Faith and Fundraising.

Fund raising has been a huge part of this adoption. It was something we hadn't done before and honestly we'd never really considered it. However, we knew if we adopted again we'd have to. There just was no other way around it. Its been hard. Very very hard. A lot of work. Did I say ALOT of work? Our faith has been challenged and it has grown. I laugh when people have an issue with fund raising, its as if they think we sit back waiting for it to rain money or just hanging out expecting others to "pay for our child".

So. Not. The. Case.

We have cut every corner possible in our own budget, we scrimp and save every little bit we can. I'm going to put it out there and say that this is the case for most fund raising families. Some families I know didn't have anything else to cut! We have worked our hineys off with yard sales, T-shirt sales, packaging, shipping, etc. This is way harder then it was paying for an adoption "on our own". (I say that loosely, while we didn't fund raise or borrow money from anyone the first time we still firmly believe God provided all of the funds to bring Silas home, we give Him ALL the glory) I find this adoption journey so much more humbling, so much deeper then I did the first time. There's a reason for that. The friendships we've made and some we already had have deepened as we've walked this journey in faith. This isn't just about bringing our daughter home, this is about an entire community. A community that loves deeply, fights fiercely, cares endlessly, rallies together, and above all gives ALL glory to our King of Kings. NONE of this would be possible without Jesus Christ. None of it. Coming together in community is the way God designed it. We are reminded of that in Ecclesiastes 4:12 - Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

That's Unity.

Keeping it real.

Through this process there has been lots of weeping. Weeping because of being weary, weeping because of feeling over whelmed, weeping because of the unknown, but most of the weeping has been from the incredible outpouring of support we've felt from our friends, family, and strangers. It is humbling to be in this place. Humbling to see how many people love us, our family, and especially our daughter. To be able to share with her someday just how much she was loved. How many people came together to bring her into our family is incredible. Such an amazing picture of how much our Father in Heaven loves us. He loves us so much He was willing to sacrifice His son. For us. We will do whatever it takes to bring our daughter home. Ultimately this is Gods daughter and He has already done it. We just get to wait and see how He will finish it out. For the sake of one. One little girl we get to call our daughter.

For those on the fence.

I've heard so many times from people that they'd adopt if they had the money. I always always always have the same reply; "Don't put God in a box, He funds what He favors, we're a walking example of that". Gods heart is for the orphan. ( “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.” —Psalm 82:3) The down trodden. He places the lonely in families. (For in You the orphan finds mercy. -- Hosea 14:2c) That translates to us. We get to do this. Some will adopt. Some will foster. Some will support those adopting. All are equally important. We can all make a difference.

It breaks my heart when people discourage and down right mock fund raising families. Its judgmental and frankly its rude to decide the heart of people based on what you "think" you know. As a fund raising family we've been there. We choose to respond to those that mock in grace, the same grace God has extended to us. In keeping it real you might lose friends in this journey but if you do, you have to ask yourself if they were true friends to begin with. The bottom line is if God has called you to adopt HE will provide the funds. He has simply asked us to obey and care for His children.

Faith isn't built on what we currently see but what we cannot see.