Wow

I don't know what else to say but wow. Yesterday was amazing, incredible. We had a huge fundraiser for our adoptions. We had a yard sale, inflatables, face painting, pony rides, vendors will all kinds of goods and services, live concerts, and so much food! I have no idea of the numbers of people, but my engineering husband estimates there were at least 1500 people there. Wow. So many people came that had only seen us on tv. They said they saw our story and had to come. It was beyond moving and emotional. God did a great work. I was most excited to talk to many people interested in or seriously considering adoption. I am praying for each of them that I had the chance to speak to, but also those I didn't. I am hoping they will have the courage to take that first step out in faith to do God's work.

I am overwhelming thankful for my amazing friends who came and worked--late into the night, early in the morning, in the cold, and in the blazing sun. They suffered sunburns, aching feet, and tired bodies to help us bring our 2 little ones home. I don't have the words to say what that means to me. We had businesses and individuals donate everything we needed-down to poster board and masking tape. We had people come by the droves from before we opened till after we closed. Just wow. Let this be the start of a great movement in Birmingham. A movement where we make a real difference in the orphan crisis around the world. And we hope to pull this all together again next year and bless a local family in the process of adopting and facing the daunting task of fundraising. Get on board now with the Hope Project.

I am sure next week is going to be difficult to me. I have been so consumed with this project that the lack of distraction next week will hit me hard. Eli's first birthday is Saturday. I can't even talk about it without the suffocating pain hitting. That day was beautiful and amazing and I celebrate my baby boy, but it will forever be tied with losing my baby girl. I desperately wish I could go back to this time last year. I wish I could be celebrating him with all my children. I ache for you Abigail. I hope we did you proud yesterday baby girl.