Our faith grows stronger!

Can the words Rummage Sale and God's perfect timing even go together in a sentence? Well, I am here to tell you it does! As many of you adopting parents struggle with the thought of adoption costs, we too were becoming frantic of the thought of financing our adoption. We have done fundraisers and have had great success. I had one of my friends suggest a rummage sale, with items donated and what a perfect time of year, SPRING CLEANING! I know some adopting folks that had done this and have done amazing! So Rummage Sale it was! I emailed some people, my wonderful friends emailed their friends, and their friends emailed their friends and before I knew it we were no longer able to walk through our garage! It is so amazing to see how many people want to share with us, to give to us and who love our daughter and want her home too! Your trash is our treasure! That was our motto!!!

But my real testimony comes with Praise and Glory for a relationship that was formed between strangers and only God could have crossed our paths and we will forever be thankful. I will not go into detail, because I am struggling writing this post. I actually opened my Bible to this verse:
Matthew 6 which reads: "Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And I know this couple firmly believes in these words and I will do my best to honor that! I just needed to share our thanks! So, I get an email from a nice lady who says that she had gotten an email about the Rummage Sale and she had some items to donate. We emailed a few times back and forth and it became clear that we had alot of similar beliefs and she shared alot of wisdom. We decided we would love to meet in person over coffee sometime and I could just feel that God had a plan for us to meet. The weekend came where I was doing "pick-up the treasures", and I get a call from my new friend about an item that her husband wanted to give my family, an item that we can sell. I call my husband and we decide that we need to go meet this couple in person. It just so "happened' that we could get a babysitter too! (God's timing) So we could go to their house without kids. I know there are lots of mom's out there that appreciate this point!!! I was really excited about finally meeting my penpal and her husband. If anyone knows my husband you will know that he is a very conservative shy kind of guy who doesn't open up to alot of people. (keep that in mind) So within minutes of our visit, it is clear that we have made a lifelong friendship! We (even Chad) felt comfortable right from the start! You could literally feel the Lord's presence. Let's just say we stayed for almost 5 hours and the wisdom that Chad and I walked away with and knowing what type of marriage and Christlike people we wanted to have and become was truly one of the biggest blessings we have ever received! Perfect strangers willing to open their home and their hearts is priceless! As far as the gift that was given, even though we were humbled and at first did not feel right accepting. It was God who had spoke to her husband's heart to share with our family and after that was discussed, we accepted with a grateful heart. Once the gift is sold, it will have paid for half of our adoption!!!!!!!!!! So my friends, pray without ceasing, for He is there and in control. He cares and will not harm. He is involved in everything, even a Rummage Sale! For if we would not have decided to have the rummage sale, we would have never had the meeting I shared and that moment will live in our hearts forever. We just can't wait till God gives us the calling to give and the means to share and change a life.

Oh, and as far as the Rummage Sale, it was a HUGE success! We had so much fun and it was so busy!! We met so many people! But it could not have been done with out the support of all who gave their items. Thank you all! We feel so blessed to know you and we could not have gotten through this journey without you all! So, God's perfect timing and Rummage Sale does fit together!