I finally have some time to sit down and write a post to update on the outcome of the yard sale. Now that we can finally park in our garage again and life is semi back to normal. I could have done it sooner, I'm sure....but I wasn't sure what all to say. So, this will be my attempt at explaining just how big and strong and mighty our God is.
You know the kids song....
"Our God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing our God can not do!"
I've always believed that song, and had fun singing it with my kids, but boy, did He prove Himself much bigger, stronger, and mightier than my mind can fathom the weekend of our yard sale.
We got started with this idea for a yard sale fundraiser after I read a few adoption blogs that suggested it...most said it was their biggest fundraiser (up to $2,000). That sounded awesome to us, so we started asking people for donations.
And donations we got. So many donations, Eddy decided it would be nice to make $4,000. I still thought $2,000 sounded like a lot.
We were overwhelmed with the amount of donations. Thankful, but very overwhelmed. We tried to keep things orderly and have a little bit of an idea as to what we were storing in our garage. But when it got to the point that we had to start storing things in our basement, then in a shed beside the church, then asking people to keep things at their house until the day of the yard sale...we kind of lost track...we really had no idea what we were going to find when we unpacked all of it for the sale.
(I did know there was a very scary clown mask and a stuffed monkey that shrieked so loud when you squeezed it that it made Quincey cry....I will admit, it was kind of fun sorting through those boxes.)
Anyway...the day before the yard sale, we started taking loads of STUFF to the church.
LOADS AND LOADS.
We had so many people come help with setting up. It was awesome. They were awesome. We really couldn't have done it without every single person who came and helped.
We started unpacking things around 1:30 on Thursday. We had everything set up and ready to go by 9:30 or 10:00 that night....I cant remember for sure...I was delirious by that time. Eddy slept at the church that night on a couch that was for sale. Good nights sleep, I'm sure.
My mom took our kids home for a sleepover, which was awesome, considering I had to get up way early the next morning to be at the church and they would have been a little scary to wake up bright and early after such a long day.
So the morning of the yard sale...people again...show up to help. I cannot say enough about our friends and family who showed their support by offering their time, baking skills, muscle, and whatever else we needed.
We truly are very blessed to have each and every one of you in our lives.
We started the yard sale at 8am, praying with a group of friends beforehand that the day would be successful, fun and that God would be glorified. And from then until at least noon there was not a break. We had a huge line of people most of the morning waiting to pay for their things. I went into this thing doubting that we were going to be able to make it worth it, worried that about what in the world we were going to do with all of this STUFF. By the end of the day Friday (it was a whirlwind of a day), we were exhausted. I was sad that I didn't get to have any of the amazing cupcakes from our bake stand, but glad they sold out.
(My very thoughtful aunt sacrificed one that she bought and brought it to me the next day though!)
We started cleaning up and counting up money.
And I had to ask God to forgive me for doubting and worrying. For underestimating His ability to provide. For not really relying on His faithfulness. For not being able to trust in just how big He really is.
When the money was all counted up...we were shocked. Wayyy more than what we had hoped for. Like thousands more. And by the end of the next day...even a few more thousands more. So many people went above and beyond in giving. It took days for it to sink in and realize just how much God showed up at that yard sale (or flea market, as some people were calling it.)
We were amazed, overwhelmed, and just so speechless...hence the lack of updates on the yard sale until now. God used that yard sale for more than a fundraiser. It was a faith builder for us. To see Him provide in a way like that was just awesome. To realize just how much He wants to bless this was amazing. God used it to touch other people's lives. We heard from numerous people how He revealed something in their life when they saw this huge thing...a community coming together to help with one family's call to adopt. It touched people...people who don't attend church. People who aren't a part of something like what we have at Freedom Fellowship. A church family. God uses things for so much more than we can see.
We came away from the yard sale much closer (almost half way) to our goal for funding this adoption. We also came away from it with changed hearts. Seeing the generosity of people, seeing their excitement to be a part of this...to get this child home, made us want to be more generous. God stirred in our hearts to give more toward things like this.
Like I said before...I went into this doubting. I walked away from it with a much clearer picture of just how much God is in control and a heart full of trust and dependence on Him. He got us half way there in two days. I am not worried about the other half. He will provide.
My favorite part about the entire thing is the fact that in no way can we take credit for any of it. God led us to adopt. He blessed this fundraiser. He provided. He proved himself....His sovereignty. He was glorified. He was made much of. Exactly the way it should be. Nothing that we did or have done or will do made this happen. He brought us to this place and
HE MADE HIMSELF SHINE.
The Mighty One, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 50:1&2
We are trusting Him to continue leading us through this adoption process. We really have no idea what we are doing! Each step is new to us. But it is such a comfort to know that He sees the end. He sees our third child in our arms, running and playing with their brother and sister. He sees the hard times it will bring and the good times.
And it is good to know that we can trust Him in all of it.
lemonade stand!
earrings!
awesome friends!
my sister and cousin manning the lemonade stand!
our garage getting emptied out the morning of the sale!
flea market!
two cute helpers!
more stuff!
yes...there were bunnies at the yard sale...and we somehow ended up bringing two home.
lemonade man!
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
1 Chronicles 29:11&12
