#holiday miracles

[unsettlingstories]

When my holiday fam’ly comes flocking, I pray they’ll call prior to knocking. ‘cause if they barge in, and catch me mid-sin, they’ll see more than coal stuffed up my stocking.

[ravynfyre]

So. Since it seems to be a done deal now, I won't make all y'all wait until friday. Let me introduce you to Duchess:

She comes from a neglect case in Tennessee, and I was officially approved to adopt her just this morning. She's joining a transport of 9 other senior dogs coming up fro the south, that will arrive Friday.

This past week has been... really hard. It's been 20 years since I haven't had a malinois in the house... and I love my sighthounds, and I love my pyrs, but there is just an energy that is *missing* now, and I wasn't coping well. but then a friend reached out to me because a rescue they follow was desperately seeking a holiday miracle for Duchess, because she was handling life in the shelter about as well as I was handling life in a quiet house. Some quick scrambling and some paperwork, and 24 hours later... and we have a miracle for *both* of us.

Friday, I pick Pyro up from the mortuary. And after that, I meet the transport to meet and pick up Duchess. None of my dogs have ever "replaced" anyone that came before them, so that's not what will happen here. But just knowing that I'm going to have the crazy back in my house, even muted as it will be, has made today feel... so much less dark and hopeless. I hope that I really can be the miracle she needed.

[thecaptainkindofgirl]

Though Christmas day has come and gone, due to my parent's recent divorce, my Christmas is not yet over. In my spending for presents in an attempt to give my younger siblings the Christmas they deserve after spending last year's holiday season packing up the house we grew up in, I ended up with not quite enough to pay my bills for January. Opening presents this morning, I came upon a card from my "step-grandparents" with a fifty dollar bill inside. Just enough to cover the rest of my bills. I wanted to cry tears of relief. So Happy Holidays everyone...keep your eyes out for your own holiday miracles.

[inlanddaily-blog-blog]

Faith’s Holiday Miracles set for Sunday

VICTORVILLE • Charity organizations throughout the High Desert and Southern California will come together for a holiday event this Sunday at the Green Tree Inn.

Faith’s Holiday Miracles begins Sunday with a blood drive at 9 a.m. to honor 10-year-old…

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[jeffreypjacobs]

Secret Santa... at a KMart Near You.

Perhaps you have heard about this groundswell of goodwill. Folks walking into mass merchants- the most frequency seems to be at KMart- and anonymously paying off Layaway accounts.

Have to admit, I liked the idea so well, I did it myself yesterday.

I liked it even better AFTER I did it. In case you are considering it, here's how smoothly it worked for me:

I went to a local Big KMart, and back to the Layaway Desk. I had actually thought about what I would need to explain to the clerk, just in case they weren't aware of what was going on in Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere. No need for that- as soon as I said, "I want to pay off an account, I just don't know which one...", the clerk was on the phone to Security. 

"I've got a Secret Santa".

From there, it was easy. The security person relayed accounts about to default. Without disclosing the account holder's names, the clerk and I looked at the account detail and selected ones with primarily toys, and at an amount I wanted to spend. KMart then calls the account holder with their "new" balance. EZ PZ.

I was frankly relieved that I didn't have to explain what I wanted to do, and THAT turned out to be the best part- "Oh no, sir, LOTS of people are doing it". Take that, Mr. Scrooge!

Now, I have heard the cynics suggesting that KMart is somehow gaining itself from all this generosity. A quick check of both the KMart layaway website (www.kmart.com/Holiday-2011) and their Twitter account, http://twitter.com/Kmart have no mention of Secret Santas. Probably a miss in the PR realm, but save that for another post.

There is, of course, the reality that any retailer offering layaway does stand to gain if the account defaults- merchandise is returned to stock and down payments and service fees are forfeited.

While perhaps a slightly unfortunate part of the retailer' business plan, by being a Secret Santa, you can avoid that happening, too.

Double Bonus. Take my word for it. Double, at least. 

How about you, it there a little "Secret Santa" in you somewhere?

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[tawaretsampleleftelbow]

What pissed you off today Mel?

Nothing.

I can handle Christmas carols this year.

My attitude has changed so much, I barely rant anymore.

My boss is finding me work with her friends.

Things don't piss me off to the point where I want to hit things.

I can afford Christmas presents for my kid this year.

The only time I cry is when I think about how grateful I am that things finally stopped sucking. I get teary eyed.

Like just now I thought about how I can afford Christmas presents for my baby and I'm fucking bawling.

And I don't think I ever told you guys my Christmas miracle...

My landlord gave us the month off of rent for December. Something I was wishing for on every first star and soaring crow... A break, or some help, in whatever form. He said God told him if he was a Christian, then to do something for Christ for his birthday. And he did. He also sent workmen by to patch the house (its falling apart) and paint it. No procrastination. It was done last week.

I may have had moments where I thought I lost my faith, but it always came back around. And though we don't believe in the same God, I think the key thing is to believe in something. Merry Christmas all. And God/Goddess bless us, every one.