Our Best Christmas Gift...

I explained in my last post that we received an interesting, but gracious gift this year. My mom contacted me in early December about a friend of hers that wanted to help Chris and I out financially. Mom called to ask me about how much we owed in medical bills. In my mind, I don't even think I have ever stopped to consider that. We just make payments each month as the bills come in. We just consolidate and then make payments.

This friend and my mom became friends in the second grade, and they had stayed in contact all these years. The couple knew of Cade's medical condition and mom had kept them updated through the last few years.

Mom called me back later in the day and told me that they wanted to help us. (Keep in mind we did not know this couple at all.) There was quite an amount that we owed from when Cade was first born and our insurance didn't cover his surgery at 7 months of age. We had been making payments on that since his birth. My mom made contact with several people to ask for a settlement on the account.(the settlement was about $3000 less than what we owed on the account.) Many of the individuals she talked with that day told her that there was NO WAY they would settle for that amount and had never done that. Guess they don't know my mom. She was pretty persistent and kept calling and the Lord kept working.

When I got home from work that day, mom called to tell me the news. They ACCEPTED the settlement. Not only that, but this gracious couple offered to pay the remainder of the bill. At this point, I was completely speechless. I had no words, and it took me about three weeks to pen a thank you letter. How do you put into words how thankful and appreciative you are to someone you have never met before? This was such a God thing!! He completely orchestrated the entire situation.

Chris and I are so thankful for the Askins. As much as we worry about bills and how we are going to pay them, our Lord is continually asking us to just TRUST...Let it Be!!! Again, as author Sarah Young states, "He is wanting us to exercise our 'trust muscles'.." This was just another time in our lives that He clearly provided for us in a way that we would never have imagined..through complete strangers.
My prayer is that when my worries and stress increase and begin to take a stronghold on my life, I will be reminded of all the ways He has provided for us.
Thank you again to the Askins Family for their gracious and generous gift this Christmas!
To God Alone Be the Glory!!

First Snow of the Year and it was a big One

Sorry for the lack of posting in the last few weeks, we have been extremely busy! We have had a pretty eventful few days. Forecasters were predicting snow for Sunday...only about 1 1/2 ". On our side of town which is West Nashville, we ended up getting about 6 inches. It has been crazy. On top of that, we have had freezing temps as well. Currently it is 19 degrees and it feels like 6..Needless to say we spent about 30 minutes outside today and yesterday.

The weather this year for Nashville has been crazy!! Flood in May, blistering hot weather this summer, and record temps in December! We haven't had snow in December for about 3 years.
So today Chris and I both had our first snow day. Timing was not great due to this being Exam week.

Cade still got some time out in the snow. He shoveled the snow and wanted so bad to build a snowman, but the snow was too powdery..(sp?)

We are gearing up for Christmas. Cade has been so excited this year about Christmas. It was the first year he decorated his tree by himself. He loves all the lights and wants to look at lights on our way home from school each day.
He has learned the carol "Away in a Manger..." too cute!

We hope you all have a Merry Christmas! The Lord gave us a special gift this Christmas and I will share that in another post later!!
Love you all!!
(the first pic of cade was taken by our new neighbors..they live across the street from us and happen to be out walking..she is a great photographer!)