Adoption is so expensive and when we announced at the start of 2023 that we'd be starting the adoption process, the price tag to even get the ball rolling, was daunting to look at.
How are we going to raise enough money? What types of fundraisers do we do? Will people donate? How long is this portion going to take?
We anticipated it would, realistically take a year maybe more to raise the funds we needed. So 2023 was our fundraising year:
We kicked things off in April with a Spring Photoshoot, sponsored by our dear friend and photographer Jess Nicole Creative. 50% of proceeds went to our fund
In May we started our puzzle piece fundraiser. We asked for $5/piece and asked people to purchase as many pieces as they felt compelled to. We noted each donation and wrote the names of the donator on the backs of the pieces purchased. Once complete this puzzle will be framed so that you can see the front and the back and will be displayed in baby's nursery, so they can grow up with this verse but also so they can see who and how many people were supportive of them from the beginning!
At the end of August we hosted a Garage Sale Fundraiser. A few weeks leading up to this event we asked for donations of items people were wanting to part with. Many people had stuff laying around their homes that they were itching to get rid of and gladly donated it to our cause!
The evening before our weekend sale a tornado touched down in our neighborhood! Our house was minimally impacted compared to our neighbors just one street behind us. In lieu of the destruction, we delayed our sale by one day, feeling it was more important to help our neighbors with cleanup.
The following day, the sun shone in the sky and we had an amazing turnout. We also had an amazing amount of stuff leftover as well, so there will be another sale this coming Spring!
The whole month of September my parent's DJ Company: Music Host Entertainment, sponsored a Dollar-for-Dollar fundraiser. Allowing us to double any donations that were submitted within that month.
Again we were amazed at how many people contributed week after week. Some that had already given in previous fundraisers!
To end the year out we put together a Hoodie and Tee-Shirt fundraiser in November and December. Hoodies were priced at $40, and Tee-Shirts at $25. We wanted to pick a verse that could resonate with anyone and at anytime in life, but that also spoke to us for our story and Isaiah 40:31 is what we landed on - "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will Soar on wings like Eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Then we had the occasional cash or check donation gifted or mailed to us, or even tacked onto our shirt fundraiser!
So with only 5 fundraisers under our belt, over the span of 1 year, we found ourselves overwhelmed when we looked at the numbers and saw how much we had raised in such a short period of time! For me it was God saying "this is the right path, your baby is near." and THAT is exciting!
So on December 26th (our 6 year anniversary (of being a couple)) we found it very fitting to officially start the process by beginning the daunting task of filling out our formal application. There's a lot of tiny details that need to be filled out and tasks to be completed, but we're just grateful for a thorough agency!
We have been blessed, even when we couldn't quite make out God's plans for our lives. He's been there the whole time molding us and designing our story. I'm excited to "read" the next chapter of our life-story and am so glad that you, dear reader, are along for the ride with us. Tune in soon!