Giving Thanks...Adoption Fundraiser Update

Saturday was a flurry of activity:
To bed on Friday night at 1:30 am, awake at 4:40 Saturday morning.
Begin setting up at 5 am and shoppers starting come at 7 am Saturday morning

We saw the Lord answer countless prayers and are so grateful to everyone who helped us in countless ways.
Here are some answers to prayers:

* Between items sold, generous people contributing toward our adoption and selling our Change Your World For One designed shirts, the Lord brought in $5,375 which all goes directly toward the remaining costs associated with our adoption of our son Hudson.

* People understood why we were doing this and thus didn't barter much. They were excited to buy stuff that they needed, especially knowing that it was helping an orphan and his family get united. Several people even paid more than the cost of the items...absolutely unheard of in the world of garage/yard sales.

* When we left our house at 5:00 am, it was beginning to rain. (First rain in probably 3 weeks) As we set up, put tables out, the weather was extremely threatening, but it cleared up and turned out to be a fabulous day. Not too hot, not to cold...it was perfect.

* Tons of helpers. We are so blessed to know and be loved by the greatest people in the world. If you ever decide to do an event like this, make sure you are surrounded by people who would die for you...and blister for you. There were several families who were at the Sale all day long and got very tired, hungry, sore, and they continued to serve in the strength & joy of the Lord. A special thanks to our growth group/community group from church who have given so much as we have gone down this road of adoption!!!

* Tons of items to sell. There was no shortage of items to sell. Tables after table after table after table of stuff to sell. We had a steady stream of helpers who would move things around, rearrange items, and helped customers.

* People who came to the sale. There was steady activity from 7:30 am through 3 pm and people still came between 3 and 5 pm. Seeing that we are toward the end of summer, we were wondering if we'd get people because a lot of people would be getting their last summer activities taken care of before school starts. There was somewhere between 500 and 800 people who came to this sale.

* Location of the sale. My broker's at Windermere were extremely gracious to use their building and parking lot for the sale. In real estate, the phrase 'location, location, location' is used regularly...same is true for a big sale like this.

* The church across the street that was having a HUGE Rummage sale at the same time...so that boosted the activity. When we chose the date of the sale (about 2 months ago) we had no idea of this. Friendly surprise and the Lord answering prayer before we even were praying for it.

* WE SOLD A LOT OF STUFF. When the sale was over, we only had about 1/8 of the items to pack up and move back to our house.

* Union Gospel Mission volunteered to come and pick up the items that didn't sell.

* There was only 1 big heavy item that didn't sell...which at the beginning of the sale, there were about 8 big heavy items. There was 1 lady who said she would have bought it, but it couldn't fit in her house...but SHE GAVE US $80 to put toward our adoption. Amazing.