Results of Both Hands Fundraiser

In our last blog post, we wrote all about how the Both Hands Project went for our work day at Miss Beverly's home. I will always look back on that day with a fond remembrance of God's working! I especially loved doing this as a fundraiser because the work itself was a service. I felt like a fundraiser like this helped us to keep a right perspective, not focusing only on ourselves and our family. It is a reminder that God is at work in so many other ways, far beyond the dwelling of our home sweet home.

As much of the purpose of this blog is to keep friends, families and future adoptive families updated and informed on how this adoption process works, I would like to take a few minutes to describe the process of this fundraiser and the financial outcome of the project.

Let me just start with this: The fundraising outcome of our project was absolutely astounding! Including Lifesong's $3000 matching grant, we raised just over $8000 from this project!! 

Dave and I prayerfully considered how we should approach the "fundraising portion" of this adoption process. Honestly, because God has blessed us with the opportunity of Dave being a pastor at our church, we wanted to be very careful with how we proceeded. We would never ever want to put people in a position where they felt obligated to support us in this pursuit. 

By God's grace, He surrounded us with a mass of people who sent out support letters and worked alongside us on our project day. Others responded to letters with financial support. Wow. We are completely overwhelmed and blessed by you all!

Our friends and family (and the friends and family of these people who volunteered on our workday) were incredibly generous! So many of you demonstrated your love and support of our adoption in a big way. I, of course, recognize that many of our loved ones may be unable to financially give toward helping us meet our goal. That is totally ok! We know your love and support through prayers, comments and encouraging words along the way. However, it has been completely awesome to see how God has moved certain hearts to assist us financially. I think that has been one of the most encouraging and surprising parts of this process—the people who choose to help are not always the ones that you would expect. In fact, many of you are casual acquaintances that simply have a huge heart for adoption. We are so grateful for your outpouring of love.

One Amazing Day: Our Both Hands Project

Last Saturday was an absolutely amazing day. Dave and I were completely stunned and encouraged by the love and support that our friends showed us in coming out to work on Beverly's home. Each of these friends were loving us in such a personal way: they had each sent out support letters and now were working alongside us to help us to bring our baby boy into our lives.

Our good friend, Jeremy, has put together a video documenting our day. Enjoy!
Although our project day has passed, you can still help us with our final project. You see, this Both Hands project has two parts. One major part was what we did on Saturday-helping widow Beverly to fix up her home! Our mission is accomplished for Beverly. However, the second major part of our project is the hand for the orphan, our future child. If you would like to be apart of offering a hand of help financially to our orphan--you are more than welcome to help! Find more information here on how to give directly to our project: http://bothhandsfoundation.org/marriott The deadline for our project giving is July 12. 

We are praying that God will use this project to raise the majority of the remaining $15,000 that we need to bring our boy home. Join us in living out our faith! Thank you for your prayers, help and support along the way. We can't wait to see what else God will do on this journey of faith.

Letters to My Boy

Hey Bud,
This last week has been a pretty tough one for me. I have said goodbye for the last time on earth to one of my dearest and best, my grandma. I had hoped that she would get the chance to know and love you too, but God had other plans. I want to share with you a little bit about this wonderful woman, who has taught me so very much.

A few months back, my Gram listened excitedly as I told her about our plans to adopt you and bring you home into our family. I had been a little nervous, as I wasn't sure how she would respond. Gram and Grandpa grew up in a different time. I prayed that God would give me wisdom and clarity as I shared our exciting news. And as soon as I explained what Daddy and I have been doing to bring you home, a smile spread across her face. I will never forget that.

Gram continued on to share in my joy. She described how welcoming and loving her family had been over the years, even when not everyone was accepting of other people that didn't look exactly like them. She told story after story, and I listened with relief and joy. She was so excited to meet you!

My gram was a very special lady--one of a kind. She was absolutely beautiful, inside and out. She was full of life and spunk. She was funny and sweet--but she always told you like it is. Grandma and Grandpa have really grown a stunning family too. Through thick and thin, they've braved the last 58 years together. They've raised five children, and loved all who've entered their doors. They have taught us all that family is important. Family sticks together. Family stands up for one another. Family is patient. Family is forever.

Your great-gram has been battling cancer for the past few years. She was a fighter. She was strong. Last year, she had surgery to remove her caner-filled lung. The doctors thought they were successful. We thought that she was doing much better, but we were wrong. The cancer came back with a fury. The doctors told her that there was little chance that she would survive. These past few months were very hard on her frail body, and last weekend she went into the hospital.

The cancer had run its course. Each of us took turns staying with Gram while she was in the hospital that weekend. During the day, our huge family overran the hall outside of her hospital room! The hospital had to move her to a different room that had a waiting room right next to it, just so we could all have somewhere to stay. At night, we stayed by ones and twos, holding her hand and singing her songs until she drifted off to sleep. That time with her was so sweet. The woman who had cared for me when I was sick as a child, I now cared for her in her illness and pain.

We knew she did not have long, and we just had one goal for her: We wanted her to come home. She wanted to come home. We worked hard to bring her home, to the place she loved.

Within just a few hours of resting at home, it became clear that her time was coming. Our entire family gathered around her. Grandpa held her close in his arms. Together we prayed and sang to her one last time, Amazing Grace.

Amazing grace,
How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost,
But now am found.
Was blind, but now I see. 

From the center of this beautiful, loving scene, my sweet Gram left this earth and went home to heaven. No more to suffer the pain of a broken world. Now she is with Jesus.

My heart has ached this week so very much. I have cried many tears. I have missed my dear Grandma. I have longed to be with family, my family. That's you too, buddy. Can't wait until you're home with me, love. I so wished you could have met your great Gram...I suppose now that will have to wait until heaven.