Well, I wanted to post a picture of the bracelet that caused me so much grief yesterday, but it just wouldn't work. I couldn't get a good shot of the bracelet because....well, I'm not sure why! Every one of them was blurry and had a bright spot, and you couldn't really see the details of the bracelet anyway. But at least you have an idea of what it looks like!
Yesterday Connor and I spent all day running errands all over Northeast Tarrant County and going to his last baseball game. He went to spend the night with friends, and when I got home at 9 pm I realized that my two-tone white and yellow gold bracelet with diamonds was missing...it was not on my arm.
I don't have a lot of nice jewelry. Two pieces tops. This particular bracelet I purchased for myself last Christmas after a long term relationship ended due to a move. I was blue and needed some cheering up. I certainly wouldn't want to lose it after I paid so dearly to have it!
I ignored the advice of 1 parent, 1 sister, and two friends, and left the house at 10 to go look for it. I know...dangerous and stupid but I couldn't sleep anyway. I started at the Keller ballpark, which was totally dark. I drove my car up the sidewalk and shined my headlights on the bleachers and climbed up with my flashlight to search, all the while expecting to hear sirens and be questioned about my behavior. No bracelet. I then turned the car around, shined the lights down the sidewalk, and walked with my flashlight retracing my steps...no bracelet. I turned the car so that my headlights shined on the grass where I stood for a while, got out and used my flashlight to search, again, no bracelet. I was in tears by this point....not to mention quite an easy target for a criminal!
I forgot to mention that before I left the house I called every place of business I'd visited to see if they'd found a gold and diamond bracelet, only to be told "no, and if someone found it they probably wouldn't turn it in." NICE...that helped. Then my 1 parent, 1 sister, and two friends told me the same thing..."it's gone, these things happen, just let it go, there's no sense in looking...you've been everywhere!" That helped, too.
When I left the ballpark I began to pray. I said, "Lord, you know I don't have much. I really want this bracelet back. I struggle for every single thing I have and this is just not fair." (yes, I was whining to God) I then went and searched the parking lots of two Walgreen's stores and headed to Walmart at Davis and Precinct Line.
When I walked in the greeter noticed right away I was looking only at the floor, and asked if I'd lost something. I told her and she said "oh no, bless your heart, you'll never find that." NICE AGAIN...people can be so encouraging! I teared up and told her I knew that was true, but I had to know I'd tried. I told her I had this Walmart, two more Walgreen's stores, the cleaners, and J.C. Penney's at the mall still to check. She said good luck. I could tell she thought I was stupid.
I went and began to retrace my steps, and decided to start at the self-checkout counter I'd used. The man working there noticed my odd behavior and said "Ma'am, is everything OK?" I told him my sad story, sobbing, and he directed me to the two men standing in front of customer service. He said they were managers and would know if anything had been turned in. I walked over and one of the men said he knew I'd called, and no, nothing had been found. He then asked the other guy if he had the key to the safe so that they could check while I was there, just in case the bracelet was there. I waited patiently.
Suddenly one of the guys asked me for more details about the appearance of the bracelet and began walking my way with something in his hand. I told myself "Stefanie, it's not it...don't get excited and be disappointed." (yes, my faith is very strong) When he got to me, he had my long lost bracelet in his hand. I began to bawl and told him that was it. He said, "Well, I guess there are some honest people in the world. I have no idea who found it or put it in the safe."
I left in tears thanking God for the blessing I'd received. I know it may seem small to you, but it was huge to me. I needed that. I know it was just "stuff" and matters little in the grand scheme of things, but things have been rough for me lately and I needed that bracelet back. I felt as if I would fall apart if I didn't find it. Yes, I'm healthy, my kids are healthy, I have a job, we have food on the table and the bills are paid, and a little bracelet is not a life or death issue. But Saturday night I was reminded that God does care about me, and he cares about the little things in my life as much as he does the big things.
Thank you, Lord, for helping me find my bracelet! I promise not to wear it again until I can have a safety chain added!
I learned a valuable lesson this Christmas thanks to the above pictured gift. Someone (who's really NOT a very good friend I might add) must have prayed that I'd find patience. Connor had begged for a "Lego Star Wars AT-TE Walker." He got it. That was my first mistake. 16 hours, 799 tiny pieces, several outbursts, a few inappropriate words, a horrible backache, and some tears later, we had the darn thing put together. The funniest part of all is that I PAID for that misery! Never again...even Connor was not enjoying it at all by about the third hour. I was determined we'd finish what we started, so we did. He knows I'll put some serious hurt on him or any of his friends who decide to take it apart! It reminded me of some comedy movie...but it just wasn't funny. 
