Two In One

Day 5 ~ I am so thankful for unexpected blessings. God knows just what we need when we need it. :-)

Example:  A few weeks ago, Mimi came home with some papers from school that said her class was going on a field trip.  Yay!! Ummm no, not when I got the details. 

The field trip is in December....about two weeks from Christmas and they are going to the Tennessee Aquarium, an IMAX movie and then to Rock City.  For my child to go was going to be $83 and if a parent or chaperone wanted to go, then it would be $109.  WHAT????  HOW MUCH????  $200 TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS???? AND THEY ARE JUST NOW TELLING US ABOUT IT!!!! Grrrrrrrr!

Immediately my thoughts were....who planned this trip? They must have money because no one in their right mind would plan a trip that costs this much two weeks before Christmas and with them only giving us about two paycheck periods to pay for it.  Who is this person? I have some words for them!!!

After I calmed down, David and I talked it over and said that if she was going to be allowed to even go on the field trip, then one of us would most definitely have to go with her since they would be traveling so far away. 

Then we talked back and forth about whether or not we could afford  to go. I mean, it's two weeks before Christmas.  In adult terminology....that's Christmas money.  We made the decision that we probably shouldn't spend the money to go with Christmas being so close and we had, for the most part, told Mimi that she would not be able to go. I think it bothered her some, but I think she understood it. 

Well, this past Tuesday, my dad called me and started asking me about the trip.  Like, when it was, how much, when did the money have to be turned in etc.  I told him that we had pretty much decided that is was a no-go for us. Then he started talking about how him and Judi had never given me a birthday present.  My birthday was in August. And honestly, I hadn't thought about it at all.  His next words were......"well, Happy Birthday! We are going to give you the money so that you and Mimi can go on her field trip.  We know that it would mean a lot to her to go and for you to be able to go with her, so, Happy Birthday!"   I was shocked! Grateful! Thankful and so appreciative! I hung up with my dad and started crying! God knew in my heart how much I wanted Mimi to be able to go and how much I wanted to go with her. It broke my heart to have to tell her she couldn't go and God provided a way for us to be able to go! He is so good and loving and I am just so thankful for the way He demonstrates that love to us. He cares about the little details of our lives.....not just the big ones!! I feel so blessed by Him and by my dad and Judi.  Thank you!!

Day 6 ~ Today, I am thankful for my friends. Friends in the past who have helped shape me into the person I am today. Friends in the present who love me for who I am now and not for what I could be or because I do or don't fit some mold, and friends who make me laugh and are there for me no matter what. I'm even thankful for the friends I haven't met yet but know that they will come into my life in God's perfect time. If I've known you for a really long time or just a short time, or if I see you all the time or hardly at all, please know you are special to me and will always be considered a friend!