November is Adoption Awareness Month!

There are a lot of ways to celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month (information found here):

• Support Adoption Foundations
  Lifetime Adoption Foundation is a non-profit charity that assists the women choosing adoption, both with their physical needs and their futures, through educational scholarships. It also offers grants for families open to adopting hard-to-place children. Donations received go directly to funding both of these programs.
  
  
• Write a letter to your local newspaper about the blessing of adoption
  For ideas and stories, click here to visit websites about adoption.
  
  
• Read an adoption story as a family
  Read stories about Lifetime Adoption's most recently adopted babies and children, and updates on previous adoptions.
  
  
• Ask your local library to display adoption-related books.
  Adoption expert Mardie Caldwell has written several books on adoption including AdoptingOnline.com, Adoption: Your Step-by-Step Guide, So I Was Thinking About Adoption... and The Healthcare Professional's Adoption Guide.
  
  
• Learn more about positive adoption language
  Using positive adoption language will help end the myth that adoption is second best. By using positive adoption language, you’ll reflect the true nature of adoption, free of stereotypes. Click here to read some examples of positive and negative adoption language.
  
  
• For creative ideas on how to celebrate the blessing of adoption and to increase adoption awareness, click here to view our National Adoption Awareness Month calendar.

Back in the Saddle Award!

We were nominated for the Back in the Saddle Award by a wonderful friend Sarah of Bunches of Burches!
Background: This award is given to bloggers that are "Back in the Saddle" of life. This may be someone who is undergoing medical treatments, restarting his/her life, resurfacing after a tragedy, or someone who is just trying to sport a new attitude. Recipients have an attitude of a fighter, strive to be a winner of the battle, and show determination.

Rules: Post the award's graphic, background, and rules on your blog. Explain how you are "Back in the Saddle" again, and then pass the award on to at least four other bloggers who are "Back in the Saddle" just like you. Make sure you let them know that they have been given this award, and ask them to pass it on.

Our nominees for the Back in the Saddle Award go to:

Janna - Janna is one tough cookie! Despite the challenges the infertility and chronic illness have thrown at her, she has more grace and strength that anyone I know and now through the miracle of adoption has TWO beautiful baby girls! Only 5 1/2 months apart! I told you she was tough!

Allison - Allison is a true Endo Warrior! Her strength is amazing and now she is on her way to becoming a mommy! Yay!

Kate - I'm not sure I have the words to describe Kate. She has overcome more challenges than any ten people I know and keeps pushing forward. She greatly inspires me to keep moving forward when I want to quit.

JRS - If you need to be inspired or want to see what a heart of gratitude looks like, you need to check out her blog! She is truly amazing!

Abby's First Halloween

Abby had quite an eventful first Halloween! We began the day at the ADA Walk for Diabetes in Charlotte. Here is a picture of us with G-Nanny and Paw-Paw:
That evening despite the rain, we had Trunk or Treat at church (indoors of course!) and I must say that Abby made the cutest cheerleader ever!

As you can see, it is very hard work being so cute! Halloween was definitely very exciting for our Abby. So much so that she didn't sleep! Hopefully that means we will get a good night sleep tonight!