Christmas Bells

Merry Christmas!
This year I have a great story of giving. Not by me but by those who care and love me. Every year I like to find someone who needs a surprise and deliver a small gift to them on Christmas Eve anonymously. This year I have been the recipient of such a gift.
I have been stewing over the last month about the purchase and adoption of some baby ferrets. Something to bring joy, hope, love and comfort to Murphy and myself after a very sad and tumultuous few months. I had been struggling with the financial burden that it would be for me at this time with a reduced income due to the accident and the need to save for Sea To Sea.
On Friday, after a depressing OT evaluation, my friend Karen called to check up on me. She has been concerned about a drift towards sadness that she was afraid would lead to depression. Once again the topic of conversation lead to ferrets. Karen invited me to come to their house for the evening. A chance to get away and be surrounded by people who loved and cared sounded great. I packed up Murphy and headed to KW- My first long drive( 1 hr) since the accident. It was a challenge but I didn't get lost!
Saturday morning we packed up the whole family, Geoff and Karen & their 3 kids Theo(9), Miranda(7) and Emily(5). Off to the pet store we went. There we found two 11 week old males-light coloured sables and a 7week old speckled female. After some cuddling, I was convinced that I would take the larger of the 2 males. The other one was clawing at the cage, they had been together their whole lives. "Come on", said Karen,"You can't leave that one behind. Don't worry about the money. Merry Christmas from us". Such an extravagant gift of love from people who already give me so much. Especially when it means that they are looking after 3 ferrets now while I am away on Sea To Sea.
So Milo and Chester(Karen picked this name)came home. The next day at church there was an envelope in my mail slot with instructions to take it home and open it. Inside was a note: Dear Gayle, please put this to a baby ferret fund. Merry Christmas! and $250 cash. No name, no one to thank again for such a gracious and generous gift. I call Geoff and Karen to tell them that I would be purchasing one of the ferrets back from them due to this kind gift. They were just happy that the babies came home


I can't even describe how much fun and joy has filled my home as Murphy adapts to his new brothers. The new babies are like 4yr olds who have been adopted to Disneyland! Everything is new and exciting including their brother and Momma. Karen was right to insist that they not be separated!

I hope that their silent benefactor reads this blog. I want them to know how much their gift means to me. How much love, joy and hope their kindness has brought to Christmas and to my life. At a time when it is easy to be reminded of how much has been taken from me in the accident, I now have 2 constant reminders of how much I have been given in life.Their bells jingling as they race around the apartment.
I don't know if they will ever reveal themselves. I don't know if I will be able to figure out who they are. One of the receivers of my secret gifts once just out-rightly said to me- I know it was you. It couldn't of been anyone else.
It is overwhelming for me to be surrounded by so many good people that it could be anyone. That quiet kindness is so prevalent in my life.
I wish that gift for everyone this Christmas. And if you are reading this and know or find out who our benefactor is-direct them to this blog. Thank them. Honestly, words cannot express my gratitude. Hope and Love are the best gifts you could ever have given me. Ditto to Geoff, Karen, Theo, Miranda and Emily.
Merry Christmas. God bless us one and all!