Sunday, May 1, 2016

Thank You!

This may be a little overdue, but better late than never!!!  The Zacharias family just wanted to post how thankful we are for being able to host the 3rd Annual Orphan Love Run (Back in NOVEMBER 2015!!) and how thankful we are for all of the sponsors, participants, and volunteers who helped make it possible!!!

On January 18, 2016, we were in Changsha, China meeting our little girl, Lucee, for the first time. We spent the next week and a half finishing up the paperwork process and bonding with her until we were able to bring her home at the end of January.   Over the past 3 1/2 months of having her with us, we have watched her blossom and grow so much!  Looking back to the beginning of the adoption process (about a 1 1/2 ago) we are blown away how God was preparing us and her for each other and brought us together in such a special way.

Adoption (especially from an international country) can be very expensive and that was one of the reasons we were hesitant at first, but we felt God reminding us that He would take care of everything.  He used the Orphan Love Run, as well as many other avenues, to provide everything we have needed financially for this adoption.

Thanks again!
With Love,
Ben, Brandee, Noah, Gavin, Lilee, and Lucee Zacharias!



Friday, November 13, 2015

Less than 24 hrs!!

We are excited to see you all at the 3rd Annual Orphan Love Run!  

Where?
Apex Community Church  
5200 Far Hills Ave. Kettering, OH 45429 
Click here for directions

When?
If you have registered already, please come between 8:20 and 8:40AM in order to get your runner packet and timing chip.  
If you haven't registered yet, please come between 8-8:30AM in order to fill out the registration form and pay the registration fee ($25).  Cash and Check are preferred. However, we will have a Square to take credit card payments.  

The 5K race will begin at 9AM in the front lot of the Apex Parking lot.

Parking?
- You may park anywhere in the Apex Community Church parking lot, except for the front lot where the start line is. 

Other:
At the finish line, we will have Bill's Donuts, bananas, granola bars, coffee and water for participants!  

Bundle up the kiddos if you are bringing them, as it will be a chilly morning. :) 
 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ben and Brandee Zacharias by emailing us at bringluceehome@gmail.com 

We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!



Tuesday, October 27, 2015

3rd Annual Orphan Love Run/Walk

Join us for the 
3rd Annual Orphan Love Run/Walk
November 14, 2015 
Starting Line is in Apex Community Church parking lot @ 9:00 AM

Click here to register online... Registration: $25
Registration also available on the morning of the race at 8am.

Proceeds from the 5K registrations will support the adoption of a 4 yr old girl (Lucee) from the China Waiting Child program by Ben & Brandee Zacharias, which includes an orphanage donation to help continue care for the children still waiting for a forever family.   The Waiting Child program is for orphans who have special needs or are older children that typically have a harder time finding a forever family.  

Please come join us as we raise awareness for the Waiting Child locally, as well as, around the world!  Thank you in advance!
-The Zacharias Family

Friday, October 23, 2015

Thank You Sponsors!!!

Shout out to the Sponsors that we have so far for the
 3rd Annual Orphan Love Run!!!

GOLD Sponsors:
Korrect Plumbing, Heating, & Air
Precision Interior Services (937) 367-5956
Lauren Shepherd Photography

SILVER Sponsors:
Carpenter's Excavating (937) 436-1533

Thanks to: 
Bill's Donuts for providing donuts at the Finish Line!!
TCA Graphics for the T-shirts
Apex Community Church for the Location
The Bair Foundation for water bottles and Fostering Info
Speedy Feet for running the Event 
Debi Hampton for creating the T-shirt Logo!!

Thanks for making this event possible!!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Only 4 more days to register and guarantee a t-shirt!
The Orphan Love Run (walk, skip, jump, crawl, or whatever other means it takes for you to finish...)
 is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2015.  The race will begin at Apex Community church starting at 9AM!  
Walkers and strollers are welcome!!  
You do not have to register your kids. (They just will not get a timing chip or t-shirt.)

This is a 5K Benefit to support the adoption of a little girl in the China Waiting Child program by the Zacharias family.  Proceeds also contribute to a donation for an orphanage serving children with special needs in Changsha, China. 
Be sure to register for the event by October 24, 2015 to
 guarantee a shirt!  

Click here to register online.

 We look forward to seeing you there!!! 

Even if you think you can't help, there's probably a way you still can!!! If you live out of state or are unable to make it to the race, you can still participate!!!  Click here to be a satellite runner.  
Or, click here to order a t-shirt.

 

Saturday, September 12, 2015

3rd Annual Orphan Love Run!!

We are excited to announce the 3rd Annual Orphan Love Run
 is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2015. 
 The race will start at 9AM!  
Walkers and strollers are welcome!! 

This is a 5K Benefit to support the adoption of a little girl in the China Waiting Child program by the Zacharias family.  Proceeds also contribute to a donation for an orphanage serving children with special needs in Changsha, China. 
Be sure to register for the event before October 24, 2015 to
 guarantee a shirt!  

Click here to register online.
For a mail-in registration form, click on the link to the right--> 
that says Mail-in Registration.

We look forward to seeing you there!!! 

Xavier is Home!

As I sit here and think about this time last year, I'm overwhelmed with how loved we felt and also, how much has changed since then. It's hard to believe almost a year has passed since the 2014 Orphan Love Run! It was an amazing event and we hope that it impacted participants and supporters in a big way. Over 100 runners and walkers united to raise awareness for waiting children, and more specifically, to help bring Xavier home to our family. I'm happy to share that the money raised was more than enough to make the large donation to Xavier's orphanage to help care for waiting children.  The Orphan Love Run was extremely influential in us getting Xavier home.

As for our family, we were able to travel to China this past winter and on February 1st, we held Xavier in our arms for the first time! We became his mommy and daddy and he became our precious son, and baby brother to Grace and Liam. All 5 of our lives were changed forever and we can't imagine it any other way. He's been home with us for 7 months now and he is thriving! There are days that we are in the trenches of parenting and it seems like nothing special and then there are the days when we are able to look into Xavier's face and see what a miracle it is that we are a family. I often say to him "I'm your mama. I'm all yours, and we belong together". Those are truly amazing words. God knew each of our children before we knew anything about them, and we believe that He specifically made a place for Xavier in our family.

We want to thank each person and business who participated in the Orphan Love Run last year. We will be forever grateful for your love and support.