Last night at small group we had an excellent conversation about suffering & while I don't necessarily believe we are currently suffering, I can look back through this process & realize how far we have come as a couple & how much the past 5 years has shaped us. One of my takeaways were, "Once you have learned from the pain, you've grown from it too."
I think back to a conversation I had with a great friend I had a long time ago who said, "I can't wait for you to be on the other side. I'm so excited to talk with you have once you can look back & see how things have turned out." When we have particularly bad days, we find comfort that there is hope in the end & we have to remain patient in all things.
So the only adoption update I can provide is that although we thought we were finished fundraising, we actually need to do a little bit more this year. First, I want to say that we are constantly AMAZED by the outpouring of generosity from family, friends & strangers. When we first decided to adopt the only thing holding us back was the cost. We were convinced there was no way we would be able to afford it but God provided in ways we never ever imagined. When we renewed our home study last month the costs involved chipped away at the savings we have built up for the placement & took away the cushion we had to cover legal fees we will have once we adopt a child.
Once the plans are finalized we will advertise another yard sale we're going to have at our house. It will be in June so if you are planning to purge home items, please keep us in mind before you donate them to Goodwill. We don't have the space to start hoarding stuff, but in May we will begin collecting items you may be looking to get rid off.
The next thing I am SO excited about is a portrait fundraiser.
I have to brag on Kevin because he's immersed himself in photography over the past year and it's become such a healthy, creative outlet for him to share with the world. As we thought of practical ways we could raise extra money for the adoption we had the idea to see if anyone would be interested in scheduling portrait sessions with him. Here are some examples of portraits he's taken:
If you're interested in booking a 1/2 hour or 1 hour session with Kevin, he will take portraits for your family, engagement, new baby, senior photos, bands or your fur babies!
We're asking $25 per half hour session so if you would like to book an appointment, please email us at babymasch@gmail.com & he'll work out the details with you! Given our location we are only able to schedule appointments in Nashville, possibly Cincinnati and Ocala, too. But we cannot guarantee when we will be able to travel outside of Tennessee right now.
Please share this information with your friends & help us get the word out about our fundraiser! It would mean the world to us.
Finally, I ask for your prayers in remembering my Granny who is going to start radiation in the coming days which will last for 5 weeks. It's so hard to be away from home during times like these but we are confident this course of treatment is going to be the best thing for her. Every time I talk to her on the phone she tells me I have to hurry & bring her a great-grandbaby!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Lots of love - Brooke
