The March of Dimes is working to help every baby get the best chance possible for a healthy start to life. If you would like more information, you can visit the March of Dimes website.

I have a personal page where anyone who is interested may sponsor me. All of the money goes directly to the March of Dimes, and even $1 can help make a difference for premature and gravely ill babies. If you’re interested, please drop me a comment or an e-mail and I will send you the link to the page (it contains personal information, so I am not linking it here). Please remember not to post your personal information in your comment!

If you can’t contribute money, there are other ways to help!

You can sign up to walk yourself. You can tell friends and family about the March of Dimes and ask them to contribute. You can ask your parents or school about forming a team of walkers for the March of Dimes. Any contribution to this organization is helping babies. I think that’s a worthwhile cause!

Thank you!

Laura, I wanted you to know that there will also be a small surprise for you from my family coming your way in the next several days. It is something I hope you’ll enjoy.

Happy Birthday to one of the most remarkable people I know!

I feel like I didn’t do much, but looking back on the month, there are several things I did that made a difference, I think.

I sponsored B. and I hope my small contributions will help make his life and his family’s life a little easier.

I gave blood at the blood drive we have at work, and I encouraged my co-workers to give as well. This is an easy way for adults to make a difference. Local blood services always need healthy adult donors, and the pint of blood you give could literally save someone’s life. The needle is big and it looks kind of scary, but the people who take donated blood, called Phlebotomists, are very experienced and careful. It hurts less than a shot with a tiny needle! Plus, they give you free cookies and snacks. Where else do you get that kind of deal?

I sent a care package to my friend Judy, who is currently in the beginning stages of treatment for her cancer. It was just a few small things, but I hope she enjoys them and they make her feel better. Mostly, I just want her to know how much we all care about her.

I gave Miss N (who takes such good care of Bean) Monday off, as a “freebie”, even though I have a lot to do that day, because I know she could use a long weekend. She is feeling very overwhelmed with her classes to become a teacher.

I got my husband something nice for Valentine’s Day. I guess this should count for February, but I am terrible at keeping things a secret, so I told him right away. We’re going to have a long weekend at a resort here in town (they were having a “sale” and I got a good deal), and he will get to have a massage. He works very hard and does so much for our family, so I spent my bonus money from my job on him.

I voted for Laura at the Blogger’s Choice Awards, and I think you should, too! Laura is working very hard at her giving efforts. She’s a great inspiration to me. Click on the link to see Laura’s nominations, register, and VOTE!

This month, I am a little bit at a loss as to how I can best give back. If you have any ideas, please share them with me! I’ll keep thinking about it and try to have something up by next week.

Happy February!

I had seen B.’s picture when I signed us up, but somehow, having the photo in front of me, on paper, made it that much more real. A solemn little boy with large, beautiful, dark brown eyes peered out at me.  I received a short letter telling me a little more about him. One of the things that most affected me was reading that B. was described as an active boy, and that the activity he participated in most often was…working in the fields.

B. is actually one of the luckier children in his area, I would guess, because he does attend primary school. Only 19% of the children where he lives are able to. And I know that in many nations, especially large rural or impoverished populations, children are expected to, and need to, work alongside their families to help maintain fields, crops, and animals. But it still tugged at my heart. Does he have a ball to kick or throw? Does he get to play after dinner? Is there always dinner?

In the handbook we received, guidelines highlighted what was and wasn’t appropriate to talk about with B. We were encouraged to send pictures, but told to be sure everyone in the photo was completely and conservatively dressed (not like I’m in the habit of wearing low-cut tops, but you don’t always think about husband in his bathing suit, or the baby wearing only a Pull-up or shorts, for instance). Also, you have to think about the surroundings and items pictured in the photo. Like sending Christmas pictures where Bean is surrounded by toys to B., who lives in a poor village, wouldn’t be very thoughtful. Also, some people don’t celebrate Christmas, so you have to be aware of that.

I hoped to be able to send small gifts for B.’s birthday in May, but the handbook discusses the need to avoid that. Not only are the postal services often spotty in Mozambique, but such gifts can create feelings of jealousy among other children or may actually violate cultural or family customs.

Obviously, since B. is not my child, and we always have to be careful of privacy issues, I won’t be able to post any pictures of him.  I will talk more about him and the programs our sponsorship is helping throughout the year. This will be a learning experience for our family, and I hope to create a lasting tradition as we all get to know B.

This month, I took the plunge and sponsored a child through Save the Children, an organization recommended to me by Emily. It costs $28 a month. How shameful that I spend about that much eating my lunch and breakfast out each week, and the little boy I sponsored, B. from Mozambique, will benefit so much from this small amount.

I e-mailed B. today and I’m excited to be able to exchange letters back and forth with him. I’ll keep you all posted on what I hear.

I’m hoping those of you who played along in December 2007 on my other blog or along with Laura will come and check in here, too. Let me know about your own plans. Give me some good ideas!