The little things do make a difference

Everyone has those days,

I. KNOW. IT.

Those days when little things

come out of nowhere.

Those things aren't necessarily

good

or

bad.

Just not what you'd expect.

I learned a little lesson last year,

when one of those things happened.

It's been on my mind,

daily,

so I guess it is time to share.

Here it goes:

The kids and I were walking through the BX,

having just gotten $20 from the ATM,

(going towards our part of a pizza party!)

and headed to the commisary

(woohoo)!

Just before going in,

the kids spot THE table.

THE bakesale table.

They are all over it.

The look in Mia's eyes was priceless.

Alas, they each choose their treat.

All the bake sales on base are

donations only, and we usually drop a few $$

in the pot.

Max knows the drill and he wanted to help.

So...

he grabs the $20 out of my wallet

and hands it over!

The volunteers at the table

smile so big

and thank us for our generous donation

to the Armed Forces Aid Association.

OKAY, it's just $20,

but I was in a hurry

and really didn't want to go back and fight

the Saturday MOB at the BX ATM.

UGH...

Like I said, it wasn't a big deal,

but,

it was one of those things.

So the day goes on and we rush around

and get it all done.

That afternoon I get a phone call

from a dear Misawa friend.

She'd just gotten word that her

father-in-law

was killed in a car accident.

As details became available and

plans for her husband to go home were being made,

it was the

Armed Forces Aid Association

that would purchase the

$2000.oo airline ticket

it would take to get him home

for his father's funeral.

At that time,

I realized

that Max's $20 donation

wasn't just

one of those things.

It was the thing

that was

supposed to happen.