Blessed Beyond Measure

Our fundraiser; Give $8, Get 8 began when Brett and I were trying to think of a simple fundraiser that people could latch on to. A number came to mind, the number of candles on our sweet boy's next birthday cake.  So we asked people to consider donating $8 and asking 8 friends to do the same.  The first day we got over $200!  I thought this is awesome, would be so great to raise $800 at the end of the week.  And then on that second day over $800 dollars came in! Due largely in part to some dear friends who donated $588.   Every single day we got money in $8 increments, from friends and strangers alike. And numerous people continued to share our story and we saw more people give.  Many people gave above and beyond and it was so amazing to watch that total rise.  So at the end of day 7 we had over $2,000!  What?!  Crazy right?  But hold on it gets better, WAY better.  A donor came in on the last day and said they would match whatever funds came in.  How awesome is that?! What a generous offer! And I must admit I felt like a KLOVE radio host announcing the new twist of events in our fundraising efforts. : ) Shortly after that an angel donated $1000! one-thousand-dollars. wow.  And it was matched.  And more people gave that day. In $25, in $50, and in the magic $8.  And every single dollar counted, and we are grateful for every penny that came in.  It was a sacrifice and each one of you saw a need and you answered the call.  We are overwhelmed. We wanted to share with you the total so we could all praise together this great and wonderful God, who truly is the Great Provider.  The Lord has provided us with....

(Daddy's feet not pictured as he was at work)

That's right, $4,561!!! In just 8 days.  And the total isn't done because several people have sent in checks.  From the bottom of our hearts we just want to say thank you.  I LOVE that during this fundraiser we found out that we have a court date and you all got to be a part of us hearing that news. In days we will be purchasing plane tickets with this money.  Isn't God's timing amazing?  Please continue to pray as we travel the first part of Decemeber.  Pray for safety, health, and that court will go smoothly.  We will continue to update as we can from Uganda, but internet is sketchy.  Thank you for being a wonderful part of our adoption journey.  It has strengthened our faith to see God provide through all of you in such a mighty way.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. 

Final Day of GIVE $8, GET 8!!

Today is day 8 of our Adoption Fundraiser. And we have some exciting news, a donor has offered to match all funds that come in this final day!  This is so huge!!

 Our little Ugandan will be 8 next month and so we are asking people to consider donating $8 to help bring him home.  And then asking 8 friends to do the same.  We have been so blessed to see funds come in and our children get to see the Lord work in a tangible way.  It has been such an amazing week!  Thank you all for being a part.   We still have a ways to go, so please continue to share our story and pray, on this the last day of our fundraiser!  We are so thankful, and blessed beyond measure.  You people are awesome! Yellow Button is in the top right.  Takes paypal and credit card.  Thank you!

 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 1Chronicles 16:34

Day 7 of 8: GIVE $8, GET 8

So we are nearing the end of our fundraiser and have been so blessed and amazed by the generosity of sooo many!  Our sweet boy will turn 8 next month and so we are asking people to consider giving $8 to help bring him home from Uganda.  And then asking 8 friends to do the same.  The biggest news we have to share is... WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!! I can hardly think straight to write this out now.  We are so excited that we will be in Uganda the first part of December!!! Please continue to pray that court will go smoothly and we can bring him home as soon as possible.  Thank you friends, we are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love.  Please continue to share our story, we just have today and tomorrow!  Thank You!

Yellow Button is in the top right.  Takes paypal and credit card.  Thank you!

Day 6 of 8; GIVE $8, GET 8

If you are visiting this blog for the first time, welcome! Thanks for stopping by and reading our story.  Let me fill you in.. We are in the process of adopting a sweet boy from Uganda who will be turning 8 next month.  In honor of his next birthday we are asking if people would consider giving $8 and asking 8 friends to do the same.  International adoption costs are huge but our hope is if a lot of people give a little it will all add up.

Want to be inspired by some kids?  My nieces, who are 6 and 9 have committed to give $8 to help bring their cousin home.  My six year old niece is giving ALL.  Eight dollars is all she has in her piggy bank.  She is a saver and has saved everything she has received from the tooth fairy for the last 8 teeth  : )  They both have written emails out to 8 of their friends to encourage them to do the same.  And their friends are responding.. I am inspired by their generosity, aren't you?  Here is a pic of them with our kiddos.  (my nieces are the little blonde girl and the one on the bike)  Thank you K and L, you girls rock!

AND THANK YOU!!! We are so blessed as we see God provide each day through the generosity of friends, family, and even strangers.  Please continue to share our story and encourage others to give.  We only have a few more days!  Pray that God will continue to move people to give, can't wait to post a picture of J home.  All of you are a part of our journey, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Day 5 of GIVE $8, GET 8

This is day 5 of our 8 day Adoption Fundraiser.  Our little Ugandan will be 8 next month so we are asking people to consider giving $8 to help bring him home.  And then asking 8 friends to do the same. Yellow Donate button is in the top right, it takes paypal or credit card.  Every dollar counts, every dollar is sooo appreciated.  

A dear friend of ours had a wonderful conversation with our boy while she was over in Uganda visiting her son.  J was having a hard time and she was encouraging him to have hope in the Lord and she slipped off her bracelet and put it on his wrist, telling him she would send his family the same bracelet.  HOPE.  Harder to have when you're 8 and just waiting.  I pray J has a confidence and hope that we are coming.  So here are our hands minus his, can't wait to have one more hand on the pile!

Thank you so much to those who have generously given and shared our story.  Please continue to share and pray, we still have a ways to go! It was another great day yesterday.  I am holding off the totals for the rest of the time so I can give the grand total at the end.  Great Job friends, B gives you a big thumbs up!

Day 4- Give $8, Get 8

 Our Give $8, Get 8 adoption fundraiser is a simple concept that we hope really takes off.  It's this; our sweet Ugandan boy will turn 8 years old next month.  So we are asking folks to consider giving $8 to help bring him home.  And then asking 8 friends to do the same.  And those people can ask 8 friends, who ask 8 friends, who ask... well you get the idea!  It's the little snowball rolling down the hill concept or an army of ants each doing their part. The yellow donate button is in the top right, it takes paypal or credit card.   I know times are tough for a lot of people, but if a lot can give a little we can still get there.  So please pray above all else that God would move and people would give.  Please share our story, share this link, share in our journey.

Some of you have asked me exactly how much we need still for our adoption.  Before this fundraiser the number was $11,500.  But we, I mean all of you, are really chipping away at that total.  We are so blessed each day as we see funds come in.  Please keep sharing and praying.  So... want to see how much you all blessed us with yesterday?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! So since it is day 4 of our 8 day fundraiser I thought I would give you a recap.  It is brought to you by the number 8...


Day 1- $283
Day 2- $856
Day 3- $185

Pretty cool, huh?

Here is one of our sons saying thanks in his own special way...

Day 3 of Give $8, Get 8

If you are new to this blog and our adoption story let us catch you up. We are in the process of adopting an almost 8 yr old from Uganda.  In honor of how old he will be on his birthday next month we are asking people to consider giving $8 to help bring him home.  And then getting 8 friends to do the same.  We will be doing this for.. you guessed it 8 days.  This is Day 3.  Can I tell you how amazed we are at people's generosity?!  We are overwhelmed.  Grateful. Blessed. Yesterday morning I was praying and thinking how it would be great if at the end of this fundraiser we were able to raise $800.  Then God had bigger plans, way bigger plans.  He provided more than that just yesterday, in one day.  Bringing our new total to...

WOW!!!  We are speechless friends.  Please continue to share. We have a long way to go still. If you have given please consider personally asking 8 friends to do the same.  Share our link and pray, pray that God will continue to work through the generosity of friends, family, strangers.  Donate button is in the top right.  Thank you, thank you, and just because we can't say it enough...

Day 2 of 8--- Give $8 Get 8

Wow!  We are humbled and amazed after just Day 1 of Give $8, Get 8.  The idea being since our boy (whom we are adopting from Uganda) will be 8 on his next birthday we are asking people to consider giving $8 to help bring him home.  And then getting 8 friends to do the same.  So thankful for all those who responded.  Some people we have never met gave.  Some people gave above and beyond.   Every dollar counts!  Thank you so much to those who gave, those who shared our story, and those who prayed.  Please keep praying and sharing.  $8 can truly make a difference, thank you for being a part of our adoption journey.  We still have a long way to go but we are on our way.  I soooo hope we can have him home for his birthday and take a picture with a big 8 on his cake and show you all the wonderful things God has done in and through you.  So... want to know how much came in yesterday? 

Praise the Lord and thank you again. Keep sharing and praying my friends!  Donate button is in the top right.

GIVE $8 GET 8

8...eight...8...8....eight.  Just a number to most, but for us it is sooo much more.  It is the number of years old our little Ugandan will be on his next birthday.  For those of you who don't know we have been in the process of adopting him for a little over a year.  He has known about us that long as well and has been waiting for us to come. Him waiting kills me. Even before that I began to pray for him, when he was only six. We are hoping and praying he can be home before his next birthday at the end of this year.  So in honor of that we are asking if you would consider giving $8.   And then...getting 8 friends to do the same.  I know times are tough for a lot of people but maybe if a lot can give a little we can still get there. So please pray above all else that God would move and people would give.  Share on facebook, talk to your local friends, let's see what happens. Thanks so much for being a part!
Here are some kiddos who want their brother home..

***Thank you, thank you, thank you.The little yellow button on the top right takes paypal and credit card.   BTW we will be doing this for.. you guessed it 8 days : ) This is Day 1.