These were taken at daybreak Friday morning. About $3,000 worth of stuff had already sold the day before, and more would be delivered throughout the weekend.
Nope. Never again. We did it once, and that was enough. That's what we said after
last year's hugely successful yard sale. We were exhausted!! Throughout the year people would ask if we were going to do another one. Ummm ... yeah ... I'm not too sure about that. But then a friend called. She and her husband were clearing out a storage unit and bringing everything to us. Welp. I guess that means we're having another yard sale :) When God decides to make something happen - HE MAKES IT HAPPEN!!
We started to put out the word that we were collecting
junk unwanted treasures again. And in it flowed!! Then the
Crenshaw family joined in and reached out to all of their friends. Pretty soon, our houses were filled to the gills with boxes and bags and furniture and who knows what else!! We rented a HUGE storage unit to hold everything, and when that was full, we rented ANOTHER one!! Then the
Thompson family joined in with their storage room FULL!! When God decides to provide - HE PROVIDES!!
Thursday was supposed to be set-up day. The guys rented the biggest moving truck they could find and drove around the city loading up everything that we'd stashed away. Somewhere after the FIRST truck-full, people started showing up. "How much is this? How much do you want for that?" For what??!! We hadn't even had time to start unpacking!! We tried to set up tables and sort everything as it was unloaded, but it soon became very apparent that we weren't setting up ... we were having a giant pre-sale! We tried to fight it, but why?? People were buying stuff. That was kinda the point :) Our 2-day yard sale quickly turned into a 3-day yard sale. We finally had to start turning people away so we could finish unloading all FOUR truckloads of stuff and get it organized for the sale. We were stunned to find out later that night that we brought in about $3,000 that first day. What?? Amazing!! When God decides to start something - HE STARTS IT!!
Friday morning started of a little rocky. Apparently in Memphis a 0% chance of rain overnight means that all of the merch one puts out in the yard before going to bed will get a good little shower. What?? Really?? My heart was a little panicky Friday morning as we tried to sop up as much as we could with old towels. Kristin and I were in a Bible study together this year that studied the sovereignty of God. Our mantra has been "God is sovereign, even over ____." Even over rain. Wise beyond her years, sweet Kristin's perspective truly helped to calm my heart!! She figured that maybe this was just God's way of showing us that HE will bring the money thru this sale - not the quality of our junk. So true, so true. When God decides to work a miracle despite our junk - HE WORKS A MIRACLE!!
And a miracle was exactly what we witnessed. Just like last year, this yard sale was a loaves and fishes kind of miracle. We had nothing, but lots of it. We gave our junk (and LOTS of yours!) to Him, and He saw fit to bless it, multiply it, and give it all back to us. So a big, huge THANK YOU to all of you who donated your stuff, your time, and your energy to help make this sale such a big success. I am so thankful that He uses people to do His work!!
Would you like to know the final total?? If you haven't already heard ... God provided about $11,200 to bring His precious children home!! We are stunned. We are grateful. And we are tired. Again next year?? I hope we won't need to!! But we just might do it anyway to bless other adoptive families. So start saving your junk ...
