Manna from heaven

It's really hard on almost anyone when the bottom looks like it's going to fall out. You know what I mean - those little and big things that happen as part of life and home ownership that just come at ya when you are least expecting them.

That's what happened to us. And my frugality isn't what saved us. It was God. Just like He provided food for the Israelites as they wondered around the desert in the form of manna, He provided for us this week. And just like manna, which was provided just for that day with the instruction to not be greedy, not to store it or it would go bad, this gift was also just the right amount. In sharing this, I am only doing it to thank God and share our blessing with others. It's not in any way meant to be braggardly. We've been there, done that when it comes to financial woes. We've gotten by when the income was $1300 a month and rent was $800. It's not about us - it's about what God has provided.

I'll go back to the beginning of December. The first issue was our property tax. We pay these ourselves at the end of the year instead of having an escrow account (long story), but due to poor planning, well, we were in a lurch, but it was handled. Not great, but okay, we'll deal, we can make that bill.

One day in early December, I noticed an inch wide stream of water pouring down the wall in our bedroom during . Not good. Got a guy to come out and check out the problem. Turns out, the flashing on the roof at the chimney was not done correctly a few years back, resulting in a water seep. Great. Estimate - $1600. Yikes! And right at Christmas. We had someone else come and do a patch fix, and so far, it's worked okay, but not perfect. We've got to take care of the flashing soon. Ka-ching!

Then our most used TV went out. I know, I know, TV isn't a necessity. But it went out a few days before Christmas, and ironically, we had discussed forgoing presents for me and Dear Hubby and just getting a new one anyway. We decided to wait instead. Suddenly, the TV stops turning on, and there ya go.

Four days after Christmas, we got hit with the Big One. Our gas furnace that covers our main level and our basement stopped working completely. Get our regular company to come check it out, and we're told all kinds of stuff, including that to repair it, we're looking at $1K, but it couldn't be done for another week because the part had to be ordered. They couldn't get someone out for an estimate until the next day, and with the New Year holiday, that meant four more days without heat (and we've got lows in the teens right now). Got another company for the furnace estimate, and another long story somewhat short, we weren't given the whole story - there was actually a crack in the pan in the furnace, which was downright dangerous, and even if we did the $1K repair, we were at risk for a CO2 leak (and no, he wasn't just trying to get us to buy a new furnace - we already passed on the repair and were buying a furnace anyway). So, we got a new furnace. MAJOR ka-ching!!

Now to God's blessing. Dear Hubby has worked his tail off at work this year, but with the economy, things were down. It wasn't his fault, the work just wasn't flowing like normal. We didn't expect a bonus at all, but he got one. And you know what? When we add all of our expenses above up, it comes out to almost EXACTLY the amount of the bonus check that landed in our hands the day after the furnace died. YES!! God provided EXACTLY the amount we needed. No more, no less. Just like the manna from heaven. God knew what we needed. He knew that we were going to be in dire straits - we were looking at HAVING to go in to more debt, which just makes our stomach churn. Yes, he gave us some fun funds in there, too, but He provided. Thanks be to God!