Every Heart Has a Story

Monday, November 15, 2010

Help For A Friend

Remember that friend from grade school who always made you laugh...laugh to the point where milk was coming out of your nose?  Well, that was my friend Courtney.  Courtney was everything you could want in an elementary school friend...she was kind, she was intelligent, she wore cool clothes and had a pool in her backyard!  Of course, what was important then isn't quite as important now!  Courtney and I have been friends since the 3rd grade when I transferred from a Catholic school to the neighborhood public school.  Courtney and I remained friends through the awful junior high years, lost touch a bit through high school, but re-connected in college.  I even had the pleasure to room with her our junior year!  I can't remember the last time I laughed as much as I did that year!  Now 10 years out of college, Courtney and I still get a chance to chat once in a while.  While she has been very busy raising three little boys, she has been there every step of the way with Lily.  Courtney has supported us in every fundraiser that we have done for congenital heart defect awareness.  Put simply, Courtney has a heart of gold.  Now it is my turn to help her...

Courtney and her family have decided to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia to give her a chance at a better life.  The expenses to adopt a child from Ethiopia exceed $25,000!  Courtney and her family have started a blog to journal about their adoption experience.  They have also set up several fundraisers to help defray the travel expenses to and from Ethiopia.

The family is currently selling t-shirts.  The cost is $10.  If you are interested leave a comment on her blog.

In January there will be a bean bag tournament held at Courtside.  The cost is $10 per person.

All coffee lovers:  There is a link on Courtney's blog to a website that sells coffee.  For each bag of coffee you buy, the family will receive $5.

If you link to Courtney's blog, there is also a donation site through PayPal!

Whatever child is chosen for Courtney and her family, she will be one lucky little girl!  She will grow up surrounded by love and three older brothers who will protect her.  Lastly, please say a little prayer that all things go smoothly!

http://smithethiopianadoptiondubuque.blogspot.com/

2 comments:

  1. Jesi...this is one on the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. I am so truly thankful! It seems like so long ago when we first became friends...we have been through alot since then! You know I am always here for you and I know you are there for me. Tonight, I am saying a prayer thanking God for friends like you.

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  2. Jesi and Courtney,

    Jed (my husband) and I had the pleasure to attend "A Night With The Chapman's" concert in Davenport a few weeks ago. Long story short, Steve Curtis Chapman is a contemporary Christian artist who has adopted 3 little girls from China with his wife, Mary Beth. Tragically, in 2008 one of their adopted daughters was taken to Jesus. Through all of the tragedy and loss, beautiful and wonderful things have happened. One of the things that came from that cloud of darkness was their orphan adoption organization. One of the things they do is offer financial assistance to families in the process of adopting. Here is the website if you are interested in looking up more information. Best of luck in your adoption adventure Courtney and you are right, you can ALWAYS count on Jesi to be there for you no matter what! She is one in a million :-)

    http://www.showhope.org/AdoptionAid/AdoptionGrants.aspx

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