Well this weekend was our huge, massive, insanely big yard sale. When I say it was big…I really mean it was big. We have been working on this yard sale for well over a month now. Getting the word out, picking up loads of stuff from people from all over, advertising, wrangling help, organizing, pricing and then organizing again and again. Nothing prepared us for just how this yard sale would end.
I am super mad that my camera went dead early Friday, only after a few pictures and I left my charger at home. We were so busy on Friday that I did not have a chance to run home. But did snap a few pictures before it died.
Please ignore how terribly tired I look. We continued to get more items for the yard sale all week, even Thursday night. After helping my dad and Judye set up their place Thursday afternoon/evening, I ended up heading to my moms to continue to organize and price more things that had just been dropped off. My best friend Ashley Mills (on the right) flew in from Florida to help us. She and I stayed up until about 12:30 Thursday, aka Friday morning and then got up at 4:30 to pull everything from my mom’s garage, basement and shed. My other dear friend Ashley Frost (on the left) showed up around 5am to help us set up. You girls rock! At 8 something we were still pulling things out. I soooooo wish I had some hard core proof of just how much stuff we had.
Josh had to work all day Friday, so it was very interesting handling a giant yard sale and three kiddos. They did get to hang out with their Nene and Big Daddy in the morning, but after that they were yard sale kids the rest of the weekend.
Our busiest day was definitely Friday, but our cutest day was Saturday. My brother Chris and sister-in-law Kim came up on Saturday and set up a lemonade and hot chocolate stand for the kids. Pretty confident they drank more than they sold. But really this was the cutest little lemonade stand ever.
So what was our total after our two day yard sale? We were totally unprepared for what God had in store. We ended up making $11,360.04. Is you jaw on the floor like mine still is? On top of that we also sold $300 worth of our adoption shirts at the yard sale also. We have talked with the family that said they would match whatever we made and they are still totally committed to matching our total. I cannot begin to tell you how we feel. I told Josh this morning that I feel lighter. A load has been lifted and I feel as if I can breath again. We never doubted for one minute that God would provide this money, but we were committed to working as hard as we could for it. We knew God was giving us these opportunities to make this money and we were not going to pass them up. We have been working insanely hard. I have been keeping crazy late hours and getting orders out just as quickly as I can. I know I have said it a million times, but we are not afraid to work for our son…we were committed to it. But we were really getting tired and I just can’t really explain how I feel now…other than incredibly humbled and grateful and over the top amazed by God. He is so mighty and He really likes to show off. I’m not usually a super emotional person, but how could I not be about this. I even cried in Target today while I was on the phone with my dad and brother telling each of them our final total. It’s just down right crazy wonderful.
So tonight, I am sitting a breathing and soaking up just how big God is. We give Him all the glory because it is His. We are so grateful to everyone who came out to the sale and bought items, let us keep the change, made a donation, bought a shirt, lemonade or baked goods. And thank you to everyone who donated items to the yard sale or baked up some goodies for the bake sale. If you have not received your thank you card yet, it will be in the mail soon.
An enormous thank you to my mom, dad and Judye for working so hard for our sweet boy. We know you guys are tired and probably don’t want to see small change or trinkets for a really long time, but we just cannot say thank you enough. You went above and beyond for us and our new little guy and for that we are forever grateful. And to the matching family…thank you. How totally inadequate that sounds to me. I wish we could say more. Thank you for your crazy generosity and thank you for letting God use you in such an amazing way. There really are no words that would ever remotely capture how thankful we really are.
So there you have it. I’m tired and headed to bed. God is so so incredibly good and we totally do not deserve it. But isn’t that just how God’s love is. Happy, Super, Fantastic Sunday!
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wow. wow. wow, and I again I say “WOW”!! that total is stinking amazing!! God really knocked your socks off with that one. My goodness!! I’ll be sharing that story of God’s faithfulness!!
I don’t comment on your blog ever, but had too on this one. I love how big God is! He does immeasurably more than we could ask or even think!! (can’t remember that verse exactly). I am so excited for your family and for the little boy you will be bringing home!
I love this. God is so good, and I’m so happy for you and your family! That is an incredible story, and it totally made me cry 🙂 I thank God for what he is doing in your life, and the little boy that you get to bring home. I hope this doesn’t mean you’re going to stop making stuff though, selfishly, at least not until I pick a verse for my key fob. Congratulations again!!!
Praise God!! So excited for you guys. God is good!! That is just amazing.
OH.MY.GOSH. I am amazed to see God’s provision once again. He did this for us too with August and know He will provide when we adopt again! You are such an encouragement and I feel such a model to other families. SO excited for you and Josh!!!!
Laura…what a testimony to the faithfulness of God. Your hard work and your trust in God paid off. We can never out give Him. I am so happy for you, Josh, your children, Kim and Chris, your Mom, and your Dad and Judye. I could see how tired you were but am so happy that this part of your adoption process has been lifted from your shoulders. Please do get some rest…the body can only take so much and you have pushed your hard. Try to relax some now and enjoy the waiting process. We love you and are so proud of you for all you do. God bless each of you…
God is so amazing!! Praising God with you on an awesome yard sale!! Those shirts you mentioned, are those the ones you are wearing in the first picture? I would love one!! Are they on this website?? LOL
We definitely serve an amazing and awesome God!!
OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! God is faithful to the faithful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it. Cannot believe it!
Praise Him from whom all blessings flow!!!! God is so full of AMAZING GRACE!
WOW…God is SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!! I can not wait to see the post saying you are going to get you little guy…The day is coming…Gods plan is always perfect! Congrats!
Praising God with you!!!! Wow!!!! I just love how God uses junk and changes it into something so beautiful! We had a rummage sale to raise money for True Children’s Home in China and were amazed that we raised just enough to fund one cleft lip surgery (about $900). We did it at our church and seriously it was mostly stuff that I would never buy! 🙂 I’m in awe of the amount of money God raised for your precious child! So awesome!!
Wow. There are no other words. INCREDIBLE! God is SO SO good! His faithfulness is AMAZING. Praising Him with you!!
That total is so amazing! I can’t believe that it is going to be doubled by a wonderful family that you know. God is so big. I am also totally impressed by how hard you are willing to work to make your family grow How wonderful!
How AWESOME!!! God is so good!!! I really wanted to try to get up there on Saturday, but there are so many things going on every weekend, it is hard to pick which one to do. We ended up going to a craft fair in Bell Buckle. Someday though I will meet you! 🙂
One step closer to meeting #4!!! I can.not.wait! I am so excited for you guys and love you all so much. I am so glad that you guys are willing to be used in God’s awesome plan! I mean, come on – who makes $11,000 in a yard sale?!!
That is truly amazing! Praising God for his goodness!
When Katy told me the news I was completely speechless. And I still am. THANK YOU for your faithful walk, for sharing your story and for working your guts out to bring this guy home. It has been amazing to watch God build your family. I am loving watching from the sidelines as God does amazing things with the Kelleys!
I am so happy for you all and I would help again and again for you guys and your children. Love you bunches!!
WOW! What an amazing testament to God’s faithfulness and provision! I think I need some tips for adoption fundraising…wanna come to Missouri and tutor me?! 😉
This is so amazing and encouraging! Yay God!
I am so happy for you I just wanna cry! Praise God! So so happy for yall!
your mama is beaming. look at the moon and smile.