On Thursday our sweet friends set up their yard sale. Yard Sale? Not a big deal, right? I mean, yard sales are boring right? Stuff in your yard to sale to strangers, nothing too exciting about that, right? Well, this is different. See, our friends have been called to adopt. They have clearly felt God calling them to love and adopt a child into their home. But like many hopeful adoptive families, simply writing a check for adoption fees is not an option. Adoption can be expensive and exhausting. Worth it all...but it is truly a step of faith. Our friends said YES to the call. And now they are walking with faith and watching as God is rewarding their faithfulness. We have been where they are. It isn't an easy road to walk. Committing to an adoption, not knowing where God will lead you, how much it will cost you (money and time away) is tough. But you take the step forward anyway.
Our friends reached out to their friends and family. A simple request...can we sell your unwanted stuff? They went home to home and collected unwanted items. Their garage became full and overflowing and on set up day...it was overwhelming! My friend C and her husband S had been working for weeks preparing. Gathering, cleaning, tagging. Trying to find a busy location for great traffic. It was a LOT of work. Thursday evening as I arrived, I saw the mass of items, ready for a 'pre-sale' and it was amazing. What looked like an ordinary yard sale was so much more! It represented a village. A village committed to this adoption. It represented friends and family who have stepped forward either through donated items or labor and said YES, I will support you and your walk of faith. WOW!
Earlier in the week I asked my son, Hulk, what he thought about setting up his lemonade stand at the yard sale. He knew what the yard sale represented. He knows our friends are adopting and knows that the yard sale was a fundraiser for the adoption. In typical 8 year old boy reaction...he excitedly said "YES...then I can buy a new ninja turtle!". I explained that if he wanted to buy a ninja turtle with his money that was great, but we would set up his stand this next week at the house because money from the yard sale was going to help C&S adopt. He said ok, he understood. He is an awesome kid with a heart of gold and compassion like no other child I have ever met...but he is 8 and a boy...and ninja turtles are pretty awesome!
The next morning he wakes and tells me that he had a dream. His dream taught him something. Hulk was so serious and I sat anxiously waiting to hear what he had to tell me. He proceeds to tell me
"I learned that kids need families more than I need ninja turtles".
WOW! I mean WOW!
Let me say again that he is EIGHT! He gets it!! It took him a nights sleep to get what many adults will never get. Families are more important than things. Things, possessions, living beyond our means. We hear so often how people would adopt if they could afford it. Trust me, I understand adoption can be expensive and I wish it weren't...but it is. But the fact is, there is always a way. And yes, families are more important then ninja turtles...or brand new cars, the best cable package, eating out every day, gym memberships never used, and yearly vacations (just to name a few things). *stepping off soapbox*
So, with my amazing-heart so big-wonderful son and my oh so sassy daughter...we set up his lemonade stand on Friday morning....
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