A gym full of blessings

As I heard the sound of tires in the gravel parking lot, I felt a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. I knew it was another car or truck or SUV bringing yet another load of items for the garage sale. The gym was already full and it was only Monday! Several people had told me they would be bringing things in throughout the week and we were already running out of space. Clothes were piled on top of each other, organization forgotten long ago. Dishes were crammed against each other, filling multiple tables. We joked that we would need shopping carts, but there wouldn’t have been enough room in the aisles even if we had them! Hours upon hours were spent pricing, organizing (or attempting to), and sorting through the boxes and bags that were brought in.

Saturday morning finally arrived. Everything was laid out, “registers” were set up, coffee and donuts ready to sell. People started lining up outside the doors at 8:30, half an hour before we opened! After a few last minute preparations and prayer, we opened the doors at 9:00 to people flooding in. I stopped counting at 50! People continued to come in throughout the rest of the morning. There was a solid hour and a half line of people waiting to pay. Throughout the day, only a handful of people walked out without buying anything. At 2:00 (closing time), we started packing up and I realized for the first time that we had some empty (or practically empty) tables. We stayed busy all day, I had opportunities to talk with a lot of people about the World Race, and received several donations.

How completely appropriate that the next day my dad preached on thankfulness! I am so thankful for the many blessings I have received over the best few months.

1. I am thankful, first and foremost, that God loves me, cares for me, and provides for me. Without Him, I am nothing.
2. I am thankful for my family, who has supported, encouraged, and helped me countless times throughout the past few months.
3. I am thankful for friends who spend hours pricing garage sale items with me, throw me surprise going away parties, and listen to me talk for hours about this journey.
4. I am thankful for my squad (L yeah!) and all I have learned/ will learn from them through the next year!
5. I am thankful for the beautiful team of women I will be living with, crying with, laughing with, and leaning on this year.
6. I am thankful for the missions team who spent hours baking cupcakes, preparing for the garage sale, and planning to help me.
7. I am thankful for everyone who has supported me, donated items for the sale, or came and shopped.
8. I am thankful that, even when I’m not immediately thankful, God chooses to bless me with so much anyway.

Thank you to each one of you who has been a blessing to me. Thank you for allowing God to use you! Just wanted to share a few HUGE blessings:

• The yard sale brought in over $2,400!!!
• By the time I leave September 5, I should have over $11,000 in my account!

For His glory, and through His blessings, I go to share His love with others. Thank you for being a part of this journey!