Provision

I just wanted to give a little update on our Both Hands project we did a couple weeks back to help raise funds to bring Carissa home. We served our friend Rita for a day and us and the volunteers sent out letters, emails and spread the word via social media to sponsor us to work on her house. The sponsorship funds went directly to help us bring our daughter home to her forever family.

I must say, that we almost decided not to do the project. I had a difficult couple of months during the summer where I was just weary, especially on the fundraising front. I was scared of losing friendships, of offending people by asking too much, by seeming needy or whatever. Just a lot of fear that I knew was wrong, but just had a hard time shaking. We tried a few different plans to earn the money ourselves, without having to ask anything of anybody. They didn't work out. We even tried a couple of fundraisers that are usually pretty popular and those didn't really bring much funds in. I was thinking that maybe we just needed to take the hint and stop all those efforts and just put the rest of the adoption on credit cards or a loan and worry about it when we got home. I had come across the Both Hands fundraiser early in the process and we both absolutely loved the idea. But, we were still waiting on our home study to be approved at the time. Then, it was a busy, huge process to get other grant applications filled out, paperwork authenticated, etc. So, I had nearly put it out of my mind as a possibility, figuring it would just be too late to get it done and that people might be annoyed since we had already had some other fundraisers/fundraising pages and such out there.

I'm so glad that we didn't give up on this and that we had some awesome friends encourage us to follow through with doing this project. It ended up being far more than a fundraiser. We worked together with our friends to serve someone who really just needed the help. We formed a bond and a friendship with Rita and plan to carry on that relationship for the long term. I just really love her so much and am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to get to know her and her story. This most likely would not have happened if not for the Both Hands project. So, God orchestrated this so perfectly to really change and bless some hearts that day.

So, without further ado, I'm happy to announce that because of this project, we are now fully funded! We can now concentrate on packing and preparing our hearts and our home to welcome our daughter home. This has totally floored us! We are so relieved and so grateful for everyone's generosity, prayers and hard work throughout this whole process. We could not have done this without you. God has worked through you to give this little girl a mommy, daddy, sister and brother that love her so very much. A home, a forever family, nighttime hugs and kisses and cuddles...oh, that girl is going to get so much cuddles! She is going to know that she is loved. She is going to know that she was created by an awesome God who loves her more than we ever could. She is going to know, that no matter her difficulties in life, she was made just the way God needed her to be to accomplish His plan for her and those around her. She has a hope and a future!

We are so humbled and blessed to have such an awesome community that has supported us in all different ways in bringing our little girl home. Carissa is one loved little girl! and I can't wait to tell her about how so many people loved her and prayed for her before they even knew her.

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.
Ephesians 1:16

We are getting close. Most likely, only a little over a month before our girl is in our arms and she gets to meet her forever family. We can't wait for that day!