Lancaster, New York

I was ready to go to bed and then I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and seen a Christmas gift bag. I swear I heard some laughing but I didn’t see anyone. Who ever it was must of rounded the corner before I could see him/her. I picked up the bag and it felt heavy and heard what I thought was salt (thought the neighbors were giving me a hint about the ice build up at the end of my driveway). I brought it in, picked up the tissue paper and seen a jar with money in it, a book called Christmas Jars, and an envelope with the “____________ family” written on the front. I opened the card to see who it was from and it just said Merry Christmas. To who ever you are….Thank You!

2016 has been a difficult year. My (Mike) mother passed away in January, My wife had surgery for Breast Cancer, and the daily struggles of having three autistic children (ages 5, 7, 9) and one 3 year old is extremely challenging. I was laid off in 2014 as a high school math teacher after 12 years with the same district and now work as a correction officer barely being able to make ends meet (but thankful for the job and the job security).

I will make sure to read the book and there will be a time when I will be able to do the same for someone else (god willing). Just when I was starting to lose the Christmas spirit, it has been totally been recharged. Not because of the money, but because some has noticed. Noticed how hard we try to do our best and the struggles we have recently endured