** Due to the increasing severity of MY ILLNESS, it has become impossible for me to continue to post on a regular basis. Unfortunately, as much as I desperately long to, I am also unable to visit each of your blogs often or reciprocate all the loving, supportive comments many of you continue to leave - even though at times it may appear as though you've arrived at some long ago, forsaken blog! With that said, I really want you to know that I miss every single one of you and that I really am still here! I'm just too sick and too weak most days to be able to sit up long enough to create a brand new post...or even read one. However, I absolutely do receive AND read every new encouraging word you leave (and, often, the old ones, again and again!) and I cherish them now more than ever! I truly appreciate your love, support, and, most importantly, your precious time spent on your knees in prayer for my family and me. It ALL means the world to me and I am truly blessed to have friends like you!
~Hugs and Sister Love, Teresa

FYI: All comments come to my email, which I can easily read on my phone. I also enjoy Facebook on my phone because I can catch up on A LOT in a very short time there. Soooo, if you're on Facebook, come 'friend' me there! {{HUGS}} **

Monday, December 14, 2009

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER


You've all probably seen those crazy Lexus 'December To Remember' commercials where the beautiful car sits outside with the giant red bow on top, then the unsuspecting new owner is totally surprised when they walk outside. Well, several years ago, I had my very own December To Remember!

You see, my husband had been out of work for a long, long time and our car was on its last leg. I never knew when it was going to break down and leave me and my girls stranded on the side of the road. My Dodge Intrepid had been a really awesome car, but it had traveled over 220,000 miles and was just barely hanging on by a thread. So, I started praying for the Lord to provide us with a new car, any kind of car. Somehow. Some way.

On Christmas Day in 2004, my whole family gathered at my parents' house, just like we always do. We ate our Christmas dinner and then got settled in to start opening up our Christmas presents. As my dad began opening his gifts, my sister informed him that his gift from her family was still in their truck because it was too big to wrap. As we were finishing up with the presents, everyone stood up and headed outside to see my dad's final gift. I told my mom that I would just stay inside because it was so cold and I really wasn't feeling too well. My mom and sister insisted that I come outside with the rest of the family. So, I reluctantly followed along behind the rest of the crowd.

As we made our way out the back door, I noticed a car in the driveway that had not been there when we arrived earlier in the day. It sat there all shiny and bright with a great big red bow on top! I just stood there kind of dazed and confused. I thought we were out there to see some tools my dad was getting and instead it appeared that someone was about to be surprised with a new car! Wow, I thought, how awesome for them! Then, before I could put things together in my mind, my brother-in-law threw a set of keys at me and exclaimed, 'MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!' I just stood there in shock for a moment and then the tears started coming. I could not believe what I was hearing....OR seeing! Everyone was standing there, obviously in on the surprise, and smiling back at me. It was for me!!

It was not a Lexus but it was still a very beautiful car! My sister and her (now ex) husband, who was the body shop manager at a major car dealership at the time, had worked very hard to find a car that was in excellent working order to replace mine. This almost-brand-new rental car had been involved in a minor fender-bender and was brought to the dealership. Neither the insurance company nor the rental company wanted to pay to have it repaired, so my BIL was able to buy it at a fraction of what it would have cost on the lot. He and my sister paid to have it totally repaired and completely repainted. They also had new tires, brakes and everything else needed to make it 'brand new'. Finally, it was detailed, inside and out, and then delivered to my parents house on a truck so that it would stay completely clean and beautiful until I saw it! It looked and smelled just like a brand spankin' new car! And it never cost me a penny.

I have never been so surprised in all my life. It truly was MY 'Lexus Red Bow Moment' and such an amazing blessing from the Lord!!


What is the most surprising gift you've ever received? Tell me about it in the comments!


Also, Target and TwitterMoms want to hear about your most surprising, interesting, sentimental, or creative gift you've ever received. You could win a $100 Gift Card from Target! Head over to TwitterMoms and get the details!

 

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

How my now husband got my friends to get me up a mountain so he could surprise me with his proposal of marriage was an awesome gift. Awesome.

My best, Lynn

I'm a full-time mummy said...

Wow! That was awesome! I wish I could have a car! ;p (hint*hint*... bah, my hubby's not reading this anyway.. )

Erm...my most surprising gift so far would have to be my birthday this year, which is getting to eat my McDonald's McChicken set (minus the soft drinks). Hubby planned a surprise birthday party for me and got me the meal.

Being a Chinese, we are surrounded by lots of old folks who still believes in superstitious thinking (although we broke most of it)

One of them was during the 1 month after you delivered, you are not supposed to drink cold stuff, no fried stuff, cover yourself up, no shower, no shampoo, no wash hair, etc etc.

So getting to eat my McDonald's meal 10 days after I delivered was really awesome... especially if you've been downing soups and herbal drinks and bread and noodles all the time...

Jane In The Jungle said...

Nothing as surprising as that!!!
You go girl!

Amandasaurus said...

WOW. That is some gift. When I turned 11 I got a laptop, which makes me sound hopelessly spoiled but perhaps I can balance that out by pointing out I was in the midst of writing my first novel at the time....

christy rose said...

wow! How awesome! I had tears streaming as I read this! Surprises are not easy to pull off. They did good! Never had anything top that in my life. But I have had many December to Remembers. :) Merry Christmas to you this year too!

Unknown said...

reading this brought me to tears!!!
ask.believe.receive.
I will always remember last Christmas because we found out I was pregnant on Dec 19th...it was the best gift ever!

Kelly said...

What an incredible surprise! My parents surprised me with a car once. I saw it in the driveway and thought it was theirs. Nope, it was for me, just in time for our new baby.

Crown of Beauty said...

This is such a lovely story, Teresa and had me in tears by the time I got through reading it.

You know, as I was re reading the post I did for yesterday Dec 14, I sensed GOd moving me to dedicate it to five blog friends. You are one of them, God is thinking of you through me!

Love
Lidj

septembermom said...

What a beautiful story about generosity and love. A car is a great gift! One time, my husband got me tickets to one of my favorite musicals. It was very special to me. Hope you're doing well, Teresa!

Shell said...

What a fabulous present!

Unknown said...

Wow, what a great story! What a great family! What a fabulous God!!!

Just a SITStah stoppin' by to say hi! :)

Crystal Renee said...

Well, first thing I wanted to say is Thank you! For stopping by my blog and reading my post. Yes, it means a lot to me, and it would mean even more. I don't believe in coincidence either, so I know God placed me there :) He is good.

Your story is absolutely AMAZING! How sweet and loving your family is. And you brother in law to be included, would have meant the world to me.

My most surprising gift, was my birthday some years back. When my husband proposed to me. It wasn'ta fancy ring or anything,but it was the sentiment and value. I knew, and know, that he is my soulmate and I was delighted to become his wife!!

Miss Dot said...

What an amazing story! God was truly at work in your life that Christmas. Thanks for sharing :)

Peggy said...

WOW! WOW! What an amazing gift!

I think my most amazing gift came six weeks after I wrote down that I wanted to be in a long-term, healthy relationship that was fun, romantic and passionate with he who was worthy. I had been divorced for four years, survived breast cancer, and was ready to be with my soul mate.

Six weeks after writing down who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, the first boy I ever feel in love with "found" me on classmates.com. We hadn't seen or spoken to one another in 25 years. We met for coffee the day after he emailed me and five months later we were married...We're about to celebrate our 4th Christmas together as husband and wife and I couldn't be happier!

SITS sent me over!

Peggy

Kathryn said...

Aww what a wonderful surprise! It is so amazing how God provides!

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

WOWOWOW! I've always wanted to get a car for Christmas, although there's no way my husband could pull off a surprise like that!

My best Christmas gift... my daughter! I blogged about this last week, but two years ago, I was very bummed I had miscarried my first pregnancy, and wanted nothing more than to have a baby. For Christmas, my hubby gave me a Precious Moments figurine and a card that urged me to BELIEVE.

I didn't at the time, but I should have.

I was already four days pregnant!

~Elizabeth
http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com

Aleta said...

Awww, this brought tears to my eyes. How incredibly sweet of them and what a wonderful surprise and great memory!!!

A Nerd and A Free Spirit said...

Wow... what agreat surprise. I remember getting a keyboard when I was a little girl. I LOVED it.

~Kathryn

Anonymous said...

Clearly, I am feeling a little emotional at this special timeof year... that story was so touching it brought tears to my eyes.

I've never received a gift of that maginitude, and the Best Christmas Gift I ever got was not a gift at all...

I started dating Jason in May 2007 - just over two years after I got separated and eventually divorced. As the holidays approached, I was not sure what I would be doing on Christmas Day, since I worked nights at the time (weekends AND holidays) so I couldn't go visit my out of town family. A few weeks before the big day, I was in his parents' kitchen chatting with his mother when she told me their Christmas plans were to have a quiet day at home and order Chinese take-out (which is their holiday tradition). She went on to say: "What time will you be home from work in the morning so we can start opening presents?" That simple invitation to join his family for their Christmas Day traditions, essentially welcoming me into the family, was the best gift ever!

2Wired2Tired said...

What a wonderful story! It's made even better by the fact that you had absolutely no idea and weren't even going to go outside.

One of my favorite gift memories is a huge whale stuffed animal that my husband, boyfriend at the time, surprised me with by having my parents give it to me since we were celebrating Christmas in seperate states.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome story - it brought tears to my eyes! Thank you for sharing it.

One of the most surprising, and best, gifts I received was a beautiful life-size baby doll from my mom & dad when I was a little girl. I knew they couldn't afford it so I definitely wasn't expecting it. I still have it and it's a treasure I'll always keep.

Xenia said...

Wow, that's an amazing story! I definitely don't have anything memorable like that. You have such a wonderful family to do something like that for you!

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