$489 toward California's massive debt

...that's what I contributed a few weeks ago.  Not voluntarily of course.  I have as of yet failed to post about THE WORST day ever since I was still coming to emotionally comes to terms witht it.  December 18, 2008 will forever haunt me.  It was just before we were heading up to my parents' house for Christmas break so I got up early that day, excited to finish all the errands I had to run.  I went to a couple of stores and then was rushing home to get some cleaning done when I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop.  No, it wasn't for speeding, it was for not coming to a complete stop at a red light before turning right!  Well, technically, I did come to a stop behind the car in front of me, but then I just sort of slowed  through the intersection as I turned.  Here's the thing though: It would've been impossible for my "California" stop to actually cause any sort of traffic problem because there wasn't a road on the left.  It was a dead end, so there weren't any cars for me to look out for when I was turning--no cars could come that way!  (I know it's hard to picture; I would draw a diagram if I could.  Just trust me.)  I was very VERY distraught, but apparently it didn't show enough for the cop to let me off with a warning.  I was extremely stressed and became even more so after I came home and started researching online how much the ticket might cost.  Well, to make a long story short, December 18th didn't become the worst day ever just because I got pulled over and received my first traffic ticket and realized I would have to shell out $500.  It officially became the worst day ever after I rear-ended a woman on the way to a Relief Society Christmas party the same night (with Lila in the back seat!).  Don't worry, we weren't hurt, but come on... my first ticket and rear-ending someone in the same day???  I can't believe Byron hasn't taken my license away and bought me a bus pass.  He was actually incredibly understanding and sympathetic.  What a great husband!  So there you have it: the WORST day ever and a little bit of money towards pulling California out of its financial pit.  $500 for not coming to a full stop at a red light on a right turn?  RIDICULOUS!

Okay...so here's the positive side of the story.  I honestly believe this is a miracle.  A few days after I got the ticket, we found out that someone from Byron's work decided to sign a lease in our complex and when they asked if anyone referred him, he gave them our name and because of that, we got a $500 referral bonus!  Can you believe that???  If you think the Lord isn't aware of you and your needs, trust me, HE IS!  What a huge blessing and reminder that we will always be taken care of when we try our best to do what is right.