Adding It Up

So far, we've had a t-shirt fundraiser, a cross fundraiser, a Thirty One Gifts fundraiser, and we're currently in the midst of a Simply Stamped fundraiser. Although, I do not know (yet) how much we made with our Thirty One Gifts sale, I believe it's about $100. We raised $1,600 on our t-shirts and $1,200 for our crosses.

When you raise $1,600 on your first fundraiser, you feel pretty confident. However, if you look at the money we need to raise, it equals 3% of our total needs. Now, I shouldn't look at things that way, but I'm really hoping we get more donations for our next fundraisers.

I applied for our first adoption grant last Friday. I will be applying for any grant that I can. I don't know if we'll get any of these grants, as we make more than $60,000 per year. That seems to be the magical number as to if you need money. I guess some people believe that anyone who makes more than $60,000 could surely come up with $55,000 within 5 months. Maybe other families have that kind of cash in their savings, but we do not. I know we'll come up with it, but we need HELP!  

We have this secret page on Facebook to share about our adoption. If every member of that group, donated $5 (tax deductible), we'd get nearly $3,000! 

I need to hit the streets and start asking business owners (a.k.a. strangers). It is looking like that might be where the majority of our support comes from... strangers.

My friend, Sara, said something so incredible the other day. When I was sharing with her how sad I was that most friends and family don't seem very supportive, asking how they can help us, or even letting us know they're praying with us, she said, "Don't they know that this is the best investment they could make? It says that in the Bible! They are missing out!" If I had more friends like Sara, supporting us and being a cheerleader for us, I couldn't imagine not reaching our goal. I mean, if I had 5-10 friends like Sara, not letting me leave their houses without praying with me - for our family - for our children overseas.... 
Well, instead of saying that, I need to pray that. I am praying that we, as a family, find more support than we are receiving right now. This is a hard road we're on, and knowing that people are thinking and praying for us would mean so much.

 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12