The 10:10:1 Challenge - Can You Spare $10 for Adoption?

Hi Friends! Summer has kept us crazy busy so far, hence the lack of blogging. But we've got something very important we wanted to share with you today. Remember my friend Heidi? Well, there's a lot that's happened over the past couple of months - and her and her family need our help! But first, let me share a little bit with you.

So, adoption. People hear about it and get warm fuzzies thinking about the idea. But let's be honest, the majority of people "like" the idea of adoption and are completely shocked and scared away when the find out how much it costs to adopt. Most people have no idea what it costs to complete an adoption. It's a lot of money - A LOT. And while there are people who question why someone would pay for a baby - try to look at it this way: think of your own children. Can you put a price tag on them? Regardless of whether they are yours through biological means or through adoptions, there's no price that can be placed on them. They are simply priceless.

Now, let's get you up-to-speed on Heidi and Andy's adoption process. They were recently matched with a birth mom in Florida who is due the beginning of July. About a week and a half ago, Heidi called me in a panic. She'd just received a call from their adoption agency saying that the birth mom wanted to meet her in person prior to placing the baby with them. That meant an extra/unexpected trip down to Florida. Jokingly, Heidi said, "You don't happen to know any friends who live in Florida do ya?". I told her, "Actually, yes, some of our friends relocated to Florida a few years back." Heidi asked where they live and I told her Tampa - to which Heidi replied, "NO WAY!! That's where I'd need to fly in to!". Long story short, I reached out to my awesome friends Adam & Abby and they insisted that Heidi stay with them and even offered to pick her up from the airport and also offered their vehicle for her to get to and from meetings with the agency/birth mom. Craziness! These people had never even met Heidi, and yet they were throwing open their hearts and home to her! They've also offered to let Heidi and Andy stay at their home while they travel down in a few short days to get the baby. Incredible! But wait, it gets better - Heidi told me about how expensive the last-minute plane ticket was going to be, and again, jokingly, Heidi said, "You don't happen to know anyone who works for an airline do ya?". Instantly, I thought of my friend Nancy who is a flight attendant with Delta. I contacted her and within a couple of days, Heidi was all set up with a buddy pass that allowed her to fly stand-by for a fraction of the cost of a regular airline ticket. Watching God work out all of these details was absolutely AMAZING! I love seeing how He brings His children together to make things happen! To top off this chain of events, I was able to help Heidi with a custom print that she took with her and gave to the birth mom when they met. God's hand was ALL OVER THIS!! :) Heidi's trip down to Florida went great and her meeting with the birth mom went very well.

Here's where the story takes a turn - and where Heidi and Andy need our help. As Heidi was boarding her return flight back home, she received a call from the adoption agency saying that they had miscalculated the birth mom expenses and that they would need to come up with another $2,500 that would be due at the time of placement. Ugh. This adoption is already nearing $35,000 (which doesn't include their travel expenses), and Heidi and Andy are feeling maxed out. They've borrowed all they can borrow, and have paid all they are able to pay. Keep in mind this is their third adoption. They feel a calling on their lives to adopt and bring another baby in to their family via adoption - and up until this point, they haven't done any fundraising at all. They've carried the financial burden humbly and quietly...but now they're at a breaking point. A point where WE as the body of Christ have an opportunity to surround them and love on them.

This is where YOU can help - they baby's due date is in 10 days...so we're going to put out a 10:10:1 challenge:

It's super easy to donate - just follow the link below!

The costs for this adoption are already $5,000 over what the initial budget showed, and now they need to come up with another $2,500. Our goal is to help them raise the extra $2,500 that has come up within the last week. Anything raised above and beyond that will help offset the amount already over the initial budget.

We can't thank you all enough for your love and support - we're excited to see how God is going to use the funds donated to impact HIS kingdom and the Schneider family! PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY!! (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest....everywhere!)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "

• Philippians 4:6-7 •

P.S. A HUGE Thank You to Christie over at her blog for this fabulous fundraising idea!!!