The Real Deal

I want to be transparent on this journey.

My mind swims as I read situation after situation of birth moms who are choosing to give their child life. Today, my heart aches. It literally aches. The tears are hot in the corners of my eyes. I pray at work that no one looks me straight in the eye. My heart is breaking. I see papers with a name of a mom who is carrying a baby to term. Only to give someone like us the opportunity to love, raise and parent the child she has carried. The baby she has felt move in her stomach when she is trying to sleep. The baby who might kick her in the ribs when they need more room. The baby who she has got to reach down and rub for months. The baby who gets the hiccups at the oddest of hours. The baby she has most likely seen the face of on an ultrasound. The baby who she will soon her it's first cry.

I read a situation last week where Mom found out at 24 weeks she was pregnant. When she was told the news, she was going to have an abortion. But she was too far along. So, she is choosing to let someone adopt her sweet baby. I wept over her. For her honesty. For Gods timing. For this baby who she is choosing to gift to someone. For this life that will now be breathing the same air as us. For this child who will live. Mom's name will forever be on my lips in prayer.

Will you join with us as we journey this out?

You see, it's not just "getting a baby".

It's "giving a life".

A life to a child who might otherwise end up an orphan.

Or worse yet, might not be given the chance to live.

We wrote the following paragraph in the closing of our profile that each Mom will see as she carefully makes some huge decisions:

"We will speak honorably of you in our home and to our child. We pray for you, birth mother, often. Each night our children lay down with us to pray, please know we are already lifting you and this baby up to the Lord. We are praying safety and health. We are praying for you to believe in us, to trust us to walk this life with this child. And we will continue to pray for you and speak of you over the years both privately and publicly. We will let our child know that he/she is adopted and loved, but that adoption simply means they were “chosen”. Chosen by you to allow us into their lives. Chosen by us to love and raise them the best we know how. It will be our honor to love and raise this precious gift."

Will you whisper prayers for the Birth Moms who I am discovering are all around us. The brave women who choose life for their babies. And then they make an even greater sacrifice after birth and let someone pick up the torch and run the rest of the race. 

#bringhomebabyhenderson

Whispered Prayers

We had planned at our kitchen table all the logistics a month beforehand. 

Tents. 

Fanny Packs. 

Donuts. 

Colorful signs. 

Refreshments. 

Unloading crew. 

Tear down crew. 

My husband and I had traveled from Sandhills to Gilbert 

picking loads of items up and squeezing them in our trucks. 

For weeks. 

(Let's just say, he might have wanted to say some choice words to me. 

I don't know. Well, I do know. He ain't a yard sale person, y'all).

Then the weather man began to crush our hopes. 

100% chance of rain. 

ON the day of the sale. 

You see, deep down, I had whispered the amount $2,000 in my heart. 

But my mind kept saying "$1,000 is good." 

And the rain just sealed the deal for me. 

Maybbeeeee we would squeeze out $1,000.
Heck, it's $1000 more than we started with. 

But as I looked around a few Saturday mornings ago, I saw such determination. 

Determination from the students from our churches discipleship school. 

They were hustling before I even got there. 

They were dragging out tables, rolling out garment racks, sorting items, 

strolling out baby equipment. 

Determination from my circle, my village, my friends. 

They were wearing their fanny packs and making change. 

They were giving out prices and bringing in the money. 

Answering random question, after random question.  

Sorting things to make the chaos look better after people had rifled through stuff.

Wiping the rain and the sweat off and pushing through.  

Determination from you sweet people who showed up to buy things. 

Some of you at 5am, you crazy animals! 

A few of you told us we were selling things too low and 

would just hand us the extra money they had planned to spend. 

Determination from the adoptive friends who had connected locally through social media. 

Who stopped by to support this new-to-the-adoption world Momma. 

All. In. The. Rain.  

It was a lot of work, sweat and grossness by the end of that weekend. 

But you all renewed my hope in the goodness of this world. 

We all want to tangibly touch something good. 

We want to be a part. 

And The Henderson's wanted to thank each of you for giving of 

your kids toys and bikes, offering us your couches and lamps, 

bunk beds and kitchen tables, 

old story books and new in the package products. 

Thank you to those who worked. 

Those who wore sweat stains for days. 

Those who bought so that we could have.  

You sweet folks helped us add $2018 to the #bringhomebabyhenderson fund. 

I cannot believe I ever had a doubt! 

"For let us not grow weary of doing good, 

for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." 

Galatians 6:9

Adoption Auction Sneak Peek

Our Instagram Adoption Auction is happening this Wednesday & Thursday!! 

But I just couldn't wait until tomorrow.

I had to share a sneak peek at some of the shops you'll see in the auction. 

Do some window shopping and get ready to bid! 

Thank you in advance for being a part of this fundraiser for growing our family!! 

Bidding will start as soon as items are posted on Wednesday, April 15th at 9AM EST. 

Bidding will close promptly at 9PM EST on Thursday, April 16th.

Read to the bottom of this post for how to win a TARGET GIFT CARD!!!! 

@nspottery

@white_peach_shop

@naptimediaries

@loriwilhite

@michellemyers

@crosstrainingcouture

@mrstiffanycooper

@melodyjoydesigns

@lpattis 

@albionfit

@molliedyan

@wanderinglovely

@deaira_robbins

@somethingbeautifulshop

@lrobbins11

@campmoxie

@jenniferjacobson

@keeferstylecreations2225

@littlegypsyfinery

@megshull

@mommainpearls

@jessiesavanna

@leighhl

@tbcknoxville

@dunnecrew

@mommacone1

@kelsbomb21

@kmatwood

@mommapolk

@wynneelder

@madeonacornhill


Share either of these images on IG 
between now and April 16th at 9pm est, 
using the hashtag #bringhomebabyhenderson 
and you'll be entered to win a $25 Target gift card.

April Showers .... Bring May Babies ... Maybe

Overloaded yet?

Yeah, me too J

But, let’s make a deal.

I’ll bombard you for the whole month of April.

We get a baby in record time.

And I leave you alone. Deal? Deal!

You know ... except for all the parts where I’m gonna need your help with the diapering and the bathing and sitting of “said baby” from time to time!

(And don’t be fooled, I really won’t leave you alone until baby is in our arms and we have raised all the funds necessary: one way or another!)

So, let's be honest and open with each other. 

Here’s what happening. 

And here’s why my head, and yours, might explode. 

(And if you are simply over seeing our awesome posts, simply get rid of me from all your social media platforms quietly ... so I don’t cry myself to sleep!)

Let's make April HUGE. Here's the details you need to know: 

April 1st – April 30^th : 

Shirt Campaign www.bringhomebabyhenderson.bigcartel.com #bringhomebabyhenderson is on the back collar. You want one. Trust me. 

April 11^th: 

Twenty Family Yard Sale : 7am-1pm : 2700 Bush River Road, Columbia : Donate your time, muscles or items. We will need help the day before and day of with LOTS of jobs. 

April 15^th-16^th : 

Instagram Auction : Follow me at @onejoy : I promise you will WANT to get these items : You have one more week to donate any items from you or your small business : 100% proceeds go to little babe.

April 26^th : 

Mommy & Me Stella & Dot Trunk Show : 5:30-7:30: Pro Photographer and Everything : Ask me if you want an invitation & haven't got one yet : coryandjoy@gmail.com

All Month: 

Scentsy: http://scentsbysavannah.scentsy.us Select Bring Home Baby Henderson : For every $100 ordered, we get $25 PLUS 20% total commission. Come on y'all, make your house smell good AND help us out. 

In May:

There will be a benefit dinner and silent auction. Location, Date, and Time TBA. My peeps are on it. 

Ongoing: 

www.gofundme.com/coryandjoy

Mail donations to: ATTN: Cory Henderson : 2700 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29210