For the Love of Abigail

Friday, March 15, 2013

Thank you SO much to each and every one of you who helped us reach our "Kickstarter" goal! Every $1 mattered! You have made it possible for tickets sold for our dinner theater to be pure profit to go toward Abigail's adoption! This means more than you know! It could very well mean that we will start getting the adoption process truly rolling later this summer!!! That's just an awesome possibility! Thank you! Thank you!

Goal met! Thank you!!!

Also, don't forget to get your tickets. Order now for the best seats!!

Order Play Tickets Now

Friday, February 22, 2013

One Quarter goal met & more!!

We are so thankful for the generosity of people who have learned about our adoption goals! We are especially thankful right now for some amazing friends who are organizing a dinner theater to benefit Abigail's adoption. In addition, we are extremely blessed by those who have stepped up to help us cover the costs involved with the play. We still have a long ways to go but as always, we see God's hand in this and we know it's going to happen! Just when we start to get discouraged, something awesome happens! Today, Benson & I were able to make a contribution to the adoption account that, along with the donations we've received, have brought our adoption fund up to $2000 which is one quarter of our initial goal! This does not include the ticket sales we have coming in from the play which will take place in May!

To learn more, check out the links below:

Become a Backer or

Purchase Play Tickets

In addition to that, today we're launching our new spring flower fundraiser. Check it out here:
Flower Power Fundraiser!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Raffle #2: Sheltering Arms- Your Choice!

Sheltering Arms Raffle

This is an AWESOME raffle with a choice of prizes! Choose from:

1) One-month Fitness Membership

2) One Athlete Pre-Testing Session

3) One Personal Training Session or...

4) A Running Consultation

Entries are only $3 each and all proceeds go directly to Abigail's adoption fund! The session can be used at Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Centers at 1501 Maple Avenue Richmond, VA.

The raffle starts today (February 5th) at 10 AM and entries will be accepted through 10 AM on Friday, February 22nd. Enter as many times as you like to increase your chances. The winner will be contacted after the raffle has ended to coordinate delivery of their certificate for one of the above prizes.

This raffle has ended.

Thank you for your support!!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Raffle #1 was a success-thank you!

Congrats to Shay White, the winner of our 60 minute massage raffle to raise funds for Abigail's adoption! Thank you Shay and everyone who helped make our first raffle a success, with $185 raised (plus another $50 from a kind donor)! We'd like to also send a special thank you to Aly at Not Your Typical Kneads for being so kind to donate the free massage! You are all awesome!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

60 Minute Massage Raffle for Adoption Fund

We're really excited to start raffling off items to raise funds for Abigail's adoption! First off, were raffling off a 60 minute massage! Entries are only $5 each and all proceeds go directly to Abigail's adoption fund! We're starting the raffle Monday, January 7th and entries will be accepted through 5pm on Monday, January 21st. Enter as many times as you like to increase your chances. The winner will be contacted after the raffle has ended. Thank you so much for your support!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Merry Christmas Abigail!

We just received the most wonderful early Christmas gift we could ask for- a donation to our adoption fund. Thank you! We don't ever expect Christmas gifts but if any family member or friend was thinking of giving us anything at all (I do sometimes receive a bottle of wine or two during the Holidays :), please consider making a donation to our adoption fund instead. The results of your donation will be lifelong! We are trusting God's timing with this and appreciate every $1 that comes in and helps move us closer to the goal He has put on our hearts. We look forward to the day that we get to meet Abigail. Thank you all and Merry Christmas!!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Broke $1000!!!!

We're so thankful for every penny you've helped us raise or that we've been able to contribute! We had been sitting at $1000 for a few weeks and we're very thankful that, thanks to a great friend, we just exceeded the $1000 mark! Yay! We know God will get us there in his perfect timing! Thanks SO MUCH for the prayers and support!!

We started feeling a tug on our hearts toward adoption many years ago and we started praying, researching and talking about it. Even though we felt we were being called to adopt a little girl (and even knew what her name would be!), we did not feel like we were being led to do it at that moment in time. Well...5+ years later the desire is still there and we feel confident that is because God is the one who planted the desire in us in the first place.

We'd love to say that everything has fallen into place perfectly (including the funds to adopt) but that's not the case. Regardless, we believe God is telling us it’s time to take a huge leap of faith and act on the desire He planted in us to adopt. We have no idea how it's all going to work out but we know we serve a mighty God!! Without a doubt, we can’t do it on our own and don’t think God intended for us to. So, with His help and yours, we hope to be able to introduce you to Abigail Grace in His perfect timing!

There are many ways that you can help. First and foremost, we ask for your prayer through this journey! We know that it is likely to be a long process. We need God's guidance and peace for as long as it takes and for any obstacles we may encounter.

Secondly, the simple fact of the matter is that we need funds to make this happen. In that regard, you will see a "Donate" button if you would like to make a direct donation which will be applied at 100% to Abigail's adoption fund. In addition, we have some great fundraising links that you will find here including SendOutCards, T-shirts, Coffee and Flowers. Please know that anything you can do is greatly appreciated!

Thank you all!

Love and Blessings,
Benson and Heather

When people ask us for marriage advice, the first thing we tell them is "Please don't assume we have it all figured out because we don't." But, there is one thing we know without doubt! God brought us together. He means for us to be each other's for life and we don't pretend to know better than Him. As anyone in a good marriage will tell you, it's not always easy but it's worth it. With God at the core of our relationship, we believe it will only get better as the years go on! And, we're looking forward to sharing future years with Abigail Grace in God's perfect timing.

Famous Adoptions: Lesson 3

Did you know that... Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert was adopted at birth by Ed Gilbert and Barbara Crane, both Hollywood actors. Ed Gilbert died when Melissa was 11, and Michael Landon, who played her father on television, became a surrogate father to her. Melissa's brother Jonathan Gilbert, who portrayed Willie Oleson on Little House was also adopted. Melissa continues to act, mostly in made-for-TV movies, and she served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005.

Famous Adoptions: Lesson 5

Did you know that... Dave Thomas, the founder of fast-food restaurant giant Wendy's, was given up for adoption at 6 weeks of age. After his adoptive mother's death when he was 5, his father moved around the country seeking work. Dave spent time in Michigan with his grandmother, Minnie Sinclair, whom he credited with teaching him the importance of service and treating others well and with respect, lessons that helped him in his future business life. Thomas left high school in the tenth grade to work full-time at a restaurant. After a stint in the army, Thomas moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he opened his first Wendy's restaurant in 1969. He would later found the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to promote adoption law simplification and reduce adoption costs in the United States.

Famous Adoptions: Lesson 7

Did you know that... Aristotle, son of Nicomachus, physician to King Amyntas II was adopted? His parents died when he was still a very young boy and he was brought up by a guardian, Proxenus, who sent him to Plato's academy in Athens about 367. He spent 20 years there and eventually founded his own academy. His writings have claimed a great place in the History of Western Philosophy and Science, and until the Renaissance they formed a major part of all European education. He was also appointed tutor to the future Alexander the Great. His first wife was Pythias, niece and adoptive daughter of his patron, King Hermeias of Atarneus and Assos. He later adopted Nicanor of Stagirus, Proxenus' son, who also married his daughter.