25May 08
Of Saturdays, Sundays, & Sales
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One event our family looks forward to every year is our neighborhood’s community yard sale. Much preparation takes place as closets & boxes are looked through to evaluate what is a treasure and what is junk 
!
The highlight of preparations centers around a first class refreshment stand. This year, Sarah and Kenan took leadership in organizing the production of a vast array of tasty treats that ranged from strawberry smoothies to blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies, popcorn, lemonade, coffee, & more! Our kitchen became the scene of first class mixing, cooking, & baking.
Our family also had the privilege of organizing the community yard sale for the first time. This basically involved contacting the neighbors via email, putting together a list of all participants, hanging signs, and advertising in a couple local papers. Dad especially encouraged us in this venue and 
inspired our focus to be on serving so that the light of Christ would shine through.
Weeks before the sale, the first opportunity to bring God glory came when we ordered the newspaper ads. In years past, the rain date for the yard sale was always on Sunday. On top of all this, our area has been the recipients of an abundance of rain all spring. We knew that participating in a yard sale on a Sunday violated a Scriptural principle. The following Saturday would not work either being a holiday weekend. The Lord provided grace and we stepped forward by faith with no rain date.
Signs were hung all over the place during the week prior to the sale. It was an exciting adventure locating the most visible places for signs, hanging signs while standing on narrow medians between rushing traffic, and affixing signs to telephone polls with gusting wind.
Rain continued to pound Northern Virginia all the way up to Friday. What would Saturday bring? We called the local weather recording, checked online, and conferred with locals. Saturday afternoon was calling for clouds and possible rain. But Saturday morning between 8 and 1pm when the yard 
sale would be going, there was to be no rain. Not only did God keep back the rain, He provided perfect temperatures, blue skies, and a gentle breeze.
The morning of the sale brought well over a hundred people through our neighborhood. The refreshment stand was a big hit! Many who participated commented on how successful the sale had been and how pleased they 
were with the weather. In our final email to all the participants, following the sale, we expressed great joy over the weather and the fact that prayers were answered.
While we worked hard to pull everything together, how exciting it was to see how God clearly was responsible for the success of the day! To Him be all the glory forever & ever!
Praise the Lord! What a big family project. Great way to get to know the neighbors.
The God who created the world definitely controls the weather!
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Superb job on the refreshment stand! The accounting of money, taking special precaution not to short change anyone, watching your expenses, and understanding the difference between net and gross income are valuable learning experiences that are preparing you for the future. Way to apply yourselves!
Way to go WILKES TEAM! That sure was a fun day! Thank you Josh for your leadership and making the Neighborhood Yard Sale a success!
Kenan, Sarah, Adam, Hannah, and Markie you did an incredable job with your refreshment stand.
Not only did you all work hard but the light of Christ shone forth and people were amazed at the joy in you all! Praise the Lord that we were able to be a testimony for Christ that day.