Touched

"Bear one another's burdens..."  Galations 6:2

I keep trying to post about this weekend - about the Rummage Sale for Keira and the amazing effort that went into making it a wonderful success...about the tons of people that showed up to shop...or the amazing weather when we had feared rain would put a damper on our event...

It was amazing and it went so well!  We were able to put another 1/4 of what we needed to raise for Keira into her fund!!!  How awesome is that?!?

but I keep coming back to the friends - the servants hearts running around everywhere I looked.

Oh the people...the friendship...

I keep getting weepy in retrospect.  Like right now...I just had to stop and wipe my eyes. 

Trying to think of a time in my life when I felt so supported or loved or taken care of.  It was completely overwhelming and still is.

For the many, many friends and even strangers who donated amazing stuff for us to sell...I can't even begin to tell you - it filled an entire gymnasium.  FILLED it.  No room...walking room only. Two FULL 26 foot U-Haul trucks full and several personal trucks full as well...can you imagine?  We couldn't either until we saw it unfolding in front of us.

How can I thank you?  Those of you who sent items through others, or those who gave and gave again, and then called to say you had even more for us.  And then delivered it to me, when I could not find a way to get to you.  Those of you who actually showed up on Friday to donate more and more...just trying to get as much to us as you could - my Lord, how grateful I am for you...you wouldn't believe how much your kindness meant to us...to me.

Those of you who served our family this weekend.  And I mean truly served...  Every time I try to articulate what it meant to have you there...to have you with us, supporting us, holding us up through all the work that had to be done - it humbles me deeply.  I look back over those two days of hard work and I can't believe how much you gave up to help me get the job done.

Friends who worked tirelessly pricing, sorting, organizing...until the wee hours on Friday night only to turn around and show up again Saturday morning...just two short hours later and work all day again.

Friends who made sure we had food - that we took rest breaks - that we had coffee to keep us awake - that Quint was taken care of and loved on while his parents were knee deep in donated items and a huge play production.

For those friends who hauled, loaded, unloaded, and loaded again.  Helped customers haul furniture to their homes, loaded their cars, carried their items, served and served and served...

Checked out long lines of people, one after the other - ran errands, made and hung signs, answered question after question about what we were doing and why we were doing it...

Who labored and labored out of love and friendship for our family...and who have each one cried and laughed with us over this whole process of adopting through China.

I have never felt so grateful for the friends that I have that would give so freely of themselves to help us and support us the way you all did.  That was a HURCULEAN effort of gigantic proportion- and you made it possible.  I could not have done it - not even close, without each of you being there, holding me up, and making sure every detail was in order...

Just so humbling...my deepest gratitude and thanks for your love and kindness

Thank you for reaching out to us - all of you - for your gifts of donations, for your kindness, for giving of yourself to help another family, for your encouragement when we needed it so badly, for your tireless efforts to help make this a success, for your prayers, for your hard work.  For so much...

For your commitment to our family, showing us again what friendship between brothers and sisters looks like.

But most of all, for your dedication in seeing us get Keira home, for not giving up on us...

for not letting us give up either

Thank you for bearing our burden alongside us...

We are truly indebted...