we have a ridiculous amount of blankets.  However, there are few things I love more than wrapping up the little Ws in something that someone took a lot of time to create. Tangible love that our kids use for years and years, first to sleep in, then to snuggle under for a movie, then to build forts with.

* Meals.  Some people deliver meals through our church's meals ministry, others do it on their own.  Some drop off meals and leave, others bring food over and stay to eat with us, then spend time holding the baby and cleaning up the kitchen.  We've had people give us home-cooked meals, had us order take-out and brought it over, bought food from the grocery story deli, or given us a giant fruit platter and a gift certificate to and menu for our favorite pizza place with the delivery number circled.  It doesn't matter how fancy or simple, whether it was homemade or not ... a meal that we didn't have to plan, shop for, prepare, or clean up after is a huge blessing!  They are magic meals.

* Groceries.  Some people have come by for various reasons and brought some groceries with them.  Sometimes they've chosen items on their own, other times they've asked what we needed, but both ways it was nice to have a few staples, such as milk and produce, that we didn't have to go out for.    Once we were given a pounding during a pregnancy.  Although it had more to do with our employment situation at the time than with being pregnant, it was a huge blessing and could definitely be a way to keep the fridge and cupboards full for a family with a new baby, saving them a trip to the grocery store for a while.

* Childcare.  Taking the non-baby kids for a few hours or overnight not only gives the mom and baby a chance to rest, but it gives the other kids a chance to do something fun.  Whether you take the kids over to your house for a low-key time of movies and snacks or take them out for some big adventure, the kids will enjoy the change of scenery and the mom will appreciate having her load lightened for a while.

* Diapers and/or wipes.  I know this isn't a unique idea, but all babies pee and poop, so any way you can help take care of that will help the family out.  If the family is using disposable diapers, then giving diapers in a variety of sizes (babies will soon grow into the bigger sizes and you don't want the family to have too many of the first size) is a huge money saver.  Same with wipes.  If the family is using cloth diapers, then you could give them money or a gift card to buy the brand and designs they like or pay for a diaper cleaning service, if that's something that would appeal to them.

* A nap.  A friend once scheduled a time to come over to my house and let me take a nap.  She came during a feeding time, then sent me to bed as soon as I was done nursing.  She took care of diaper changes and rocked the little W to sleep while I rested.

* A Groupon to Finnegan's, a local toy store.  The intention was to get things for the bigs to play with after the baby was born.  We took the kids shopping a week or two before my due date and gave them the option of splitting the money to each get their own things or spending it on something larger they could all use together.  They opted for individual items and had fun looking around as they chose what they wanted.  We took the bag of toys and put it up in a closet at the time, then pulled it down on a day when the little Ws were getting antsy and I was getting irritable.  We pulled the bag down and the rest of the day was awesome.

* Cleaning.  Having a friend come over to run the vacuum and give the bathroom a quick cleaning is wonderful!  Whether for a sleep-deprived mom who only has littles that aren't able to help with housework, who is recovering from a hard labor, or has limits on what she can do because of a c-section, doing a little bit of cleaning will allow the mom to relax in a home that isn't filthy and free up her husband to help in other areas when he gets home from work.

Those are just some of the things that have been done for us, but I'm sure there are other great ideas out there.  Traditional gifts are awesome and sometimes we need things that are typically registered for at a store, so don't bail on those entirely, but the goal is to give a gift that will be a blessing, not a burden.  So consider things that are consumable or that are something to do, not something to have.  Consider things that don't require a tired mom to go out and register for things she doesn't need or want, but that would still be helpful.  Remember that what you do for the rest of her family can often be an indirect, but equally meaningful, gift for her.

What are some gifts that were a huge blessing to you, but that weren't something you'd register for, especially when you had multiple children and didn't need more stuff in your house?  Please leave a comment and share what people have done for you or that you've done for other people and you know was appreciated.  If you answer on Facebook, then I'll copy your answer over here for people to easily access later.

6/20/13 FORMING FAMILIES - YARD SALE (FUNDRAISER)

Brandon and Becky are friends of ours who are waiting to bring one of their children home from Ethiopia and this weekend they're having a yard sale as an adoption fundraiser.  If you're a bargain lover, supporter of adoption, or simply someone who's looking for something to do this weekend, then please swing by their sale and see what treasures you can find.

WHO: Brandon, Becky, and you

WHAT: Fundraising yard sale

WHEN: 6/21 & 6/22, from 8:00-3:00 each day

WHERE: 2735 NW 153rd Ave, Beaverton, OR 97006 (just a smidge off the intersection of Hwy 26 and Cornell) 

WHY: We're called to look after orphans.  For some of us that means helping to cover the cost of others forming their families through adoption.  If you bring something home, then they can bring someone home.

Brandon and Becky will be doing another sale in the fall during a neighborhood yard sale event, so I'll let you know when that one rolls around.  If you have items to donate for their fall sale, then touch base with them about getting those items to their house.  If you don't know them, then let me know and I'll get you connected.

MOVIES I WATCHED - MARCH 2013

The Man Who Saved Christmas
I forgot to mention this one in my last movie post, but we watched it during the Christmas season.  It's the true story of a A.C. Gilbert, creator of the erector set, toy company founder, model train expert, producer of military supplies, and someone who was born in our neck of the woods, hence the location of the A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Loved it.

Cowgirls n' Angels
Cute.

In the Wild - Mongolian Horsemen, with Julia Roberts
We watched this after reading I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, which was set in Mongolia, for school.

Here Comes the Boom
Redbox freebie that Tim and I watched.  He liked it more than I did. 

BOOKS I FINISHED - FEBRUARY 2013

Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine, written by Max Lucado
This has been on my TBR list for ages and I don't remember where I heard about it. What does it mean to be a recipient of God's grace and what does it look like to extend grace to others? A really important subject, yet a very easy book to read. I actually read it twice (and should probably ready it weekly), though I never did the study guide in the back. 

p. 19, Grace is a God who stoops.

p. 36, God didn't overlook your sins, lest he endorse them. He didn't punish you, lest he destroy you. He instead found a way to punish the sin and preserve the sinner. Jesus took your punishment, and God gave you credit for Jesus' perfection.

p. 58-59, Each apostle assumed someone else would wash the feet. And Someone did. / So what does Jesus do with someone who questions his commands (Philip)? Apparently, he washes the doubter's feet. / So what does Jesus do when people use his kingdom for personal advancement (James & John)? He slides a basin in their direction. / Do you ever wonder what God does with promise breakers (Peter)? He washes their feet. / If he washed the feet of his Judas, you will have to wash the feet of yours. Your betrayer. / Grace has happened to you.  Look at your feet.  They are wet, grace soaked. / Can't you share your grace with others?

p. 61, Grace is not blind. It sees the hurt full well. But grace chooses to see God's forgiveness even more. It refuses to let hurts poison the heart. / Where grace is lacking, bitterness abounds. Where grace abounds, forgiveness grows.

Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity, written by Drew Brees with Chris Fabry
I'm not into sports, but I occasionally enjoy stories about athletes. This was the first free book I got on a Kindle that was given to us. I actually ended up skimming most of the book, but there were still some good quotes in it.

p.132, The way I see it, belief isn't enough on its own. Once you know the truth, you have to act on it. That's where real faith gets legs. Other people can tell you the truth, but until you own it, it's not worth much. It's only when you move on your belief and exercise faith that real change can come.  It's only then that you'll yield concrete results.

p. 168, I've learned over and over that closed doors mean God will open something else. A window, maybe, or a back door. Sometimes you just have to look hard for that opening.

 p.302  Coincidence is usually God working anonymously.

p. 302  Don't be afraid of taking a few steps back. A step back is not necessarily a setback. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backward before you can get the momentum to jump over a chasm in your life. The goal may be farther than you thought, and what you see as backtracking may really just be helping you get the speed to make the final jump.

Dolphin Treasure, written by Wayne Grover and illustrated by Jim Fowler
Read aloud for Naomi. This is the sequel to Dolphin Adventure, which we read last month, and is the story of how the dolphin saves the author.

They Shall See God, written by Athol Dickson
Jews and Christians, truth and lies, grace and bitterness, mystery and resolution, love and hate ... this piece of fiction has a little of everything and I really enjoyed it.

The Language of Flowers, written by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
This was recommended to me by Amy, my pseudo-sister-in-law. It's the fictional story of a broken little girl maturing into a responsible and emotionally stable young woman. I loved it!!! Possibly one of my favorite books. 

The Racketeer, written by John Grisham
Typical Grisham book, though there was one little twist that I hadn't fully anticipated. It ended up answering a question I'd had earlier in the book, but I never suspected the twist would have been the answer to my question.

I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, written by Diane Lee Wilson
Read aloud for Silas and Devon. This book took me a while to get into, but all three of us really enjoyed it by the end. It's the fictional story of a Mongolian girl whose life seems to be filled with bad luck. She perseveres through the hardships, though, and accomplishes her dreams.

Unspoken: A Story From the Underground Railroad, illustrated by Henry Cole
I don't usually share books the kids get at the library, but I loved this one. It's a wordless book (I love wordless books!) about a girl who is helping a runaway slave. 

Love in the Balance, written by Regina Jennings
I talked about this one a couple days ago.


I wanted to quickly mention something about books with sexual content. I don't care for books with sex scenes. That's just my personal preference. In fact, I regularly return books to the library that I checked out at the recommendation of other people if they have unexpected sex scenes in them. I did that this month, in fact.

That being said, there are times when I will choose to keep reading a book with sex scenes. The first reason isn't anything to be proud of. Sometimes it's just because I'm pretty far into the book and want to see how the story turns out. That happened with the Grisham book this time and I felt like I compromised my personal standards. It's a turn-off to me, though, and it's rare that I'll skim over those parts instead of ditching the book. 

The second reason is because sometimes the sex scene is crucial to the story. I have no interest in a graphic description of sexual activity and believe sex was designed to happen inside of a marriage, but there are times when sexual content between unmarried people in a book doesn't bother me at all. That happened with The Language of Flowers.  The scene was not graphic, the relationship was serious, and the main character's capacity and desire to have intimate contact with someone was very significant to the story. I know that sounds hypocritical or like I'm justifying the bending of my own rules, but there it is. 

BOOKS I FINISHED - JANUARY 2013

The Light at Tern Rock, written by Julia L. Sauer and illustrated by Georges Schreiber

Read aloud for Naomi. It's a fictional story with lessons about making sacrifices, learning how and when to extend grace when promises are broken, and thinking of others more than ourselves.


Sister, written by Rosamund Lupton

I can't remember how this book originally landed on my TBR list. It's the fictional story of a woman whose sister's death is ruled a suicide, but the woman is confident her sister was actually murdered and sets out to prove it. Lots of twists to the story and I enjoyed it.
 

p. 64, Tact is catching.

p. 217, Can you be eco about friendships? They are too valuable to be junked when they stop being immediately convenient.

The Family Under the Bridge, written by Natalie Savage Carlson and illustrated by Garth Williams

Read aloud for Naomi. This is the fictional story of an elderly hobo who gets to know a homeless woman and her children in Paris. Despite initial resistance from the two adults involved, the group ultimately forms their own little family.

p. 71, "What good does it do to be honest if you aren't kind and generous?" he asked.


Worth Fighting For: Love, Loss, and Moving Forward, written by Lisa Niemi Swayze

Another one that I can't remember where I heard about it. The author, Patrick Swayze's wife of 34 years, shares about their last two years together, years spent battling his pancreatic cancer. She writes very casually, as though she were chatting with you at home, and I enjoyed her honesty, sense of humor, and snippets of sarcasm. I don't really care who her husband was from a celebrity standpoint and I don't share all their beliefs, but I respect their commitment to each other and how they seem to have maintained an "average Joe" quality to their lives. 


The Master Puppeteer, written by Katherine Paterson

Read aloud for Silas and Devon. Tension between fathers and the sons who don't meet their standards, a city that is starving to death, a bandit who robs from the rich to feed the poor, a famous puppet theater with a demanding master, and the significance of friendship. All three of us loved this book! 


Twenty and Ten, written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by William Pene du Bois

Read aloud for Naomi. We were able to read it all in one sitting this time and the big boys sat in with us to hear it again, as it's one of their past favorites. It's the fictional story of twenty French children who hide ten Jewish children from some Nazi soldiers.


Seven Years Between, written by Pamela McDavid

This is the debut novel of a friend of mine. It's loosely based on the childhood of the author's mom and is the story of a young girl who, due to her parents' divorce and her mother's job, must live with other people for seven years. Each of her living situations is very different from the others and one is quite difficult, but she and her mom remain close and she learns a lot through the process.

p. 86, Remind me to never get so good at something that I can't take criticism or question.


October Baby, written by Eric Wilson

I watched the movie a few months ago, but also wanted to read the book. I was thinking they'd done a great job of getting almost everything from the book into the movie, then realized the screenplay preceded the novel. Well, that explains that. There are a few details in the book that weren't in the movie, but they're almost exactly the same and I liked them both. Inspired by real events, it's the story of a young woman who discovers that she was adopted after surviving a failed abortion.


Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories, written by Rosemary Wells

Read aloud for Naomi. This book is about Mary Breckinridge, a woman whose Frontier Nursing Service brought medical care to the poverty-stricken people of the Appalachian mountains.


Dolphin Adventure, written by Wayne Grover and illustrated by Jim Fowler

Read aloud for Naomi. This is the true story of a man who helps save the life of a dolphin while on a diving trip.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, written by Stephen R. Covey

I spotted this book while browsing the library shelves and was intrigued. I think I'll just do a separate post about this book on another day. Stay tuned!

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LOVE SHOWN THROUGH A LETTER

I have been the recipient of a whole lot of W love lately!!  Want to see the newest additions to the W collection?

Sachi saw this blanket and thought of me because the chevron pattern is like a long string of Ws.  I love it!  I think it's been used every day since she gave it to me nearly two weeks ago.

As if the W/chevron pattern wasn't enough coolness for one girl to handle, which it is, the blanket happens to be made from my two favorite colors.  Not only is it my two favorite colors, but it's shades of blue and green that go perfectly with my crazy cobalt and lime walls.  Check this out! 

 

 

The next form of W love was given to me anonymously.  My friend Ruby makes felt Christmas ornaments, including buttoned monograms.  I received a package from her a week ago with an ornament enclosed, along with a note saying it was from one of my Sonlight sisters.  It immediately went on our tree and will be moved to the W wall later today.

 

Ruby's shop, which is currently closed for Christmas, gave a significant part of their profits toward an adoption grant for Simon during December.  I love knowing that a W that I love will also help a family bring Simon home!

Then it was Christmas day.  I opened several Ws from Carol and one that was in a bag of gifts left anonymously at our front door the week before Christmas.  A magnetic notepad, a package of cards and envelopes, a wall hook, a box of scratch paper, an ornament, and two large Ws to hang on the wall.  I'll probably leave the white one as is because I don't have a plain white one, but I'm going to do something fun with the other one.  I don't know if I'll just paint it or venture out on the limb of crafty stuff.  I'll let you know once I figure it out.

 

 

Fun, fun, fun!!  I love how each of my Ws reminds me of a person, trip, or situation that makes me smile.  

BOOKS I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2012

Unwind, written by Neal Shusterman
I was told about this book by a woman I met a swim lessons. The fictional story is based on the outcome of the Heartland War, a battle between pro-choice and pro-life that resulted in abortion being banned, but parents having the option to unwind their 13-18 year old kids.  I loved this book and immediately picked up the second book in the trilogy.  I've heard the story is being made into a movie and I can't wait to see it. 

Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History, written by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio
I plan on seeing the movie when it's on DVD, but wanted to read the book first.  Incidentally, it was upon finishing the book that I found out the screenplay was written before the book.  Interesting story and I'm glad I read the book.

UnWholly, written by Neal Shusterman
This is the second book in the Unwind trilogy and I enjoyed it.  Actually, I've been told there's a book # 1.5 called UnStrung, a short book that was written once the decision was made to turn Unwind into a trilogy.  I think it may only be available for e-readers and I skipped it, but UnWholly still made sense without it.  The third book hasn't been published yet, so I'll wait impatiently for it to arrive at the library.

The Hundred Dresses, written by Eleanor Estes and illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
Read aloud for Naomi.  This is the third time I've read this book and I always enjoy it.  It's the story of a poor Polish girl who is teased because of her unusual name and for wearing the same shabby dress every day.  Good lessons about not judging others by their appearance and sticking up for those who are treated poorly.

Sherlock Files #01 - The 100-Year old Secret, written by Tracy Barrett
Pre-read for Silas and Devon.  The boys enjoy mysteries and this seemed like a book they'd like.  Maybe they'll end up reading the rest of the series for fun.

In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart: Hope for the Hurting, written by Ruth Graham
I randomly pulled this off the library shelf, but ended up skimming most of it. She had some good things to say, but the book just didn't hold my interest.

The Wounded Spirit, written by Frank Peretti
This was another random pick of the library shelf, a book about those who are teased and bullied, those who do the teasing and bullying, and how we should all use our strengths to benefit and protect others.  It's a quick read and good for everyone, but I'd definitely recommend it to every parent and person who works with kids. 

Breaking Stalin's Nose, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin
Pre-read (actually, I listened to it on CD) for Silas and Devon.  Though the author was born and raised in Russia, the story is fiction.  It's about a six year old boy who is devoted to Communism and is eagerly anticipating joining the Young Pioneers.  They day before and of his joining, however, do not go the way he anticipated and he begins to question everything he's always believed.

Love in the Driest Season: A Family Memoir, written by Neely Tucker
And yet another random pick from the library.  The author, who is a journalist, and his wife lived in Zimbabwe in the late 1990s.  With the AIDS epidemic in full swing, they started volunteering at a local orphanage, ended up as foster parents to a girl from the orphanage, and ultimately tried to adopt her.  The book is filled with horrifying stories of things the author experienced in various countries at war, mind-boggling statistics about AIDS, orphans, and orphanages during that time, and the determination of a couple committed to adopting a girl they loved from a country with an astounding numbers of orphans and an unwillingness to allow foreigners to adopt.

One of the things I found interesting was that when the author and his wife were trying to adopt, they could hardly find anything online when searching "Africa adoption".  With the exception of a little bit of activity in Ethiopia, they said there was virtually nothing happening in that part of the world.  I don't know what current statistics and information are for Zimbabwe concerning orphans and adoption, but I have many friends who have adopted from Africa and a quick online search brings up over 33 million hits.  I call that progress!

Twice Told: Original Stores Inspired by Original Art, written by 18 different authors and illustrated by Scott Hunt
I discovered this book online while searching for UnWholly, as Neal Shusterman wrote in it, and it intrigued me.  I liked some of the stories, didn't like others, but really liked the idea of having different authors write stories for the same picture.

11/5/12 FORMING FAMILIES - FOSTER KIDS

I read a post a few months ago about an opportunity to make Welcome Boxes for kids entering foster care in the Portland metro area, but at that time I hadn't made a commitment to blogging about helping parent-less kids to find families and didn't pass the info along.  Today, however, there was another post and I'm spreading the word.   Foster kids are just as important to me as kids waiting to be adopted.  Both are in need of a family, one temporarily and the other permanently. 

So, here's the deal.  Many times a child is removed from their home, then ends up sitting in the DHS office for an hour or two while their caseworker finds a placement for them.  They have little or nothing of their own with them.  They've just lost everything familiar in their lives.  They know nothing about the people whose homes they're about to be taken to.  They have had their whole life disrupted.  They have nothing to do while they wait.  They just sit.

That's where Welcome Boxes come in! Each box must contain something to write on, something to write with, non-perishable snacks, toothpaste & toothbrush, flashlight with batteries, and a nightlight.  Additionally, each box will contain seven extra items that fall more on the fun side of things than the practical.

This Friday there is going to be a private box packing party and they are asking for some last minute filler items to be donated.  Does that sound like something you, your family, office, or group of friends would like to help with?   There is also a need for public locations for people to drop off donations through Thursday, businesses with easily accessible parking and regular business hours.  If either of those things interest you then please go to today's post on Frugal Living NW to find out more about what is needed and how you can help. 

If you would like to be involved in making Welcome Boxes, but won't be able to help with this week's project, then please read the post from August.  It has detailed directions on how to assemble the boxes, labels to use, and contact information for the woman in charge.  Please follow the directions exactly, as these boxes need to be a blessing to all foster kids and comply with DHS rules. 

At the time of the first Welcome Box post there were boxes being delivered in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties, and now Clark county is in the mix.   If you live outside of those counties, but are interested in coordinating something similar in your area, then please read the August post for some info or contact your local DHS office directly.

11/3/12 FORMING FAMILIES - SPECIAL NEEDS & REECE'S RAINBOW

I have friends who have adopted and I have friends whose children have Down Syndrome. 

I also have friends who have combined those two things and adopt children with Down Syndrome. 

I have other friends who have chosen to do all they can to support orphans with Down Syndrome and the families who would like to adopt them.

Enter Reece's Rainbow, an organization that helps raise funds for those who have a desire to add a child with Down Syndrome to their family through adoption.  Please keep in mind that the future of an orphan with Down Syndrome is bleak and short-lived in some countries.  For those children, adoption isn't just an opportunity to be part of a family, but also a chance to simply live. 

I want to introduce you to two friends who are currently involved with Reece's Rainbow.

RUBY - Ruby is an Angel Tree Warrior for Simon, a little boy whose third birthday is just a few months away.  Her goal is to raise $1000 toward Simon's adoption fees by the end of 2012, money that will help a family cover the cost of bringing him home.  She just started fundraising a couple days ago and has $25 in the account so far.  You can check out some of the items she's selling in her Etsy shop, True Ruby.  She's also made some cute felt ornaments, which I'm hoping will be in her Etsy shop soon. 

Maybe you'd like to make a cash donation toward her goal.  Perhaps you'd like to buy something from her shop for yourself or as a Christmas present, knowing that some of the proceeds will benefit Simon.   Maybe Simon has tugged at your heart and you'd like to have your caseworker help you bring him home ... to your house.  No matter what you're wanting to do, I'd encourage you to read more about Ruby's project on her blog, families for the fatherless.

TANA - Tana and her husband have adopted multiple times, brought home various numbers of children at a time, and have three countries (well, four, if you count America) represented in their family.  I love the story of how their family has been created!  Right now they are all anxiously waiting to bring Thalia, their newest daughter and sister, home, something they're hoping will happen in the next few months.  You can read about where they are in that process and see some cute pictures of Thalia right here. 

Thalia has a family now, but the financial cost of uniting them is high.  If you would like to make a contribution to help defray the cost of Thalia joining her family, then please click the Reece's Rainbow "Donate" button on the sidebar of Tana's blog, Harmony and Havoc.  Thalia is the name Tana and her husband have chosen for their newest daughter, but Song Guo is the name on all the paperwork.  I mention that so that you won't be confused to see "Song" or "Song Guo" on the donation links.  Song Guo is Thalia.

9/26/12 FORMING FAMILIES - WHERE MY HEART IS

As many of you know, we have wanted to foster or adopt for a long time, but, for various reasons, the timing has never been right.  It's hard for me.  Really hard.  It's discouraging to have your heart be so strongly drawn to something that you think about it every day, yet never feel the peace of knowing it's time to take the plunge. 

I've wondered why God would give me such a strong desire for years and years and years, while never having it work out.  I realize my life's not over and it could very well be that we'll foster or adopt at some point down the road.  But maybe not.  Maybe it will always be an unfulfilled desire.  I don't know.

What I do know is this.  There are countless children in need of a family, whether for a weekend, a year, a decade, or forever.

Now, let me step back for a minute.  Several months ago, Tad, one of our church's associate pastors, was teaching from I Chronicles 17 and I've been thinking about his words ever since. 

In I Chronicles 17 David expresses a desire to build a temple for the ark of the covenant.  Pretty noble desire, don't you think?  Yet God makes it very clear that David is not the person for the job. 

David could have thrown a real fit about that, pointing out that he was only trying to do the right thing.  He could have become bitter, angry that his desire to do something good was never going to be fulfilled.  He could have found a way to build the temple anyway, doing the right thing at the wrong time.  However, as I always say, the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. 

He didn't do any of those things, though.  Instead he expressed thanks for the ways God was blessing him, he praised and showed reverence for the things he'd seen God do, and he showed trust in God's words. 

Then, if you skip ahead to I Chronicles 22, you'll see that he got busy.  While he accepted that he was not the person to build the temple, he did not let that stop him from having the good desire of a temple being built get put into action.  David used his administrative abilities to coordinate building efforts, his financial means to provide supplies, and his words to challenge and encourage his son, the man who would build the temple. 

Here are a couple things I wrote in my notes that day.

* It's not bad when God says "no" to our good desires.  Sometimes our passions don't come to fruition.

* We may not be able to do the thing we desire, but we can still support those who can do it.

* If God says "no" to the desires of our heart, then we need to accept that.  Holding on and insisting that we get to pursue that dream is just fighting God.  Letting go, however, frees up to do whatever God has ready for us.

* What would happen if we were all willing to do what we were able to do?

Wow.

I sat through the whole teaching feeling like I had a big target on my forehead.  Know that feeling? 

That brings me to today.  I don't feel like I've heard a "no" about fostering or adopting, but I certainly haven't heard a "yes".  So, we wait.  But I don't want to turn the lack of a "yes" into walking away from the fact that there are so many children in need of a family.  Or, as a Christian, to ignore the fact that I (and you, if you're a Christian) am called to care for orphans (and I consider foster kids to be temporary orphans).

So, what do I do?  Sometimes I deliver meals to families who have just brought their adopted child home.  Sometimes I host baby showers for adoptive families.  Sometimes I participate in fundraisers for adoptive families.  Sometimes I donate clothes to foster families.

Today I'm going to start doing something else.  I'm going to help make you aware of children in need of families, families in need of financial support, organizations that support adoption, etc. through periodic blog posts.

Some people have a desire to adopt, but lack the money to complete the process.  Others have the money, but don't have the ability to add to their family in that way.  Some have the means and ability, but are naive about the need.  Others have a desire, but lack non-monetary resources, such as nearby medical care for special needs children.  Some have the money, desire, and ability, but would need respite care.  The list goes on, but you get the idea.

Today, for the first post, I'm going to show you a neat video about a friend of mine, a video that was posted yesterday morning.

***  I tried to embed the video, but it's not working.  So, for now, I'll just link you to it.  It's only a couple minutes long and I encourage you to watch it.  ***

Want to know something awesome?  Their adoption was fully funded 25 hours after this video was posted.  Fully funded!  That's what I'm talking about, folks.  Families being formed because one family wanted to  grow through adoption, one person used their skills to make a video, and several people had the means to help with the finances.  Not everyone could bring Tara's child home, but many were able to use their skills and resources to help those who were right for the job.  I love it!

BOOKS I FINISHED - AUGUST 2012

Jessica Lost: A Story of Birth, Adoption & The Meaning of Motherhood, by Bunny Crumpacker and J.S. Picariello
This is the story of a woman, adopted as an infant, who sets out to find her birth parents.  Alternate chapters are written by the daughter and her birth mother, both of whom share their lives in a chronological order and end up talking about their reunion in consecutive chapters.  One random tidbit I found interesting is that it's common for an adult adoptee's favorite name be the one they were given at birth, a name they have no memory of having.  They said it's actually the name they often give their own kids years later.  Cool, huh?

p. 102, Reaching bottom has two related advantages.  First, something solid is finally under your feet; I had floated down through a misty, foggy sorrow for so long.  At last, there is something  to push against; the first weak surge upward can begin.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, written and illustrated by Grace Lin
Read aloud for Silas & Devon.  The boys and I loved this book!  It's part fantasy, part folklore, sprinkled with humor, and filled with lessons about friendship and family, greed and contentment.

p. 253, The woman was so caught up in her dissatisfaction, she did not realize that she was planting seeds of discontent in her daughter as well. 

The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, by Ken Sande
Fantastic book that I already did three blog posts about.  Here's a link to the first, which includes links to the other two.

** This post contains affiliate links and I'm grateful when people use them. **

THINGS ON MY MIND (2 OF 3) - KIDS

All righty, here's the second thing that is constantly swirling around in my little brain these days. I don't hash this stuff out with anyone but Tim, so if you're one of those who asks the questions that shouldn't be asked, then this may be your only chance to hear what I'm thinking on the matter in an appropriate manner (meaning, me offering the info, not you asking for it).

We've never had a planned or desired number of kids for our family and we've never cared how kids joined our family. "One at a time" is the plan. (Yes, for you snarky folks, we'd be happy with multiples. The "one" can refer to children, pregnancies, or adoptions.)

I love that our boys are close enough in age to be playmates, a pair of siblings. I'd love for Naomi to be part of a similar pair and we opened ourselves up to that option. Technically it should have worked out. In actuality, it didn't. It makes no logical sense, but sometimes life is that way. Once the window of opportunity for a similar age spread was gone, then we just decided to sit tight.

We took foster parenting classes almost two years ago, then made a last minute decision to not turn in our application. I'm confident that was the right decision at that point in time, but our heart is still that all kids have a family, whether temporarily (foster) or permanently (adoption). We'd be happy to take in any child, but we're kinda drawn to the special needs kids. Some of those kids have physical problems, but many of them are considered special needs in the adoption world because no one wants them. They're often older kids (grade school through high school), boys, sibling groups that don't want to be separated, and minorities. Most of them have some behavioral issues caused by the circumstances that led them to be taken from their parents.

I know a lot of foster and adoptive parents. The general consensus, though there are exceptions that work out well, is to only take in kids that are younger than your youngest. This helps ensure the physical safety of your biological kids as the new member of your family works through the junk that life dealt them. It also prevents an upset of the birth order. There will be a change in family dynamics regardless of how and when a child joins a family, but upsetting the birth order can make that change a lot harder. I'd be totally comfortable taking in a kid between Naomi and Devon or younger than Naomi.

If I found out today that I was preggo, then I'd be delighted. Kids are great and we'd be happy. However, the farther away we get from the baby phase, the more I wonder if not conceiving a playmate for Naomi was the first step, though unintentional, toward fostering or adopting. It's given us time to let our kids get a little older, to possibly take in a non-baby child. The older our kids get, the more options we'd feel comfortable with as we considered who to add to our family.

Of course, it may just be that there's absolutely no explanation to Naomi's lack of "pair" status other than "it's life". I'm fine with that. I could get pregnant next week. We could end up taking in a newborn. Who knows? Time will tell.

I look at the Northwest Adoption Exchange site almost weekly and see foster kids who are ready for homes. I periodically check out Reece's Rainbow, an organization committed to placing kids with Down Syndrome into families before their governments permanently institutionalize them. I hear about Hannah's Hope, an Ethiopian orphanage connected to All God's Children International, being so low on diapers that they're re-using disposables and covering diapers with plastic bags. I hear the stats in foster classes about the number of kids needing to be placed compared to the number of certified homes. It all just breaks my heart and I don't know where we fit into the solution.

I often feel that our family isn't done growing. Then, of course, I think I'm crazy. After all, I'm the one who told you yesterday that I feel like I'm doing a lot of things, but none of them well. Then I think I'm selfish. Then I remember that motherhood is anything but selfish. Then I wonder why God's given me this strong desire to foster or adopt if the timing never seems right. Then I wonder if, ten years from now, I'll look back at this point and see how beautifully everything (whatever that is) worked out or if I'll still wonder how it's going to unfold. Then I wonder how far behind we'd be in school if I was parenting four kids, one who quite possibly would need to be taken to various appointments during the week. Then I wonder how I'd handle a kid with serious behavioral issues when my most challenging child often overwhelms me.

It makes my head hurt.

As I've felt at every point in parenting, I could happily live the rest of my life with the kids we have now. I could also live equally happy with more kids. I'm truly, honestly, content either way. Always have been.

But I can't stop looking at those sites. And I'd love for Naomi to share a room with someone and have a playmate when the boys are hanging out alone. So, while I'm content, I'm just not convinced there will only be 5 Ws. That doesn't even make sense, does it? I don't know how to explain it.

Kids need families. All kids need a family. And we're a family. Are we the family for the kids? Are we a family who supports the families taking in kids, whether financially, through respite care, or with practical things like clothes and bedding? How do we know? When is the timing right? I wish I knew.

Now, if I announce a pregnancy in a couple months, then don't you dare ask me if we were trying. That's none of your business and it makes no difference anyway. Plus, it's just rude. If we announce that we're adopting or fostering, then don't question my sanity. We wouldn't pursue it unless we felt confident about it and no agency would accept us unless we proved capable.

In other words, this is the one and only time I'm telling you that we have no idea why I didn't get pregnant in time to give Naomi a playmate, that I think about fostering and adopting non-stop, and that I feel simultaneously delighted and hesitant about adding another W to the mix.

MAGDALYN & MEGAN - TWO SWEET GIRLS

Magdalyn - So many of you, my amazing blog readers, supported Bob & Cheri as they adopted their daughter earlier this year. It was awesome to have you, most of whom will never meet their family, donate to their fundraising auction, bid during the auction, and periodically ask me how the adoption was going. Magdalyn has now been home longer than she was without a family and is doing really well! In celebration of Orphan Sunday, which I didn't know existed, they created a video of their trip to "bring love home". Cheri has given me permission to link it here and I hope you all take seven minutes of your day to watch Magdalyn meet her parents. The password is "Agene".

Megan - Down's syndrome and heart problems. That's a lot for my friend Eliz's five year old daughter to live with. Throw in a cancer diagnosis in the spring and life gets even harder, but that's Megan's reality. Needless to say, it's also a lot for her family to deal with, which is why a group of people have banded together to put on a lobster roll fundraiser.

The rolls are $10 and stuffed with $6.00 worth of meat. Patrick, the man who has answered some of my questions about the fundraiser, said their goal is to sell 1,000 rolls and give the family $4,000. That money would be incredibly helpful for paying medical bills, keeping food on the table, and making sure there's enough gas in the tank to make it to all the medical appointments and hospital stays that are now a routine part of their life. Even the lobster provider is helping out by giving them fresh meat for the cost of frozen. Awesome!

Here's what Patrick had to say - "I just want it to be a significant amount of money so they can spend time with their daughter and not have to worry about the logistics of future fundraisers or where their groceries are coming from. And I want to see people come together and help just one time, people who never have before, who have never donated a cent, or an hour, for them just to care this one time, where it is a little girl...... with cancer ..... and heart trouble...... and down syndrome ..... and a struggling family. "

The deliveries will take place on 12/4/10 in three different Maine locations. Yep, you read correctly. These guys live on the wrong ... I mean, opposite ... side of the country. So, here's what I'm asking from all of you.

Spread. the. word! If you live in Maine, then please buy a roll or two or ten, then pass the info along to your local friends, family, and co-workers. If you know people in Maine, then please let them know about this project and ask them to tell others about it.

I would love to see more than 1,000 lobster rolls sold to make life a little less stressful for Megan's family! Buy for your self. Buy for your family. Buy as a gift. If you can't buy, then spread the word!!

I'll leave you with a little peek at Megan hanging out with her family. She's a doll!
.

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!

A WORTHY CAUSE

Cheri is a good friend of mine who is adopting soon. Really soon. In fact, the phone could ring any day with a referral. Needless to say, their family is pretty excited. In the midst of their excitement they're also trying to raise the rest of the money they need to bring their daughter home. That amount, which was already high, was recently raised even more when the Ethiopian courts decided to have adoptive parents come once to meet the child, then again to bring the child home. That's a lot of unexpected, extra travel expenses!

Why am I telling you this? I'm so glad you asked. You see, Bob (that would be Cheri's husband) and Cheri are putting together an online auction fundraiser. Knowing that I have crafty, creative, & resourceful friends and blog readers, I asked if I could put a call out for donors. They obviously gave their approval.

So, I'm asking you to help Bob & Cheri bring their daughter home. Here are some ideas - items (jewelry, sewn items, paintings, collectible items, etc), services (massage, haircuts, photography session, housekeeping - they live in the Portland/Hood River area, so services in that area would be great, as a large portion of their circle of friends, family, & potential auction customers live there), entertainment (tickets to professional sporting events, symphonies, weekends at a beach house, etc), or the classic car in mint condition that's taking up space in your garage. Anything (well, anything that people would be willing to pay for) goes!!

You can live anywhere in the country to participate and will arrange the details with the highest bidder through the auction website. If you're interested (and you should be!), then let me know in the comment section or e-mail me at (with spaces removed) bethanyandtim @ yahoo .com and I'll put you in touch with Cheri.

If you'd like to read more about Bob & Cheri's adoption journey, then head over to their website, Bringing Love Home.

BOOKS I FINISHED - FEBRUARY 2010

All righty, here goes.

America's Cheapest Family: Gets You Right on the Money, by Steve and Annette Economides
Jess #1 is a friend and she has a blog. Jess #2 is another friend who found out about Jess #1's blog through my blog. Now Jess #2 is a fan of Jess #1. Well, Jess #2 saw a book on Jess #1's blog that she thought I, being a big fan of stretching a dollar, may enjoy reading. So, I reserved it from the library. While it was largely stuff I already knew, I'd definitely recommend it to someone who is trying to get their crazy finances under control or someone who wants to fine tune their controlled budget. It's a super easy read with lots of practical ideas and goals for people at every stage of living within and below their means.

The House on Walenska Street, by Charlotte Herman & illustrated by Susan Avishai
This was a school book. It's a simple story about a Jewish woman and her three young girls living in Russia in the early 1900's. It didn't grab me, but it wasn't bad either. Just a neutral book.

Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited, by Elyse Schein
I actually read this one in January, but totally forgot to add it to that month's list. This is the true story of two women who knew they were adopted. One had no desire to search for her birth family. The other decided, in her thirties, to look for her biological mom. She was shocked to discover that she had a twin sister and chose to have her twin, the woman without a desire to find her birth family (though the searching woman didn't know the other had no interest in her biological family), notified of her existence. This book chronicles the journey these women take as they figure out what to do with this huge discovery, the info they glean about the research project that led to their separation, and the emotional and practical ups and downs they experience as they adjust to their newly discovered life as twins. I really liked this book!

In Search of Eden, by Linda Nichols
This fictional story is filled with people who are hurting, but the main character is a woman whose grief and guilt over the child she was forced to give up for adoption consumes her. A fairly predictable story (though there was one element that totally caught me by surprise), but I enjoyed it. Lots of lessons about choosing between bitterness and forgiveness, which is a battle that I've been struggling with. Got sucked in and finished this book in two sittings.

White Stallion of Lipizza, by Marguerite Henry & illustrated by Wesley Dennis
Another school book. I had the hardest time plowing through this book as a read aloud, but it was a great story. It's about a poor boy who is obsessed with Vienna's Lipizzan stallions and dreams of riding them someday. A story of dreams and disappointments, goals and perseverance ... and a lot about horses.


The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan
Tim and I had seen the movie a while back, but I finally got around to reading the book. It's the true story of Evelyn Ryan, a woman whose natural ability at winning contests for various ad campaigns kept her family fed, clothed, and entertained during the 1950s and 1960s. She had a determination to make the best of a hard situation and consistently chose to not wallow in the self-pity that she could have easily justified. Good book, though it could have been a bit shorter.

Prisoner of Tehran: A Memoir, by Marina Nemat
Nemat shares her story of life as a teenage political prisoner in Iran. She spent two years in government custody and under the control of one of the jailers, a man who I believe truly cared about her, yet didn't always treat her well. Forced to choose between faith and family, a decision that determined whether she and those she loved would live or die, Nemat chooses to protect her loved ones. That choice not only protects those close to her, but allows her to be a blessing to other prisoners and to find her greatest support from those least likely to be her allies, the family of the jailer. Loved this book!