It's been a bad-news-good-news week. I learned that some friendly acquaintances (adoptive parents) are getting divorced.

I grieved over the news that an author friend's house burned down and his son-in-law died in the fire.

And my dad announced that he is getting married (that's good news). He's been a widow for nearly four years since my mom died of colon cancer, and he unexpectedly found new love. He's getting married March 24.

Things are cooking right along with the publication of both my adoption books -- I received the final cover proofs for both books this week and proofed the final galleys of one book. Publication is creeping ever closer!

Today I'm preparing for a presentation I'll teach March 5 on (what else?) blogging. My talk is called "Boggled by Blogging: Blogging Basics for Non-Techies." If you live in the Seattle area, and want to come, you're welcome! I'll be teaching the workshop at the monthly meeting of the Northwest Christian Writers' Association, which meets at 7 p.m. at Northshore Baptist Church in Bothell.

With all the ups and downs this week, I thought I needed to attend a party. So I joined The Ultimate Blog Party, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

Stop by my Exploring Adoption blog today as you party-hop. Register for the prizes I'm giving away and enjoy your own "party" break!