On Fundraising and How I Don't Know How to Say Thank You

I don't know how to say "thank you". I mean, yeah, I know how to say the words "thank you" and when to use them appropriately but I really don't know how to mean it. Don't get me wrong, I sincerely mean it when I tell people thank you for buying a water bottle, thank you for running alongside with me, thank you for sponsoring miles, thank you for praying for us...

It just seems so inadequate...
Like, not enough...
The words come out of my mouth or are typed out of Facebook but don't seem to convey our gratitude enough.

What I really want to do is have a blubbery shoulder cry and hug everyone that has donated, shared our posts, running, etc. But the PNW has this some sort of unspoken need for personal space that I don't want to accept or get used to...I like hugging. Don't worry, we will make up for the hugging when we go back to TN in a few weeks.

Ya'll...it is hard asking for help. It is a huge pride thing and not to mention embarrassing. We are putting it out there, bluntly, and saying we don't have it all together. We don't have the answers. We don't know how this is going to work out.

But, ohmygosh, we have been seriously blown away by the response of people. We decided to go into this whole idea of fundraising with no expectations. Ideas may flop...items may not sell...and we have to be ok with that.

But really...these are the coolest water bottles...and I'm not just saying that because they are mine...well, maybe I am.

I can't move people's hearts. I can only write things, post running selfies, pray that someone is inspired. I can't compel anyone to respond...only God can do that.

So when we say "thank you", although it may come across awkward, please, please know it is out of the most humbling gratitude knowing we can't do this alone...we can't do this without you.

"Thank you" for joining us on this journey!


“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it's wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love