I had so much fun today!
 

First I have to share a little background to this story with you:

The week before Thanksgiving, my niece's best friend lost her fiance. He was 32 years old and died in his sleep. The autopsy said that he had a defective heart valve that he never knew about and coupled with sleep apnea, when his heart valve flopped during an apnea episode, there was nothing there to get him restarted and that's why he died. He was not a bad guy. Not a Christian, but not a bad guy.

So anyhow, Shara (Amber's friend) has 4 kids, ages 9, 7, 7 (twins) and 4. This was the only "father" they ever knew. He also left 4 kids by his first wife, who is living with another man (that's a whole other story).

These are not rich people. He worked installing gutters. Honest work, but not alot of money. She is in college. So there is not much money to begin with. And now with his income gone, there is even less.

So Christmas for these 4 kids is a big, big concern. My mom and my brother (neither of whom have much themselves) have been buying a few little things for Shara to give to the kids for Christmas at an auction. Gloves - 12 pairs for $4.00 (enough for all 8 kids), a couple of trucks, some coloring stuff. That's about it. So mom mentions to me what is going on yesterday while we were out to lunch. I agreed that I'd love to help and would see what I could pull out to spend on the kids. But things are pretty tight here too (as they are everywhere).

Right after that conversation, I took Mylee (my daycare baby) to the restroom to change her diaper. Right after I finished changing her, I turned around and looked on the floor behind me and what do I see? Two $50 dollar bills!! What was I to do? If they had had identification with them, I would have mailed them to their owner. But to turn them in to the restaurant staff just means that someone at the restaurant will have a really nice tip today.

So I decided quickly that God was providing a nice Christmas for these 4 kids. I took my niece shopping today. We spent all $100 buying gifts for the kids. We had so much fun!!

What would you have done? I don't feel at all bad about what I did with the money. But I'm curious to know if anyone would have any other ideas how they might have handled it. Just curious, mind you :santathumb

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

I would have done the same thing.

I might have hung outside the restroom for a little bit to see if anyone came in looking for the money, but after that - losers weepers, finders keepers!

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Thanks, Renda. I didn't hang out because there were probably 30 people in the restaurant total at that time. And I had not seen anyone go to the restroom for the whole time we were there. So I assumed that maybe it was someone who had been there earlier??? Plus I was standing there holding a 20 lb. baby. LOL

A few weeks ago, I had a similiar thing happen at Chili's. In that case, I found a wallet stuck between the waiting seat and the wall. I gave that to the host who stuck it under the counter. After they seated us at our table, the family next to us finished up eating. When they did, the father reached in his pocket for his wallet and panicked when it was missing. I was able to lean over and quietly tell him to go ask the host for it because it was at the front desk. He was so relieved!!

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Margie,

There was a story about a mystery Santa leaving $100 dollars in various places-???


Here is the story:
Secret Santas in 3 states spread cheer, $100 bills

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Cool! Did it occur to you that maybe someone dropped them right behind you on purpose??

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Actually, my first thought was that God wanted this lady to know that He is taking care of her. So He provided for her children for Christmas.

I told my niece when I dropped her off with the stuff tonight that her instructions are to tell Shara that GOD provided the money for her children to have Christmas. That it was not my money we spent. It was God's. We just got to be His hands and His feet today. And I told Amber to tell her that she really should consider seriously getting those kids into a good church as soon as possible :santathumb

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Jeanie,

I like this story. I'd love to be able to give out a hundred dollars to a ton of people who need it. Especially at this time of the year.

I don't think this money came from something like that because it was on the floor of the ladies' room in a pretty decent restaurant. Not the kind of place that someone who is needy would be frequenting if you get what what I mean. But on the other hand, who knows?

All I know is that I am convinced that God cares deeply about Shara and her little ones. Not that getting gifts at Christmas is the most important thing in the world. But when you are small like they are and you've just lost the only father you know (their real father was so abusive that CSB forbids him from seeing them. He kicked one of the older children in the face and put his teeth thru his lips when the 4 year old was just a tiny baby (so 4 years ago), anyhow, the pain of losing your 'dad' at this age can be devastating. And then to get up on Christmas morning and find out that there is nothing there because Mom can barely afford food. Well, I think that would be pretty horrible. And I know for sure that God loves the little children. And when they weep, He weeps. When they hurt, He hurts. I believe He provided a way for them to have at least one day when they can just be kids again. And I'm grateful that He allowed me to be a part of His little miracle for them. :christmasfire

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

If it was my money that was lost then found by Margie, I'd be proud that she spent it as she did! Margie, you are a gift from God, truly.

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

Margie- I would have done the same thing and look at is as God providing for a need. I am glad you used it for these children. God Bless them and You.

Re: I had so much fun today!
 

I thought that too!