49th Annual Blossoms 2013 - More Love to Give

Never did I think I would survive! However, I did more than survive. A few words come to mind to express this event...successful, amazing, touching, beautiful, and I could keep going. It was one of the most amazing events that I've been a part of in my entire life. On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, I co-chaired Gladney Center for Adoption's 49th Annual Blossoms Event.

Edna Gladney is a woman of perserverance, passion, independence, love, strength, and dignity. More than anything she had an undying devotion to a cause that was greater than herself...children. She always had "More Love to Give". At Blossoms, I had the opportunity to share my day and passion for Gladney and children with so many other wonderful people.

My main responsibility for the event was organizing the Bazaar. I contacted vendors, organized the vendors that participated, kept in continuous contact with them prior to and all through the event, designed the layout of the room/tables, coordinated with hotel staff, coordinated with caterer for vendors' lunch, Thank You gifts and cards, and so much more. As I mentioned before I wasn't sure if I would survive because co-chairing this event was in addition to working full-time, family obligations, and so much more. However, I survived and triumphed.

It was a joyous moment when Tuesday morning arrived. I finally met these business women I had been corresponding with for months. After spending so much time with them and getting to know each woman individually, I believe each one embodies so many of Edna Gladney character traits. They are passionate, kind, strong, independent, and so much more. All of these businesses took time out of their busy schedules to support our event. Each one of them expressed their "Thanks" to me, but I was the one that was honored and happy because the time I spent with them was enjoyable and I was sharing my passion with them as well.

The luncheon was amazing and the food itself was beautiful. The fashion show was successful, and we even had a few surprises...an aerialist in the beginning of the show and an electric fiddle at the end. Scot and Madilyn were both in the fashion show and we all had an amazing time.



Of course none of this would have come to fruition without my co-chair Carol Perry (on the right with our emcee Gloria Campos), and committee members such as Robyn Charles (The Leslie Amend Award Winner), and Gladney Staff: Wendy Lee, Nonya Jordan, and Susanna Coldiron just to name a few people. Thank you to all of Gladney Staff and Board of Directors for making the event possible!!

Scot and I are definitely blessed every day that we wake up and see Madilyn's beautiful smile. We are reminded of her birth mother's courage and how she has entrusted her child to us. We continue to keep our promise to her birth mother that Madilyn will be a responsible, loving adult one day that will contribute to society in a positive way, and she will know she is loved by all of the people that have touched her life and have given her life in more than one way.