Christmas Miracles January 10, 2012

We have had a rough few months. As you know, I’ve been pretty depressed. I feel like there is just more and more crap getting piled on me. But over the last few days, it’s like people have suddenly shown up with shovels to start clearing it away.

Obviously, a big part of our stress is from lack of funds. We were really worried that we wouldn’t be able to get the girls any presents, and it made me really sad. Sarah is getting old enough that she is going to start remembering these things, and I’d hate for the first Christmas she remembers to be one where she didn’t get to celebrate. We knew our ward was going to put their names on the Christmas tree for a Secret Santa thing, so they would be getting at least one present each. And of course grandparents would get them some things. But it’s just not the same when you’re not opening them in your own house, on Christmas morning.

Well, a few weeks ago Anthony’s dad and step-mom mailed us a check to buy presents for the girls. We held onto it for a while, and then the potential client said they wanted to come tour our facility. We ended up using the money to renew our business insurance, and make a few repairs at the house. I was so disappointed that we were again going to be without Christmas presents, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Within the next week, we miraculously got the same amount of money. Someone in our ward anonymously gave us a jar of all the change they’ve collected over the year, I got a reimbursement check from the U (apparently, they over billed me when Sarah was born), Anthony sold back his text books, etc. We got so excited and started planning what we’d get the girls, but then we got a call from a bill. We had to pay them all the money we had just received so we could keep our business going. Again, I felt so let down. I knew that these were things we needed to pay, and I was grateful for Heavenly Father for getting us the money so we could take care of things, but I really just wanted the bills to get paid AND to get the girls presents.

A few days later, my sister called and asked if she could come over. She showed up with bottled peaches, 5 lbs of honey, a jar of apple jam, a case of chicken noodle soup, and some cash and gift cards. Of course I cried, and then Anthony and I rushed out to buy a few presents before something else could come up.

I was feeling so much better, and then this week happened. Wednesday night, we all went with Anthony to make a delivery to Provo. On the way down, we got a flat tire on the side of the freeway. It as snowing and BITTER cold. Anthony got all the bolts off the tire, but then couldn’t get the tire off. At just that moment, the highway courtesy vehicle showed up. The guy got out with a mallet, and a policeman pulled up behind us to direct traffic away from the car while Anthony and the other guy finished changing the tire. We finished our delivery and drove home on a donut.

The next day, Anthony was driving to get my present. When he pulled into the parking lot, the brake pads suddenly fell off the van. He called me and I got a babysitter and went out to drive the Subaru out to him. The Subaru is not currently registered, which is why he took the van with a donut. When I tried to start the Subaru, it was dead. Luckily, at that exact second, my neighbor’s mom was coming out of the house next door. She came over and tried to jump the Subaru, but it didn’t work. So she gave me a ride out to Anthony with our tools and we stopped to get the brake pads. When we got there, he discovered that I had brought every tool we own, except the 2 he needed. My neighbor’s mom took me back home, and then the Relief Society President drove me back out to Anthony, and then back home. I waited and waited, and after an hour and a half I started calling Anthony. His phone kept going straight to voicemail. After another 10 minutes, I called my sister and asked if she’d come get me and take me to look for him. Right before she left her house, he walked in the door. It turns out the caliper had over-extended and seized, so we’d have to take the van to a mechanic. His phone had died, so he ended up walking home almost 5 miles. He had wind burn on his legs and face. It was very sad.

I called around to mechanics and found someone who would tow and who seemed to be reasonably priced. But no matter how cheap the repair is, it’s too expensive when you don’t have any money. I started to consider returning the presents we had bought, but I called our bishop first to see if the ward might be able to help us. As much as I don’t want to ask the church to pay something like this, we CAN’T be without a car, or Anthony can’t work. The bishop sad they’d work it out.

The next day, my neighbor drove me to our car so we could meet the tow truck. When the mechanic got it back to his shop, he found out the rotors were bad on both front tires, plus he had to replace a caliper, plus replace the brake pads. I called back the bishop and asked if that would be too much for the ward, but he asked for the name of the mechanic and said it would be fine. Next thing I knew, the mechanic called and told me that a lady was there who wanted to pay for the whole repair. she didn’t tell him her name, just paid for the car and left. I cried when he hung up the phone, and then the bishop showed up with a box and a garbage bag full of presents for the girls. I cried again. He told me that someone came and asked him for the name of the mechanic, and another family got us all the Christmas presents.

Then today, we went to my nieces baptism. I was glad I had an opportunity to share my testimony, even if it’s only on a sheet of paper. I was so grateful that our van was fixed so we were able to go. Shortly after we got home, someone knocked on the door. I answered, and it was a man and woman I don’t know. They said they were from Sub for Santa, and they gave us even more presents for the girls.

This month has been so hard, but I think it was worth it because I found out just how much people love us. I can’t express my gratitude for the generosity and thoughtfulness of everyone who has helped us lately. I love you all so much, and I can’t wait to be in a situation where I can pay it forward to someone else in a rough patch. I love our church and our ward for bringing people together and introducing me to such a wonderful group of people. I think my mechanic said it best when he told me that my Heavenly Father must be looking out for me.

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