Fundraisers

Fundraiser #1 U MATTER Sponsored Event: Save The Children Moldova and Fusion Dance

On June 26th we had our first fundraising event along with another family also adopting from Moldova. The event was held at Fusion Dance and Fitness Studio in Woodstock to help raise money to bring our little girl home. Dance classes (Zumba, Pole, and a Latin Couples) were offered for a minimum donation. We also raffled items that were donated by serveral local businesses...

Honeybutter Boutique - a womens dress
Punctuation Boutique - jewelry
Town Lake Cinemas - movie passes
Pure Taquaria - gift card
La Parilla - gift card
Canyons Burgers - gift card
Paris Mullins (my stepdad who is an Optomitrist) - pair of Costa sunglasses
Aveda Salon - gift card
Christian Brothers Automotive - free oil change coupons
BJs - gift card
Town Lake Choi Kwang Do - free training passes
Roly Poly - Sandwich trays

All in all, it was a fun fun night! I learned that I am pretty good on the pole (when it comes to climbing it) and even learned a few tricks (yep, those kind). For those of you seeking upper body strength this is the way to go! That body will burrrn the next day.

Thank you so much Heather for arranging this event for us. You and your instructors were wonderful! Here are a few pictures.

Fusion Dance - flash slideshow maker

Fundraiser #2 Another Man's Junk Is Another Man's Treasure...
and this proved to be true.

A couple we go to church with adopted from Latvia and understand very well the costs that go along with international adoption. They suggested to us that we have a community yard sale to help raise the much needed funds and we sure liked the idea! Thank you Scott and Darice Jamison. First, we sent an email to everyone we knew asking for donations. Sure enough, family, friends, and friends of friends were all calling and more than happy to donate. Some even took it as a time to "clean house". We were extremly grateful! In the end we had a 3 car garage filled with...you name it, we had it!
If you know me, you know I LOVE organization and do not function properly if I am not organized (some of you have even asked me to be your personal organizer). After a couple weeks of "organizing" 3 garages of "stuff" I no longer cared about the contents of our pantry lined accordingly and with all labels facing out, the toilet paper torn precisly from the roll, rabbit ears on the sofa pillows, the spacing of the hangers in my closet, toys in their corresponding bins, towels all folded the same way, etc... Actually, I've started to care again but I do not care to have another yard sale for a very long time! Thank you Betty and Kristen for all the time spent organizing and pricing those items! We burned a lot of calories slapping those price tags on!

For those of you that didn't have the luxury of pricing things, this is pretty much how it went...
Kristen: "How much do you want on this one?"
Kari: " how much do you think on this?"
Betty: "Sistaaaa, how much on this?"
Kristen: "Oh we've got ANOTHER of these, how much?"
Kari: freebie pile, fifty cent pile, dollar pile.
Betty: "Oh, all out of $5 tags, I'll just put a 50 cent'er on it."

No to sound like I've won a Grammy of anything BUT...
MUCH thanks to everyone who helped out. Thank you Tom Fant for allowing us to use your business parking lot. It worked out perfect. Thank you Lane for making extra signs last minute. Thank you Haley for working as though it was you needing the money. Thank you Tom and Jason for running the hot dog stand in the heat. Thank you Mom and Sherrie for keeping up with the money. Thanks Tom and Sherrie for donating all the food. Thank you Jessica and Drew for driving all the way to help and shop. Thank you family and friends for all your support. And THANK YOU shoppers! We never imagined it to turn out the way it did... more confirmation!

Adoption Yard Sale - slide show