Blessings

You wouldn't think that we would still be dealing with the ramifications of the smoke damage we incurred in our previous home from two years ago, but from time to time we are reminded of how much we really lost.  Christmas always brings reminders because our home was decorated for Christmas when the smoke enveloped everything we own.  One of the things that was a loss was our artificial Christmas tree.  We love the real ones but couldn't justify the cost of purchasing a real tree each year when we owned the fake one.  We had it because one Christmas, a long time ago, Alan and I waited too long to purchase our tree.  It was only a few days before Christmas and all of the tree lots were empty.  The only place we could find a tree was at Walmart and it was their last one and it was on clearance.  So, we broke down and bought the fake tree.  Each year we revisited buying a real tree, but in the end the fake one went up because we couldn't justify spending the money.

Without our tree, we purchased a live tree last year.  We thought about replacing the artificial one last year but they don't make them without lights anymore and they have become quite expensive.  With the economy downturn and money being tight, we really didn't think we were going to be able to get a tree this year.  It isn't a horrible thing, but it definitely puts a damper on the festivities.  The kids would have been fine and we would have made due with our tiny tree Jacob made in Preschool.  But, we thought it was important and decided to deal with this problem on our knees.  I am continually amazed and how personally invested our Heavenly Father is in our happiness.  The details of our lives are important to Him and all we need do is ask for the assistance from Him to help us realize our dreams.  Now some would say that we make our plans a reality on our own, but I know that I am led in this life by a higher power and that if I am willing to do my part, He will show me the way.

Like most families, we have prayed for help to have a happy Christmas this year and part of those prayers included how we would get a tree.  We were at the DI yesterday dropping off some donations and decided to go inside and check things out.  After finding Sarah some much needed clothes, we went into the yard area to meet up with Alan and Daniel.  Unfortunately, Jacob is in school still because he is on a different schedule than the other two.  Anyway, while Daniel and Sarah were playing on the air hockey table, Alan and I found a  huge pile of artificial Christmas trees in boxes.  We started poking through them in an uncommitted sort of way until we came across one that was brand new just like our old tree, never used for $10!  The tag said that it was sold, our hopes dashed.  We only had $10 and the other trees were more expensive because they had lights on them already.  We didn't have plans to buy a tree anyway and almost gave up.  Then while looking at another, "more loved" tree, I came across a tag someone had tossed on the pile which had found its way inside the box.  It was the tag from the new tree!  It hadn't been sold, someone had just removed the item available tag and made it look like it had sold.  We were blown away!  What are the chances others had looked at that tree and passed it up too because they thought it was already sold?  There it sat, just waiting for us to do the work and find it.  
Now you may think this a small thing in the grand scheme of life, but to us this year, it was a Christmas Miracle.