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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


32 / 30 books. 107% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
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International:
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My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


49 / 50 books. 98% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


50 / 52 books. 96% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


36 / 40 books. 90% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


26 / 25 cozies. 104% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


22 / 26.2 miles (3rd lap). 84% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


41 / 100 books. 41% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


97 / 109 books. 89% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


130 / 165 books. 79% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


83 / 100 names. 83% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


10 / 80 skills. 13% done!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

My Big News & Other (Less Earth-Shattering) Stuff

My reading has been a little pokey lately, mostly because my head is swirling with the decision my husband and I just made: We are going to try to adopt a baby girl. We have been thinking about adoption ever since our youngest was born, and my doctor strongly encouraged us not to have any more children (all 3 of ours were preemies). Since then, the idea of adoption has been in the back of my mind. On our way to Disneyland (dh and I really should not go on long drives together - we tend to make life-changing decisions while in the car), we decided that we wanted to pursue adoption. Since then, I have debated, researched, prayed, meditated, and prayed some more to know if it was really the right thing for us. Well, let me tell you, I got a burning in my bosom such as I have never felt before - seriously, it was like really bad heartburn! I know this is right for our family.

Currently, I am filling out applications for various adoption agencies. We are going to certify through LDS Family Services, but we will be working with several different agencies as well as "advertising" on our own. I thought I should mention it here in case you or anyone you know is looking for a good home for your/their baby girl. Now, I know you're probably saying, "But you already have 3 kids," and that's true, but I know there are lots of kids out there in need of good, stable homes. I'm blessed to have one. Anyway, if you know of any situations, or if you have been through the adoption process and have advice/encouragement, I would love to hear from you. You can email me anytime at blogginboutbooks[AT]gmail[DOT]com. I'm working on a blog that birthparents can check out for all our information. It may take me awhile, but eventually all the info will be at: http://leadusguideus.blogspot.com/.

Anyway, enough about that ... let's get on to some more bookish topics:


**Chelsea over at The Page Flipper is giving away 6 books from Simon & Schuster. Check it out! You get an extra entry if you mention her giveaway on your blog.

**I mentioned the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest in one of my previous posts. Basically, writers submitted their manuscripts, Amazon customers reviewed excerpts of each one, and 10 manuscripts were chosen from those with the best ratings. The winner gets a publishing contract from Penguin Books. You can read excerpts of the Top 10 and vote for the winner. The one with the highest reviews wins. Now, I'm a little miffed because Amazon promised an award to the best reviewer, and never delivered (winners were supposed to be announced Feb. 29, but it didn't happen). Not that I expected to win, but I rushed to do reviews so that I could be among the contestants for the reviewer prize. ANYWAY, my point is, if you think this sounds fun, go check out the Top 10. There are some really good entries. Unfortunately, only 1 of my favorites (The Wet Nurse's Tale) made it into the Top 10 :( Oh well. Even if Amazon hasn't handled the contest well (which seems to be the general consensus among the writers and reviewers), it's a fun idea and I enjoyed reading a lot (not all) of the entries.

**I promised myself I would read a review book this week (The Sister - I'm woefully behind), but I got sidetracked by Julie Kenner's Carpe Demon. It's light and fluffy (sounds like a meringue), but lots of fun. I'll report on it soon.

**Thanks for reading this long, dense post. Happy reading!

12 comments:

  1. I saw you on Gamila's site and followed your link to see what you like to read. I'm a HUGE Maeve Binchy fan and love Stephenie Meyer too.

    Congrats on the adoption plans. I've thought a lot about it myself. I wondered if it would be too hard because we also have three children, and I figured if someone had to chose between us and a childless couple, we wouldn't get picked.

    I'll be following your adoption blog to see how things go for you. Best of luck!

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  2. I just wanted to congratulate that you on the adoption plans. I think it's great. No real advice, but if you live in the northern Idaho, western Washington area, I know a great adoption attorney.

    Good luck!

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  3. Congratulations on your decision! No advice here as all of my "kids" have four legs and fur, but I'll be anxious to hear how things progress for you!

    Lezlie

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  4. I miss your book postings, but there are things more important than books! :) I hope everything works out for you and your family! I pray for the best!!!

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  5. Good luck with your adoption plans. It certainly is a momentous decision!

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  6. What a big decision! Congratulations! It seems like a great opportunity to offer a home and a family to a child in need of one when you've got the means to do it, so I hope everything goes well for you and your family as you go through the adoption process and that you'll have a new family member to love soon! =)

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  7. Oh my goodness! What an exciting trip you had...Disneyland AND a big decision! Wow! I will keep fingers and toes crossed for you. A friend of ours works with adoptions of babies/children coming from Eastern Europe. If you are interested I could get you his name and number.

    With such excitement and such no wonder you didn't do a lot of reading. With a new baby/child coming you should probably just get used to that.

    Gaye

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  8. Thank you, everybody, for your well wishes. I, too, am praying that everything goes well.

    Gaye (it feels so good to call you something other than "Inside") - I would love your friend's number. Thanks!

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  9. Congratulations on your decision! What an exciting time in your lives! Thoughts of joy being sent your way. Tee Hee, there was no pun intended. :)

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  10. I've been a fan of your blog for awhile now, just never commented. What a way to grab me! Congrats on your life changing news and I wish you all the best! No advice here, I'm young and not even married yet :) But I'll stay tuned to see how your process goes!

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  11. Best wishes with your adoption plan. Sounds like you relying on the Lord.

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  12. What a big decision, and how lovely. Especially as you have three children already, to find room for one more. I can speak about what some of the results are, because my father was adopted, and so is my brother. It will change your life forever, and the child's. While i know I have family out there - grandparents etc - that I have never met, I had a wonderful grandmother who took Dad in and made him her own - he came into a family with 8 children! And we were her grandchildren, in her eyes. I can't tell you how much that love means. My brother is Native American (Ojibway), and he is the only boy among 4 girls. He is our brother. It always amazed me that people picked on him for his skin colour (we are caucasion) and not my sisters and I, and I learned alot about people and attitudes growing up. I guess what I'm trying to say here is, once you adopt, the child will become yours, and brother or sister to the children you already have. There are ties as deep as blood, and it's love, and if you feel the calling, then I hope you are blessed with a lovely child to adopt.
    By the way, my name is Susan too, there's at least three of us in the book-blogging world that I know of now!

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.

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