I was feeling pretty good this past Saturday morning. It was 9 am and we had already finished cleaning the house. The kids had been amazingly cooperative in doing their chores. Marshall had to run off in an hour for a baptism, but that wasn't a big deal because I was going to take Jacob for our Saturday bike ride while the older kids went to the church with him. I was pleased because I love it when everything flows along smoothly.
While Marshall was in the shower, getting ready for said baptism, I decided to rehang the coat hooks in the laundry room that Anna had knocked off that morning. A simple task of finding some studs and drilling the coat hanger back into the wall. Piece of cake, or so I thought. However, I quickly learned that the "stud" my stud finder had found was actually a water pipe, the main water line from the house shut off valve to the house. As soon as I drilled into the pipe, water started shooting back out at me! I immediately shut off the water to the house and congratulated myself for my stupidity. Poor Marshall, who was in the shower covered in soap, threw on a robe and came to investigate the reason behind the rudely abrupt end to his bathing. Upon inspecting the damage, he put on some clothes and went to Home Depot to get some supplies to fix the leak.
Fools that we were, we thought it would be an easy process to fix and trusted in the knowledge of the workers at Home Depot. I guess Marshall ran into someone who didn't know what he was talking about because we spent most of the afternoon trying to patch the pipe with the suggested Epoxy putty. Every time we covered the hole with the putty, let it harden, and turn on the water to the house, out would shoot water from that cursed hole. Sigh. We finally tried one more option, which we had hoped would work, but we couldn't get the leak completely stopped.
By this time we had had the water off all day in our house. We had taken a break to go out for lunch and run some errands, but we were feeling pretty hopeless. All of our plumbing knowledgeable guys in the ward seemed to be out of town. We were stuck and planning on camping out in Granddad and Grandma McConkie's house. But then one of our friends, one of those smart plumbing guys, made it back into town and came by to fix our pipe as he had become aware of our drama. He fixed it in a matter of minutes and water was once again restored to our house. Our hero!
I learned a lot from what happened yesterday, but the big lesson that will stick with my through the years, is the power of example. I had accidentally caused a big drama in our day. Going without water was not fun. I didn't do it on purpose, but, nonetheless, it was my fault. Yet not once did my sweet husband raise his voice at me, say a single negative word to me, or lose his patience with me, even though I had completely inconvenienced him. I had shut off the water on him in the shower and he had to rinse off with cold storage water in the sink. And still he smiled throughout the day and took all the drama in stride. His example spoke volumes to me.
There have been times when my life has been inconvenienced due to mistakes Marshall has made. We've even had the water off for half a day due to sprinkler repairs. And at those times I wish I could say I showed him that same mercy and kindness, but more often than not I was full of impatience, negativity, and frustration at the situation he had created. I know that my husband is naturally positive and for me it is more of a struggle to be so upbeat. But I learned from his example the power of mercy. How awful the day would have been had my husband been negative, rude, or belittling of me for what happened? He helped make a bad situation better by his choice to be merciful, to be loving.
I have a long way to go, but I am ever grateful for the quiet moments in which I am taught by Marshall's great example. He strives to be Christ-like and because he does, he is more often than not. It is my goal that I can remember the lesson learned by the leaking pipe and be better at choosing to show love and mercy to my husband and those around me, especially when circumstances get rough.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Sweet Memories
Friday the boys had fun making a fort/ tunnel out of couch cushions and blankets. They had a blast and I couldn't resist catching their cuteness on film. It also brought back so many memories of winters in Valparaiso during law school. How did I not go insane while being trapped inside a 900 sq. ft. apartment with my two little girls all day?! I remember making that same couch fort/ tunnel with them. Play-doh was our best friend, as was construction paper, glue, crayons, the library, and anything else that would pass the time and keep little minds and fingers busy.
Wow, how times have changed! My little girls aren't so little anymore and we no longer are trapped inside all winter long. Still, I will always think of that time with fondness. Valpo forever will have a special place in my heart. It was such a wonderful experience for our family to live there. We created many life-long friendships from there. We grew so much. And we survived law school! Marshall had off every summer, Christmas, and Spring Break. Our life lacked so many of the responsibilities it does now, which was both nice and not so nice. It was one of the funniest times of our lives.
Wow, how times have changed! My little girls aren't so little anymore and we no longer are trapped inside all winter long. Still, I will always think of that time with fondness. Valpo forever will have a special place in my heart. It was such a wonderful experience for our family to live there. We created many life-long friendships from there. We grew so much. And we survived law school! Marshall had off every summer, Christmas, and Spring Break. Our life lacked so many of the responsibilities it does now, which was both nice and not so nice. It was one of the funniest times of our lives.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
What? Are we still in high school?!
Divorce is rampant in America. It seems like if you can make it through three years of marriage than you are an old pro. Talk about ridiculous! No one wants to make a commitment anymore and if things start going less than ideal, um, which is just called "life", then we are told it's okay to quit.
Recently I found a few "divorce celebration ideas" in an MSN article. Yes, people actually do things to celebrate their divorce. But these awesome ideas take the cake. (I couldn't resist adding my own commentary to each one.)
Divorce registries: A store in the U.K. called Debenhams offers "divorce registries," where preselected gifts (dishes, linens, flat-screen televisions) are sold and delivered to the newly single. Why is it after ten years of marriage I cannot expect my friends to give me a whole slew of wedding gifts again, but if I get divorced they will shower me with presents? Something is seriously wrong here. I could use some new pots after ten years of marriage. But I'm not willing to get divorced for them. "Yeah, you're an idiot! Have a crock pot!"
Divorce ceremonies: In Tokyo, unhappy couples flock to the Divorce Mansion (a small rented room in a secret location) to smash their wedding rings with a mallet in front of family and friends. What are we in high school? Didn't you used to draw goofy faces on the picture of the guy that burned you in school? Smashing wedding rings? Immature and talk about a waste of a good piece of jewelry! "Look everyone, come celebrate our stupidity!"
Fireworks displays: The Great Northern Firework Company in England will set off a theatrical display of fireworks for just-divorced folks spelling out messages like "Free at last!" and "Just divorced!" Wow. What a waste of money. Fireworks aren't cheap. Way to broadcast to everyone within a 20 mile radius that you are stupid and single.
Networking events: "Life After Divorce" is a $40 NYC-based event for women in the throes of a divorce where they drink cocktails named "Alimony" and "Settlement" and mingle with matchmakers, nutritionists, psychics, and divorce lawyers. Sounds like a smart business move for those companies involved. Get women drunk and then tell them they need to buy all these things to have the best life after divorce. Brilliant. Women, why are you so stupid?
I don't think I have used the word "stupid" enough. Stupid, stupid, stupid. That's what these people are. How sad that divorce is now common and even celebrated. Wow. Talk about immature and clueless. People have no idea the destruction divorce can do, and by the looks of things, they simple don't care.
Recently I found a few "divorce celebration ideas" in an MSN article. Yes, people actually do things to celebrate their divorce. But these awesome ideas take the cake. (I couldn't resist adding my own commentary to each one.)
Divorce registries: A store in the U.K. called Debenhams offers "divorce registries," where preselected gifts (dishes, linens, flat-screen televisions) are sold and delivered to the newly single. Why is it after ten years of marriage I cannot expect my friends to give me a whole slew of wedding gifts again, but if I get divorced they will shower me with presents? Something is seriously wrong here. I could use some new pots after ten years of marriage. But I'm not willing to get divorced for them. "Yeah, you're an idiot! Have a crock pot!"
Divorce ceremonies: In Tokyo, unhappy couples flock to the Divorce Mansion (a small rented room in a secret location) to smash their wedding rings with a mallet in front of family and friends. What are we in high school? Didn't you used to draw goofy faces on the picture of the guy that burned you in school? Smashing wedding rings? Immature and talk about a waste of a good piece of jewelry! "Look everyone, come celebrate our stupidity!"
Fireworks displays: The Great Northern Firework Company in England will set off a theatrical display of fireworks for just-divorced folks spelling out messages like "Free at last!" and "Just divorced!" Wow. What a waste of money. Fireworks aren't cheap. Way to broadcast to everyone within a 20 mile radius that you are stupid and single.
Networking events: "Life After Divorce" is a $40 NYC-based event for women in the throes of a divorce where they drink cocktails named "Alimony" and "Settlement" and mingle with matchmakers, nutritionists, psychics, and divorce lawyers. Sounds like a smart business move for those companies involved. Get women drunk and then tell them they need to buy all these things to have the best life after divorce. Brilliant. Women, why are you so stupid?
I don't think I have used the word "stupid" enough. Stupid, stupid, stupid. That's what these people are. How sad that divorce is now common and even celebrated. Wow. Talk about immature and clueless. People have no idea the destruction divorce can do, and by the looks of things, they simple don't care.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Legal Groping?
I've made it very clear to my kids that no one is allowed to touch the special areas on their bodies. No one. Only in rare circumstances, like when I am with them at the doctor (who also makes it clear to them not to let anyone touch them except for when he has to check them and I am present. Good man.) My kids know their bodies are special and certain parts are even more sacred and off limits to anyone. They know that if someone tries to touch those areas of their bodies to scream, run away, seek a trusted adult, and tell me. But what am I going to do after hearing about the latest TSA illegal groping pat down in Georgia?
I wasn't a big fan of the random use of full body scanners in air ports. Talk about an invasion of privacy. Seriously, let's just be honest with ourselves and profile people who are more likely to be terrorists instead of forcing innocent people to fully expose themselves to TSA employees. I don't care if the identity of the person on the scan is unknown, I don't want anyone seeing me in all my glory. Period.
Recently TSA forced a group of 40 passengers stepping OFF a train in Savannah, Georgia to undergo a detailed screening. Yes, that was OFF the train. As in already rode the train and completed their journey. The agents were waiting for the departing passengers on the platform and told them they needed to enter the station because they were going to be screened. Once in the building said workers told them that they must undergo a search as all passengers in the station are subject to search. Yet here is the confusion. These people were getting off the train and had no reason to go back inside the train station. Their luggage was waiting for them on the platform. Still TSA mislead them by directing the people to the building, where once inside, they were subject to search.
And what a search it was! Women were required to lift up their shirts and had their breasts groped. A creepy TSA worker even commented on how he liked the perfume of one of the women being searched. Two nine year old boys also went through intense pat downs. Really? Am I the only person seeing anything wrong with this picture? Patting down children and forcing women to expose themselves and also be squeezed all for the sake of security. Sorry, but you can throw me into jail before I let you molest my child or force me to raise my shirt for you. I will kick you in the nether regions of you even think about grabbing a handful. Arrest me all you want. I thought being asked to take off the sandals of my twelve month old child before going through air port security was silly, but this is unacceptable. We do live in America, not Gestapo run Germany, after all.
I am all for taking precautionary measures to keep our country safe from terrorist attacks. But I would prefer our tactics to actually, um, work. Why don't we stop harassing citizens, for the sake of equality, and follow the lead of other countries who deal with terrorism on a regular basis. Let's stop groping people and molesting small children. Let's actually target the terrorists.
Of course, TSA tried to give a slew of lame reasons and apologies for what happened in Georgia. But it never should have occurred in the first place. Many citizens are already beginning to fight back against such sexual invasion disguised as safety precautions. In fact, a House committee hearing in New Hampshire is scheduled to discuss “a bill that would make it a sexual assault for an airport screener to touch or view a person’s breast or genitals without probable cause.” Sign my name to that bill! No organization should be allowed to get away with such abuse of one's rights and privacy. None.
It'll be interesting to see what the future will bring for TSA. Will I have to sit my children down and have a discussion about what to do if someone who looks like a police man tries to touch them in a special spot? Talk about confusing. I'm just glad I don't have to travel anywhere anytime soon. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, where are you? We need some serious help in clarifying what "rights" mean!
I wasn't a big fan of the random use of full body scanners in air ports. Talk about an invasion of privacy. Seriously, let's just be honest with ourselves and profile people who are more likely to be terrorists instead of forcing innocent people to fully expose themselves to TSA employees. I don't care if the identity of the person on the scan is unknown, I don't want anyone seeing me in all my glory. Period.
Recently TSA forced a group of 40 passengers stepping OFF a train in Savannah, Georgia to undergo a detailed screening. Yes, that was OFF the train. As in already rode the train and completed their journey. The agents were waiting for the departing passengers on the platform and told them they needed to enter the station because they were going to be screened. Once in the building said workers told them that they must undergo a search as all passengers in the station are subject to search. Yet here is the confusion. These people were getting off the train and had no reason to go back inside the train station. Their luggage was waiting for them on the platform. Still TSA mislead them by directing the people to the building, where once inside, they were subject to search.
And what a search it was! Women were required to lift up their shirts and had their breasts groped. A creepy TSA worker even commented on how he liked the perfume of one of the women being searched. Two nine year old boys also went through intense pat downs. Really? Am I the only person seeing anything wrong with this picture? Patting down children and forcing women to expose themselves and also be squeezed all for the sake of security. Sorry, but you can throw me into jail before I let you molest my child or force me to raise my shirt for you. I will kick you in the nether regions of you even think about grabbing a handful. Arrest me all you want. I thought being asked to take off the sandals of my twelve month old child before going through air port security was silly, but this is unacceptable. We do live in America, not Gestapo run Germany, after all.
I am all for taking precautionary measures to keep our country safe from terrorist attacks. But I would prefer our tactics to actually, um, work. Why don't we stop harassing citizens, for the sake of equality, and follow the lead of other countries who deal with terrorism on a regular basis. Let's stop groping people and molesting small children. Let's actually target the terrorists.
Of course, TSA tried to give a slew of lame reasons and apologies for what happened in Georgia. But it never should have occurred in the first place. Many citizens are already beginning to fight back against such sexual invasion disguised as safety precautions. In fact, a House committee hearing in New Hampshire is scheduled to discuss “a bill that would make it a sexual assault for an airport screener to touch or view a person’s breast or genitals without probable cause.” Sign my name to that bill! No organization should be allowed to get away with such abuse of one's rights and privacy. None.
It'll be interesting to see what the future will bring for TSA. Will I have to sit my children down and have a discussion about what to do if someone who looks like a police man tries to touch them in a special spot? Talk about confusing. I'm just glad I don't have to travel anywhere anytime soon. James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, where are you? We need some serious help in clarifying what "rights" mean!
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