Thursday, February 14, 2008

Valentine's Day Challenge!

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!!
I hope you have a day full of love and blessings!

I'm going to ask you to do something for me today. I'm asking you to give me a Valentine, of sorts. Here's what I want you to do: Go to the link at the top of the page (currently right above this post), which will take you to a blog called "Adopting William." Read about Jen and her family, then make a donation to help bring William home so he can start receiving the medical care he needs and experience the love of a family. That's the only gift I want. I'm challenging each person who looks at my blog to give at least one dollar TODAY. ONE DOLLAR. No biggie. As I said above, it would also be helpful to send out a mass emailing to every single person you've ever met in your entire life asking them to do the same. Post it on your blog, or a Yahoo group (which of course will inevitably make someone mad who will then circulate a petition to get you banned from the group- FUN!! ; D).

Jen is tracking the amount being raised toward their goal of $15,000.00. They are currently up to $3,743.00. It's such a blessing to check her blog every day and see that amount going up. Let's use today to send some love William's way and watch that amount go through the roof. Yesterday, my blog was viewed by roughly 100 people. If a similar number shows up today, gives a dollar, then spreads the word on their own blogs, think of how quickly the remaining money could be raised!

I know some adopting parents are turned off by adoption fundraisers. I get that. The mentality is: "I'm already donating to an adoption fund... My OWN!" This is different. Go take a look at this little boy, then decide if you can stand it NOT to take part in helping to bring him home. I wouldn't ask you to do something I wasn't willing to do myself. We have made a donation, and each of our kids has made a donation. In fact, Tucker gave everything he had (which melted my heart and made me hug him), then turned around and told his sister how selfish she was for not giving all she had in her piggy bank (which made me want to throttle him). But, I gotta cut the little dude some slack. He is, after all, only 9. He's supposed to act childish.

Now, here's what I'm willing to do to sweeten the deal. After you make a donation of at least one dollar, come back here and leave a comment on this post saying so. You don't have to say how much you donated, just that you DID donate. One week from today (2/21/2008), we will randomly choose one of the comments to win $10.00. I will send one of you ten bucks. Not much, I know- but work with me here, people. I wish it could be more, but if I had more, I'd probably just donate it directly to William. This is not a raffle. It is a random act of gratitude for a random act of kindness.

I want to make it absolutely clear that William's mom, Jen, has NOTHING to do with this. I have not been enlisted by her in any way to solicit donations. This is totally my own thing.

You have my permission and blessing to promote this challenge on your own blog.

11 comments:

Christy said...

You did some good when you posted it last week. I donated then and posted it on my blog. I know of a few people who had donated from my blog. So it is continuing to spread. I do not want the $10. If my name if selected give it to William's fund.
Christy
PAP

M. said...

Thank you, Christy! That's awesome!

Anonymous said...

I also read it on your blog last week and donated then. I am currently passing it around. Please, if my name is chosen, pass it along to William's fund. You are such a blessing to your readers!

Tina, KCMO

M. said...

Tina,
Thank you! Each one of you guys is such a blessing to me!

Anonymous said...

I don't want the $10, but I would like to thank you for pointing Jen's blog out. What a touching story - I feel truly blessed by their family.

Nachama said...

I donated as well...and if I win...get that ten over to William!!
All the best to you for this great idea.

Anonymous said...

I just donated. Thought of my daughter sleeping in the next room, home from China now just over a year, and was moved to tears at how many of these children do not ever end up in loving homes.
BTW, this is the first time I have ever donated to anything on the web, but I felt impressed to do so.
Thanks for providing the link on the APV Yahoo group.
Ditto about the $10. Just send it to them.

Laureen
FL

Rebecca said...

Michelle,
Please do not think that I am saying this beacuse everyone else did, but if I win please give the oney to the family! I ave given into their fund and I will again. I do pray that they receive all that they need and more! God bless you for doing this--you are a very special person!

M. said...

Anon, Nachama, Laureen, and Rebecca-

Thank you so much guys! It's very much appreciated. And no, Rebecca, I don't think you're just saying that because everyone else did. I think you're saying it because YOU are a special person.

Anonymous said...

Hi, thanks for posting this. We did give, but like others would rather the $10 (if we won) just go to his fund. Poor sweet baby. We'll be praying for him.

Shae

sassy chic said...

Hey Chelle just wanted you to know that I gave as well! And you know full well I want the ten bucks...just kidding everyone! I can hear the comments already! Im with everyone else give it to William and lets get this baby home to his parents!