LORD, all I want for Christmas is an easier life.
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That was the impassioned prayer of Dubbo resident Trish Taylor who has been battling cancer and struggling to keep up with rising living costs.
Mrs Taylor moved to Dubbo with her twin six-year-old boys for a tree change after her husband had barely recovered from a rare malignant cancer in January.
It came as a sudden shock to the 46-year-old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June.
The chemotherapy bill, expensive medications and travel for treatment chewed up a huge chunk of money in the family budget.
"Its been quite tough and a struggle financially the last couple of months," she said.
Mrs Taylor said her husband was juggling being a father, her carer and managing a business.
A few days after her desperate plea to God, He heard her prayer and sent her a gift just in time for Christmas.
Mrs Taylor said she put five entries into the Daily Liberal competition and rushed to get it in, barely making it with just 20 minutes to spare.
"My husband thought I was crazy," she said.
Not long after her entries she received a call informing her she was the winner of the major prize - 10 x $100 Midwest Foods vouchers.
She said she was "speechless" and could not find words to express her thankfulness to God for answering her prayers so swiftly.
"It's the shining light of this year," she said.
"It means we can have a better Christmas and it takes a bit of burden off us."
Mrs Taylor said the grocery vouchers gave her hope and renewed the spirit of joy and peace in the family home.
With rising living costs and soaring electricity prices the win came at a perfect time and would go a long way.
"Our boys are going to get some extra treats which they haven't had for a long while with a tight budget," she said.
"Before when we went shopping and they saw other children eating ice-cream they would ask me if they could have a cone but I told them 'Mummy has no money.'
"Now we can go to Wendy's and we can have lots of ice-cream."
The spirit of giving would continue with her win as she spread the Christmas joy with those who were less fortunate.
"I will make a donation to another charity and do something to make someone's Christmas joyful," she said.
The true meaning of Christmas was joyful and peaceful as the world celebrated the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Mrs Taylor said she would attend a Christmas church service and enjoy a festive lunch with family.