Christmas miracles

OK, so I am a few weeks behind, I formally apologize. I will try to do better. Yes, this blogging stuff takes FOREVER but I will perservere because I don't journal and this is so much more fun! Plus, I've started to recieve some comments which is fun so I'll keep it up!

This Christmas was filled with miracles:

The first lesson I learned was a renewed love for and strengthened testimony in my Savior, Jesus Christ.

This winter has proven to be very tight financially. When things are tight, I get down and depressed. I ended up saying "Screw it!" and whipped out my little credit card. (a HUGE no-no!!! since we've been debt free for 3 years!) Well, two weeks before Christmas, my van decided to quit working while I was driving it home from church. What a blessing this turned out to be! This caused my DH and I to sit down, talk about finances, talk about things we hadn't been saying (ummm, was it really the credit card I needed? I think not.) We were humbled by this threat of not having a van, not having any money to buy a new one, and the credit card debt we(I) had incurred. This scare brought us to our knees together. We prayed that our van would be ok and that it would not be anything major and that it would last us at least 6 more months. We put ourselves and our own pettyness aside and sought out the Lord's will and council. (Yes, I know this is what we should be doing all the time but sometimes, we don't) Jesus says; "Ask and ye shall recieve, knock and it shall be opened unto you". Why then do we not ask? or knock? Well, I was humbled-greatly! I had my van towed to this great repair shop in Waldorf after taking the advice of the tow guy. It was full of honest, nice, and competent people. They told me it was just the serpetine belt that slipped off and I got my van back for only $58! I could not believe it! "O ye of little faith" My van is a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan with 180,000 miles on it. I thought it was toast but our prayers were answered and it is still going strong! We were able to drive up to Syracuse for the blessing of my new nephew, Wyatt, and hang out with my family in beautiful, snowy NY. Our van got us there and back and is trucking on and on!

Miracle number 2:

I won't go into much detail or disclose the identity of the individual, however, a person whom I have not seen or talked with in 15 years felt impressed by the Lord to send our family a monetary Christmas gift. It was not much money by today's standards. However, like with the van, I was humbled by the gesture. I was frankly shocked, in awe, and felt humbled and somewhat unworthy. You see, I had been very down. I tend to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and not ask or allow anyone to help me. This time though, I actually got to the point where I did ask for help and didn't receive it the way I thought I should. I desperately needed to know that someone out there knew me, loved me, and was willing to serve me. This came in the form of a friend whom I have not communcated with in over 15 years. When this person contacted me and told me of his prayerful inquiry as to who he should serve this Christmas and when he told me of the revelation he and his wife got and my name was in it!-I felt the Spirit so strong! I knew that Jesus was aware of me. I knew He knew me, my struggles, and my thoughts and feelings. Better yet, my testimony of His love for me was tremendously strengthened. I am grateful for this servant who was willing to be an instrument in his hands to bless my family, my life, and my testimony.

Lesson learned?: I will pay it forward based off of this