sale.

Saturday morning began a wee bit early for me.  My usual morning routine is to roll back over and sleep for every last second until Peanut comes in to wake me.  Works for me.  Works for her.  I detest alarm clocks.  ...but I was more than happy to wake at 5:45 because it was finally yard sale day.  Prepping for the sale was my day job for the past weeks.  Our garage had a big smile on Saturday because it was able to house my minivan again and wasn't stuffed to the brim with price-tagged items.  I could almost hear it sigh a big sigh as we drove off with the last load.

Some friends we first met in Japan offered the use of their driveway since their extremely large neighborhood has a community sale day.  They get tons of traffic and we'd never be able to compare with that since our house is sort of off the beaten path.  The location was perfect.  The weather was gorgeous.  Most importantly, the shoppers were eager!  

Friends and even a few strangers donated items for our yard sale, and the collection was quite impressive.  I sold most of the large or big-ticket items on craigslist before Saturday, yet we still had tons and tons of stuff to sell.  The picture below was really early in the morning... I didn't dare stop to take pictures when it got crazy a little while later.

My friend Ginny helped throughout the day taking money and making deals.  She is an amazing servant of the Lord and amazes me with her generosity of time and energy.  Can't thank her enough for waking early to help us and bring breakfast!  

It is difficult to put the day into words that capture the magnitude of what occurred.  I'll give it a shot.  One of the most incredible parts of it all were the stories, the responses to what we are doing... 

"I was adopted" 

"I am a birth mother"

"We adopted from Vermont"

"We adopted from Uzbekistan"

"We adopted from Kazakhstan"

"We adopted from Kyrgyzstan"

"I've been there and know what you're going through" from a mom as she handed me money

"I support what you are doing" from a fertility doctor as he handed me money

"I will put Sweet P (her real name though!) on my prayer list"

I've been reading Russell Moore's Adopted for Life and have been reflecting on my response to being adopted by the Lord and now an heir of the inheritance of Heaven.  Anyone who is adopted by Jesus must respond to being adopted.  We are no longer an orphan of the world, but called a child of God.  As we begin to understand the gravity of our adoption, we must respond, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude!

Since we began our first adoption, I have seen many responses.

Praying.

Giving.

Sharing.

Adopting.

All are fitting responses to a Savior who says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.  I have called you by name, you are Mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

Thank you to so many of you for responding to your spiritual adoption by helping with Sweet P's earthly adoption.  I want nothing more than for her to know Jesus, and I'll begin telling her the stories of your help as soon as she arrives.  I know it will speak volumes to her little life of the goodness of the Lord and the generosity of her family in Jesus... which reaches well beyond the walls of our home.  

Buddy gave the day a big thumbs up!

Blessings, angela