Well, everyone, the month of January has come and gone.  You clicked and you clicked and you clicked in order to support Veronica King and her precious children.  Now I have the results you've been waiting for...the total you managed to raise just by visiting Pennies on a Platter.  I was going to remind you of some Superbowl recipe ideas today, but I'll post links for you on the Facebook page instead.

Let me first share with you some statistics.  If any of you are very familiar with how advertisements work on blogs, you will know that usually the payment amount is very minimal unless you're some sort of high-end (famous) blogger.  Typically, there is an arrangement of x-cents or dollars per x-thousand hits.  Not much.  You definitely now know I do not blog for the money.  But, of course, every little bit helps.  🙂

Despite this, you managed to beat my monthly average by 441%!  Outstanding!  The fact that the hits increased that much was so encouraging to me, telling me that there are many of you out there that have ooey gooey hearts and care, even for someone you may not know.

So, without any more delay, the total we raised for Vee (both by donations via PayPal and your clicks on the blog):

$1,577.29 !!

And, over $430 of this amount was simply you sitting at your computer and pressing with your wee little finger on that mouse of yours.  Fantastic!  The other $1,000+ comes from generous donations via the PayPal button displayed on the blog during the month.

This is a picture of Veronica's belly with Carter inside (scheduled to join our world via c-section next week) and Jeremy's ring.  What a bittersweet photo.  If you'd like to see more of these beautiful belly shots, photographed by my bestie, Vicki, click over to Veronica's blog.  Your click will also contribute to a continuation of raising money for Vee as she now has an advertisement that pays her for you just visiting and reading, just like you did here last month.   Use this opportunity to leave her encouraging notes and to remember to pray for her often.  She updates occasionally with her honest and raw emotions, so please grab a tissue first.  Her writing is heartfelt, genuine and nothing like I've ever read before.   By God's grace alone she is amazingly staying strong for her children, but she needs your loving words and prayers to help her sustain this strength.

Next week I will share with you the recipe and a quick tutorial for the heart shaped cookies above.  You can quickly make these (yes, I said quickly) for Valentine's Day.  Until then, hug and kiss the ones you love even when it's not Valentine's Day, because last month I think we learned you do not know when you'll no longer have that opportunity.

Thanks, again, everyone!  I'm so very humbled.