It's been a while since we had our fundraising garage sale, and believe it or not, we just now got all the leftover's out of our garage! We had the best of intentions! Really! First I thought I'd sort through some of the "nicer" items and take them to consignment shops in an effort to increase the balance in our adoption fund checking account. Well, that was a waste of time!
Consigning has to be the best scam out there. I spent a lot of time carefully looking through so many items, making sure they were in terrific condition. I also had a lot of super nice business clothing that was donated from friends. When I say nice, I mean - Jos A. Banks kind of nice! So, surely these things would sell at a consignment shop, right? Nope. If I walked out with five bucks in my pocket, I was lucky! And the baby/children consignment stores were even worse! I eventually gave up from the frustration.
And just last week, we arranged for a local organization called Quest for Excellence to pick up the remaining items so they could be distributed to the folks they help. (Quest for Excellence provides transitional housing, programs, support services and educational support for at-risk, homeless and special needs population.) Yippee!! Our garage can now accommodate one vehicle!
Maybe that was God's plan all along. He knew there were people in greater need than us so the consignment idea didn't work out. We are thrilled to know the things that so many friends donated to us will be going to good use.
Beyond that, we have a couple more things we need to get rid of and we're hoping to be able to sell these bigger ticket items.
First, we have a really awesome couch that was recently re-covered. Visit our post on Craigslist to view a picture and get a better description. (http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/fuo/1372764509.html)
We also have an exercise machine. The Pilates Performer JP is available for just $50! (What a steal?!)
And finally, we were given a wedding dress from a young lady in our neighborhood who said she wanted us to sell it and put the money toward our adoption fund. (Wow! We're still blown away by this generous gift.) We have no idea how much to charge for it but that will soon be available as well.
Please let us know if you or any of your friends have an interest in any of these items.
Beyond the selling stuff, we remain in wait mode until God presents us with another potential birth mother match. We covet your prayers and appreciate all the support we've been given and continue to receive.
Showing posts with label garage sale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garage sale. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Fundraiser I - Complete
I can't remember the last time I participated in a garage sale but, I can assure you that I had no recollection of it being such a huge task! But then again, I wasn't using the garage sale as a fundraiser for the adoption of our child either!
Wow! I am still so overwhelmed with everything that's happened in the last couple of weeks. Our first fundraiser was a success. We made about $1700 in two days of selling, selling and even more selling. We still have lots of leftovers but plan on making good use out of those items through donations and other fundraising efforts.
We are so humbled and thankful for the tremendous and overwhelming support we received from so many people. Many gave of their belongings; giving clothes, furniture, electronics, and special mementos for us to sell. Several folks came to help sort and price, and a few more helped during the actual sale with set up, tear down and giving us a few minutes of respite during both days. We truly couldn't have done this without them.
I must say that I am a bit surprised at the result. First, we certainly weren't expecting to make so much money! How wonderful!! And the people I truly expected to be there and help us weren't there. That saddens me greatly. But that sadness and disappointment is replaced with great joy because there were many unexpected helping hands, and we are so grateful.
Maybe I'm wrong for even noticing that aspect of things. But my emotions have been all over the place these last couple of weeks. And part of me wants to remember every single detail - good and bad - so we can one day share them with our little one. The tremendous effort put into making this a reality has been like giving birth. I will never know the pain of labor, but I have gladly labored in many other ways to bring a child into our family.
To add to the ups and downs, we were introduced to a potential match last week. We spoke with a birth mother who wanted to learn more about us and consider us as possible adoptive parents for her baby boy, due in December. The conversation was brief but exciting. We have no idea what's going to happen from here but it doesn't matter. God already knows the outcome, and we're at peace knowing it's all in His faithful Hands.
So, now we sort through the remaining garage sale items, look for other ways to raise funds, prepare for a home study, and wait for the redemption of God's chosen child for us.
Wow! I am still so overwhelmed with everything that's happened in the last couple of weeks. Our first fundraiser was a success. We made about $1700 in two days of selling, selling and even more selling. We still have lots of leftovers but plan on making good use out of those items through donations and other fundraising efforts.
We are so humbled and thankful for the tremendous and overwhelming support we received from so many people. Many gave of their belongings; giving clothes, furniture, electronics, and special mementos for us to sell. Several folks came to help sort and price, and a few more helped during the actual sale with set up, tear down and giving us a few minutes of respite during both days. We truly couldn't have done this without them.
I must say that I am a bit surprised at the result. First, we certainly weren't expecting to make so much money! How wonderful!! And the people I truly expected to be there and help us weren't there. That saddens me greatly. But that sadness and disappointment is replaced with great joy because there were many unexpected helping hands, and we are so grateful.
Maybe I'm wrong for even noticing that aspect of things. But my emotions have been all over the place these last couple of weeks. And part of me wants to remember every single detail - good and bad - so we can one day share them with our little one. The tremendous effort put into making this a reality has been like giving birth. I will never know the pain of labor, but I have gladly labored in many other ways to bring a child into our family.
To add to the ups and downs, we were introduced to a potential match last week. We spoke with a birth mother who wanted to learn more about us and consider us as possible adoptive parents for her baby boy, due in December. The conversation was brief but exciting. We have no idea what's going to happen from here but it doesn't matter. God already knows the outcome, and we're at peace knowing it's all in His faithful Hands.
So, now we sort through the remaining garage sale items, look for other ways to raise funds, prepare for a home study, and wait for the redemption of God's chosen child for us.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Garage Sale Reminder
Well, we're one week away from the big garage sale. Our home is in complete disarray, and it's only going to get worse after this weekend when we pick up more furniture and other items being donated for the sale. We are SO incredibly thankful and humbled by the overwhelming support of so many people who have already donated items. Of course, we're always looking to add to the stuff we've already got, so if you want to give us some things you no longer need or want, just let us know! We'll gladly take whatever you've got.
And as a reminder, please tell all your friends about our sale. It's scheduled for Friday and Saturday of next week, August 21st and 22nd from 8 am until 4 pm (both days). We'd love to see you there, and we'd love for you to find an awesome new treasure (or several!). Donations will also be accepted.
Again, we are blessed and overwhelmed. And we give God all the glory!
And as a reminder, please tell all your friends about our sale. It's scheduled for Friday and Saturday of next week, August 21st and 22nd from 8 am until 4 pm (both days). We'd love to see you there, and we'd love for you to find an awesome new treasure (or several!). Donations will also be accepted.
Again, we are blessed and overwhelmed. And we give God all the glory!
Monday, August 10, 2009
New Colors
We've had a fabulous weekend! Our home is getting filled with more and more items donated from people for us to sell in our garage sale in a couple of weeks. Much of our living room is packed and now only one of us is able to park in the garage. But that won't last long, I'm sure!
We also had the opportunity to paint this weekend. We started with the office and, thanks to the awesome help of my awesome mother-in-law, we were able to finish it rather quickly and move on to the guest bedroom, which will turn into the nursery (hopefully soon!). Kurt and I are absolutely thrilled with the colors of both rooms. The nursery will need another coat of paint but that won't be a problem at all.
As my family knows, I'm not the type for much in the way of manual labor! But I must admit that I had the time of my life painting and moving stuff around. My back is still arguing with me but it just felt so good knowing that I was making some necessary changes in preparing for our little one.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for our garage sale/fundraiser, which is scheduled for August 21st and 22nd. And we're still taking donations for items to sell.
We continue to lift up the birth mother and unborn child in prayer!
We also had the opportunity to paint this weekend. We started with the office and, thanks to the awesome help of my awesome mother-in-law, we were able to finish it rather quickly and move on to the guest bedroom, which will turn into the nursery (hopefully soon!). Kurt and I are absolutely thrilled with the colors of both rooms. The nursery will need another coat of paint but that won't be a problem at all.
As my family knows, I'm not the type for much in the way of manual labor! But I must admit that I had the time of my life painting and moving stuff around. My back is still arguing with me but it just felt so good knowing that I was making some necessary changes in preparing for our little one.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for our garage sale/fundraiser, which is scheduled for August 21st and 22nd. And we're still taking donations for items to sell.
We continue to lift up the birth mother and unborn child in prayer!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Available For All To See
Our parent profile has been finalized and goes "live" tomorrow (Saturday, August 1st). We are now on display for all birth mom's to learn more about us and consider us as adoptive parents. Wow. This is such an amazing time for us. We're thrilled with progress so far, and we're humbled to know that God has already picked out our child for us.
Just because the parent profile is finished doesn't mean our work is done. Far from it! Now we need to prepare for our Home Study. But before we do that, we've got some decorating that needs to get done. We have to figure out which room will be the nursery. Which room will then become the guest bedroom? Can we combine my office and Kurt's and still let him have his "man cave"? Once we figure all of that out, we need to paint two of the rooms and lay new carpet. Then we need to rearrange the furniture.
We are blessed that we have a home big enough to have this dilemma!
Oh, and then there's the fund-raising. Our first big attempt at raising some cash comes on August 21st and 22nd with a gigantic garage sale. We've already gotten so many donations from so many people and hope to receive more. And, of course, we hope to sell it all and make some serious cash! LOL!
We'd like to go ahead and apply for loans and/or grants but that can't happen until we have our Home Study. But we can't have our Home Study until we get the rooms taken care of. And we probably can't get the rooms taken care of until we raise some cash! It's one of those never-ending circles.
There's so much going on, but we're so thankful we get to experience this. And I'm so thankful for Kurt and all he's doing to help in these efforts. He's going to be an amazing father!
Until next time...
Just because the parent profile is finished doesn't mean our work is done. Far from it! Now we need to prepare for our Home Study. But before we do that, we've got some decorating that needs to get done. We have to figure out which room will be the nursery. Which room will then become the guest bedroom? Can we combine my office and Kurt's and still let him have his "man cave"? Once we figure all of that out, we need to paint two of the rooms and lay new carpet. Then we need to rearrange the furniture.
We are blessed that we have a home big enough to have this dilemma!
Oh, and then there's the fund-raising. Our first big attempt at raising some cash comes on August 21st and 22nd with a gigantic garage sale. We've already gotten so many donations from so many people and hope to receive more. And, of course, we hope to sell it all and make some serious cash! LOL!
We'd like to go ahead and apply for loans and/or grants but that can't happen until we have our Home Study. But we can't have our Home Study until we get the rooms taken care of. And we probably can't get the rooms taken care of until we raise some cash! It's one of those never-ending circles.
There's so much going on, but we're so thankful we get to experience this. And I'm so thankful for Kurt and all he's doing to help in these efforts. He's going to be an amazing father!
Until next time...
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Fund Raising Efforts
First, let me give a great update to the prayer request blog from a couple of days ago. It appears that the potential moratorium on foreign adoptions in Ukraine has been averted, at least for now. Thanks everyone for your prayers on that issue.
Our good friends, Mark and Diane are in the midst of the adoption process and hope to bring home their little girl from Ukraine by the fall or, at the very least, later this year. (Mark is one of the pastors of our home church, Zionsville Fellowship.) As part of their fund raising efforts, they are hosting another gigantic garage sale this weekend. Won't you consider helping this family as they seek the money needed to add to their already wonderful family? Here are the details:
Garage Sale Location: 4403 Owl Court, Indianapolis 46268
Dates: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6
Times: 8 am until 2 pm both days
Tell your friends and come shop for a great reason. Donations (without a purchase) are also welcome.
Thanks, as always, for your prayers for us as we continue in our adoption journey. We appear to have hit a snag with the international adoption about the issues of depression in our history. So, we're seeking God's will right now.
Bless you as you consider ways to help the Goins Gang!
Our good friends, Mark and Diane are in the midst of the adoption process and hope to bring home their little girl from Ukraine by the fall or, at the very least, later this year. (Mark is one of the pastors of our home church, Zionsville Fellowship.) As part of their fund raising efforts, they are hosting another gigantic garage sale this weekend. Won't you consider helping this family as they seek the money needed to add to their already wonderful family? Here are the details:
Garage Sale Location: 4403 Owl Court, Indianapolis 46268
Dates: Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6
Times: 8 am until 2 pm both days
Tell your friends and come shop for a great reason. Donations (without a purchase) are also welcome.
Thanks, as always, for your prayers for us as we continue in our adoption journey. We appear to have hit a snag with the international adoption about the issues of depression in our history. So, we're seeking God's will right now.
Bless you as you consider ways to help the Goins Gang!
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