Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

Warning: Shameless Plug Ahead

Just wanted to update everyone on our ‘giveaway’ for No Hands But Ours. Firstly, that indeed, there still IS a giveaway. And we still need stories. Thank you to all the new stories I have received in the last week or two, each and every one is so incredibly special… and your children are precious!

But our timeline for the giveaway has changed a bit. If you’re anything like me, you’ve felt like a deer in the headlights with the crush and craziness of Christmas. One minute I feel like I’m doing well, close to being done with Christmas shopping and the next minute panic hits and I freak that I haven’t even started wrapping yet. (Wrapping presents for 8 kids takes a really long time.) So we figured that like us, most of you just simply don’t have time to spare to write out that story of your little one… and we want to give you just that… more time!

So our new date for the end of the giveaway will be January 30. Seems like a long way away, but it really isn’t, so start thinking now about what you’d like to include in your story…. that way, when you sit down after the holiday bliss has passed, and you’re barely conscious from over-eating, over-shopping and over-celebrating, you’ll have an idea where to begin 🙂

And we are still giving away something. Not 100% sure exactly what yet. Amie and I have tossed some ideas around (all good, of course) but we haven’t found the perfect thing. A gift card of some sort? Something more personal? I’d love to hear some ideas (and no, we won’t be giving away a camera. If we could, we would, believe you me!) and if anyone would like to donate something to our efforts, that would be awesome!

Sooo, everyone who is entered is now featured on the No Hands But Ours site. Specifically on the family stories page. In addition to getting an entry for sharing your story, we have also decided to give entries for everyone who has put our button on their site… we at NHBO are feeling the Christmas-y love! So if you have put the button on your site please leave a comment and you will be entered, as easy as that. And if you haven’t yet added the button to your site, grab it, install it and join the par-tay!

No Hands But Ours

Entries will be as follows:
1. For submitting a family story: 5 entries
2. For sharing your SN blog link: 1 entry
3. For putting our button on your site: 2 entries

Can you feel all that giveaway love? I am feelin’ it!!!

If you have shared your story, your blog link and/or have the button in your sidebar, please leave me a comment so I can keep track of all your entries. I suffer from serious mommy brain pretty much 24/7. So unless I have it written down somewhere that can’t be accidentally thrown away, I cannot be responsible for it. Just ask my kids.

Gotta run and get in the shower. My husband and I are actually… dare I say it for fear one of our children will spontaneously sport a fever or start projective vomiting…. going on a date.

Comments

  3. Love the new site! Very helpful info for parents.

    I would share our story except that my daughter ended not having the SN at all. So we wouldn’t be of any help to anyone. 🙁

    Enjoy your date!

    Reply

  5. A DATE???? No way! You guys have fun!!! 🙂

    And you know of course that we will be submitting our story… just as soon as Owen is home! 🙂

    Love!
    Rebecca

    Reply

  9. I finally got around to it: I wrote a post introducing No Hands But Ours and scheduled it to post on Saturday. I took a few liberties with our “on line friendship!” (Grin!)

    So, I’m glad for the extended time to prepare my story. Thanks for the later deadline. After the holidays, and after Saturday’s post has been read, I’ll be good for MUCHO entries 🙂

    Reply

  10. Stefanie~ Although I can’t add a story (someday I hope though!) I did add your button to my blog!
    Ashley (ashlynrose.blogspot.com)

    Reply

  12. I have a button! Your new site is wonderful and has really helped us through our recent decision-making process. Have a fun date with your hubby.

    Gin =)
    waitingforchina-girl.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  15. I’ve got your button on my blog…I’m pretty sure you already have my blog link though. Working on the story. 🙂

    Reply

  17. I forgot to add….Livi as you know is from Korea. She was adopted as a NSN but turned out having a lot of needs(from day one)…a bit backwards LOL we love her to pieces but you know that….

    Reply

  18. Stefanie,
    I am planning on writing our story for No Hands But ours. THANK YOU for reading my mind about the reasons I have not done it yet! We are also on day 93 waiting for LOA for our current SN adoption. I will definitely get it done before Jan 30th. I do have the button on both my blogs:
    homefortheholledays.blogspot.com
    &
    thelittlegirlinpink.blogspot.com

    Hope your date night was great!

    Blessings,
    Sheryl

    Reply

  19. You know I’ve been sportin’ that button, girl! 😉

    However…do NOT enter me specifically in the drawing…instead…would you please randomly assign my 2 entries to someone else…sort of a pay it forward entry, you could say! 😉

    Thanks, Stef!
    Hugs!!
    Patricia/NYC

    Reply

  20. I have your button on my site!!

    OF COURSE!

    Our blog:

    http://www.ourpartyofeight.blogspot.com

    Merry Christmas!
    Hope you loved your date!
    And, seriously, can I say how grateful I am you have extended your deadline. I have been meaning to write you Sarah’s story since LAST April….does mommy brain count as an excuse for that long. Good grief!

    Reply

  22. Here’s another button for you:
    atouchofeast.blogspot.com

    To Kristin, I actually think your story would be wonderful to share. You went into the SN program thinking you would be adopting a SN child right? I bet there are many many SN children that fall into this category of not having a the SN upon returning home.

    Seems like it would indeed be something to share! 🙂

    Reply

  23. Hope you had a great time on your date!!!

    I have the button on my site and I see that our family story is on No Hands site. Thank you!

    http://www.itty-izzy.blogspot.com

    I don’t think of my daughter as special needs at all but I guess in the big wide world someone did. For that I am thankful because Ella is another perfect daughter for me and a great little sister for Elizabeth. Thank you for spreading the word!

    Joan.

    Reply

  24. Hope you had fun on your date!

    You probably know that I already have the button on my site…

    Have a wonderful Christmas~

    Reply

  25. I put your button on my blog the day it came out and I gave you my blog link back then too! Now, I’m motivated to get that story to you soon!!!

    Reply

  26. Stefanie,

    I have your button on our blog. Feel free to share it also, we adopted two sn kiddos (and want a third; )
    www.
    ourhappilyeverafterstory.
    blogspot.com
    I will try to find time to get our stories in soon.

    Reply

  33. Hi Stef, I have the button on my blog and I am definitely going to write that story. Will get it done by 1/30 for sure. I haven’t gotten it done for all the reasons you mentioned. Hey, we went on our first date in about 4 months last night too! It was great!

    This is a different twist on the giveaway suggestion but what if you gave the winner the chance to choose which org. they would sponsor a child in or something like that? You know, like LWB or HTS??? Just a crazy thought. I don’t know about anybody else, but I am trying to simplify and I just can’t stop thinking about all the heart babies needing surgery and all the children who could be in a foster family instead of an orphanage if they only had a sponsor. Again, just a crazy thought.

    Les

    Reply

  37. Hey! I have added your button and here is the link tomy blog: http://www.lifesabeach4us.com

    If I have time I will submit a family story as well. I love the new site and have directed a few families to it as they are in the initial stages of adoption.

    Enjoy your date!

    Reply

  39. What’s a “date”?? (kidding)I will indeed be putting your button on my page 🙂 What kind of stories are you looking for? About the SN or how we came to be a family? We just returned home the end of July with our daughter that has hemihypertrophy. Enjoy your date tonight!!!

    Reply

  42. I have the button on my blog. THANK YOU so much for extending the deadline for the stories. In between homework, finals, 4 kids, work, and taxiing the kids around, I have been trying to get our story together. So, I can really use the extra time to get it done.

    Mandi
    http://www.mattmandi.blogspot.com

    Reply

  43. I think I got all three, Stefanie. Got the button, Got the story, Got the blog link. Yeah!! And as nice as it is of you to give away something, it is totally unnecessary. The site is fantastic and I am so happy to be a small part of it 🙂
    Thanks!!

    Reply

  48. Wooohooo! Praising God for that xtra time! I’m swamped right now and I know I’ve got to get you Anna Grace’s story.

    Stef…if we submitted 2 family stories (2 separate SNs) does that mean 10 entries (you already have Kai’s story)? 🙂

    I, of course, have the No Hands But Ours, button on my blog and you have the link. COOL!!!

    I’ll get you that story for Anna Grace before the deadline.

    Hugs,

    Ohilda

    Reply

  51. Hey there lady. The button is on my blog! I will send you our story later today – I keep crying as I write it out!

    novakfam.blogspot.com

    Reply

  52. I have the button on my Blog :
    inthewaitingadoption.blogspot.com

    Thank you so much for putting the website together ! It has been very helpful for a newbie like me.
    Blessings ! Kathy

    Reply

  54. 1. I sent you my story. 2.I am more than happy to let you use my blog! 3. I am trying to put your button on my blog! 🙂

    Reply

  56. Stefani,
    I am working on my story for the site 🙂 I do have the button on the blog and my link on NHBO. Hope you have a wonderful week leading up to Christmas!

    Margie

    Reply

  58. I have your button on my blog! 😉 thanks & Merry Christmas!!
    Heather (FL)
    thompsonslatestmiracle.blogspot.com

    Reply

  59. I love your new site! It is such a good resource to be able to share with others! Being the older sister to one, very soon to be two, little girls adopted SN from China, it’s awesome! 🙂
    I added the button to both of my blogs:
    http://www.meimeiadventures.blogspot.com
    http://www.whenlovetakesyouin.blogspot.com
    Also, my little sister, Sarah from http://www.meimeiadventures.blogspot.com was born with cleft lip, you can link to her blog as well for that. 🙂
    ~Staci

    Reply

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