200th post 230th post 1 year blog anniversary giveaway!

Welcome to the 200th post 230th post 1 year blog anniversary giveaway!

First a note...

I had the first "Homes of Love" blog giveaway planned for the 200th post. Well, I make my plans but God is sovereign. The 200th post ended up being unfathomable, about our baby Joel passing into the Lord's presence on May 28.

About a month later I planned to do it again, perhaps for the 230th post? That's when scarlet fever broke out and became the 230th post asking for prayer covering. I mean seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up!

Last weekend I realized I was nearing one year of blogging, and since no calamity other than a stomach virus* has befallen us this week, here's the one year anniversary post...and my first blog giveaway!

*And believe me, up to 21 babies with it coming out both ends is something to write home about!! Read a hysterical post here on "vomitology" by blogging mother OCTAMOM. Because sometimes, all you can do is laugh!

I have been so blessed since "joining" the blog world on July 24, 2008. I've loved reading about neat people, how they raise their babies, train up and educate their children, what they do together as a family, and how they impact the world around them - whether they live in US suburbia or a far corner of the earth.

It helps me in several other ways, too. For one, as I am immersed day in and day out in the "Bolivian" way of caring for babies and raising children, it helps me remember how we do it in the US, keeping a high standard before me.

It gives me a taste of what life is like in the US, particularly for mothers of young children. I've commented on more than one of your blogs how fun it is to see the boutique clothing/accessory options you have! And don't even get me started on the cute, decorated nurseries....

I get so many ideas about taking good pictures of kids, or just about anything actually.

Some blogging mothers inspire me to eat healthy even with a busy life.

Those who have lost babies, have disabled children, understand the ups and downs of adopting - they, too, inspire me!

And I can't forget to mention: it's soothing to my soul to get a glimpse into happy, healthy families. I know the families I follow in "blog land" are not perfect, but they work through their problems and stick together, unlike the families we deal with on a daily basis. It's special to see how you love one another!

Oh, and of course it's a treat to read what's going on in the lives and missionaries of my friends in Bolivia and the states!

So with no further ado, as a thanks to those who read of our adventures here in Bolivia, here's the giveaway!

I love giving these aguayo fabric photo albums as gifts, with pictures inside. I'll also throw in the cute little pen of a girl dressed in traditional clothing.

How do you enter, you ask? The ways are many! Do any of these things and get an entry for each option:

~ leave a comment stating why you read this blog (the pictures? interested in life in a foreign land? adoption advocate? missionary wanna be? makes life with 2 kids seem easy?)

~ put our blog button on your blog or website and leave a comment telling me you've done so

~ leave another comment with a verse related to caring for the fatherless

~ write a post on your blog about this giveaway (and leave a comment so that I know you did)

The winner will be announced sometime in early August.




The albums and pen will be mailed to you from Bolivia. To add to the cultural flair, you know. (Just imagine those foreign stamps!)

And if it doesn't make it to you after a couple weeks, we'll go with Plan B...which would be something along the lines of sending it via a volunteer returning to the US in August.

So let the fun begin!