A Puzzle for Leah

Without knowing that we planned to begin a new fundraiser this week, my friend Hannah sent me this sweet question: "Do you still need help by using your amazon and coffee links? Are there any other ways that we can financially help to bring Leah home and take care of what y'all need for her when she arrives?"

Yes, and yes!

When we began the adoption process, Greg and I committed to shouldering as much of our adoption costs as we can. But we knew we would need help. We have been doing fundraising in various ways, including our Amazon and Just Love Coffee links to the right, which we do hope you will continue using! We have also teamed up with another adopting family (and some wonderful volunteer friends!) in our church to make and sell freezer meals locally. We have received generous donations from family and friends. In addition, we were awarded an adoption grant from a wonderful organization called Show Hope. (If you are interested in learning more about Show Hope, purchasing one of their cute t-shirts, or donating toward adoption grants, please visit their website by clicking here.) We are so thankful for the outpouring of support through all of these avenues!

The end of the adoption process is actually where most of the expenses fall, largely due to travel costs and legal costs to finalize the adoption. We have decided to put together a puzzle for Leah. Some of you may have seen this type of fundraiser before, but if you haven't, let me explain.

• We start with a 513-piece jigsaw puzzle.
• You can sponsor a piece of the puzzle by donating to our adoption fund.
• 1 puzzle piece = $10 minimum donation.
• Sponsor a piece as a family, or have each family member sponsor a piece individually!
• As the pieces are sponsored, we will write the donor's name on the back of the piece and assemble the puzzle.
• Once the puzzle is complete, we will frame it in a double-sided glass frame and hang it in Leah's room! It will be a permanent reminder of how many people came together to bring her home.

Our dear friend Melissa created a beautiful design for Leah's puzzle:

Isn't it amazing?! The Chinese character is the symbol for love, and the yellow heart is the approximate location of where Leah is from. I LOVE it and can't wait to see it come together!!

Here are the ways you can contribute:

• Click on the Donate button on the right sidebar and pay securely through PayPal.
• Under "add special instructions to recipient," please list the name(s) we should write on the puzzle piece(s).
• If you prefer to hand-deliver or mail your donation, that is fine too. Contact me (yoyoburke[at]yahoo[dot]com) if you need our address.
• If you would like to receive a tax deduction, particularly if you are considering making a larger donation, you can donate to the adoption fund at our church. Again, just contact me for the church's name and address.

We are particularly excited for Peter, Thomas, and Ruthie to see this fundraiser. It is one thing to tell them that our family and friends are helping us bring Leah home, but this way they can actually visualize it happening.

So thank you, Hannah, for your very thoughtful question, and thank you to all of you who have wondered the same thing and helped support us thus far. If you feel led to do so, please help us share this fundraiser with friends, family, facebook, etc. Keep an eye on the blog for updates on how the puzzle is coming together!