Christmas Miracles

I usually don't stress out (very much) about money. 
We are blessed to have a very regular paycheck so it is easy to budget. 
It is not always easy to live within our budget.  Things seem to come up every month that there was just no way to plan ahead for. 
We have always tried hard to follow the counsel of our church leaders on money management.
It has always worked out. 
We've had our share of scrimping and saving and frustration and tears, but I always know it will work out. 
I've learned to worry less and less because I KNOW the blessings of paying tithing are real.  It is amazing. 

But every year at Christmas I get a little nervous.  We try to set some money aside, but it seems to run out so quickly.  But every year it works out.
 This year we had to cut our gift budget in half, so we spent most of it on birthdays.  I know I can make a great Christmas on just a little money, but I was having a hard time imagining how it would work out this year.  I love the role I play in creating magic and memories for my family, and it was hard to accept that my "plan" wasn't doable.  I cut back and cut back and still it didn't seem like it was going to work. 
Then we balanced the budget for December, and the money was just there. A miracle. I'm sure there's a logical explanation, but I feel so blessed that money we were not expecting was just there.  There was enough for those supplies for all of the children and I to make our homemade gifts.  There was enough for the kids to each have a few inexpensive wishes met.  Enough for stocking stuffers and some nice things for Dallin.  Enough for the things I wanted to get for my parents (our family does a gift rotation and we have them this year.)  Enough for supplies to make popcorn cakes for my neighbors.  (Popcorn cakes create the ultimate smell of Christmas for me.  We spent every year at my Grandma's house, and she always made popcorn cakes for her neighbors and for us.  This is my first time making them!)

I feel so cared for by the Lord when he provides for so many of our wants as well as our needs.  I'm so grateful for the little miracles that make Christmas work out every year!  Why do I ever worry? 

I was nervous that Ruby's Christmas list she wrote for her teacher contained things I hadn't planned for.  She really wanted a pillow pet.  I'm not big on trendy things like this, and pillow pets seem a little silly and expensive.  I had already spent what I was going to spend, but I wasn't sure about pajamas.  My kids usually get pajamas from Santa on Christmas Eve.  They really don't need them this year, and I didn't want to spend the money.  I knew I could make pajamas, but even the cost of fabric is pretty crazy.  I thought of using the fabric I have, and thought it might be a waste of time because the fabric I have in big enough pieces for pajamas is mostly ugly and uncomfortable (my Grandma's collection of polyester knit from the 70's).  I started looking in my fabric and found some fleece and fake furs and velvets.  Not fabric that would make good pajamas, but it might make good pillow-pets!  I decided to give it a try, and the results were fabulous.  I ended up spending no money at all and making some really fun pillow-pets for my kids.  It was a quick and easy project for me, and I got to put a lot of creativity into creating the perfect animal for each kid.  Another miracle.

I've been reading the Christmas Jar(s)? book again, and feeling a little sad that our jar is not as plentiful this year as it has been in past years.  We just haven't had that little leftover grocery money each month lately.  My kids are eating more and more.  I love being a part of a Christmas miracle for somebody in need, and I know there are so many families that qualify this year. 
Today I got a Christmas card that had a rather large sum of "Christmas Cheer" enclosed. 
I got to beef up the Christmas Jar.  Another miracle.

I planned a date with Dallin tonight to get the snow tires put on his car and run a couple of errands.  Thanks to the "Christmas Cheer", we got to go to Sonic for a little dinner.  Our waiter was so amazingly friendly and happy and gracious.  We tipped him some Christmas Cheer.

We got back to the tire store when they were closing.  Dallin went in to pay for the installation.  He gave them a coupon, they rang him up and he gave them his card.  One whispered to the other, and the next thing you know, they say "Merry Christmas! You caught us at the right time." and handed his card back.  He was dumbfounded.  He was thrilled! Another miracle. 

We also found a really great deal on supplies for Dallin to make something for the kids. 

We are so blessed!  I hope we are doing and learning what we should with this multitude of blessings.