Saturday night, Erin and I spoke at the annual fundraising banquet for LifeCare, the crisis pregnancy center that supported Dawson's birth mom. As much as I didn't want to, several times I did exactly what I knew I'd do while talking, I broke down in tears. Afterwards, a lady came up and told me "it takes a real man to do what you did."
The night was a collection of skits illustrating all the ways in which LifeCare serves those facing a difficult pregnancy. The final skit was about our adoption. It was a little weird to see myself portrayed on stage and "Donnie" even had a small mullet. At the end of this reenactment of Dawson's adoption, Dawson's birth mom, Brianna was introduced to the crowd. Of course, she cried pretty hard while explaining how hard it was/ is but that she knew she made the right choice. Brianna got TWO standing ovations, when she was first introduced and when she was finished talking.
Then the three of us got onstage and shared our story. I did make it through, I just had to stop several times to regain my composure. I HATE showing emotion in public, being that vulnerable is very uncomfortable, but I just couldn't help it. It all started about 15 minutes before we were scheduled to get up and talk, when they put up a picture of an aborted baby with the quote from Dr. Suess, "a person's a person no matter how small." Everyone was quite surprised when we shared how God spoke through Horton the Elephant (Suess' character), telling us to adopt Dawson.
The night was a collection of skits illustrating all the ways in which LifeCare serves those facing a difficult pregnancy. The final skit was about our adoption. It was a little weird to see myself portrayed on stage and "Donnie" even had a small mullet. At the end of this reenactment of Dawson's adoption, Dawson's birth mom, Brianna was introduced to the crowd. Of course, she cried pretty hard while explaining how hard it was/ is but that she knew she made the right choice. Brianna got TWO standing ovations, when she was first introduced and when she was finished talking.
Then the three of us got onstage and shared our story. I did make it through, I just had to stop several times to regain my composure. I HATE showing emotion in public, being that vulnerable is very uncomfortable, but I just couldn't help it. It all started about 15 minutes before we were scheduled to get up and talk, when they put up a picture of an aborted baby with the quote from Dr. Suess, "a person's a person no matter how small." Everyone was quite surprised when we shared how God spoke through Horton the Elephant (Suess' character), telling us to adopt Dawson.
I had been trying to think of the right way to say "thank-you" to LifeCare. I'm so glad we were able to share our story. I have a feeling that our tearful stories moved people to giving more than they'd originally planned.
My little Horton is sleeping in the bouncy-seat setting on top of my desk as I write this. 2 1/2 months into this and I still get teary eyed with joy when thinking about the wonderful gift given by both God and Brianna.
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The Lenexa Kansas Chapter of the Nazarene Revolutionary Guard has declared a Holiness Jihad on all Theological Seminaries who refuse to stand firm on the traditional beliefs of our beloved denomination.
We declare Jihad on the evil organization known as Naznet. These heretics are causing theological havoc in our holiness tradition, and must be stopped.
Our elite Nazbollah Undercover Seals Units have intercepted conversations between the leaders of Naznet, NTS hierarchy, and the pontifical proletariat in Lenexa. The news is not good. We suspect a major operation soon by Naznet terrorists with the support of an unknown GS from the WMC in Lenexa.
Viva la Holiness! Viva la Revolution! Viva la Nazarene Revolutionary Guard!
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