Community

It isn't often that one gets to experience the true meaning of community. We are usually so wrapped up in speedily getting through life, that we don't often take the time to observe the amazing things which have just happened and say, "wow." So, that's what I am going to do today - take a break to reflect on the many people, family, friends, and strangers who have made such a huge difference in this process by helping me bring my little one home.

I will start off by saying that I went into yesterday's yard/bake sale with a goal. I've never done that before. I came up with an aggressive goal of $1500 - that's a huge number for a yard sale. I said the number out loud, asking the powers that be to help me find the way to making that specific amount or more. At the end of the day, not counting the change that I bought with me that morning, I walked away with $1653. Thank you, universe.

Ok, onto how this happened. First, let's take a moment for my dad, who gets way too little credit. He's always been so supportive and awesome that it's kind of given for us. But that's not fair to him. He's always the one behind the scenes making everything happen and never steps forward for any kind of recognition. Dad's pushing 63 and spent no less than 8 hours yesterday packing and unpacking GIGANTIC furniture items and boxes. He came up with all kinds of contraptions for displays and tables. He schmoozed the old ladies and convinced them why they should buy that dreadful item to support bringing home his granddaughter. He ever put on some weird hat and walked around playing with the thing on top that opens up like the top of a rooster's head... and attracts a lot of attention. He made special deliveries of the big items to two people's homes. In short, my dad rocks and Lily may easily have totally hit the jackpot on the grandparent front.

Then there's Mom. Now, Mom would be happy in her own little house hiding from the masses of people digging through stuff and messing up the displays. She hates yard sales. But yesterday she got up up before 6a.m. to help at the yard sale. She was our "merchandiser" and arranged everything so it looked pretty and she also helped with prices when there were 30 people at once. THEN, she went home for a while and called me and asked, "Is it ok if I go to your house and hang some new curtains that I think you will like for your living room and let the dogs out and clean your kitchen?" Um, yeah. That would be "fine". LOL. (Side note- Turns out that the curtains are PERFECT and that is a big deal since I have tried about 8 different kinds in the past two years since I moved in and have still had naked windows for the past 6 months.) So, thanks Mom. You were very helpful and it was really nice to come home to a spotless kitchen, new curtains, and happy dogs.

SARA! My dog sitter and friend. Sara is amazing with children and has been very excited for me the entire process. She's brought me books to sell and read (she reads a lot about international adoption herself), magazines with articles marked that she thinks I will be interested, coins for the baby bottles, and then yesterday... she had baked cookies AND monkey cupcakes with Nutterbutters for ears and m&m's for eyes and Nilla Wafers for the mouth. These were intricate cupcakes for the bake sale and were so cool people we just stopping to look at them! Luckily, they almost all sold out. Sara also stayed for hours in the hot sun to help sell. Thanks, Sara!

Then my friend Donnamarie showed up to help sell as well. She was up to do anything! Sh was haggling, moving and arranging things, chatting people up and just being generally awesome. I honestly could not have done without her that whole time. She is so organized and quick. I am awed by the enthusiasm she has shown throughout the process and yesterday was no exception.

There were MANY MANY people we know who came by the yard sale just because they knew I was having one and why. My "ADOPTION FUNDRAISER" signs were posted all over the place and many people were buying things just to help the cause. A couple of people stand out in my mind. A teacher, who I had never met, had many questions about the process was interested in one of my bigger items. We figured out after a few minutes that and I have a mutual friend - his boss from last summer was my final project partner and good friend in grad school. He ended up buying the items and telling me it was 75% because he like the item and 25% because he liked the cause and story. That was nice. Another woman chatted me up for a while and was very touched that I was adopting as a single woman. She was clearly looking for something, anything to buy (there wasn't much left) and grabbed something which I said I would take a dollar for. She promptly emptied out her entire wallet and gave it to me saying, "Every woman should have a child and I am so happy for you." It was so sweet. Another friend who couldn't make it, sent a long a note with Sara telling em how much she wished she could be helpful today but couldn't make it. She also enclosed a check of $40. I was blown away.

These are just a few of the people who really touched my life and this process yesterday. Everyone who came made a difference. Everyone who wishes they could have come has made a difference through their support. Thank you AGAIN for helping me make this happen. To date, I have raised over $19,000 since January 1, 2008. It's truly astonishing. Thank you for your support. I will continue my efforts until departure and hope to raise another $12,000 by the New Year. Many many thanks for your support in every form. I am such a fortunate person to know all of you.