2012 Families

When God gave us the vision of One Less over a year ago, we didn't really know any other actively adopting couples. We knew of, and have since talked to, several couples that have adoption on their hearts, but, at the time, knew of none that had quite reached the place where it was becoming a reality for them.

I remember Mitch and I talking about how weird it was that God had given us this clear vision to help other adopting families...and yet we knew none.  We even talked about who in the world we were going to give scholarship money to in 2012. Would we have to place an ad??.... "BENEFIT RACE SEEKING BENEFICIARY".

I had this big dream in the back of my head (that I pretty much kept to myself) that Boerne would have a global explosion at some point, and we, as a community, would get to witness families bringing children home from all over the world. But, it stayed in my head because honestly, it seemed a little unreachable.

How things have changed in just a few short months.......

Meet the Menn Family...

Shane, Stephanie, Cannon, Hartlee, and Sutherlin

In February I heard from a mutual friend that the Menn Family was just beginning the process of adopting a little one from Ethiopia and that they lived right here in Boerne!!
My first thought was a selfish one...."yippee!! My kid can have a friend that looks kind of like him! I mean, I know Uganda and Ethiopia are pretty different, but I'm pretty sure they are much more similar than Uganda and Boerne." I even began arranging play dates in my head. (I hadn't even met the Menns yet). Once I stopped thinking about myself, I got even more excited because I knew we could help them through One Less! I since have gotten to know Stephanie a little better and know that they are going to make amazing parents to this child, whoever he may be (and I am really looking forward to those play dates that she doesn't really even know about yet....)

{Please click on the tab at the top to learn more about the Menn Family and their road to adoption!!}


Meet the Baker Family...

Aaron, Maren, Faith and Ava Hope

A few short days after I heard about the Menns, some of our closest and most precious friends began their journey to adoption as well. We have known Aaron and Maren Baker for several years now and have been fortunate enough to watch their little family grow and are so in love with every single member of it. The Bakers felt God calling them to adopt a little one from Columbia and have just begun the process. They are some of the most genuine and loving people I know and it has been such an honor to see them step out in obedience to God's call on their lives. I'm pretty sure we would sell a car to help them get their third child, but since we kind of need our cars, we are so happy to be able to give them a One Less scholarship.

{Please click on the tab at the top to learn more about the Baker Family and their story.} 

Please help these families bring home the children God has chosen for them. 

You can help by registering to run this race or by becoming a sponsor. 

I really don't think the idea of a global Boerne should be kept a secret in my crazy head any longer. Help us take one step closer to it by bringing these children home from Ethiopia and Columbia!! 
Be a part of One Less 2012!!

Did you know?

• There are more than 147 million orphans in the world today. That number does NOT include abandoned or trafficked children.

• In 2011, the orphans of the world could have ranked NINTH in the World Population Rankings

• Every day 5,760 more children become orphans in Africa alone

• Worldwide, orphans spend an average of 10 years in orphanages and foster homes. 300 million of those children are subjected to violence, exploitation, and abuse.

• Many of the children who grow up as orphans are trapped in a life of poverty and crime and never know the love of a family.

So....where is the good news?

God has a solution to the orphan crisis......YOU!!

“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of the orphan.”  

Isaiah 1:17

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9

 Not everyone is called to adopt, but ANYONE can love and minister to orphans whether through orphan care or through adoption. 

That is what ONE LESS 2012 is about. 

Come be a part of bringing a child home to a loving and forever family. 

You won’t want to miss this special day!!

Register NOW!!!!
Groups of 5 or more get a 10% discount!!!

new logo and needed help

Hey Friends!!

Check out the updated logo, version 2012, up top!! Snazzy, no?

And now on to the real reason for this post...

The plans for the race are rocking and rolling, but we CAN NOT see it to completion without you!!

Over 40 different lovely people helped us last year, from set up to face painting, to filling up cups with water and handing out race packets....

just a sampling of the incredible friends we had help in 2011

 AND WE NEED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AGAIN!!!

Below is a link to a Volunteer Sign Up site that has every position we need filled, the times you would need to be there, and how many spots we need for that position. If you want to have the best time of your life (I am in no way over selling this) then PLEASE sign up!!!

SIGN UP TO HELP HERE

When you sign up, please enter your t-shirt size in under the comment section on your RSVP. We will be ordering the volunteer shirts as soon as we can so you can start wearing them and advertising for us ASAP!! :)

WE ALSO need SPONSORS!!! We are working through a non-profit organization which allows all sponsor donations to be tax- deductible.  As a sponsor you will have your name on the runners' shirts as well as the opportunity to display signage at the race itself. But even more importantly....you get the opportunity to help bring a child home!!

If you are interested in sponsoring this event or know of someone who is, please contact us at oneless5k@yahoo.com.


Haven't registered for the race yet either??? Well GET ON IT!!! Early pricing will end soon!!

REGISTER HERE

We're baaaaaaaack !!!

One Less 2012 is here!!! 

 Time to Register!!

Early bird specials for those registering before April 1! Do it NOW!!!

Time to Sponsor!!!

Would you or your business be willing to sponsor the One Less and help bring an orphan home? Contact us please!!

Want more deets? Check out all the tabs at the top! It's going to be a blast people! You don't want to miss out!! 

One Month ago.....

May 14 was an incredible day. 

But, let me rewind a bit first. To March 14. When we only had 15 runners signed up. And the idea of losing money on the race was a very big possibility. We were in over our heads. We had never done anything remotely like this before. 

Now, don't get me wrong, it was a LOT of fun to organize and design and purchase things for the race.  But, what did we get ourselves into? 

AND....what was God thinking asking us to do it year after year? 

Would we have enough people for this to even be considered a race?

Would we have people willing to donate food, water, TIME to help us?

Would this be successful.....or a big fat flop?

I have to admit there were times when the only thing that made me stay faithful to this endeavor was knowing that there was no possible way to back out. But Mitch, being the rock that he always is, had the resolve I didn't always and knew God would prove faithful.

And He did. God did some amazing things in those next few months. He orchestrated every detail perfectly and on the morning of May 14, we had 142 runners, plenty of delicious food and water, over 50 volunteers,  a beautiful and well organized park, and an average temperature of 73 degrees (say what?? this is Texas after all and that is not that common).  

For me, May 14 was one of those moments in life where you feel God's presence and provision so heavily over you, it leaves you speechless. And longing for more.

It was a good day.

We ended up raising a little over $4,000 (on top of what was needed to fund the race itself). That number is not a mind blowing figure, and we still have a long way to reach our goal. But, considering there were moments when we thought we might not break even, it is an over abundance of our meager expectations. God is good. And He provides. Abundantly. 

We learned a ton. We got some things right on, and we got some things dead wrong. And now we know. So that future races (which other adoptive families will benefit) will run more smoothly and hopefully just get bigger and bigger. We have witnessed God's faithfulness and can't wait to see Him do it again and again.

Thank you to those of you who gave of your money and time. We were blessed by each of you and are grateful for your love. And please know that you helped us move several steps closer to bringing our own child home.

For those of you that haven't already seen this, it is a video of a collection of pics and video from the day of the race. I hope you enjoy it :)

Look for updates here around February of 2012 for the new and improved 2nd Annual One Less 5k/3k/ and possible 10k :)

Registration is STILL OPEN!!

Hello last minute friends!! :)

Our registration website had the registration date set as May 6 (last Friday)!!! Yikes!!! And for some reason, it won't let me change it!!

I am still trying to figure it out, but if you have come here because you want to register, PLEASE PLEASE email me and I can get your info and get you signed up without using Active.com!!!

Our email is oneless5k@yahoo.com

Please, don't let this minor computer glitch keep you from coming out on Saturday!! It's going to be a great day, I know it!!!!

Extended Discount

One more day to register under the discounted price!!!!

Hurry!! Hurry!! Hurry!!!

Click on the Register NOW button up top!!

(if this was a television commercial I would be wearing a white suit and yelling in the middle of a furniture store..."Time, Time, Time is running out!!")