So, I am beyond grateful.
The yard sale was a HUGE success. I spent the night before tossing and turning, anxious about whether or not people would even come to the sale. I had gadgets and gizmos a plenty, whos-its and whats-its galore. The yard sale brought in over $1600! Can you even believe it?
Why don't I just trust God when He tells me He's in control? When He promises He will provide? Time and time again He has shown Himself faithful to me, has confirmed that this trip is exactly where I am supposed to go. Yet, I fret and fret over a silly thing like a yard sale. And look what He did! I could never have imagined that it would go so well. But God exceeded my expectations once again.
This isn't even half of the yard sale items that were donated to sell. Do I have amazing friends or what?
Though the day of and the days leading up to the yard sale were a little stressful with preparing, organizing and bargaining with the deal-hunters on a hot Tennessee summer day, I cannot help but be humbled by the amazing ways God blessed me through it all. Let me just tell you how good God is:
#1 — My incredible mother. She drove 2 hours to Nashville at the end of an exhausting work week to help me organize and run the yard sale. That would have been reason enough to be thankful, but she did all this while dealing with a severely infected, non-functioning gallbladder. Yep, just 24 hours later, she was rushed to the E.R. to be told that her gallbladder needed to come out–immediately. I can't even fathom how she managed to bargain with shoppers and carry out loads and loads of sale items. Later, she recalled that she thought she was just feeling "exhausted and a bit overheated." That's my mom, the Super Mom. Thankfully she is out of the hospital and improving!
#2 — My amazing friends. Two of my best, most loyal friends, Caroline M & Caroline G stayed up until late hours helping me sort and label all the hundreds of sale items a few days before the sale. Then they were up at my house at the break of dawn, helping set everything up, even bringing me coffee. They stayed and helped with the sale all day, even in the intense heat. Could I get better friends than that? On top of that, I had tons of sweet friends who stopped by and shopped, some even donated without buying a thing. Thank you all who showed up. I am so thankful for each one of you.
Caroline M & I with our handy Lowes work aprons. So profesh.
#3 –– Sharing my story. I got to share my heart and this ministry to several people I had never met. It was such an awesome way to share the gospel with strangers (something I've never been very good at!). I met a neighbor family from down the street who were the sweetest in the world, they wanted to hear all about my trip and how God brought me here, and then they donated extra on top of their purchases! I even got to share my story with a man who showed up, and he, without purchasing anything, handed me a big chunk of cash, and told me that this was his tithe this month. I mean, really?? What a blessing. One girl showed up when she saw my signs about the World Race, and she decided to donate, not knowing me from Adam, just because she had a friend who was on the race too, and wants to support the ministry. I could go on and on with more stories like these, but bottom line–God was so GOOD.
Most days it feels like life never really stops. I know my fellow racers can probably agree. But it is so good to stop and take an assessment of just how blessed you are. Give thanks for the many, many ways God provides, for how faithful He is. Even when life is crazy, God is sovereign still and He is good, everyday.
Thank you to everyone who helped to pull this fundraiser off. Y'all are amazing. Love you!
