Two Years Ago Today...

I posted my very first blog entry. It was a photo of the three children we were adopting from Liberia. I figured for $4.95 a month, a blog would be a great, inexpensive way to update close  friends and family during our adoption. Immediately I began to write about our daily experiences and found there is almost never a dull day when raising ten or more children. I have always loved writing and loved photography. Those two came together perfectly when I discovered scrapbooking eleven years ago. Now, with a large busy family, I have found blogging meets my need to record our life in words and photos. 

And now digital scrapbooking has entered the picture. 

I created page on of this layout (above) the evening we came home from the aquarium. As you can see, instead of background paper, I added a photo that I took of a diver feeding the fish and lowered the opacity. Then I layered my photos and text on top. I love the crisp, clean look of  this page. No digital scrapbook supplies used, either. Just my photos and Photoshop.

And page two I finished last night. As you see, I used the same method for lowing the opacity of a photo and using it as a background. I typed my journaling right on my photo. I knew I wanted to include the photo of us having a picnic, but I also wanted lots of other photos. If I made the picnic photo a 4X6, you'd need a magnifying glass to see everyone. With this method, you can still see everyone but the photo doesn't visually dominate the page. The only digital scrapbooking element I used on this page was a ribbon, to join the top and bottom. This style of scrapbooking isn't for everyone, but I love the look. I also love that I don't have to wait for my photos to be developed, then buy supplies, then scrapbook. Our trip to the aquarium is now documented. I blogged about it, I scrapbooked it. I will now put these photos on my hard drive and be done.

And now, back to my anniversary. What's a blogging anniversary without a giveaway?  This year I am putting together a package of some of my favorite things:

Chocolate

Coffee

Music

Scrapbooking

And more.

Just leave a comment. Tell us how long you've been reading the blog and how you found it. Or just leave your name. Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a drawing to win.

Comments

[Dawn DeGroot]

Hi, I found your blog through Jennifer J. She told me to look at your page about the nighttime car rides to get ice cream (my mind blanked out what you all call it) I have been a faithful reader ever since. I too have 3 adopted kiddo's and am always using ideas from your pages :) You inspired me (and Jen) to be a more faithful blogger. I love it too, I will always remember the funny things the children say.

[Chantel M]

Hi Rene,
I love reading about your daily adventures and have gotten some fun ideas to adapt in my family. I think I linked to you from Shawn or Hilary.

By the way, love your aquarium layouts!!!!

Have a great weekend!
Chantel

[Emily Weaver Brown]

I guess I have been reading your blog for a little over a year now. Weird how time flies.

-Emily

[Hilary]

Hilary: Faithful blog reader since day 1, by direct invitation. :)

[Jenna]

I started reading your blog about six months ago when I saw a link to it from Ruth A's blog. As a homeschooled kind-of-big family member myself, I love reading about how your family life is matter of fact and "normal," but also tons of fun.

(I love the layouts--what a great idea with the background pic!)

[Jenna]

I started reading your blog about six months ago when I saw a link to it from Ruth A's blog. As a homeschooled kind-of-big family member myself, I love reading about how your family life is matter of fact and "normal," but also tons of fun.

(I love the layouts--what a great idea with the background pic!)

[Amy]

HI, I am a newer faithful reader in awe. Found you through my best friend who knows you through Bethany! You are amazing! LOVE that you update almost daily! Thanks for sharing your journey with us. God Bless!

[Karen]

I'm not sure how I found your blog but I come back every day.

I love the photos you post. I admire the way you handle what, to me, would be major catastrophes (3 children with stitches! Avi's escapades....).

Thanks for sharing your life with us. :)

[Melody Gross]

I found your blog about a year ago from a link on Anya's (St-Udio) page. I throughly enjoy all of your stories : )

[Susan]

I think I found your blog through a google search for large homeschooling families. Could have been a referral from another blog, though. We are a homeschooling family of 7 (5 kids), with three of our kids being recent additions via adoption. I love the tone of your blog. I also try to take things in stride and stay calm and remember to laugh, and when I start to lose focus it helps to have this way to "visit" other families dealing with many of the same issues.

I thought of you when I took my youngest to the DR for infected bug bites yesterday. I figured at least she didn't need stitches!

-Susan

[Carrie (momma of 5)]

Honestly I can't remember how I found your blog.. But I have been reading for about a month or so and love it. I love big families as we have the larger than norm I guess with 5 kids.

[Sarah]

I can't remember how I found your blog, but I am glad that I did! I would guess that I have been reading for 3 months now. I really love reading about all your beautiful children.

You are a source of inspiration for me in my mothering career.

Sarah

[Wendy]

Hi there...First I would like to say Happy Blogoversary:) I found your blog through Laura Harr's blog!!

[Elizabeth]

I've been reading for about a year now. A friend of mine, who at the time was thinking about adopting from Liberia, passed the link along to me.

I usually lurk, but love reading about large, homeschooling families.

[Eliza]

Well..I've been a reader since spring..I love your blog..I dont quite remember how I found it..and I will understand if europeans cant participate in the drawing:)

[Angie]

I believe that I found you through a referral from another blog. I have been reading somewhere between 6-12 months. We live in the Pacific NW. Two of my children are from Liberia as well and we are now homeschooling. I love reading all of the fantastic things that you guys do to make home fun. Plus, cooking for a crowd info is an added bonus.

I love coming here. Thanks for writing so often!

Angie

[Kate Alva]

Hi Renee!

I found your blog through Naomi J's blog just over a year ago. :-) It has been such a pleasant distraction when I should be studying!

Even if I don't win the drawing, I wouldn't mind putting in, officially, for 'President' of Avi's fan club....lol.

[Emily S.]

I've been reading your blog almost since the beginning. I found it through the Liberian adoption yahoo group. We were considering adopting from Liberia but are now in the process of another domestic adoption instead (we have a son who we adopted from the US). I love reading about your family's daily adventures and greatly appreciate you sharing your recipes and homeschooling experiences! I finally found a supplier for the montessori color tablets too- my kids are going to love them ;-)Happy 2nd Anniversary!

[Davene]

I found you when my friend Christin said, "Hey, I found a great blog about a LARGE homeschooling family. Check it out!" That was quite a long time ago...can't remember exactly.

Congratulations on two years of (amazingly faithful!) blogging. You are collecting a treasure for your children by blogging (and scrapbooking, too, although my children are going to have to get along without that particular treasure since I flunked scrapbooking). :) Thanks for letting all of us have a glimpse of the treasure, too!!!

[Rebekah]

I found your blog while searching for "large families" online about a year ago (maybe?) Your posts reminded me of home (life growing up in a family of 7 children) and I've been a faithful reader since (although not as faithful a commenter).

[Tannis]

Hi, I'm not sure how I found your blog (must have been a linked through someone else?) or when exactly. I know I haven't been reading for a whole year yet.

I enjoy your blog because I had always wanted a large family (we were blessed with one daughter). I also enjoy it because we too homeschool and live in Western WA. So there are some similarities. ;)

I love reading about your beautiful family. It warms my heart. :)

[Stacey]

Renee,
I met you last year at the Bethany picnic and have been reading your blog for about 4 months now. A girl in my Bible Study told me about it, and when I told her I knew you, she was very surprised!
I love reading your blog daily. It gives me hope and inspiration. We hope to adopt again soon and are excited about our growing family.
God Bless,
Stacey

[Nicole Sutherland]

Hi Renee! i've been reading your blog every day since i heard about, it right around the time we attended the shower for your 3 kids. very fun! awesome pics!

[ML]

I found you originally through Andi and then Delia raved about you, too, and I keep checking in. :)

[Faith]

I found you through Team Bettendorf. I have no idea how long I have been reading.