Some Adoption Fundraisers to Check Out

We are only a few months outside of the 'fundraising for adoption' stage.  But I'm thankful each and every day for all the many people who helped us bring our son into our family.  We literally could not have adopted without the help of MANY friends and family members and fundraisers. 

So, I have a soft spot in my heart for adoption fundraising.  I probably always will.  I also love good deals, so I helped a local family put together an online auction.  They are adopting from Uganda and are only a few months away from bringing home their 4 year old son.  PLEASE check out their online auction.  It ends Monday. 

Also, there is another family who are friends of friends who are in their final stage of adopting from China.  They are challenging folks to give $10 to be part of bringing their daughter home.  Check out their video here.  

Puzzle Piece Party Fundraiser!

I remember waking up two days after finding out we had a son and being intimidated by the remaining expenses.  But almost immediately after thinking about the remaining costs, God brought an idea to mind. 
We had seen the idea of a puzzle piece fundraiser in a few places (and also some variations on this idea, such as a 'block party'.)   And we felt that this was the way to go... a "Welcome Home Baby Boy Flagler Puzzle Party!"  I quickly calculated that we had $5,000 remaining so could do a 500 piece puzzle for $10 a piece. 

So, we created a fundraising page and shared the exciting news that we had been matched with a boy! 

 

The page read: We've just been matched with a Boy! He will (prayerfully) be coming home in January 2013. We cannot share many details at this time but are trusting God for the remaining $5,000 to cover his adoption.

We are having a "Welcome Home Baby Boy" Online Puzzle Party! We are asking for $10 donations, and for each $10 donation, we will put your name on the back of a puzzle piece. When each of the 500 pieces has a name on it, we will frame it and place it in Baby Boy's nursery. And, our funding will be complete!

Please include your mailing address in the comments so we can send a Thank You note! Thank you so much for helping us welcome home our son!

At the time, we couldn't share that he was already born... that during the time of this fundraiser, we MET HIM, we HELD HIM, we told him he is LOVED!  During our times in the waiting room, in between visiting with him, we would see emails of "so and so" has donated $xx amount to "Welcome Home Baby Boy Flagler".  I cannot tell you how special those emails were at the time. 

Each and every fundraiser we've done has been special.  This one was extra-special.  So easy, so meaningful, so perfect in the timing!  

THE DAY BEFORE Adoption Day, we celebrated that God had provided ALL of our adoption funds!  We were beyond excited!  This was my Facebook status, and you can see all of the feedback... 

Once we got home, we were excited to start on the puzzle... 

Friends and Family helped

Almost a month went by... we took a break once we caught Zoe eating a puzzle piece and realizing she had eaten more than one (we thought several at the time)...

2/13 all put together... and you can see the missing pieces...

But, thanks to Amazon, we found the same puzzle.

And now it's complete!!! 

$10 puzzle pieces x 500 puzzle pieces = $5,000!  A wonderful "Welcome Home" Party indeed!

P.S.  I always loved this puzzle, but then I found out that elephants are pregnant for 22 months.  Now I love it even more. :) 

It's a BOY!!!!

Matthew and I are beyond thrilled to share that we have been matched with a Boy! 

We cannot share many details at this point, but please join us in praying for our son & his birth mother.  

Some of you may have gotten texts from us or other family members, and we ask that you keep everything you know private for now.  Eventually, we will be able to share details of his story, but not yet.  We thank you in advance for respecting this request. 

 

Also, we are hosting a virtual "Welcome Home Baby Boy Flagler" party to help finish off the remaining $5,000 of our adoption costs.  We have a 500 piece puzzle that will hang in his nursery.  For every $10 donation, we will write that donor's name on the back of the puzzle piece. Once all the puzzle pieces are taken, the $5,000 will be covered!  And he (and we!) will always have a visual reminder of those wonderful people who are part of this special time. :)

God has been so good to us in the past 28 months of this adoption journey.  He has answered many specific prayers and given us a SON! 

Thank you so much for all of your love and support on this journey.  We look forward to introducing you to our son (hopefully) soon.  :)

LoveGave Hope

$100,000 in 58 hours?!

The LoveGave organization, which is awesome in itself since it's a collaboration of multiple churches in the Charleston area is taking on a cause that's dear to our heart this year... the fatherless. 

PLEASE take time to check out LoveGave Hope between now and December 8th.  If you're local, you can go to the West Ashley or Goose Creek Wal-Mart to be part of it.  You can also always watch online (always entertaining!) as they are live-streaming, and you can give online as well.   

Our goal is to raise $100,000 in 58 hours to provide hope for the orphans in our area. You know what?!
God can do it.  

Will you be part of it? 

A Very Special Evening

Many have asked about our fundraising dinner and silent auction.  I've still been processing it so wanted to take some time before I wrote.  

From the beginning planning stages, I felt that this was something the Lord prompted us to do... and that it wasn't supposed to just be about us or our adoption journey. I wanted it to be about adoption in general and a night where God would be glorified and where He would use the stories of others to prompt some to consider adopting. I don't know whether or not the latter happened, but I definitely think it was God-honoring.  

A room full!

Like all big events, not everything went according to plan.  There were 2 families we asked previously to share their stories who weren't able to swing it.  Then, a few hours before it started, one of the families that was planning to come to share their story called and said they wouldn't be able to make it.  Many others were kept from coming due to sickness, work and traffic.  We didn't follow the timeline exactly.  Some moments of me in front of the microphone were definitely awkward.


But, overall it was super-encouraging!  The food was delicious thanks to a great deal from Sticky Fingers, who also hooked us up with the great location... the grand ballroom at the Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant. The room was beautiful thanks to some special ladies who decorated!  

 

 

Kathie and Theresa... decorators extraordinaire! 

What made it incredible was all the people who were able to make it.  We had friends from all different seasons of our lives in the same place, and that is always special.  It was even more special because these people were gathered together in support of our future child.  Just the presence of so many people (around 70) meant more than we could have imagined.  We are not alone in this journey, and this past week proved that. 

Everyone enjoyed music from a friend, Brian Vanoy.  And our friends, the Hyatts, shared about adopting their son Will from China.  We also had some new friends, the Fischers, share about doing foster care and adopting through the state.  I'll never forget their stories... 

The Fischers have had over 30 children in their home through Foster Care and have adopted 4!

Also, we weren't planning on sharing about our adoption at all, but there were many new faces and some had never heard about our adoption process... so we did end up sharing.  Actually, Matt shared out story, which is incredibly touching to me because of how much he has changed towards adoption.  Hearing him share his heart in front of the folks gathered did something in my heart that is hard to explain.  I wish we had recorded the whole evening! 

The Silent Auction part also went well.  We didn't make anything off the dinner portion, but we made about $1,500 on the Silent Auction (with possibly more still coming in).  Though it didn't finish off the final adoption costs as we had hoped, we are very thankful for the wonderful evening we shared with so many people who are special to us and who already love Baby Flagler. 

 

Aunt Valerie, Aunt Laura and Uncle Steven hard at work!

Thank you so much to everyone who came and made it such an unforgettable evening!  And we missed those of you who couldn't make it.

Closing out BBQ & Bids

I promise a more detailed update soon.  But for now, I'm copying the Thank You post I did for the event...

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this fundraiser! 
So far, we've made $1,466 towards our adoption! 

We do have a last chance offer for a couple of items.  

If you are interested in any of these items, you can do a "Buy It Now" Option through Monday, 12/3 at Noon.  First person who claims these items at the price listed (by Monday at noon EST) gets it! 

Kindle Fire with Cover/Stand and Charger  

Buy It Now Price: $185

Matthew Smith "All I Owe" CD

Buy It Now Price: $7 

Kindle Touch Cover with Light

Buy It Now Price: $10

Kim West Original Painting

Buy It Now Price: $75

Also, if you weren't able to participate but want to make a donation towards our adoption, you can do that through this link.

Thank You! Thank You!  Thank You!!

The Last Fundraiser Approaches...

We believe this will be our last fundraiser.  With the grants we've applied for and continuing donations coming in, we are prayerful and hopeful that the fundraising stage of this adoption is coming to a close.  Through many fundraisers and donations, over $14,000 has been raised! 

As most of you know, we are praying specifically for our child to join our family by the end of the year, so that's another reason we hope this to be the last fundraiser... we hope to soon be spending most of our time bonding with our bundle of joy!  

We have $5,000-7,000 remaining.  Can you please help us finish out this remaining goal? 

Can you come to the dinner, for the whole shebang?  

Can you tell your friends and family about this event?

Can you donate something for the auction?  

Can you shop from the auction?  

Can you make a donation? 

Can you help? 

Here are the helpful links: 

Purchase your ticket (by 11/27 at noon so we can give numbers to our caterer):


Shop the auction online (Now through Noon on 11/29)...  (43 items and counting!)

Make a donation

Share about this event.  

Thank you so much for how you have been part of this adoption process so far!  Please know that we appreciate each and every one of you... each donation of $10 or $1,000 has been special to us!

 

Online Auction has Started

Hey Everyone!  The online auction for our BBQ & Bids Christmas Adoption Fundraiser has started!  The online portion will continue through noon on 11/29.  

Please help us spread the word!!

Fundraising Update

In the last week, special friends have given over $3,000 in donations through Lifesong.  As each email came through about donations, I cried.  It's truly overwhelming to experience love and support in such a tangible way.  We have known God will provide, and we trust Him to, yet it's still humbling and powerful to see Him do it! If you've ever considered adoption and been intimidated by the cost, don't be.  God provides. 

As of now, we only have about $7,000 left.  



As we move forward to our BBQ & Bids Fundraiser, we are hopeful it will be our last fundraiser.  
Can you help us spread the word?  Can you come?  Can you donate something for the auction? 

 It's going to be awesome!

Election Day Special for Fundraising Dinner

We haven't sold any tickets yet.  :/ 
So, in honor of Election Day AND to get this show on the road, we're offering a special.

Today only:  Buy 3 tickets, get 1 free! 
That way, you can bring friends and have even more fun! 

Purchase tickets here (change the quantity before you hit "Checkout").

Fundraising Dinner & Silent Auction

Thursday, November 29th 6:00pm

at Holiday Inn, 250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC

$15 per ticket*

includes full BBQ Dinner 

catered by Sticky Fingers, 

live Music,

Adoption Stories,

and a Silent Auction

 Purchase your tickets here by 11/26. 

Get Your Tickets Here!

 * Free ticket if you donate an item for the Silent Auction.

Coming Up! Can You Help?

Save the Date!

Here's what we know so far:

• Thursday, November 29th, starting at 6:00
  
• Catered by Sticky Fingers
• at Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant (250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd)
• You'll get to hear others' Adoption Stories
  
• We'll have Christmas Music (hopefully LIVE)
• We'll have lots of items to auction off (with online pre-auction starting Black Friday) that will make perfect Christmas gifts for your friends and family
  
• We are excited!!! 
• We need help... can you help us make this happen?  
  

We need Auction Items!  Here are some ideas:

• Gift Cards for Any Amount (Target, Best Buy, Restaurants)
• iPad/iPod
• Kindle
• Hotel Room Stay
• Etsy Shop or other online gift certificates
• Amazon.com Gift Certificate 
• Craft Items
• Gift Baskets 
• CDs
• Anything that you would want to get or give for Christmas

Any businesses/persons who donate will receive ample recognition unless otherwise requested. 

Even if you're not local, you could make a special donation here and make a note that it's for us to buy an auction item (and what it's for if you have a preference).  We appreciate ANY help!

Middle of the Night Musings

I have not slept much the last couple of nights. 

So many things on my mind like our next fundraiser, starting an adoption grant agency, orphan care in general, different paths to adoption, different families who have adopted recently or are in the process of adopting.  

This is so much bigger than our current adoption!
God won't let me let it go.  The trick for me will be praying through all these things instead of just thinking and planning.  I'm better at the latter but learning about the former.  

A new friend who I've made through this adoption journey, Rachel, recently posted about a family doing a giveaway fundraiser like we've done... Which led me to their blog and their story.  Another story of God setting the lonely in families.  This couple has now started an organization that seeks to be a voice for orphans around the world.  They also take care of an orphanage in Uganda.  Huge way to tangibly live out James 1:27. 

You see, I keep learning about all that God is doing through other people, and it grips my heart.  It makes me wonder what He has planned for us.  Multiple adoptions, special needs adoptions, waiting children adoptions... Then I look around and realize we are limited for now.  We can do what He has called us to do for now.  We can be faithful to what He has called us to do now.   We/I don't have to worry about doing it all.  

Then I read this post.  I hope it's as encouraging to you as it is to me.  "Whatever" we do for the least of these, we do unto Him."

Thank you to everyone who is on this journey with us.  Thank you for "whatever" you are doing!  

Home Study Legit, Again

Technically, when we moved into the new house, our Home Study was no longer accurate.  Had we been picked by a birth mom in the transition, it's something that could have been taken care of quickly, but after 3ish weeks in the house, we wanted to be 'legit'.


This past Thursday, our social worker from Bethany (we'll call her "E"), who is now more like a friend, came by to check out the new digs.  It was SO great to see her again in person.  We hadn't seen her since June 2011, but we've exchanged lots of emails and phone calls.  After she checked out the new house, we sat down and just talked.  We had lots of questions for her, and she was such a good sport to answer what she could.  

Ever since she left, I've been soooooo thankful that we are where we are.  We truly love working with Bethany, especially in our part of the State, and we truly trust that OUR baby will be arriving at the perfect time.  

Now, our attention will soon turn to fundraising again.  The thought of getting the call that we've been matched but not having adequate funds is a little intimidating.  

Here are a few specific requests we have for now:

• Pray for those who are facing unplanned pregnancies
• Pray for God to work mightily in the hearts of these ladies, for them to choose Life for their children, whether through Parenting or Adoption
• Pray for those who have chosen an adoption plan to have comfort and wisdom through the process, for picking their path (agency, attorney, open vs. closed, etc.)
• Pray for OUR birth mom specifically
• Pray for us to have wisdom with our fundraising.  We don't want it to be all about us but a way to help raise awareness for adoption, for orphans, and for God's heart for the fatherless.  
• Pray for the grants we've applied for.  We're currently waiting to hear from Caroline's Promise, Gift of Adoption, and Help Us Adopt

Sowing Seeds

In my last post, I wrote about why we are pursuing this particular path to adoption.  There are SO many options, and many of them less-expensive.  
I wanted to write a little about why the cost of a domestic infant adoption was never a huge deterrent for us.  

Let me start by saying that we are not millionaires.  We didn't don't have an extra $25k sitting in a bank waiting to be used for this eternal purpose. We have modest incomes and had a significant amount of debt when we started this whole process.  But we weren't worried.   We also weren't naive.


Before we were married, I was on staff with a college ministry where we raised our financial support.  I learned in that time that people want to invest in what God is doing.  Not everyone can live in a closed country and share the Gospel as their full-time job.  But, people can invest in that mission and be part of what God is doing in that country.  I had supporters of $5 to $200 a month who each got to be part of how God worked when He allowed me and my team to be on the mission field.  Without their prayers and financial support, we couldn't have been there as long as we were.  My supporters invested in sharing the Gospel with unreached people because they knew it was something God cared about.  He commands us to go, but not everyone can go.  Those who support the go-ers also get to be part of the go-ing. In the same way, not everyone is called to adopt, but people can still be part of adoption through giving and/or praying. 

Trusting God for the finances has been one of the best parts of this journey.  We knew know He will provide because He loves orphans.  We are pursuing something that is part of His character.  He is Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5).  Jesus Himself was raised in a family that was not completely biological.  James writes "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (1:27).  He "sets the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6).  Adoption is something God cares about. He will provide. 

The remaining $10,000 or so needed for the adoption?  (*Our price is expected to increase once we get a new home study done if we haven't gotten a placement soon.)  We are still committed to adopting without debt.  We will continue to apply for grants, do fundraisers, work side jobs and put money aside.  We don't expect God to drop it off miraculously in our mailbox (though He COULD).  We will work diligently and faithfully.   And we will continue to invite you to sow seeds of investment into this part of God's story.  You may not be called to adopt, but you can still share in God's heart for adoption. You can be part of this story. Information on how to become part of this adoption is available here. 

10 and Thankful Thursday

We have reached a new milestone in this adoption journey:  

Yesterday, we received our 10th email about an available child.  Honestly, the wave of excitement that comes when you get an email about a baby is indescribable.  Could THIS be our baby?  It's also a little heartbreaking.  It's a reminder that we live in a broken world.  But it's also encouraging.  A birth mother choosing adoption is much better than choosing abortion.  

These emails are great reminders for the Sovereignty of God in this process and great catalysts for prayer... and also a reminder that if we were picked, God would have to perform a miracle for us to have the remaining funds ready.  

Today, while we wait for news about this latest baby, I am Thankful.  

• I'm thankful for how God has already provided greatly for this adoption. 
• I'm thankful for our house and that it will make a wonderful home for our family for years to come. 
• I'm thankful for each person who donated items for us to sell at our yard sales. 
• I'm thankful for the people who have purchased jewelry, make-up, home decor, and Tupperware in support of our adoption. 
• I'm thankful for those who have participated in our raffles by spreading the word or donating to earn entries.  
• I'm thankful for the sweet notes we've received along with donations in the mail. 
• I'm thankful for the people who sold class rings and discarded jewelry for our adoption.  
• I'm thankful for everyone who came and supported us at Chik-fil-A. 
• I'm thankful for the crib, highchair, play pen, bassinet, bouncy seat, and baby clothes that have been given to us with such generous hearts. 
• I'm thankful to be on this journey with my best friend who keeps me grounded.
• I'm thankful for a wonderful job with special people who encourage me and ask me about our status. 
• I'm thankful for people who purchase items through our Amazon site in support of our adoption. 
• I'm thankful that Lifesong for Orphans is allowing donations to be made to them so that people can give tax-deductible donations. 
• I'm thankful to have been called to adopt a child... 
• I'm thankful for those who walk this journey with us.  

Some days are hard.  Many days are a blur.  Other days are heart-breaking and feel a little hopeless.  Occasionally, we are reminded of all that we have for which to be thankful; these days are glorious.   Thank you for being part of all these days.

Winners of the New iPad Raffle!

We have had a huge outpouring of donations in the last 36 hours and finally broke even on this Giveaway.  We ended up raising close to $450!   THANK YOU so much to everyone who posted, tweeted, shared and especially donated. 

And now... here are the winners...

Ann Roberson won the $20 iTunes Gift Card!

Josue Sierra won the $50 iTunes Gift Card!

And... Beth Tyndall (Tricia's MOM) won the New iPad!!!

Maybe "BeBe" will be able to use her new iPad to Facetime with her first grandbaby when he/she arrives! (Of course, that would require us getting some type of device that has Facetime too.) :)

For what it's worth, we DO realize it's a little questionable that close family members have won 2 out of the 3 grand prizes of our recent giveaways.  I guess it shows how much they have supported us.  Their donations, shares and posts were entered the same as everyone else.  We have been pleasantly surprised by the random.org selections, and I know they are also thrilled! :)

Extra Entries for the iPad Giveaway!

As this raffle draws to a close, we still haven't quite broken even, so we NEED your help! 

Through Sunday (8/5) at 5pm (EST) if you get a friend to donate any amount of money towards the iPad giveaway, have them mention your name and you will get 2 free entries AND they will get double their amount of entries!

Grand Prize:  new iPad!
(Winner can choose color and specific model.  We will pay up to $500 retail price.)
2nd Prize:  $50 iTunes Gift Card
3rd Prize: $20 iTunes Gift Card

Here's how the special entries break down: 

• $15 donation gets 4 entries (through WePay or in person).
• $25 donation gets 8 entries (through WePay or in person). 
• $50 donation gets 20 entries (through WePay or in person).  
• $100 donation gets 50 entries (through WePay or in person). 
• 4 entries for each CoupAide ($25 Restaurant.com certificate) purchased. 
  *Must leave a comment here letting us know how many you purchased and when.*
• 2 entries for each time you share this entry on your blog/website. 
  **Must leave a comment with your name and blog/email here each time so it can be tracked.** (Limit 3 entries through this method.)
• 2 entries for each item purchased through our Celebrating Home Online Fundraiser.
• 1 entry for Tweeting about this Giveaway.  Use #ipadraffleforadoption.
• We may offer more opportunities to get an entry by "sharing" about our Giveaway on Facebook, so stay tuned to our Facebook Page.   
  

Special Entries into the New iPad Giveaway

Through midnight tomorrow (8/1) if you get a friend to donate any amount of money towards the iPad giveaway, have them mention your name and you will get 2 free entries AND they will get double their amount of entries!

 

Grand Prize:  new iPad!
(Winner can choose color and specific model.  We will pay up to $500 retail price.)
2nd Prize:  $50 iTunes Gift Card
3rd Prize: $20 iTunes Gift Card

Here's how the special entries break down: 

• $15 donation gets 4 entries (through WePay or in person).
• $25 donation gets 8 entries (through WePay or in person). 
• $50 donation gets 20 entries (through WePay or in person).  
• $100 donation gets 50 entries (through WePay or in person). 
• 4 entries for each CoupAide ($25 Restaurant.com certificate) purchased. 
  *Must leave a comment here letting us know how many you purchased and when.*
• 2 entries for each time you share this entry on your blog/website. 
  **Must leave a comment with your name and blog/email here each time so it can be tracked.**
  (Limit 3 entries through this method.)
• 2 entries for each item purchased through our Celebrating Home Online Fundraiser.
• Occasionally, we may offer opportunities to get an entry by "sharing" about our Giveaway on Facebook, so stay tuned to our Facebook Page.   
  

 

iPad Raffle and Opening Ceremony Day!

Like our Facebook Page and Share this Picture on Facebook and/or Twitter for a free entry.  Use Twitter hashtag #OCiPadRaffle.