I'm having a giveaway!!!

I'm killing two birds with one stone with this giveaway. It's sort of complicated, for a giveaway and all, so read through it and see if you can participate!!

The first bird:  One of my dear friends in the adoption world, Laura Lu, had a very quick adoption happen earlier this year. It happened fast due to the earthquake in Haiti; their son was made available much more quickly than would normally happen in a Haitian adoption and they weren't yet prepared for the costs.

Zane is actually their second adopted son. Their first son was a domestic adoption. I have rarely seen a family work so hard to raise the funds for an adoption. Among other things, Laura's husband took an evening job delivering pizzas. I'll never forget the night of her birthday when he had to work. He showed up at their door with a pizza for Laura and their girls, a quick kiss and then he was gone. I still tear up thinking about the sacrifice and devotion. I share this because they are not the type to sit back and beg for help but this time around they simply didn't have the time to get their money together.

Laura is an accomplished photographer with a rare sense of artistry. She is having a fundraiser that features several beautiful photographs, some with scriptures or a quote, for sale in either an 8 X 10 or 11 X 14 size. Please go look now! I don't want to copy them without her permission. You can read about their adoption there, too. (And please, feel free to buy one yourself without waiting to see if you've won here!)

I AM GIVING AWAY ONE OF HER PICTURES!
(plus something else, but you'll have to read to the end to find out what)The second bird:  I volunteered to be the Christmas Warrior for Sophia C, the beautiful little girl pictured below. (Newly discovered pictures of her!!) I am hoping to raise $1000 to help defray the adoption costs and get her home more quickly.

Soooooo, if you'd like to be entered in the giveaway for Laura Lu's beautiful photographs (your choice of size and image), please give a donation of $10 or more to Sophia via the ChipIn I now have at the top of my blog. If you have never used a ChipIn before I can assure you it is very easy and it will walk you through the steps. Your donation will go straight to Sophia's account with Reece's Rainbow. I don't ever see a penny of it. As I have mentioned previously, donations of $35 or more will also get you a Reece's Rainbow Christmas ornament with Sophia's picture on it.

So that's my plan. You donate to Sophia C's chipin at the top of my blog and you are thereby entered into my giveaway for one of Laura Lu's photographs PLUS a copy of Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream. (Not that the pot wasn't sweet enough with a gorgeous photograph, but I just couldn't resist giving away that book, as Laura and her family so beautifully exemplify the ideals contained in it.)

I will draw the winner on December 1, 2010.

Thank you for reading, thank you for (hopefully!) sharing, and thank you for participating if you are able. I hope you win!!