it's april...you fools

yes, yes it's April Fools day

and yes, it's snowing here in the Northeast...which means my Facebook feed is full of statuses like

'Mother Nature sure played an April Fool's prank on us!'

or

'Looks like Pucsatawny Phil got us good'

Then I thought...hmmm what would be a good April Fools prank for me to pull?

What if I googled 'Ultrasound pictures' and changed my profile pic to one?  Brilliant, no?!

!!

Umm...no.  I'd have to think about the repercussions:

1. I'm already on serious babywatch...I mean seriously...I can't even say the words 'nausea, maternity, or baby' without people's eyes traveling down to my stomach area.  You'd think I'm like the lead actress in Dogma who will be carrying the second coming of Jesus.  Yesterday I had a conversation with a friend about our European colleagues and how much vacation time they get...and I mentioned in France how much maternity leave they get.  My eavesdropping officemate then turns to me 10 minutes later and says 'So I guess a congratulations is in order?' and pats her stomach...really? I've developed a running list of words I cannot use in public
2. I have family members who are my FB friends who would probably then call my mom who doesn't understand the concept of April Fools pranks and who has been waiting for me to be pregnant since 2004.  I'd then have to spend the next few hours explaining that I'm not pregnant and that it wasn't funny and that I'm sorry for making her think I was.  I'd also then have to get pregnant in the next couple weeks to make it up to her.
3. Hubster would probably ask who's child it was
4. It would only seem funny to me...for like a minute

So Happy April Fools!  Oh and just to clarify...

I'm NOT pregnant! .....yet....

{ cindie }

amazed

Let's get serious for a minute.

The power of the internet and social networking never ceases to amaze me.

Some moons ago, when I was planning my wedding, I belonged to an online community called Weddingbee.  If you don't know what it is, it's a site where gals (and some guys) in all stages of relationships can go to seek advise about their relationships or bounce ideas off each other on their wedding planning.  If you're planning a wedding, I highly recommend checking it out.  It's amazing how just 'talking' to people you've never met on the internet can make you feel so connected to them. The women there were so helpful to me in so many ways.  And they've done it again for a fellow member.

Here's the evidence.  Scroll down take a look at that banner to the right of this post (go ahead, I'll wait.  You back? ok good)  It's for a site called Operation Layla.  I highly recommend you check it out to read about Layla's story.  You see, Layla is a fellow Weddingbee alum who has fallen on difficult times.  When some members of the community heard about Layla's story, they created Operation Layla.

Strangers.
Internet friends.

They created this.  As more community members heard about Layla's story thru the site and other bloggers, something incredible happened.  More strangers and internet friends emerged to help this woman they never actually met.  And help we certainly did...in a mere 48 hours.  

That.is.powerful. 

While the immediate goal might have been met, there are still other obstacles to consider.  So the site remains active and will be evolving in the future to help others in need.  

The truth is, it doesn't take much to make a huge difference in someone else's life.  For Layla, it was a community of internet friends.  

And I am so incredibly proud to be a member of that community.

{ cindie }

I intentionally remained vague about Layla's story and Operation Layla in hopes that you would visit the site, if not to help than just to read about how truly amazing the site evolved so quickly.