My topic for this evening is fundraising for adoption.
I made
the mistake one time about Googling 'fundraising for adoption,' I only wanted
to get ideas for special projects that Steven and I could do together, but
before I had finished typing something caught my eye. Google loves to think
ahead of me, and this time it showed me something that had never crossed my
mind. I read the words 'fundraising for adoption is tacky.'
Of course, once I saw this, I had to click on the links and
my eyes were opened to this incredibly insensitive world all about how folks
thought that adoption fundraising was just about the most tacky thing on the
planet. If you want to ruin a perfectly happy day, type this into Google and
read the things that I unfortunately found.
Stories of couples spending their life savings on IVF
treatments, only to come up empty handed and heartbroken. THEN when they wanted
to adopt, found themselves out of the money necessary. I found it disgusting
for people to judge these couples based on something that they could not
control! Certainly, no one asks for infertility. No one asks for IVF cycles to
fail. No one knows that kind of heartbreak, but those who have traveled that
road.
If, after everything that they've been through, they still
have the strength to stretch out their hands and ask their friends and family
for some help, THEN
Who dares to judge them?
I started to second guess myself and this whole adoption
fundraising 'thing.' These ideas filled my mind and I honestly started to feel
guilty and almost agreed with these people that what I was doing was the wrong
course of action.
I emphasize the word almost. When Steven and I first sat
down and listened to a panel of others who have gone before us into the world
of adoption, both of us were strangely calm when they started talking about
financing the enormous cost.
While I have had a hard time in the past trusting God, I
know that this was a promise straight from Him to both my husband and I. No one
said it in the meeting, and no one suggested it was possible.
Debt free adoption.
Sometimes it is hard to understand His ways. How will this
happen? Steven and I both work full time as teachers in a private Christian
school. Anyone who has ever taught in private Christian school knows that our
salaries are low. It is a sacrifice to teach in a Christian school.
I don't see how this promise will come to pass with my human
eyes. I still don't.
I have to put feet on my faith. I have to do what I can to
see this through and part of what I can do is tell my story. Whether it is
considered tacky or not, fundraising for my child's adoption is not an option. It's
a necessity.
I have a massive family. I have mothers and fathers in the
faith that have taught me that nothing is impossible with God. I have family
spread all over the country and beyond.
I believe to my core that we will adopt debt free.
So far Steven and I have held two yard sales in which
friends and family donated their own items to sell. These both amassed a total
of $500 to put into our adoption savings account. Friends and family have
donated in private gifts a total of $2,500+.
Our promise is underway, and I marvel at God's wonder.
Our newest fundraiser is a puzzle fundraiser. I love this
idea and was totally hooked when a friend gave us the link. As people buy
pieces, their names are written on the back and you can see the puzzle take
shape. When it's finished, it will be a
physical representation of those donations of love for our child to see. While
it is a gift for our child, it is also a gift for me. I feel with every piece
that God is healing my own brokenness. He is putting my 'barren' heart together
again.
Thank you to all of my mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers in Christ who have walked with Steven and I through this journey and continue
to walk with us. You will never know how much your thoughts, kind words, and prayers
mean to Steven and I.
So, whether it is considered tacky or not to the world, I
don't care.
My God doesn't see
tacky, he sees a tapestry.
