Ben and Misty Ashley, a hardworking couple from Idaho Falls, are the proud parents of 12 children, ages ranging from 1 to 17.
Their family is large, with most of their kids being adopted, and they work tirelessly to provide for everyone.
Ben has taken on multiple jobs to support his family, and he starts his day as early as 4:00 a.m., only getting home around 10:00 p.m.
Misty, who also works long hours, doesn’t come home until 1:00 a.m.
Together, they make significant sacrifices to ensure their children have a good life, but life hasn’t been easy for them.
One of the biggest challenges the Ashleys faced recently was when their van broke down.
With winter approaching, not having a reliable vehicle made life even tougher for the family of 14.
They couldn’t all travel together, and finding the time and money to repair it was nearly impossible, leaving the van sitting idle in their driveway.
However, the Ashleys weren’t aware that someone had taken notice of their struggles and was about to change their lives in a big way.
In East Idaho, an anonymous benefactor known as “Secret Santa” has made it their mission to help local residents in need each holiday season.
Partnering with East Idaho News, this Secret Santa provides families with life-changing gifts to help them through tough times.
Secret Santa decided to surprise the Ashleys, giving them a holiday miracle they would never forget.
When Nate Eaton from East Idaho News arrived at the Ashleys’ doorstep, Misty opened the door and was surprised to find a reporter and a camera crew waiting for them.
Curious, her kids peeked out to see what was happening, and Ben soon joined her, intrigued by the unexpected visitors.
Nate explained that Secret Santa had a gift for them, handing Misty a gift box while the family waited eagerly to see what was inside.
Opening the box, Misty and Ben found a $10,000 store credit for a furniture store.
Overwhelmed, Misty’s face lit up with a big smile, and Ben, holding back tears, was visibly moved.
The family was already thrilled, but Nate had another surprise waiting for them.
He invited all 12 children to join their parents outside, and although Misty didn’t even have shoes on, the family quickly followed Nate to the driveway to see what was coming next.
As they stepped outside, Misty’s reaction was instant—she let out a scream of pure joy, unable to hold back her excitement.
There in their driveway was a brand-new, 15-seater white van with a red bow on top, perfect for their family of 14!
Ben took a moment to absorb the sight, clearly touched by the incredible generosity of Secret Santa.
Their older children comforted their emotional parents as they all gathered around their new van.
This gift was more than just a vehicle; it represented a new level of freedom for the Ashleys.
Not only could they all travel together again, but Secret Santa also covered the taxes, fees, and even provided additional money for the registration.
The thoughtfulness of this gesture was not lost on the Ashleys, who couldn’t believe the kindness that had come their way.
As they explored their new van, the children climbed inside, thrilled to be able to ride together again.
When asked how he felt about the gift, a teary-eyed Ben could only manage to say, “Thank you,” his gratitude clear to everyone present.
This gift was truly life-changing for the Ashleys, allowing them to move forward with a little more ease and a lot more hope.
Watch the family be surprised with the Christmas miracle in the video below!
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