Feet 2 Our Faith: thank you

Showing posts with label thank you. Show all posts

Sunday, December 1, 2013

A Treasured THANK YOU…for Toby.

I just had a very heart warming moment…
We were sitting as a family enjoying the movie Elf (I laugh like I've never seen it every single time!) and I was remembering this time last year…
We were FUNDRAISING.
For Toby.
Who was snuggled under the covers with me, giggling as I tickled the bottoms of his feet.
Those squinty eyes.
That adorable dimply face.
The light of the movie illuminated the truth:
HE IS HOME.
And I just got all sentimental.
I ~~want to~~ NEED TO say THANK YOU.
We were not financially able to bring Toby home from his orphanage.
We had just spent every spare penny to finalize Zebby's adoption from Uganda.
Yet there he was. Just a picture:

We could not turn away.
He was ours.
And you helped him come home.
There was NO WAY we could have come up with the $32,000 it took.
BUT YOU DID. GOD DID.
And as I snuggled this bundle of pure joy and giggles, I just wanted to say:
THANK YOU.
I will never be the same.
Toby has come and changed me forever.
Some say that WE are heroes…but I'll tell you the truth:
GOD is the hero.
HE does the saving.
We have the awesome privilege of hosting His miracles.
And YOU were part of that miracle as you rallied together unlike anything I have ever seen and helped us bring him home.
He is now snuggled in his bed with one arm in a cast, the other in a special splint to coax the bend. His teeth are freshly brushed, his jammies are warm and he has two brothers in the room to keep him company.
Life is absolutely incredible.
And I want to say thank you for partnering with our family to do this most amazing work.
Thank you. Thank you.
THANK YOU!!!!!!

xoxoxoxo

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

A Letter of Love to 2 Unknown Birth Mothers

Dear Unknown Birth Mothers of my Two Sons,

I do not know your names. I have not seen your faces. I do not know your stories.

But I love you.

You carried the flesh and blood of my two sons. You nourished, carried and hosted the miracle of life given to you by our amazing God.

You did not terminate the lives of my two children.

You could have.

You didn't.

I cannot thank you enough.

What hardship you endured, I cannot fathom.

You each loved of them so intensely.

I know you did. There are clues all about their stories that indicate your love.

You cared.

How it must have broken you in two to make the choice to allow someone (me) to come along in their future to raise them.

I cannot walk a mile in your shoes, but I respect you.

And I cannot stop thanking you.

The laughter and joy that Zeb brings my heart---oh how I wish you could know it too! Perhaps you treasure memories in your own heart on a day like this? Perhaps you think daily of your son you have lost. Wondering. Hoping.

I promise you: I will raise him as if you were here with me. Holding him in my arms when he is frightened.

Wiping his tears (and that ever runny nose) when he is hurt or sad.

Guiding his heart to trust.

Leading him to Jesus--where all sorrows melt into joy.

And to Toby's birth mother, oh you precious woman! How can I thank you for so carefully placing him in a spot where he would be immediately found?

Your heart knows exactly how old he is.

I understand...

I lost a son too. He would have been 6 1/2 now.

You know very well that your son is 2 1/2.

Please carry no guilt. You don't need that on top of a broken heart.

Know that I treasure Toby as my very own flesh and blood.

I promise to you as well: I will raise him as if you were here with me, looking over my shoulder, listening to how I comfort, train and teach.

And those scary things about his body that didn't look "right?"

Worry not! We are working with those and will be seen by the best doctors in the West for his condition. His differences are not scary for us (who had plenty of months to research and prepare), as they must have been terrifying for you. We are surrounded by supportive people who also have children like this. We are in good hands.

Oh how different it is when we CHOOSE a special need versus you who had it sprung upon you without warning or explanation.

I planted a rose bush in my garden for each of you:

Red for Toby's China mommy

It is a memorial garden to honor your memory. To teach my sons that they have been loved from their very beginnings.

A place for them to be when they feel they want to just thank you.

Or cry for you.

Or even be angry.

Pink roses for Zeb's Uganda Mommy

There is so much loss in adoption, but much gain.

You ladies each gave to them.

You gave to me.

And so today, on this Mother's Day, I honor you.

Sincerely,

Adoptive Mommy to your birth sons

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A HUGE AUCTION THANK YOU!!!!

What an AMAZING AUCTION we had!!!

I hope you had a chance to look around, bid and delight in all the amazing offerings that were part of the donations. I was truly speechless as I saw all the amazing things that people donated.

I would like to THANK the following amazing people and businesses who helped Toby come home:

Mary Kay products from Tori Tinch www.marykay.com/vtinch

Hair bows Chasity Cole www.etsy.com/shop/AllThingsHis

"Got Love" bag Minus 1 Project www.minus1project.blogspot.com

Jennifer Hunt for the Bundles of Bows (sorry, no website)

Awesome clothing and gift certificate Emmy with Vintage Couture at www.vintagecoutureinc.net/emmy

Fabulous Thirty-one bags from Christy Hill at www.mythirtyone.com/CWHill

Helen Lewis collectible cars (sorry, no website)

Handmade necklace from Heather Hansen at www.etsy.com/shop/thehansenfamily

Metal Africa shapes with hearts cut out from Erika and Nate Johnson (sorry, no website)

Leather cuff from Debbie at www.etsy.com/shop/Dentit

Scarves by April Wade with Created New at www.etsy.com/shop/AprilWade

Unique printables by Mandie Joy at www.etsy.com/shop/echoesofmercy

Mother's necklace from Dawn with Funky Fish at www.funkyfishdesigns.com