Post by AutumnGrace on Sept 12, 2017 0:52:54 GMT -5
ChristMas Miracle
After the Recovery I was still living in Arizona and I needed to find a larger home for my children. The little trailer we had rented was quite small for three kids and a large dog. So I started driving around looking for a vacant house. I had always found homes this way. It was not long before I seen an abandoned home in need of love. I inquired of the neighbors who owned the home and contacted him. I assured him I would clean up the yard and bring life to the home if he would just rent it to me. He agreed.
This house was a small abandoned ranch. Old but unique with character. There was a small barn with a corral and a small bunk house. There were also a couple of pens that were on the property. The land it sat on was not much more than a half acer. We could do this! It was a little labor but we managed to clean the yard and home making it suitable to move in.
We did not have a lot furniture as the trailer we rented came furnished. So the next quest was to find beds and things. On a waitress wage this was not going to be easy. I had just upped my expenses to put us in a home. We picked up a few things from second hand stores. A preacher in town heard about us and his church donated some chairs to go with the table I found, He also gave us beds. Little by little we had the home furnished with a chair and couch, dresser and even a buffet. No need for a TV we did not want one. We had not had a TV for several years. The yard was cleaned up and I planted flowers. Which by the way did not show any blossoms for three years… after we moved they all popped up!
Things were holding on and I was making ends meet. The children had more room to run and all was going well until ChristMas. I needed some things to make it look like the season, I thought. For the children! Yet the budget was not allowing any wiggle room.
The place I worked was a truck stop and on this day a Mayfair truck pulled into the establishment. It seems they were having a layover for some reason of repairs so I was given time to talk to the two men while working. One was the driver and the other just a rider. The rider took a big interest in me and wrote me a poem. I did not have any interest, but continued being a friendly waitress.
These two were stuck in our town for three days. I found out they were Christians so I invited them over for dinner at my home. It was the right thing to do, the driver was a married man with children and they both were polite.
It was now one week away from ChristMas. The house has no decorations, etc. It was a simple dinner nothing fancy nonetheless it was home cooked and full of quality time of hospitality. My children loved company and made these two feel right at home,
While I was out of the room, one of them notice that I had an overdue utility bill laying on the buffet I had forgotten to put away. (nosey!) After they left I noticed there was money laying on the bill to pay it.
The next day a knock on the door brought a ChristMas tree, along with a stand to put it up. Yes these two had picked us up a tree, delivered it to our door, and set it up in the dining room before they left town. Guess a little kindness goes a long way. My Children were excited. We spent the evening stringing popcorn and making decorations. It was beginning to feel like ChristMas. Yet, still no gifts.
ChristMas Eve came and I was working and praying to make enough tips so I could buy a gift for the children. At least one! By the end of my shift I was blessed with a little extra. I went to the store next door to the restaurant before it closed. With my meager earnings of the day I found that there were not a lot of choices. I finally settled on three sweaters and bought them. Wrapping them in newspaper I set them under the tree that night.
The children we very gracious and thankful. They did not expect any gifts so to find one was a joy to them. We spent the day eating hotdogs & macaroni & cheese. We read the ChristMas story and talked about Jesus. To this day I hear from my oldest that this was one of her most favorite ChristMas’s. She felt the love that comes with the true meaning of ChristMas.
WHEN WE THINK THINGS ARE LOST AND THERE IS NO WAY. OUR FATHER GOD PROVIDES SIMPLE WAYS TO KISS US AND LET US KNOW HE LOVES US. HE OFTEN USES PEOPLE TO DISPLAY HIS HEART.
After the Recovery I was still living in Arizona and I needed to find a larger home for my children. The little trailer we had rented was quite small for three kids and a large dog. So I started driving around looking for a vacant house. I had always found homes this way. It was not long before I seen an abandoned home in need of love. I inquired of the neighbors who owned the home and contacted him. I assured him I would clean up the yard and bring life to the home if he would just rent it to me. He agreed.
This house was a small abandoned ranch. Old but unique with character. There was a small barn with a corral and a small bunk house. There were also a couple of pens that were on the property. The land it sat on was not much more than a half acer. We could do this! It was a little labor but we managed to clean the yard and home making it suitable to move in.
We did not have a lot furniture as the trailer we rented came furnished. So the next quest was to find beds and things. On a waitress wage this was not going to be easy. I had just upped my expenses to put us in a home. We picked up a few things from second hand stores. A preacher in town heard about us and his church donated some chairs to go with the table I found, He also gave us beds. Little by little we had the home furnished with a chair and couch, dresser and even a buffet. No need for a TV we did not want one. We had not had a TV for several years. The yard was cleaned up and I planted flowers. Which by the way did not show any blossoms for three years… after we moved they all popped up!
Things were holding on and I was making ends meet. The children had more room to run and all was going well until ChristMas. I needed some things to make it look like the season, I thought. For the children! Yet the budget was not allowing any wiggle room.
The place I worked was a truck stop and on this day a Mayfair truck pulled into the establishment. It seems they were having a layover for some reason of repairs so I was given time to talk to the two men while working. One was the driver and the other just a rider. The rider took a big interest in me and wrote me a poem. I did not have any interest, but continued being a friendly waitress.
These two were stuck in our town for three days. I found out they were Christians so I invited them over for dinner at my home. It was the right thing to do, the driver was a married man with children and they both were polite.
It was now one week away from ChristMas. The house has no decorations, etc. It was a simple dinner nothing fancy nonetheless it was home cooked and full of quality time of hospitality. My children loved company and made these two feel right at home,
While I was out of the room, one of them notice that I had an overdue utility bill laying on the buffet I had forgotten to put away. (nosey!) After they left I noticed there was money laying on the bill to pay it.
The next day a knock on the door brought a ChristMas tree, along with a stand to put it up. Yes these two had picked us up a tree, delivered it to our door, and set it up in the dining room before they left town. Guess a little kindness goes a long way. My Children were excited. We spent the evening stringing popcorn and making decorations. It was beginning to feel like ChristMas. Yet, still no gifts.
ChristMas Eve came and I was working and praying to make enough tips so I could buy a gift for the children. At least one! By the end of my shift I was blessed with a little extra. I went to the store next door to the restaurant before it closed. With my meager earnings of the day I found that there were not a lot of choices. I finally settled on three sweaters and bought them. Wrapping them in newspaper I set them under the tree that night.
The children we very gracious and thankful. They did not expect any gifts so to find one was a joy to them. We spent the day eating hotdogs & macaroni & cheese. We read the ChristMas story and talked about Jesus. To this day I hear from my oldest that this was one of her most favorite ChristMas’s. She felt the love that comes with the true meaning of ChristMas.
WHEN WE THINK THINGS ARE LOST AND THERE IS NO WAY. OUR FATHER GOD PROVIDES SIMPLE WAYS TO KISS US AND LET US KNOW HE LOVES US. HE OFTEN USES PEOPLE TO DISPLAY HIS HEART.
