Once again

I'm reminded of how blessed we are.  Here I have been so stressed out about getting this house sold - but we do have an alternate plan if that doesn't work out (not thrilled with that plan, though).  I've been stressed out about how to get Christmas paid for and how to buy new things for the house.  Oh, and how to get Ster's birthday present, too.  I've been having panic attacks over it.  Lovely, right?

Anyway, yesterday was Ster's birthday so I took the day off to buy his gifts, clean things up and spend time with him.  It so happens that it was the 5th Grade Christmas Store yesterday.  So, I took a gander over to the store to fight little kids for things.  Ster had picked out what he wanted already and was standing guard over it.  Anyway, as I was standing in line to buy Ster's stuff (part of his birthday), he told me that we needed to buy one of his friend's items because his friend was poor and they were going to lose their power if they didn't get some money.  Over and over again he kept telling me that they needed money so we needed to buy something from him.

(Side note:  whatever the kid brings to sell, they get to keep the money from that)

It tugged at my heart strings so I told Ster to go get one.  Then I told him to go get another one.  I couldn't stop thinking about this little friend and him trying to get money for their power. 

As I was paying for it, Ster hollered over to his friend and said that we were buying TWO of his items!  The kids face lit up, he put his hands together like a prayer, and he said "Oh thank you!  Thank you!"

My heart broke.  How sad for that little boy!  I cried when I got home.  I cried when I tried to go to sleep last night!  How heartbreaking for him to be going through that.  He's in 5th grade and already has to deal with his parents' money issues.

I feel for him.  My dad and mom were both unemployed at the same time when I was in 7th grade and we had to move when I was in 8th grade.  I know they didn't mean to do it, but I knew that we were struggling financially and I was worried about it.  I didn't dare ask them for things I needed.  In fact, in 9th grade I wore shoes to school (they were 2 for $5 Kmart shoes) that had holes in the bottom.  It was the middle of winter and my feet would be frozen by the time the bus picked us up.  I remember hearing someone (my mom, probably) talking about how they put cardboard in their shoes when they had holes - so that is what I did.  I cut out cardboard and it helped a little bit.  My mom was mortified when I finally told her (when I was an adult) what I had done.  I'm sure they didn't realize that the comments they made about money made me scared to ask for anything.  And I feel for that little boy.  I know that their Bishop can help them.  But how sad for him.

In fact, I hate hearing about people who have lost their jobs.  I hate to see people come in to work looking for jobs.  I worry myself sick for them.  I worry about people in AF who get their water shut off (even though I know most of them have the money, they just don't spend it wisely - you know, if they have no money for water then how did they pay for the fake nails, hair color and fancy cars?).   It makes me sad for them.  Tim tells me he never has to worry about anything because I worry enough for two people.

I asked Ster how his friend was today.  He told me that they are okay and didn't get their power turned off yet.  

Hopefully I can sleep tonight without worrying about them!