November 17, 2018

               The beginning of November I took a trip to WalMart with my almost 2yo. He had no shoes that were fitting his growing big feet. I decided to take a trip to Wally World for some shoes, just a couple pairs for the time being. This was the first time in my life (that I can recall) I have walked in a store & only grabbed what I actually said I was going for. I did not walk around & browse, I walked directly to shoes, tried on 4 pairs, & walked directly to the self check-out. After checking out, I stopped at the Dunkin’ Donuts within the WalMart, grabbed donuts, coffee & juice for the entire family. 

Now I only mention all of this because of what happens next. After walking out of WalMart, I was heading to the car. Now this is something I have always done since having my son. Set him up before getting everything else in the car. I took him out of the carriage, placed him in his carseat, took off his coat, strapped him into his carseat, laid his blanket over his lap, & placed my phone in the Buggygear Phone Holder with a movie. As I turned to start to get the cart, a woman in a silver Toyota RAV4 parked next to me, was pulling away. She sees a habitat for humanity sticker on his window. She asked if I had a habitat house I said “No I wish.”

She hands me $40 & says “This is a blessing you are such a good mom.” I was in such shock, I tried very hard not to cry.  I kept asking “Are you sure.” As I tried to give it back,  she stated “Yes, keep it” & drove away. Each day a person struggles with themselves. We all have this image of ourselves that we are trying to accomplish. There are days where I am very hard on myself, I always feel like I could be doing more. We always have to stop & think. Look at how far you have come!

Well, due to such a blessing, I decided to use that $40 towards something where I could pay it forward as well. I was in Hobby Lobby shortly after this encounter, advertised was Shoeboxes along with forms for the Shoebox Donations for the Samaritan Purse. Truly I think this was a sign, I later purchased 2 shoeboxes & started to fill them with items listed on the  website link below:

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

I have dropped off the boxes to local church in the area collecting each year for the  Samaritan Purse.1632 & counting has been raised so far for the Samaritan Purse, that was just our local church. 2 boxes were donated, 1 from The Flores Family & the other from Miss Monet’s Dance Studio. 

I just would like to say a HUGE Thank You to the woman in the Silver Toyota RAV4. The $40 was put to such great use. Nothing is a better feeling than paying it forward.