Adopt Together Worship Night

     Due to the fact that here is strength in numbers, we decided to join fund raising forces with three of our friends who are also adopting.  We wanted to work together to bring 6 children home to their forever families.  We planned a worship night on Friday September 21, 2012 that also had a silent auction and desserts.  Our army consisted of:

 

Jim and Michele Bard who are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia.

 

Jennie & Craig Hamstra are adopting 3 children from Philippines

Rob and Donna King are adopting a child from the United States



My crew who is adopting a little girl from Arizona

 I wish that I had more pictures to show how wonderful the night was, but I was so busy I only shot a few pictures as the event was starting. 



This was the auction tables that we were so blessed to fill. We had a total of 63 items donated . They were awesome items that I longed to bid on, but that would defeat the purpose. 



 


Rachel and Corie were some of the worship leaders! I wanted to get everyone's picture, but failed to get that done. They really blessed the Lord by giving him the praise that he deserves!

Our auction table with "shoppers"!

 



We were blessed and we pray that the Lord was glorified.

 

Romans 15:5-6

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Caleb's Article in Springfield News and Sun

 Updated: 6:27 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 | Posted: 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012

Young runner supports local adoption

Young runner supports local adoptions

By Mark Fahey

A local 15-year-old is racking up miles as he works to bring adoptive children to four local families, including his own.
Caleb Elliott will run 12 miles, two miles for each adoptive child, on Sept. 29 to raise money to help the families cover the fees associated with the adoption process. He’s running five miles a day to prepare for the event.
To gather pledges for his run, Caleb has been visiting local businesses and has gone door-to-door in area neighborhoods, already garnering about $500 of the couple thousand he hopes to contribute to the families’ expenses.
The adoption costs could come to a much as $110,000 combined for all four families, said Gretchen Elliot, Caleb’s mother.
“He’s a big heart kind of kid,” said Elliot. “He likes to take an interest. He’s always trying to think of ways to help other people.”
Caleb’s running has extra significance for his Elliot, who said that Caleb underwent open heart surgery when he was only six days old to repair a serious heart defect.
Nine Springfield businesses have already offered their support for the run. Caleb and the adoptive families will wear T-shirts with the supporters on the back at the event.
“The businesses were really supportive,” Caleb said.
Three of the families have been matched with adoptive children, including three children from the Philippines, a girl from Ethiopia, and a domestic adoption from Arizona. Three of the families will have seven children after the adoptions, and one will have six.
“People sometimes don’t understand why somebody would want to adopt, especially families with a lot of children already,” Elliot said. “There are a lot of children in need, and even if you don’t feel like you’re supposed to adopt, you can help others help these children by helping them financially, because the financial burdens are outrageous.”
Money donated for the six adoptions will be managed through the nonprofit AdoptTogether, to be divided equally among the families. The families have held other fundraisers for their adoptions, including garage sales, a softball tournament and an upcoming concert night.
Michele Bard, whose daughter from Ethiopia will be her third adopted child, said that the adoption process is a challenge worth the effort.
“You’re walking a road of unknowns and wondering how you’re going to pay for it,” she said. “But the journey is worth it, and there’s a whole community that will support you with it.”
Caleb said he started running a few years ago and recently won first place in a youth triathlon event, but he has never run a full 12 miles before. The run will start at First Christian Church and finish in front of the old children’s home in front of Springfield High School.
“It’ll be a challenge,” said Caleb. “I might have to walk a little bit, but I think I’ll get through it.”
He said that when his adopted sister arrives, it will be good to know that he helped bring her into the family.

---

To donate to cover adoption fees, checks can be made out to:
AdoptTogether
and sent to:
2848 Myers Rd.
Springfield, OH
For more information about adoption, contact Michele Bard at 969-5017

iRun for Them Online Article by The Springfield Paper

iRun For Them                                                                                                        

• Written by ANDREA TROMLEY SKRLAC
• Tuesday, 18 September 2012 10:36

 

Caleb Elliott is a 15-year-old who has a heart for adoption. He has planned a run to raise support and funds for four families – including his own – who are in the process of adopting children from the U.S. and abroad.

Caleb’s “iRun For Them” will take place on Saturday, September 29, starting at 8 a.m. He will start at First Christian Church (3638 Middle Urbana Road), making his way around Buck Creek State Park and down Home Road to the old Springfield Children’s Home near Springfield High School. Caleb’s desire to run two miles for each of the six children being adopted led him to design this route, which is nearly 13 miles.

His plan to run just shy of a half-marathon is all the more impressive considering that Caleb was born with a heart defect and “coded” when he was just four hours old. At just six days old, he underwent open heart surgery that saved his life. Today, he is healthy and active, and runs regularly. He completed his second triathlon in August, and has run as far as eight miles to date. Now, he is looking forward to the longest and most meaningful run of his life.

The Elliott family had been thinking of adoption for a long time, and over the past couple of years, Caleb and his mother had begun talking more and more about it. Recently, the whole family agreed that there could be no better time. They started applying to adoption agencies in July, but were told that with such a large family already, they might have a long wait to be selected. To their surprise and joy, they were “matched” in late August with an expectant mother whose baby girl will become part of their family.

The Elliotts and three other local families have all signed up with a nonprofit program called Adopt Together, which helps families raise funds to cover some of the costs of adoption. They have scheduled a fundraising event at Fellowship Christian Church at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 21, featuring a night of worship, fun, food and a silent auction. Caleb was inspired to do something on his own to help, which is how the idea for “iRun For Them” was born.

All four families for whom Caleb is fundraising live in the Springfield area. Three of the families are already blessed with six children each, and are each adopting one child. The fourth family has three children and is adopting three more.

• Bryan and Gretchen Elliott are adopting a little girl from the United States.
• Jim and Michele Bard are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia.
• Craig and Jennie Hamstra are adopting three children from the Philippines.
• Rob and Donna King are adopting a child from the United States.

Caleb has been working to get donations from individuals and families, as well as sponsorships from local businesses for his run. His sponsors to date include Elliott Insurance, Roger Storer & Son Inc., David E. Garrett Jewelers, Mershon’s, Roger’s Garage, Miller Meats, Yost Superior Co. and Lower Valley Furniture.

Caleb is working with Adopt Together to ensure that all the funds he raises will be divided equally among the four local families. For more information, call the Elliotts at (937) 964-9644. Those interested in sponsoring Caleb’s run can make checks payable to Adopt Together and mail to:

Adopt Together
c/o Caleb Elliott
2848 Myers Road
Springfield OH 45502

Remind Me to Breath

     My days have been a blur.  I wanted to write and share just a glimpse of what a day can hold in the life of one adopting.  Journey back with me to Thursday September 20, 2012.
     My day started as normal with our daily Bible time followed by chores and breakfast.  Shortly after we closed our last book and finished our school day, my husband flew through the door with a hand full of newspapers.  We had been waiting to see the paper which featured Caleb and his iRun story on the front page.  We were shocked that the story covered the whole front page.  It was an amazing story...a treasure to behold. 
     Excitement flowed through from my my veins as I went out for a run.  It is one of my favorite times of the day.  It is a sacred time where I exercise, release stress, and pray to the Father.  Upon finishing, I carried my sweaty body through the door.   My daughter handed me the  phone with that urgent tone in her voice.  It was the other newspaper in our area.  They wanted to feature Caleb in their paper as well the next day and needed to get a picture of him running in the next hour. 
   Not a problem except for the fact that he was at his uncle's house making a stain glass garden stone to auction off at our Worship Night fund raiser.  I quickly called Bryan to pick Caleb up and jumped into the shower while the girls threw the mounds of laundry we had been working on into the bedrooms so the newspaper guy would be able to sit on our couch and not on piles of underwear.
     I had just dressed my body when a knock came to the door.  As the little people ran to let the picture guy into our house, I got a text from our birth mother.  I wanted with all that was within me to read the text for I don't get to communicate with her often.  I suppressed my desire to read the message and greeted our guest.
     The man instructed us to go outside and get pictures of Caleb running with us watching at the end of the driveway.  Really?  Why did one have take a picture of our whole family.  I had wet hair, Drew had just woke from a nap, Hosanna didn't even match, and Libby looked like she hadn't combed her hair all day....or  maybe even all week.  Everyone would wonder why I should be able to adopt if I could even comb my children's  hair or put them into matching clothes.  AHHH!
     The picture guy had not even gotten into his car when I sprinted to my phone and read the text.  Our birth mother had gone to the doctor and wanted to let us know that everything was great with the baby!  She also wanted to inform us that the doctors were planning the c-section for 4 weeks out.  She thought that it would be around October 18.  What?  Seriously?  This was earlier than we were told.  Even more excitement ran through our house. 
     Just as the news of she earlier arrive was beginning to set in, the phone rang.  It was news that the local radio station was doing an interview with one of the families we are fund raising with.  They would air the interview on Friday to announce our Adopt Together Worship Night.  This would allow even more exposure for our funding needs as well as the need for others to adopt and help children in need of a forever home.
     Having no time to prepare dinner, we inhaled a pizza.  I don't not eat pizza unless it is homemade, but  I didn't even care.  I eat the crude and focused my energy on all that the Lord was doing. 
     Due to all of the fund raising we had been doing, I had not been to the grocery for two weeks.  This is a huge deal for a family with 6 children.  Bryan decided that he would take the little people while I ran to get food to put into the fridge.  As I was preparing to leave, Courtnie, our Arizona friend who lives only 15 minutes from the hospital our little sweetie is to be born at, called to check in.  We talked about the new details and she once again reminded me that her family would do anything we needed while we were in Arizona picking up our new addition.  This is yet another detail that the Lord has taken care of for us.  Who gets to adopt and have friend that lives within minutes of the hospital?  These are friends who we trust to watch our other children so we can be at the hospital as a couple!  Amazing.
     After completing my grocery trip and putting everything away, I received an email from the agency.  The director wrote that we should have a c-section date with in the week.  They just needed the hospital to confirm at date and time.  Wow!  My body was still in adrenaline mode.  I looked at the clock that read 10:00, but so much of me felt as if it was 2:00 in the morning.  If breathing wasn't automatic, I would forget.  If you see me, please remind me to breath!

iRun For Them

     Please take time to read the article that is featured in The Springfield Paper.   

http://www.thespringfieldpaper.com/database/news/item/4363-irun-for-them

 

Caleb, my inspiration!

     And People ask me why I would want more children. Really?

They inspire me.  They are lights in a dark world.  They all I wish I could be.  They are my passion.  They are my purpose.  They are my ALL.   

We would love to have friends and family come and cheer Caleb on in this run. We will meet at First Christian Church at 8:00 a.m. for prayer.  We will then meet in front of the old Children's Home on Home Road around 10:00 to show our support as he finishes his task.  We would love to have you join us!!

Praise and Prayer

     On August 26, we were up for a grant review with Gift of Adoption.  We had to have a match by this date.  If we failed to have a match, we would  lose the chance to be presented to the board and thus the chance to receive a grant.
     Praise the Lord for his perfect timing.  On August 24, we were officially match with our birth mother and our little sweetie.  If you look closely, you will see that the Lord came through with just two day to spare.  This is just one of the many finger prints of God that we have seen with our adoption.
     I am so excited to tell you that we received wonderful news that after reviewing  our case Gift of Adoption has awarded us with $3,500.  We feel very blessed and overwhelmed by his provision over us. 
     Please pray as we are still working very hard to complete this journey of raising funds to bring our little girl home.  We are just over four weeks from her arrival.  We have the Adopt Together Worship Night coming.  Please pray for the Lord to be glorified during this event.   The details are as follows:

If you are adopting or wanting to adopt, but need extra funds. Go to Gift of Adoption to get details about their grants.  We have been so blessed by their love and kindness.

http://www.giftofadoption.org/

Thirty-one

     In the world of adoption, there are times when you just feel alone, misunderstood, and questioned.  There are dark times that leave you feeling defeated.  Praise the Lord!  God doesn't leave you in this realm for long!  NO.  He raises up warriors to conquer Satan and his evil schemes.  They are fighters that say, "Keep fighting.  I will help you through."

Pam and Kait

     My friend, Kait, is one of those soldiers.  She has done a wonderful job at polishing her sword to help me ward off the enemy.  She has given me encouragement by her acts of sacrifice. 

Addi with her Thirty-one shirt on.  What a sweetie.

     One such act was her Thirty-one party.  Another friend, Pam, was the host of a Thirty-one party.  Pam invited the guest and Kait graciously gave all of her commission from the party to our adoption as well as the Bard family's adoption. 

Some of the ladies at the party

I love it when amazing people set the example of how to love...to give...to serve.

Friends trying to decide what items to purchase.

THANK YOU

My MIni Me

     My mini me, Gracie, is such a wonderful help .   She can do laundry, watch the little ones,  find the best deal at the grocery, do reading lessons with the "little people" and so much more. 

Best of all she will make dinner at a moments notice. 

  

     The excitement that she has welling up inside of her for this baby is so sweet. The day we found out that we had a match she started researching online for the best formula, for the number one rated bottles, and for the cheapest places to buy each.  

The day that she finished her research, my brother dropped off bottles for us to use.  She was ecstatic as she proclaimed, "Mommy, these are one of the top rated bottles and they are free."

     After boiling the bottles and putting them safely on the shelf,  she was found washing, folding, sorting, and putting away all our baby girl clothes.  It was such a dear thing to behold. 

The living room was filled with drawers, pink and purple clothing, and burp rags.  She missed out on playing with friends to finish her project. 

Did she complain?  No way.  It is her passion...her dream...her sister.

Places of My Heart

     There are many things about adoption that no one can prepare you for.  Things that creep up so suddenly that they knock you off of your feet.  For me, one of these things was the feelings that I have  for our birth mother. 
     When we were told that our birth mother chose us, I was filled with gratitude.  I was filled with wonder for why she would choose us.   I found myself thinking and praying for her at all times of the day.  There were even times when I have been seen wiping tears from my eyes when  I would think about her. 
     We live in a time where it would be much easier for moms like ours to just abort the baby.  No one would know.  She could go on with her life without the judgement from the world around her.  It is by God's grace that she chose life and is now choosing to place that life into our hearts and hands.  It is overwhelming...an overwhelming love that grows in your heart.
     She is a selfless women.  She knows the pain that is coming.  She is doing all that she can to protect herself from the hurt, but it lingers in her everyday life.  She is aware that she couldn't provide for another child so she is looking to us to do the job for her.  Pain, Selflessness, and Sacrifice are  part of her everyday life.
    Please pray with me as we try to walk out this journey together.  We will forever be bonded  by the life of this little one soon to come.  Pray for my sister.  Pray for me to be what she needs no matter how little or how much that is.  Pray for the place of my heart that she now resides in.