09/14/2026
Thank you SO much for coming out to our Ely Road sale this past weekend!
So many people came out, shopped, and helped the family downsize and make a little more room for their next season. We are so thankful for every person who came through the doors, for your kindness, and for the way you continue to support what we do.
I’m genuinely thankful this is something I get to do. It’s a fun job, but it has so many rewards that have absolutely nothing to do with a sale.
And I think I’m going to start sharing some of my favorite encounters with y’all from sale weekends. Because sometimes the best part of an estate sale has nothing to do with the stuff.
So here’s my favorite encounter from Ely Road…
I met a young man who had just started 6th grade. He was shopping with his Mamaw and Papaw (who were THE BEST and honestly made me miss my parents).
This young man unashamedly told me how much he loves Jesus. He talked about his youth group, and you could tell he was pretty proud of it. He reminded me that God uses the young AND the old to spread the Gospel.
Then he told me how his faith and his love for Jesus had become such a light to his parents that they started going to church themselves—and now they even serve in their local church!
To God be the glory.
But let me take this story one step further, because this is where it gets REALLY good.
While we were standing there that day, Mamaw was still shopping and talking with Eric about Jesus. I told this young man to keep pursuing Jesus because there was something really special about him.
At some point, he started telling me about one of the residents who serves in their youth department. I asked him the resident’s name because it was obvious this person was making a HUGE impact in the lives of these middle schoolers.
He told me his name, and our conversation continued.
Fast forward to Sunday night.
We stopped by our church in Cleveland because a bunch of guys get together and play basketball. We sat there for a while, watched, and eventually started packing up.
I noticed a young guy—YA age—playing basketball that I hadn’t met before. So, naturally, I went over to introduce myself and make sure he had a church home.
He told me he was from Oklahoma but was here as a RESIDENT.
My heart immediately started pounding.
I asked, “Are you a resident in youth ministry at this church in town?”
He said, “Yes. I serve with the middle school students.”
I said, “Okay…this is CRAZY. And this is just like Jesus.”
I asked him, “Do you know my friend I met the other day?”
I told him the young man’s name.
Sure enough.
He knew him.
The resident standing right in front of me was THE VERY SAME PERSON that the 6th grade boy at my estate sale had been telling me about.
Y’all.
INCREDIBLE, RIGHT?!
Moments like that don’t just happen.
That was a God-ordained moment.
Maybe it was for that resident to be reminded, “Dude…you’re doing it right. Keep going. Keep serving. Keep pouring into these kids.”
Maybe it was for that 6th grade boy to remind people to carry Jesus everywhere you go and to be completely unashamed to share His name wherever you are.
Or maybe it was for me—the girl running an estate sale 45 minutes from home—to be reminded that God is always present, always working, and always connecting dots that I didn’t even know needed to be connected.
He was there before I ever walked through those doors.
And sometimes He lets us see just enough of what He’s doing behind the scenes to remind us:
“I’m here. I’m working. Keep going.”
So, that’s my favorite encounter from the Ely Road estate sale. ❤️
And honestly, this is why I love what I do.
Stay tuned later today—I’ll be sharing a new post about our next sale coming up at the end of the month, also in Hixson!
