Sushi, Ant Bites & Gold Dollars - v2.0

I started this post earlier, but realized that I had WAY too much info. in it and if we even hope that our friends will read it, I better condense it big time. SO, without further adieu, I give you the bullet-point version of this past weekend:

• Olivia stayed w/Mimi & Papa and we missed her greatly.
• We ate sushi. It was sooo good.
• Garage sale people live by different rules than the rest of humanity. 
• We got bit by a BUNCH of ants!!
• People will buy completely random things, like the lid to a pot, without the pot. 
• Like a watch, minus the band, that we found in the mud. Yes, I am serious. 
• My husband knows how to tarp like a PRO. No joke.
• The day after a heavy rain is humid like no other. 
• It is hard to part with all your "stuff", especially for 50 cents.
• We have amazing friends & family.
• One man paid for his entire purchase with gold dollars. Then I tried to give them back to people as quarters on more than one occasion. 
• Pregnant women + heat + humidity + garage sale + exhaustion = recipe for tears. (Not too many.)
• God has blessed us with two "church families" and both of them are wonderful in their own way.
• There is still a mountain of stuff that we hope to take with us to CR. I have a feeling that the purging is not complete. (This is a good thing, even if it is painful.)

In all seriousness - our garage sale was a great success. We were so blessed by family, friends & even strangers who came by and gave generously. There were so many people who gave above and beyond the "value" of the stuff they bought. I love to see how God is working through His people - and how He provides for us in the most unexpected ways. 

The challenge for the next few weeks is to stay focused, wait on the Lord and trust in His timing and provision for our family. It is a humbling experience to have people willingly sacrifice their time & money to help our family "go". We have never experienced this first-hand. God is so good!!! We are excited about the months ahead for our family, and for our ministry partners. We look forward to seeing God work in ways that BLOW OUR MINDS and YOURS! He is capable of so much more than we can imagine. 

A few prayer requests: 

• Please continue to pray for Olivia.
• Please continue to pray that people would support us as God leads. All our hope is in HIM. 
• Pray that we would be a light to those around us, regardless of our geographical location. 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3