Our adoption fundraiser

Our Adoption Fundraiser was a HUGE Success!

Saturday, February 9th Steven & I hosted a fundraiser for our adoption. It was more than just a fundraiser, we wanted to help raise adoption awareness and highlight some people that are really making an impact in the world of adoption. The Lord knows me and my faint attempts at planning big events so he sent us an angel named Charis Smith who planned the whole thing. I told her a few things that I wanted and she took over the rest. She worked more hours that I know on getting everyone where they needed to be, she organized a silent auction, and came up with some really creative ideas to make the night special for us. We felt like the guest of honor and it was a perfect evening.

The evening started out at 6pm as guest were welcomed in. We had free photography and a table loaded with baskets and art work for the silent auction. We had a cello and piano player adding background music so that the guest could mingle with pleasure. At 6:45pm we welcomed everyone and started serving dinner. Dinner was provided by Fizzoli's Italian resturant and a wonderful annonymous donar who paid for the food. It was a wonderful fetticini with bread sticks and a salad. During dinner Hannah York a dancer friend and teacher at Dramatic Truth Dance Studio performed a solo dance piece to "Daughters of Jerusalem" played by Jon Thurlow. After that two guest speakers Tracie Loux with Christian Adoption Consultants and Kelsey Bohlender with The Zoe Foundation shared their adoption stories and how they are involved in helping others adopt. They are personal friends and what they shared touch our hearts as well as the other guest. After that it was time to open the dessert and coffee bar.The dessert bar consisted of cakes that were from Cosco , as well as homemade cookies and other desserts. The coffee bar was donated from a local Starbucks and was a favorite with most of the guest. After most had gone through the line a musician friend that I have been to Haiti with, Joy Maves, entertained us coffee shop style. Due to some technical difficulties there were no mics so she played and sang aucustic. It was perfect for me. I wanted people to mingle and also get pictures taken. After she performed three or four songs we introduced our next guest speakers. The Wibeto sisters were a real treat that was a total God hook-up. Danielle and Darlene Wibeto have just published a children's book called "Justice loves babies". It tells the story of a little boy who loves babies, but has a nightmare that not all babies get the chance to live. He then begins to pray for babies everywhere. It is a great book with creative illustrations and a touching message. They offered to come and share the story of how the book came about, to read the book and to sell it at our event. The greatest part is that they wanted to give us all the proceeds of the book sells towards our adoption. They gave a wonderful reading of the book and directed peoples attention to their table. Afterwards many people went to buy the book and have them to sign it. The MC interview Steven and I to let the attendee's know where we were in our adoption process and then they joined together and prayed for us. It was a very moving moment when 100 guest prayed for our little baby to be safe and to come to us quickly.

After that we ended the evening with a thank you to everyone, the announcing of winners for the silent auction and a final call for photography. People stayed a little and mingled and got more dessert. The book table was a hopping place to be as well. After everyone left I took a deep breath and realized that this was all real and these people cared and really were supporting us in this.

The next day Steven and I counted up all the RSVP money as well as the donations at the banquet and silent auction proceeds. The total was astounding. We sat there amazed at what the Lord had done through a small group or interccessory missionaries and some friends and family. We had raised over $8,300. A day later the Wibeto sisters gave us a check for the proceeds of the book sells from the banquet. It was a check for $720. We were so blessed. Over the next few days more friends gave to us and in all we have raised almost $10,000. I cannot express in words how blessed and how loved we feel. It is hard to believe a month ago we started this process with $50. We were not sure what we would do about all the money but trusted that God would provide. He has exceeded out expectations and our faith is certain, that this is in the Lord's heart and that He will provide all that we need.

Thank you to all that helped in the banquet and to those who attended. It was a truly fantastic night and we are more blessed than can be expressed in words.