A few months ago, I realized that I had a a lot of advantage miles with American Airlines, enough for 2 round trip tickets. After a lot of discussion, we decided to go to Costa Rica for our 40th anniversary, a free trip. Les checked the points he had on business credit card. We found a bed and breakfast that accepted the points, and we booked it, free lodging! That was exciting. We have been planning the trip for these months, planning to do at least 2 canopy, zip line tours, hopefully go white water rafting, and do some rain forest hiking.
(At this point, I am probably going to share more than I should on a public forum, but I have to tell this story. It’s just too good.)
This week, we are ready to go, with money set aside to take with us for meals and fun things. Yesterday, I realized that I had a big expense that I had not paid, that is now due (not related to the trip). That payment took almost all the money we had set aside for the trip and the money to cover expenses when we get home. (I will just say the economy has not been good for a small business owner in a small town the last 2 years, so there’s not a lot of extra) After paying all the bills, we could manage about $200 to cover a week in Costa Rica!
This morning, as I prayed about the situation, God reminded me that we had a stash of savings bonds. I checked, and sure enough we still had several bonds hidden away. When I worked for the state in the 90’s, I had money taken from my check every month to buy a $100 bond. We still had several in our “important papers box.”
GRATEFUL! I am sure there were a lot of times we would have used those bonds if we had thought of it. I am so glad we didn’t. After finding the bonds and getting them out, I went to my special hiding place of cash. When I get paid, I get cash for the month and put it away. I went to get the last 2 $20’s, and LOW AND BEHOLD one of the 20’s was a $100. SURPRISE!
Now, we are getting ready to leave for a week in Costa Rica, a special gift from God. So sweet, not a necessity, not deserved, just a very sweet extra gift from our loving Father.
