I enjoyed reading the comments on Meredith's blog about how people met her.
I too would love to know how you found me.
Was it when you first read our blog? How did you come across it? Do you know us in real life? Did you find us on FaceBook? Did a friend give you my email? Did an agency give you our contact info? Did you find us randomly?
Come on-- share. It would be fun to know.
76 inspiring thoughts:
I NEVER comment but figured I'd stop blog-creeping just for today. I found your blog years ago (I'd say 3 or 4 I think) when I was doing a 'Blog' of my own for a project in University. I had never head of a blog and just typed 'blog' into google and stumbled. I found your daily trials and smiles interesting and loved hearing about your adoptions.
I found you through google back in 2007 - I was researching Turner syndrome and your blog popped up in the search results (I guess you were testing Anna for it at the time). I can't believe I've been reading your blog for 4 years already!
I guess you could also say that I know you in real life too - last year I happened to run into you, John, Rachel, and Caleb at the airport while you were on the way to adopt Anastasia and Paul. Totally a coincidence, since I was there to pick up my sister, but when I recognized you and your family, I just had to say hello!
Through Meredith's blog once your family decided to go get Dennis :)
Through RR when you went to get Dennis :) (I think)
I started reading your blog after I saw an article in the press enterprise. I think you are so inspiring and amazing to raise all those beautiful children. I look forward to your stories and am amazed at the good times you have and the strong bond you are creating in your family. It feels a bit strange to watch you thru your blog, but if I ever did see you all out and about- I would love to meet you all. I love your little guy, Dennis. He is such a cutie-pie!!
Susan
I was just browsing blogs, and there was a link on another blog (don't remember the name) to Smiles and Trials. I just clicked and started reading. That was after you brought Alex home but before Paul and Anastasia. I've beeen reading ever since :)))
Hey Christine!
I found you through my friend Jen Kayser in 2008. My husband and I were praying about adopting from Ukraine, a special needs child, and Jen gave me the link to your blog for reality and encouragement. We finally did adopt in 2011, 2 years later as you know, a little boy with amniotic banding syndrome and who is missing an eye. Who would have known? God!!!
I love your transparency. I love how you share both the good and the bad and give God the glory.
When I am discouraged or encouraged I have found that your blog always makes me feel comforted that I am not alone. I am thankful the Lord, through Jen Kayser, led me to your blog and, though we've never met in person, I can call you my friend.
Blessings Christine!
I started following adoption blogs through Reece's Rainbow about 9 months ago ... somehow that lead me to yours, probably through someone else's blog that listed yours as one they follow. I enjoy reading what you have to share!
I wish I could remember how I found your blog. I know it was from another one I read, I just don't remember anymore. :) But I have loved reading all your adventures to the Ukraine and about your lovely family. :-)
I found you from a link on a friend's blog when you were (if I'm correct) considering adopting a little boy named Daniel (of varying spellings) from disruption.
I found you through my real life (and blog) friend Charissa. I've been reading your blog for a few years now!
I found you when you started your blog, "The Ukraine Train" when you introduced Dennis Jack Reed (7/3/08) the first time using his whole name because I had just adopted my then youngest and named him Jackson Dennis. I went back and read Dennis' whole blog and then read all of Smiles & Trails and that is how I "met" you.
Peace
I found you by seeing a picture of Dennis on the side of someone's blog. I clicked on the picture and have been hooked ever since!
Long time reader, first time poster. I think I found your link off a link off a link when you were over getting Dennis. Been reading ever since, and hope I don't pass on info about you and your family to my dh like I've actually met you. Of course, with a blog, it is kind of like I have:)
I've been reading your blog so long I had almost forgotten how I came across it! I think I came across your adoption blog on Reeces Rainbow when you were adopting Dennis, and when you ended that blog I transitioned over to your family blog. I think.
I don't remember! I've been reading it for a long time and enjoying it on every post!
I found you on FRUA while we were in the process of adopting Caroline from Russia...loved your honest blog and have followed it ever since. :-)
A fellow adoptive family sent me along to your blog when we were adopting #1.
Great idea! I began reading your blog at the beginning stages of your going to meet Dennis. I found your blog by doing a search on YouTube about Russian Orphanages and came across Anna and Sveta having their first lunch with you after leaving the Orphanage. I find your family so down to earth and real. Your group of girls are the same age as my daughter and of course my son Landon isn't much younger than Dennis. We haven't personally met you but would love to one day. :)
Catherine
I found a link to your blog on FRUA. My sons and I love reading about your large, fun-filled family life. And Dennis updates are our favorite!
I honestly don't remember which friend's blog I found you from but I have so enjoyed reading your posts and seeing what the kids are up to as they grow. I have been reading forever and thank you so much for sharing part of your life adventures.
I found you on The Cornish blog when you were preparing to go and get Dennis.
I found your blog through your button on someone else's blog. I don't even remember whose blog it was anymore because it's been a few years!
I found you through another blog (don't remember which one) when you were adopting Dennis.
I looked next to my wonderful brother-in-law, and there you were! :)
When I started praying about a Ukrainian or Russian adoption 4 years ago, I googled Ukrainian blogs and found yours. I was interested in your adoptions, family, your faith, and, I believe, that you were living in the San Joaquin Valley at the time. (I from Fresno and Sanger) So, I've followed you for the last three years. BTW, my second adoption was through Russia because of Ukrainian legal changes in 2008.
I came here from another blog that linked to you. Just after Alex came home.
Must have been when you were adopting Dennis. Been reading ever since!
I followed a link on someone else's blog to your blog about adopting Anastasia and Paul and when I finished reading that, I came here.
I found your blog after following a link for Dennis's adoption blog. I love your posts and look forward to reading them!
From FRUA--you posted a picture of Dennis
I found you though a comment you left on someone else's blog. I clicked over, read for a while, recognized a park that you had taken pictures in and realized that you lived in the same town as me! About two weeks later you announced you were moving south. ;) :sigh:
I found you through another blog though I am not sure which one. I followed since you were going to get Dennis. I blog lurk on lots of blogs so I click links to find new ones all the time, especially ones with special needs children as for some reason I find them fascinating.
I found you through my daughter's blog "mark and courtney the ark of our covenant" and we have spoken on the phone when I was acquiring about adopting "Beth" which I did! Love following your family and the smiles and trials of raising a large family.
We adopted out son Joshua with Adoption ark in a similar timeframe to your getting Sveta and Anna. So we "met" on yahoo groups.
My friend Dee (Kate's Wish)told me a few months ago she thought I would like your blog. She was right!
Anne
http://bringingboryahome.blogspot.com
I found a link to your blog on someone else's blog but I can't remember which one. I read your postings almost daily, have your blog bookmarked as one of my favorites. You already had Dennis when I started reading. ~ Tharen
I found your blog recently while researching blogs of families who have adopted internationally. I'm not ready to start my own family yet but I have a heart for adoption, and I love reading the stories of how each child joined your family!
I think I started reading during your adoption of Denis. I don't remember how I found it, but am also on the Adoption Ark yahoo group and read FRUA. So it was probably one of those.
Hi! It was just by chance that I found your blog. I have been reading it for about a year.My family attends an Ukraine church so I was hooked due to your Ukraine connections. Pat
I found you through another blog but can't remember which one. You were in the process of adopting Dennis I believe. I have been reading ever since. Don't comment much anymore but am around.
haha I started writing this comment about 7 hours ago, got distracted by life and just rediscovered it now!
I discovered you blog via Reece's Rainbow when you were adopting Dennis! :)
Found you on the "Russian Blogs Galore" blog about two years ago when we entered the process to adopt our son from Russia.
This is a good idea, I may re-post.
I don't remember which blog I clicked through to yours from but it was at the time you were preparing to fetch Dennis. I do'nt think I read the blog I clicked through to yours any more, but I have followed you ever since, pretty much!
I found you through Adrienne's blog at Our Journey to Parenthood.
I don't remember exactly when I found you, but i think it was around the time you brought Dennis home. Writing that, it's incredible to me how your family has grown (and grown up!) since then.
You and I are very different. I'm a young twentysomething, unmarried, and not very religious. However, I absolutely love your blog. It's honest and real. Also, it is so clear to me how much you and John love your children, and how much they love you and each other in return. My childhood was not always happy or stable, so it's nice for me to get a glimpse of a family life so unlike my own. Sometimes, I wish I were a Reed! :)
I found your blog while looking for international adoption resouces. Both of my parents were adopted (my dad internationally) and as soon as I am old enough, I want to adopt special needs childre
Anyway, thanks so much for writing this blog. I think your family is so cool and I love reading your updates. I've gotten my little sister hooked as well - I was reading the blog and she asked me whose "adorable kid" was on my computer screen. It was Dennis!
Yours,
M.
North Dakota
I forgot to mention that my sister has a limb difference from amniotic banding syndrome (leg/foot/toes). I'd never heard it mentioned anywhere, nor had I ever met anyone else with the condition. I thought it was kind of a neat coincidence that I found your blog just as you were in the process of adopting Dennis.
I honestly cant remember it was a link from someone elses blog. I know you had already adopted Dennis and alex but before you announced that you were going to adopt Paul and anastasia. Somehow I got hooked and now I follow you daily
Living in Italy I don't get many chances to speak/read/improve/maintain my English that come to me after long hours of study as a teenage girl. So I started wondering around to find an interesting, simple, easy going, chit - chat blog, plus I always wished to adopt (in Italy it is not permitted as a single parent - stupid really stupid) and I bumped into you YAY! I started reading it while you were adopting Dennis.
Greetings Chiara
I found you thru youtube thru Sveta and Anna´s adoption videos....this was before Dennis....I have been reading ever since....I became a almost everyday reader around the time you adopted Dennis....
I just find the smiles and trails of your large family interesting, inspiring...I find your adoptions very interesting...and I just feel generally happy for your kids and also for all the joy they seem to bring you.....
I also secretly think you are a supermom and maybe reading your blog will teach me your "secrets" : )
I honestly can't remember! But it must have been through a Ukraine adoption chat group since we both adopted from there. I'm sure someone posted your link or something. I started reading right before you went over to adopt Alex. Thanks for writing so regularly. I check every day. :). Sue
I think I found you when I was attempting to read every blog under the sun related to international adoption while we prepared to adopt our first son back in 2007. You were one of the first blogs that I really "followed" - not just read once or twice. So that made it that much more special when we got to meet in 'real life', and even better that we got to meet in the place that started it all: Ukraine! I was always glad to call you a blog friend, but how much better that we're now real friends :)
Jenn
I found your blog through my cousin Jill's blog. She writes Life at Killeny Glen. Then I won a giveaway from you a while back. Thanks for sharing. I enjoy reading your viewpoints.
I found you on FRUA when I was researching and then waiting impatiently to adopt my two boys from Russia. I believe it was right around the time you were adopting Dennis.
I found you through RR when you committed to adopting Dennis. I have enjoyed following your family as it has grown and changed.
Hmm. I actually don't remember. I know it's only been a couple of months, because I just started my own blog in May. Most likely, I was reading the blog of someone who follows yours and the name caught my eye. I've gone through your blog and read well over half the posts you've ever done.
We adopted our now 11-yr-old daughter from Russia nearly 3 yrs ago and found your blog through some other blogs about living in Russia or adopting from Russia. Now I'm a daily reader and admire your family so much.
Cheryl in ID
I found your blog when you committed to adopt Alex, I think. I used to advocate for Alex, and when you committed to him, I saw it through Reeces Rainbow. I've been following you ever since, and I admire you in parenting so many special children, and learn a lot from reading your blog. I'm in Norway, by the way, and homeschooling is not very common here, so I find it very interesting.
I think I found you about the same time Jenn did--during our research for our first adoption from Ukraine. I've loved following your family. Plus it makes our family of 8 look small! ;)
I found you shortly after you committed to get Dennis. Have been a faithful reader ever since!
You left a comment on someone's blog that I read and followed it back to your blog. Not sure when but before Dennis.
I found you some three years ago when I was looking into adoption before I was pregnant with Hannah (my 3 of very soon to be 5.) It was through some adoption site that listed a bunch of adoption blogs, something about red letter or red ribbon adoptions? The only one's I've followed with any consistency are yours and "a bushel and a peck"
I think I found your blog through someone else's blog, I think yours was listed in their side bar or something. I like reading "large family" blogs, as we are a growing family with 7 kids (ages 11 years to 3 weeks!).
I love your honesty. Life isn't always easy and you have taken on some tough (but wonderful) work, and it is a blessing to hear how God is working in and through your family!
I think I've always been a lurker here, but I found your blog from Micah Six Eight (Julia Nalle), I think. You were on her sidebar list, and I clicked and haven't been able to get away ever since. :) My mom is also the one who emailed you about the director of Antoshka wanting pics of Dennis. :)
Sarah
www.matthew18vs14.blogspot.com
One of my best friends when I was in 7th grade--4 years ago now-- had your blog on his sidebar, and I started reading. I love it!
Through the Ukraine Train, don't remember how I found it though.......The Ukraine Train button was on the sidebar of some adoption site, like "I support adoption" or "Open arms"......something like that.
I was reading Moscow Mom's blog, and there was a link to this one somewhere. I guess I just randomly clicked that link and started reading.
I followed a link from Martha's blog - 'Lookin' Up'.... and now have a link to your blog in my sidebar.
Totally love your blog - thanks for sharing Christine.
Wow, I just aged 2 years looking for the answer to this question. At first I guessed it was late 2009 when I found your blog. But no, you already had Dennis in late 2009. I found you before you adopted Dennis. So I searched through the archives, farther and farther back. I found you through a comment you left on another blog, and apparently it was in spring/summer of 2007, because it was after Annalyn but before Rachel's arrival. My, how the time does fly!
I think I saw a Dennis button on someone's blog, clicked on it and read your blog on him. When you got home, I migrated over here! And I'm so glad I did, I love your blog and all the adventures you have with your kids. :)
Through Laurel when you were blogging about adopting Dennis. Yours was the first ever blog that I had read. Yes, we have met face to face. (Wish it could be more!) And I enjoy chatting with you when you call. Plus it is always fun to tell Brad..."Guess who called today?" :)
I found you throgh FRUA... when i struggling with attachment with my child and felt so alone in this world. Your words of wisdom and your failures (no offense) helped me get through some tough times. I only had two and you had .... well I think it was before you brought home Dennis or around that time. So I say THANKS
I honestly don't know... I think it might have been in some way through Mckmama's blog like 3 or 4 years ago... possibly. :P
Hi Christine,
I have been blogging for almost 5 years. At first I didn't read any other blogs, I just wrote for my own piece of mind. Then once I got into blogger I found some other wonderful blogging people. I think I first read you when Dennis first came to live with you. I found you through Who Says Eight is Enough.
I've been an avid reader since and although I don't always agree with everything you do, I do find you extremely inspirational. Your love for God, your family and children is why I keep coming back .
I do not recall how I found your blog but it was right before you brought Alex into your family. Been hooked on the Reeds ever since! (Just in awe 'cuz I struggle with working and raising one child!)
Blessings,
Laura
I would have been through a link probably on another person's blog...but it's been a long time and I don't remember!
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