For the Love of Abigail

Monday, July 29, 2013

Look at this jump!!!!

I feel like a broken record but we really do have an amazing support system of friends who are encouraging us and making our adoption journey unbelievable and enjoyable, even this early in the process! This weekend, thanks to an extremely generous donation from an amazing couple, we made a huge jump closer to the initial $8000 needed to get things rolling! We are now less than $1000 away from our initial goal. This means that so far we have raised $7075 through the support of friends and contributions that God enabled us to be able to make. That's just awesome! We really can't convey how much each and every one of you have encouraged us! And, on a practical note, we couldn't do this without your financial support so thank you so much! We pray that God will abundantly bless each and every one of you and return your generosity hundredfold!

Monday, July 22, 2013

God is good- all the time!

A combination of funds that Benson and I were able to put in our account along with a donation that came in this weekend have put us even closer to our initial $8000 goal! We now only have $1425 more to raise to reach this initial goal. Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and financial support! We know that God planted this desire to adopt in our heart's and that He will see it through! So many of you have already played such a great part in helping us work toward this goal! We thank you in advance for your continued prayers, encouragement and support!

Monday, June 10, 2013

So thankful!

Yet another generous donation came in out of no where last week that has put us only $1700 from our initial goal of $8000! And, of course, we know it wasn't really out of "no where". God's got this all figured out :)

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Today, we hit over 75% of our initial goal!!!

Thanks to another generous donation today from a dear friend, we are now more than 75% to our initial goal! Wow! Crazy! So much has happened in the last month! Yay!!!

We only have $1950 more to raise until we can start the application and home study! We have already signed up for the required adoption training class in October and are saying (in Faith) that we will have the full $8000 by then and will keep the process rolling at that time! This is so exciting and would not be possible without the generosity of so many. Thanks SO much to each and every one of you that have contributed in any way and who are praying for us along this journey. You ALL rock!!

If you would like to purchase a T-shirt, Coffee or make a donation to assist us along this journey, please check out the links on our page here- thanks again!!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Dinner Theater Success!!

I don't even know where to begin in this post. I'm just still so overwhelmed by the complete AWESOMENESS of the weekend! It was such an amazing success! We were so abundantly blessed by everyone who participated in the show as well as everyone who bought tickets and came out to support our future daughters adoption!

Thanks to all of these amazing people, we raised another $3645 for Abigail's adoption!! We are so much closer to the initial $8000 than we were before this happened! Take a look at the fundraising thermometer to the right. It won't be long before we hit that 8k mark! Thank you all a million times over! Like Benson said at the event, "It's a God thing!"

I can't end this post without a huge THANK YOU!!!!! to Shari Davis!! This play was her idea to begin with and NONE of it would have happened without her. She put in countless hours and we could never repay her regardless of how hard we try. If you know her, consider yourself blessed! She is awesome and I love her! OK- that's all. Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Past the half way point and pushing $5000! (Pictures Below!!)

Thanks to a very generous donation + additional Crazy Capers ticket sales yesterday, we have now exceeded the half way point to our initial goal of $8,000! This means that we have more than half of the funds we need to be able to get the adoption process started! That's really exciting!

In a step of faith, we have already signed up to take our 2-day required adoption training later this year. We feel so very blessed and are extremely thankful to everyone who is helping us reach this goal! We are excited to see how much closer we can get to our initial goal through additional ticket sales for the dinner theater that is happening in 2 days! It's going to be a great time and we can't wait to see you there!

Here are a couple of pictures below from rehearsals which had Benson and I laughing out loud! Time is almost up to order tickets so don't procrastinate! Every ticket puts us closer to leaving that half way point in the dust!! Also, every ticket purchased online is entered into a drawing for one of two $50 Maggiano's gift cards! And, Maggiano's is providing the food for the event so YUM!

And, remember, this really is more than a fun night out- although it is that! This is a way to help further His kingdom by helping to provide a forever home to a little girl who needs a mom and dad who will love her unconditionally!

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

The cast will serve the food in between scenes in character!

Order tickets now at:

www.cocoscoffeeshop.com

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Almost half way to our initial goal thanks to Crazy Capers Ticket Sales!!

Check out the fundraising thermometer over to the right! We're so excited that with just over one week left until the big event, we're at almost half of our initial goal thanks to ticket sales for the Dinner Theatre! If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, it's not too late! And, YOU can be what helps push us over the half way point- which is HUGE! Help us make that thermometer go up even more!!!

This is likely going to be the biggest single fundraiser in our adoption journey and, every ticket sold means were that much closer to bringing Abigail home! Thank you so much to all of you who have already gotten your tickets! You're the ones making this happen! We can't wait to see you there! It's going to be AWESOME!!

GET TICKETS HERE!
www.cocoscoffeeshop.com

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.