Benefit We Did
A couple of weeks ago some of our amazing friends hosted an auction for us to help with some of the costs for our adoption. I know, right?! These guys are pretty amazing people: Erin and Ben Moon, Eric and Tris Chapman, Amanda and Jeremy Maxfield, Brandi and Shane Etheredge, Senia and Brooks Etheredge, Ruth and David Tinsley, Malinda and Zach Nichols, Amber and Ismael Pruitt, Amanda and Matt Glover, Rashel Ross, Hannah Wilkerson, Taylor and Tiffany Robinson, Jason and Heather Wallis, and Tanya and Ryan Smith. They gave up their time, talents, and resources to help us bring Haven home.
It was a more than perfect day! Beautiful weather and a perfect location in downtown Birmingham at Second Row Studios (Jason and Taylor’s place-thanks guys). Tiffany, who owns Studio Flower, had the place decorated so beautifully! I mean, absolutely breathtaking. Eric Chapman, our incredibly talented photographer friend, set up a photo booth that was quite fun too (we’ll post pics as soon we get our hands on them)! They had an amazing dessert buffet set up with anything your little heart could desire! I was overwhelmed with emotion simply walking into the studio and seeing all the attention to detail. Hannah and Senia had also worked on a little kid’s corner where they had games and Ethiopian coloring sheets ready for all the children who came. The Hooten kids also came to help entertain all the little ones too!
We were so thankful that so many of our family members were able to come over from Mississippi to be there to support us: my mom, sister and Gracie, Lila, and Bryan, Jr., my brother and Gavin, Chris’s mom and dad, little brother Alfie, sister Kim and Brayden, Aunt Wanda and Uncle Greg, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Robert and cousin Abby.
I could not believe all the people who donated things for the auction! We had some really amazing items up for bids! The most humbling thing was seeing all the items given by people we knew and even some people we didn’t know. A huge thank you for your gifts: Dreamcakes, Brandi Etheredge, Amanda Maxfield, Jason Wallis, Max Ross, Atmosphere Home Essentials, Highlands Golf Course, Beth Ashton, Cory Bordonaro, Thirty One Gifts, Infinity Medi-Spa, Rashel Ross, Amanda Glover, Jenny Riddle, Silko Solutions, Lindy Lorino, Eric Chapman, Janie Walters, Sandra Arnold, Ruth Tinsley, Alison Kelly, N Vogue Spa, Sara Beth Rosser, Amber Pruitt, Haley Bragg, Senia Etheredge, Erin Moon, Josh Pigford, Tiffany Robinson, Urban Standard, Nancy Baumgartner, Lisa Benkendorfer, Steve and Teresa Kinsley, Kim Kinsley, Gail Pittman Pottery, Griffin Technology, Sarah McDonnell, Taylor Robinson, Judy McDonald, Norma Kinsley, Angela Durham, Tris Chapman, and Danielle Fisk. I sure do hope that I did not leave anyone off that list!
These are other people who I have not mentioned yet, but who are also very important because they came and/or have helped support our family through giving: Stacey and Brian Wolf, Harris and Stewart McCloud, Judy and Randy McDonald, Isabel and Chris Silko, Cindy and Chris Talbird, Pat Long, Betsy Sidwell, Thanasis Nicolau, Chris and Kaley Wood, Brad and Laurabeth Barnett, Jonathan and Amy Whitt, Dave and Kim Rhodes, Josh and Ashley Pigford, Katie Tobias, Danny and Amy Mendel, Chad Post, Virginia Ramsey, Tracie Davis, Natalie Stone, George and Jenny Wiley, and Shelby and Allen Hammer. Not to mention all the hosts and family members that were there!
See what I mean! Benefit! Wow, our family is beyond blessed to have each of you as part of our community. Thank you for being a huge part of helping us add to our family through adoption. And we are $3560.91 closer to bringing Haven home! Unbelievable!
We really appreciate each one of you and steps you are taking to help us on our journey. We cherish your continued prayers as we truck through this process!
So yeah, benefit, we did in oh so many ways! We benefited from your friendships and gifts. We can’t wait to tell Haven all about the people who helped bring him or her home!