Just thought as the holiday season is approaching, I'd open a topic. About 1 1/2 hrs ago I got a phone call from the head pr person for a large hotel here in the Bow Valley. I mean over 1200 employees. They called asking if they could sponsor my family for Christmas! To give a little background info on why they did this, there's a bit of a story to that as well. Two years ago, I got tired of having to stand between my ex and my kids (he physically abused them)and tired of his constant lies etc. So I asked him to shape up or leave. He left. At that point I was 4 months pregnant, I also had our 1 yr old,3 yr old and 4 yr old. There was a nice person who got a local grocery store to deliver boxes of groceries to us and I called our newspaper to see if I could take out an ad to thank him. A Woman here in town, read the article the paper did and wrote a nasty letter to the editor which he printed (the gist of which was that I should never have had children, I'm a #$%# that had many children from different fathers and that I should be ashamed of myself for living off of the taxpayers buck). There was a large outcry from alot of people in town, and not just those who knew me. I always volunteered and worked until all the abuse started happening with my ex. I'm not supposed to work outside the house as one of my kids is autistic and on a GFCF diet. Anyways this pr person read the whole thing, and decided I was going to be sponsored by this hotel for Christmas. Not just groceries and the meals, anything we need/want! My mind is still blown. She said if we need a tv, write it down, any toys the kids want, write them down. She mentioned the # 20 for the amount of gifts they've done for kids in the past, per child. She said anything I want myself I'm to write down. I still can't believe it, I'm so used to scrimping on everything (my ex hasn't sent a single penny of child support) I don't know what to ask for. Anyone have any ideas? Praise God! Thank you to the person who wrote that nasty, mean spirited letter!

wow! that's awesome. Not too be funny but I'd ask them to hire an atty. to go after you ex for child support and I'd then think about clothes, toys, grocery/gas certificates..behind on any bills?? just a thought. By the way what is GFCF diet??

Gluten free Casien free (protiens in wheat, oats, and milk/dairy. My ex is trying to dump 15,000 of the debt he made (mostly him) during our marriage on me. ex. loan for van i had to take back, sears card he racked up etc. I am going to ask them for new mattresses for the 3 boys as the ones they are sleeping on are over 25 yrs old.

I would ask for everything from food, to shampoo, to oil for a vehicle, books for your kiddos, the leap start educational toys, blankets, shoes, microwave, anything you need. Good for you, sounds like a great blessing!

euh...can you get cash as well....? Like new bank accounts in each child's name opened and a little put on it as a head start ?

That is so awesome for you. Mean spirited ppl can make a positive difference as well obviously. Someday her time will come around and for now be thankful that there are more kind hearted than mean spirited ppl around

Happy holidays to you!!!!!

If something like this were to happen to me, I would first ask them to put in another ad - this time thanking that nasty woman. Wow, that is great!

Definately ask if they could pay your debts off. There's nothing like living debt free. Of course, it'll take me years to live debt free.

Have fun being sponsored. I wish I was in your shoes.....hehehe.

I wish you were all in my shoes too.... for the good parts, not the bad. I did put in the leappad, I also said new bikes w wristguards, etc for the 3 boys, they've never had a new bike.
I have thought about thanking the nasty woman via newpaper, but I just don't want to put myself in the public eye at all after that....... I let you all know what happens (they already delivered an armoire to my house, It dominates my tiny living room being 6 feet tall and 3 1/2 to 4 feet wide, lol. Tv, kids movies, toys even fit all in there, great for organization!

I wish you and your family the very best of the seasons wishes.And may you enjoy the small piece of luck you have been given.It proves there are kind hearted,considerate people out there and may I wish all of them wherever they are an equally Happy Christmas.


Mark

I am so sorry for what awful things were said about you...but what a blessing this is! Your kids are going to be so thrilled this year and that is worth the mean things I guess.

Congratulations! That is an amazing, amazing story.

Not so amazing I'm sorry folks. They told me they had gotten almost everything on my kid's lists and when my kids and I opened the boxes (going to grandma's for christmas) we found mostly someones old castoffs. a bunch of secondhand dirty partly broken toys, 8 boxes of dirty (hadn't even washed them), stained, and even some torn clothes. I put about 5 items on each kid's wish list and only 3 items were actually given. Not even one requested toy per child. I feel so bad for my kids, they kept opening box after box, seeing more dirty clothes (and most of them I wouldn't put my kids in at all). And these were wrapped as christmas presents. Well it looks like I'm going to have to just try to make the whole experiance up to them.......... somehow...............

Ok I am sitting here looking at the screen blinking. I had worked myself up for the big surprise that you were getting and then "Wham".
I am sorry things didn't work out for you.
I have to honestly believe that they were trying to help. I would write a small "Thank You" note and add that in the future the people they sponsor may want to know that the items are donations that are gently used.
I know you said the items were dirty but I would word it that way as not to insult their intentions.

Oh Man!
I am so sorry to hear that. A bit misleading eh? You were still given a blessing with what you did get. You said that they had already dropped off some things... like the armoire.

You are blessed! You never know what God has instore for you yet. Be patient. I am trying to be too... patient that is... trust me I know it isnt easy.

Merry Christmas!

Just saw the rest of what's happened to you. I am so sorry for you that it didn't come about as you expected. Take heart, all of us here are feeling your pain and wishing you all the best. I personally hope there's another, nicer fairygodmother out there for you.
Regards, Tahlie

It's alright. It was just quite dissapointing when things didn't happened like the people at the hotel promised. I was mainly upset for the kids. It would have been better for them if I would have opened everything up, checked it, then rewrapped it. That way they wouldn't have been opening up the dirty clothes. God has blessed us, and I am thankful for every minute I have with my kids, no matter what we have or don't have. Life is too short to be stressing over stuff like that. I hope all of you have a great Christmas and a blessed New Year!