Stackin' 'em deep and sellin' 'em cheap

Can I tell you that we have some of the best and most supportive friends ever! I am so serious. One night, I get this random email announcing that our friends are holding a garage sale to help with the expenses of our adoption.  Because you know, adoption is NOT cheap.  And there are lots of people that decide not to adopt or don't even consider it, because it is so expensive... Let me tell you folks, it is completely and totally true, that THE LORD FUNDS WHAT HE FAVORS!!!  We are bound and determined that we are not going to go into debt to bring this little guy home, and God is coming through - fo sho!  (another post for another day)

Sooooo, back to the garage sale.  SO MANY of our friends contributed donations and some of them came and helped.  We were overwhelmed with the support and generosity.

A huge thanks to Dawn and Alan for hosting at their house and letting their garage, driveway, and house be in complete disarray for over a week! Thank you Dawn for your hours of organizing the garage sale, organizing "merchandise", pricing, organizing again, organizing again, organizing again, picking items up from peeps, and your tireless hours of work.  I can never thank you enough for what you have done.  Aimee and Debbie, thank you for all of your work.  We could NOT have done it without you!  Thank you so much for everything.  Even Gay... we are so thankful you were there to help!

When Derek and I were driving home after the sale, Derek said, "that was a lot of hard work.  would you do it again?"  I said, "yea, I would".  He said, "me too.... even if we had made half of what we did, I would still do it again.  The experience was just really great.  Just seeing everyone come together and do this for our little boy and for us, was amazing."

Here's some pics....

The kids while the mommas were organizing and pricing!

Debbie just pricing away.  She devoted her entire day to helping us with the sale, with one little tennis break in the middle!  Thanks a million Debbie!

Dawn - the ringleader of it all!  Seriously, she worked for days and days! How many times can I say thank you!

6:15am - Saturday morning

Makin $$$$$$$$$$$

Makin deals!

Introducing Alan.... his motto: This is a no haggling zone.... this is the the Cheatham family adoption... making funds to bring little boy home..." love it!  (but we did haggle... we were not gonna lose a sale)

Darlin Ellison - Thank you sweet Aimee for our precious Africa shirts!  We love them!  You can get them here - if you need one!

Big Daddy!

Just Sayin.

Ella, Claire, Cassidy, and Halle Caroline - manning the concession stand!

These girls ROCK!

Show Me the Money!!!!

Yes, Ella had multiple wardrobe changes throughout the day.  Nonetheless, she sported some darling shirts!

BFFs

Ellison's sweet friends, Sidney and Laney, stopped by to see how we were doing!

Wardrobe change for Halle Caroline too!

Sweet Aimee.

SERIOUSLY!!! Someone actually donated this potty seat!  It's the gift that keeps on giving!  We actually sold it for a dollar!

I think the potty seat and the pajamas may have come from the same person.  I hope she doesn't read my blog!

We had a lot of fun with these pajamas!

Fun times people!  It was long, hard work,,,, but we had a blast!  I cannot wait to show our little guy these pictures some day!

Moral of the post:

There are 147 million orphans out there! Go get ya one! It is amazing how the Lord provides the money to fund what he favors.... and it is for sure... that the Lord favors "the least of these".

It is amazing to have friends that step up to the plate to help the Lord in his plan!

Next up:  Gold Party that Aimee is throwing! Rockstar! (oh wait, that's JS and JE --- jk! inside joke)

***** ALSO.... WE GOT GREAT NEWS TONIGHT THAT OUR HOMESTUDY IS ALMOST COMPLETE!!! :) :) :)... just a few things needed by us.... and then it's DONE!  I think she approved us! Yippie!  We have been waiting and are THRILLED we are almost at the end of that milestone!!!