Adoption Yard Sale Success!

Our Adoption Yard Sale was a SUCCESS, I would say!  The rain held off, we had a great variety of items for sale, and we had plenty of eager shoppers.  We were truly blessed by everyone that came shopping, everyone that helped, everyone that donated items and baked goods to be sold.  We couldn't have asked for anything better.  Brad's brother Bryan and his wife Tracy had a separate moving sale in another town.  We were speechless when we received an envelope full of cash from them -- proceeds from their sale! 

I wanted to list a few little glimpses of God in all of this because it was all His works:

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  Someone called me (that didn't know us) and donated a truck load full of items -- lots of good stuff that went quick.  They heard from a friend of a friend that we were adopting and having a sale and wanted to donate items to us.
• Other relatives and friends of friends who donated items to us for the sale.
• Many friends, family and coworkers who donated items for the sale.
• Friends and family that came to help us price everything! (I had dreams about price stickers!!)
• A friend donated a hand-made bag and 2 jewelry sets for our raffle.  (see picture ).  Nancy's Jewelry can be purchased by visiting ww.glitzandglamourjewelry.com   It's beautiful!
• Brad's brother & wife donating proceeds from their sale to us.
• People that came to the sale, not to necessarily buy items, but to hand me a $20 bill towards our adoption.
• People that I don't know (but are friends of a friend) who baked items for our bake sale.
• People who we don't know  (but are friends of a friend) who gave us their giant canopy for the day, in case it rained.
• A little girl in our neighborhood who came 2 separate times to buy a bag of peanuts.  (I'm pretty sure she doesn't even like peanuts) :)
• Both sets of our parents, who showed up bright and early to help set up, direct shoppers, help shuttle the boys to their games, and were there for general support! 
• A friend made me a shirt with a giraffe on it that says "E"... Wait upon the Lord.  Love it!! 
• A friend, near and dear to us, that stuffed a stack of $20's in my hand before leaving!
• Prayers from friends and family that couldn't be here on the actual day, but were here with us in spirit!
• AND LOTS of FRIENDS, FAMILY and NEIGHBORS who stopped by to support us!  Love you guys! 

So, are you ready for the grand total?????   The grand total (which i still have a few coins to count up yet)... was over $1500!!! YES, $1500.   We could not believe it!  This will buy E's one way ticket home!  How cool with that be... to purchase a one-way ticket home for our angel. 

Thanks so much to everyone who helped in any way shape or form. 

We have about a trailer-full of items remaining that we will be sending down to the Relay for Life Yard Sale next weekend.  All proceeds from that sale will go to the Relay for Life Team and the Cancer Society.  I encourage you, if you are local, to check out the sale and show support.  It will be at the intersection of Gettysburg Street & Golf Course Road on June 4 and 5. 

 Big Brother DYLAN, the raffle boy :)                 

Bittersweet

Just had to share a photo with you of Colton as he was getting ready to go to his 8th Grade Farewell Dance.  Handsome, isn't he?  I get very emotional at milestones like this.  I'm happy he'll be done with 8th grade... can't believe he's going to the high school next year, (and his little bro will be in Middle School). But, it also makes me realize that in 4 years, he will be graduating high school and onto college.  Again, I'm happy and delighted in that, but it's a bittersweet moment for a momma when her firstborn begins to spread his wings.   Where does the time go?

4 MONTHS & SOME DISCIPLINE

Happy 4 months waiting (tomorrow). We've been so busy preparing for our sale that the last month has flown by. We have sweet moments that we dream about when "E" will be home with us, and then honestly, I personally have moments when I think, "Oh my goodness, what are we going to do when "E" comes home!" We have been so overwhelmed by the busy-monster lately. Some things are out of our control, but others are because we need to set better boundaries.


God has his hand on us... prompting us to slow down. He's allowed a few melt downs, missed appointments, and such, but we get it now. God (our Father) is disciplining us (his children) to help us mature and prepare us for what's ahead. (similar to how we are trying to teach our boys). He's not 'punishing us' out of meanness, but out of Love. He knows what's coming down the road for us, and He's softly preparing us to make better choices and make better use of our time, efforts and energy. He wants us to relax, prepare, and slow down (which will make the waiting harder). But, that is part of the process and part of our stretching... learning to say NO...creating boundaries. Knowing that WE can't do ANYTHING, but with God, all things are possible. He gives us strength when we are weak; He gives us rest when we are weary; He gives us hope when we think things are hopeless. People tend to run from hardship, difficulty and pain (and there is no guarantee that God will "fix" things the way we WANT him to), but-- God wants us to fully embrace it, and rely upon him and see his love, mercy, grace and glory in it all!

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

ADOPTION FUNDRAISER - YARD SALE TOMORROW!

Keep us in your prayers tomorrow for our Yard Sale!  The weather is calling for pm showers.  Hopefully it will hold off until around 4 p.m. 

We are completely overwhelmed by the generosity of folks who have donated their time, talents and items towards our sale.  We have such a nice variety of things!  Someone could completely set up a house with our sale! 

I'll report and post pictures later!

Cool Fundraiser

We've got a cool fundraiser for summer!  A friend of mine (thanks Dianna!) hooked us up with PEANUTS from Texas Roadhouse.  Texas Roadhouse takes care of bagging up the peanuts and includes a card for a free appetizer (cheese fries, rattlesnake bites or tater skins) with the purchase of an Entree.  They give them to you for FREE so whatever you sell them for is 100% profit.  The free appetizer itself is worth up to $7.00, depending on what you get!  I think the suggested selling price is around $3 per bag, or whatever price you want.  So, for $3.00 you get a bag of peanuts and up to a $7.00 appetizer.  Pretty neat!

I had no idea this fundraiser existed.  If you are looking for a fundrasier for your organization or adoption, check with your local Texas Roadhouse!  They also have fundraiser nights in which you hand out cards to your friends and family and TR will donate 10% of their bill to your fund.  Pretty sweet deal with some yummy food!

We plan on taking them to the kids ballgames and will be selling them at our upcoming Yard Sale.  If you have other ideas for ways we can market them, let us know!  They are only good for the local TR restaurant. 

If you live near us, come buy some peanuts -- the perfect summer snack!

Random Wednesday Thought

Just wanted to share that God speaks to us in ways we sometimes do not recognize. In the last 4 days, this scripture has popped up three different times.

(1) it was on a framed print at a Bed and Breakfast I visited for a bridal shower;

(2) it came up in Sunday’s sermon;

(3) it came up on a random blog that I visited.

"Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:30-31

Think God is trying to tell me something? What subtle signs has God been giving you lately?