You Are Loved.

I always find it difficult to start a blog post when you are already speechless to begin with.

It's kind of an oxymoron, falling into the same category as Jumbo Shrimp, Bitter Sweet, Artificial Grass...

Speechless Blogpost?

In January, Erik and I were brainstorming fundraising options for our (at the time) one adoption from Ethiopia. We desired a way to fundraise by bringing all the people we love together and worshipping God and sharing our story all at the same time.

Insert For All Seasons.

As an incredible worship band leading music for our students at Winter Camp, turned overnight incredible and dear friends...we approached them with our crazy idea.

How about a Worship Adoption Benefit Night?

It took like 1.3 seconds to receive an enthusiastic "YES!" and an even shorter amount of time for Erik and the drummer to start embracing like long-lost war mates.

And so was the birth of the "You Are Loved" Adoption Benefit Night.

The one that happened last night.

The one that blew our expectations of God out of the water.

The one that reflected the beauty of the hearts of so many people.

The one that continued to confirm God's hand and plan at work.

The one that screamed, "YOU ARE LOVED!"

For All Seasons led worship in a way that invited the Spirit to fill the sanctuary and fill our bodies and hearts in powerful ways...
we had incredible help with sound and media - like the kind that made everything look and sound like you were in a different element of life...
girls made delicious cupcakes to celebrate and bless others with afterwards...
friends helped in taking the offering and donations being handed in...
more friends helped to set up/take down/prepare...
girls helped with childcare so parents could be a part of the worship time...
one of our amazing high school students, Danielle, shared her own story of adoption and how it has shaped her family...

I mean. It was U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E.

Wouldn't you be left speechless?

Last night, Erik and I found ourselves in tears. Completely overwhelmed by the love and support. Completely moved by how God goes so far beyond what you expect, even when you have seen Him exceed expectations before.

Because of willing, loving, supporting hearts, we are one step closer to bringing our daughter home.

Actually....

$3, 079 closer to bringing our daughter home.

Right??!?!

And it is thanks to all of you.

So, in one of the speechless, blubbery, messy kind of ways...

Thank you. Thank you from the depths of our hearts. Thank you for being a part of our story. Our daughter's story.

Thank you.

(If you weren't able to make the evening...here is a little glimpse of our more recent story that we shared last night).