Thanksgiving 2012

At our last Thanksgiving celebration, we sat at a huge feast half a world away from our son & daughter while they experienced a "typical" day in Ghana.  Honestly, I don't know the details of that specific day for them, but I remember crying because I wasn't sure if they'd be fed AT ALL that day.  Their orphanage had flooded just weeks before.  The children were displaced for several weeks and had little to no resources.  I remember being thankful for the 2 weeks Sam & I spent with them in October and I remember falling to my knees as I cried out to God to PLEEEEASE bring them home for Christmas.  He heard my prayers, and as you probably know, Liam & Cora arrived in America on December 24, 2011.  Christmas Eve.  

Fast forward one year to Thanksgiving 2012...and again we sit half a world away from our children.  This year my prayers are not for them to be home for Christmas (which would be essentially impossible)...but rather my prayer is for our daughters to know that we love them and that we are fighting for them every step of the way.  I pray that their bellies are filled and their hearts & minds are guarded against the rottenness that surrounds them.  I pray that they never lose hope or faith that God WILL bring them home to us.  I pray that whatever obstacles may fall in our path, that we will persevere and continue forward for them as we have promised...as God has commanded us to do.

As I prepare for our first celebration of Thanksgiving Day with Liam & Cora at our table, I am filled with joy and sorrow.  I am overwhelmed with smiles and tears.  I am, above all else, THANKFUL that God has brought our family closer to Him through all our trials and I pray He continues to sustain us as we venture forth as a family of six, preparing to be a family of eight...

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

~ 1 Chronicles 29:13 ~

Drum Roll Please...

It's been overwhelming to see God bless our efforts in our fundraiser auction.  By the end, we had 128 auction listings...every item donated specifically to help bring 2 orphaned girls into our family.  One hundred twenty eight items!  That's HUGE!


The blessings didn't end there, however.  Our facebook friends shared our auction page with their friends.  Thanks to that support, we had 37,475 page views in 2 weeks!!

While we're still waiting on a few final payments (there have been some issues with email invoices going to spam folders, so we're extending grace in timing in these situations), our final intake from this fundraiser has been a complete loaves and fishes story.  God has seen our hearts poured out for Him in this adoption and the labor of love we tirelessly put into this auction.  He's seen the hearts of our friends and even complete strangers who have surrounded us as the Village.  He has taken each individual prayer, donation and bid and multiplied it exponentially.

Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.  ~Acts 2:33

The total amount raised by our fundraiser auction is a humbling,

bring-me-to-my-knees $4,072!!!!!!

We serve a mighty God. A God who loves orphans. A God who adopted each of us into His family, and who ordained adoption as a servant-hood close to His heart. A God who is faithful to those who say YES to Him...even when it doesn't make sense. ALL praise & honor & glory to Him who has blessed us so richly and may He bless each of you who has come alongside us on this journey!!!

THANK YOU!!!

SOLD!!!

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you to each and every person who contributed to our fundraiser auction! Whether you donated an item or service to be auctioned, bid on items (and maybe even won) or whether you shared our story with your friends/family, THANK YOU!  It will take several days to tally final numbers, but the outlook is AMAZING and far beyond what we anticipated going in.  God has blessed us and each of you played a part in that blessing.  PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

In the coming days, I will update you all with our grand total as well as with a list of all the donors including links to their websites.  PLEASE support these amazing organizations for your holiday shopping and everyday shopping needs!

Here it is...the list you've all been waiting for...the WINNERS! I have only used the username portion of the email addresses in order to prevent unauthorized email solicitations.  Winners will be contacted via email on Sunday, November 4th, with their totals and payment information.  For anyone who didn't win but would still like to make a tax-deductible contribution toward bringing our daughters home, click HERE.

$5 Dinner Mom Cookbook                               melissa.b.kress

147 Million Orphans - Youth Shirt                     keeferstylecreations

2 Inspirational Books for Women                       busymomblog

3 hours DJ service                                              lyager2

31 All in One Organizer                                      tigereyez3

31 Nuggets of Hope                                           mtwpbytammi

31 Organizing Shoulder Bag                                kristad

31 Thermal Tote                                                 ccjtbrown

31 Wristlet Wallet                                               daisys075

31 Zipper Pouch                                                 gaamje

5 T-Shirts                                                           4oleary

African Messenger Bag #1                                  kelly_mal

African Messenger Bag #2                                  ruannmars

African Waist/Hip Money Pouch                         4oleary

Arbonne Aromassentials Holiday Stocking           darleenstry

Arbonne Baby Care Set                                      erica.shubin

Arbonne FC5 Holiday Stocking                           darleenstry

Arbonne Ginger Citrus Body Wash                      adeyesalem

Arbonne Ginger Citrus Luxury Gift Set                 rdf30s

Arbonne Pampermint Gift Set                               jendellapenta

Arbonne RE9 Advanced Extra Moisture Set         erica.shubin

Arbonne SeaSource Detox Spa                            jendellapenta

Arbonne Vanilla Amber Luxury Gift Set               colleen.crabtree

Arizona Cardinals Hat           

Atlanta Falcons Hat   

Autumn Grapevine Wreath                                   samiamcharters

Avenue 17                                                           monicaelivingston

Baby Boy Thank You Cards             

Belgian Chocolates                                               angie

Believe Your Dream                                             jfmurnaghan

Bicycle in Italy Photograph                                    debmccleary

Black Last T-shirt                                                 khaier427

Blended Beauty Curly Kids Gift Pack                    mbatp

Blessings of Hope Collectible Doll                         boarmangl

Blue & Gold Born In Buffalo T-shirt                     sportojenn

Boothbay Harbor Photograph                              debmccleary

Bryan Post Books #1                                           k_pizzuti

Bryan Post Books #2                                           atoma626

Bryan Post Books #3                                           jennimw

Buffalo Bills Hat                                                   jbarton6798

Butterfly Sleeve Tee                                             lrjohnst65

Card-holder Wreath               

Contemporary Quilt                                             kelly_mal

Custom Mothers Necklace                                  kelly_mal

Customized Growth Chart                                   rhyanabreen

Dancing Animal Note Cards                                ruannmars

Eden T-shirt                                                        mrsoz

Faith Hope Love Shirt - Youth Medium               adryflwr

Faith Hope Love Shirt - Youth Small                   kelly_mal

Faith, Hope & Love 8x10 Print                           rdf30s

Feeding the Orphans Hat                                     takva73

Felt Hair Clippies Assortment                              jennyluka

Festive Autumn Wreath                                       jendellapenta

Found Myself T-shirt                                           hsprague83

Framed Insprational Photograph                          rhyanabreen

Full Day Fishing Charter                                      c_kick

Ghanaian Bead Bracelets - Set of 2                     mtwpbytammi

Ghanaian Glass Bead Necklace                           bhgeddda

Ghanaian Messanger Bag                                    takva73

Ghanaian Purse                                                   ruannmars

Girls Backpack                                                   tmpavlac

Girls Birthday Note Cards                                   spagnotti

Got love? Adopt. Travel Mug                              sweetpea31897

Great Blue Herron Silhouette                               debmccleary

Hand-Carved Mask                                            qiwellness

Hand-knit Socks                                                 jasjs

Handmade Doll                                                   l_gehring

Handmade Ghanaian Bracelet                              bhgeddda

Handmade Ghanaian Earrings                              lisa.baffa

Hand-stamped Necklace - Africa Psalm 68:6      sweetpea31897

Hand-woven Basket from Ghana                         jbarton6798

Heart Tracks Photography                                  cherycheerchic17

Hidden in My Heart Doll #1                                jbryswilsonpa

Hidden in My Heart Doll #2                                jbryswilsonpa

House Cleaning #1                                              jennyluka

House Cleaning #2                                              julieloft842

I Fed A Child Canvas Bag #1                              tiffany

I Fed A Child Canvas Bag #2                              tanyamanya

Kings & Queens shirt                                           lrjohnst65

Lighted Christmas Wreath                                    sweetpea31897

Lion Note Cards                                                  khaier427

Love Orphans Shirt                                              angie

Medium 147 Million Orphans Shirt #1                  kelly_mal

Medium 147 Million Orphans Shirt #2                  congilosi

Men's NIKE Golf Shirt                                         lrjohnst65

Millifiori Cross Necklace                                      debmccleary

Mini Tutu Bow Holder                                          mary.j.anderson

Oliver's Labels                                                      boo1276

Pack of 4 Art Cards                                             elisabeth.schaap

Philippians 3:13-14 Cross Ornament                     salmex98

Photo Album                                                        smmonnat

Pick Me V-Neck Tee                                           bandimere_9

Piloxing 10-Pack & Weighted Gloves                    theknappfamily

Pink Bead Necklace                                              tigereyez3

Pink Born In Buffalo T-shirt                                   mmacri30

Pink Cheerios T-shirt                                             mrsoz

Pittsburgh Pirates Americana Hat                           kristad

Project HOPEFUL Jersey #1                                mclemore.shelby

Project HOPEFUL Jersey #2                                monicaelivingston

Project HOPEFUL Jersey #3                                sajohnston

Rachel Ray Tickets                                                ldhayes

Red & Blue Born In Buffalo T-shirt                        jbarton6798

Red Grain Elevators T-shirt                                    jendellapenta

Remnant Dress                                                       kelly_mal

Rhinestone Cross Pendant                                      jendellapenta

Scentsy Buddy - Ollie the Elephant                         ruannmars

Scentsy Bundle                                                       ffades731

Seasons Necklace & Pendant                                 tmpavlac

SimplyFun Game Pack                                            kel92599

Small 147 Million Orphans Shirt #1                         4oleary

Small 147 Million Orphans Shirt #2                         rmkazoo

Small and Large Hand 5x7 Print                              rory_pub

Stella & Dot                                                            kaylacataldo

Sweet Dreams 5x7 Print                                          kchild1

Sweet Honey Child Barrettes                                   hinedenise

Sweet Honey Child Earrings                                     4oleary

Sweet Honey Child Shirt                                          kpickard

Terminally Cool T-shirt                                             tlmorrow

Timeless Treasures Photography                               kelly_mal

Unbroken Necklace                                                 kelly_mal

Usborne Books                                                        tapprs

Vibrant Children's Quilt                                            ruannmars

We Choose Virtues Family Kit                                 mlrowan

White Tutu Bow Holder                                           qiwellness

XL 147 Million Orphans Shirt #1                              jillrossjewelry

XL 147 Million Orphans Shirt #2                              jillrossjewelry

You Love Orphans, You Love Them Not? Shirt       kelly_mal

Zoo/Safari Animal Art Print - Set of 4                       kfarwell

Thank you all again and again and again.

May God bless you for blessing us!