He is wonderful. A great Christian man. A sweet, gentle, kind, compassionate person. An incredible father. He left his home in Canada, married this crazy girl from Ohio who shared his passion for adoption and.....
The rest is history.
Five adoptions.
6 years.
We were done. And then came April of 2012. And we fell in love. And he fell hard. For this beautiful, precious little girl. Waiting in China.
Bella
We read some scary words.
Spina bifida
Hydrocephalus
Paralysis
But her spirit, and her smile, and her ability to overcome so very much captured our hearts.
Our hearts said yes but our heads said we were crazy, and we didn't proceed and after four months of wresting with ourselves and with God, we gave it all to Him.....
And less than a week later, there she was.
Bella
Waiting on an agency specific list. With a grant.
Phil wasn't home. I knew how I felt in my heart, yet I was nervous to see what he would say.
He came home. It was 9pm.
I told him.
He literally lept off the couch and started screaming,
"YOU HAVE TO CALL THEM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!"
Dude, it's 9pm!
So I emailed. And the next day I called.
And today we are within months of holding her in our arms.
My husband works so very hard for us. With five kids, my job won't pay for daycare. So he has been working 65 hour weeks. Week after week after week.
Never complaining.
Never saying he is tired.
Never saying his feet hurt.
He works in a machine shop. 60 pound parts. 14 hour days. Cement floors.
Never. Ever. Ever. Complains.
So, it's Father's Day on Sunday. And we are saving every penny and I have nothing to give him.
But I started this Puzzle Piece fundraiser awhile back.
http://bringinghomebellaelise.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-puzzle-piece-fundraiser-with-twist.html
We had 75 pieces sold and then all of a sudden, 24 hours ago my friends got fired up, and this thing took off and 75 became 145 then 145 became 207 and then someone offered a matching grant and before we knew it, we were at 303 pieces!
From 75 to 303 in just over 24 hours, people!!!!!!
And then my friend had a crazy idea......
What if we can get to 500...... And complete the ENTIRE puzzle......
And I stay up all night putting it together tomorrow and give it to Phil as a Father's Day gift?!?!?!?
He has NO IDEA I am doing this fundraiser.
Not. A. Clue.
I am doing this as a surprise for him. I didn't have an end date goal, but now.....
Well, after selling 228 pieces in 26 hours..... I am thinking we can sell 197 in 24 hours!!!!!!!!
I know God can do this, working through whoever wants to be part of the puzzle to Bring Home Bella!
Pieces are $10 each. I will write your name or the name of your choice of the back of each piece you purchase.
Here's how to donate:
1. Send a Paypal gift (money to friends and family) to elflikesmusic@hotmail.com
Or
2. Email me at elflikesmusic@hotmail.com for our mailing address.
Your name will be written on your puzzle piece(s) and will be entered into a Kindle Fire giveaway!
197 pieces. That's 197 people buying 1.... 100 people buying 2..... 50 buying 4......
Please consider helping us Bring Home Bella. And/or share our story on any social media you would like. I am doing a special drawing for all the sharers for a little something I will purchase in China!
Love to you all, and may you be blessed!
Praise God that He puts the lonely in families, thank you for sharing His heart.
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