What can a garage sale do?

This past weekend Lenski and I had our Adoption fundraiser / garage sale.  I've done plenty of garage sales in my life.  I used to have huge ones when I was the youth pastor at Frontline Community Church.  I've helped friends and family have them.  And I've had some just for myself.  But none quite compare to this one.  If you're wondering how a span of 3 days of selling other peoples unwanted items can be this significant let me share with you just what a garage sale can do...

1. It can obviously raise A LOT of money - We raised over $2,300 in just 3 days!  That's a huge chunk of our next big payment to the adoption agency.
2. It can bring the adoption community together in a unique way - We met so many people who have been touched by adoption.  There were some who shared their story of BEING adopted while others have already adopted and were starting the process for another.  Still there were some who were just getting started and were intrigued by this fundraiser idea.  We connected, we cried, we related and most importantly...we understood each other.  
3. It can bring families together - No, I'm not talking about the actual adoption.  We had family that drove a long way really early in the morning just to help us get set up.  Then they chose to stay and suffer through the blistering heat ALL DAY to help us run it.  We had other family that came from another state just to help us!  Not only did they come to help with the sale but they brought items for the sale, treated us to dinner, cooked us dinner and celebrated this journey with us.  These were meaningful days with such precious family members.  Watching teenagers give up their time to come and help is moving, really moving.
4. It can be a friends reunion - Friends we hadn't seen in awhile or don't normally get to see all dropped by to encourage and support us.  It was so good to see so many friendly faces.
5. It can bless others - Even though this sale was for our adoption we decided to give all of the remaining items to our friends so they too can have an adoption fundraiser sale at the end of the summer.  So you may not think that box of "junk" you dropped off can really do much but it is actually helping to bring 3 children to their forever families.

A garage sale can and did do a lot.  It was hard work and we were not alone.  There were so many people who came to our rescue and helped us with the sale.  We couldn't have made it without ALL of you.  And it couldn't have been such a success without lots of you dropping by to pick up a few things and leave a very BIG donation.  To all of you we humbly say thank you.