Our garage sale on Thursday, August 11, was an overwhelming success! We were able to raise $694.95, surpassing our goal of $500. That means we have more than enough to pay our application fee, the next step in the adoption process. (The remainder will be put into our Operation: Adoption savings account for future expenses.)

We’ve included “before” photos (which were actually taken about an hour and a half into the sale — it was the first chance we had to snap a photograph!) and “after” photos. As the photos illustrate, our quantity of items went from about three truckloads to just three boxes in one day!

We would like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make this fundraiser a success. We would like to particularly thank those of you who donated items:

• Mike Anderson
• Daphne Hoff
• Mom and Dad (Jacobson)
• Scott Jacobson
• Mom and Dad (Lemke)
• Donnie Lemke
• Katie Lemke
• Doug Lemke
• Christine Mahoney
• Grandma Pack

We had many more offers too, but there weren’t enough hours in the day to pick up everything. We are truly blessed to have so many wonderful, generous people in our lives.

Our next planned fundraiser will be holiday wreath sales. (It looks as if pumpkin sales aren’t going to work out.) Look for more information in September.