All day every day all I heard in my mind was the voice of Bob Barker at the end of “The Price is Right”—

“Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”

Enough time has passed that I can finally rest assured that there will be no puppies. But my relief is stained with shame. Rest assured Bob, the dog will be spayed.

I’ve mentioned before that a Jehovah’s Witness couple comes by every Tuesday at 11:30am. Up to this point our topics of discussion have been things that we generally agree on. I was nervous today because I knew I was going to have to disagree about what we were planning to discuss.

In preparation for their visit I read the little chapter in the book they gave me. I panicked because I knew that our views were different but I didn’t know why or how to articulate it. So I did a little research but I was still confused. I called Richard in desperation. He explained a few things that cleared up the subject greatly. I then continued to read about the matter in the Bible and the book Jesus the Christ.

I had an amazing experience. All of the sudden I understood something about the gospel that I had never understood before. And not only did I gain an intellectual understanding but I gained a spiritual confirmation.

While they were here we discussed the issue and I tried to bear my witness that Jehovah is the Lord Jesus Christ. All I received from them were doubtful stares but on a personal level I was different.

I usually try to avoid sensitive material on my blog because as I have mentioned before I am paranoid about offending others, those who read this blog included. But as I shared a frustration with my sister the other day she told me to have the courage to share it publicly, to raise awareness. So in the spirit of opening minds and suggesting ideas I write the following.

I saw recently on another blog the words “Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch?” The blogger then proceeded to share places around the community where you could take your children for free lunch every day. While I hate to be cynical, I feel I must point out that these lunches are not free. Someone pays for this food, and from what I understand this program is federally funded. And where do federal dollars come from? Your paycheck and mine.

We are all aware of our national debt. Most of us are probably opposed to raising taxes. So why is it that we are first in line when there is a government hand-out? There we are, supporting programs that while they make our lives convenient we do not require them. If we are capable of feeding and caring for our children, and we turn that responsibility over to the government each day at 12:00 we are in essence giving up a small piece of our liberty. Why allow the government to do something we are not only able but responsible for doing ourselves?

All the while complaining about taxes…

I must confess that last summer I took my children and some children I was babysitting to have lunch at the school. It was so tempting, feeding five children with no preparation or clean-up. But seeing the quantity of food that went uneaten and thrown away only contributed to my frustration.

Of course I understand that these programs meet the needs of families in financial hardship or children with irresponsible parents. I do not judge those who participate in the free lunch program. I only suggest that we act in accordance with our convictions and if we believe in personal freedom and oppose excessive taxation we live free of superfluous government involvement.

I believe in making change, and being the change I wish to see. This is my small part.

The four year old seems to have developed a bad habit of waiting until the very last possible minute to relieve himself at the toilet. The result of this procrastination is that he can’t get his pants down in time, which means I am doing excess amounts of laundry and scrubbing bathroom floors. This morning after such an episode we discovered that I was too far behind on the laundry and he therefore had to spend the next hour and a half nude. He was not happy. Lesson learned? We’ll see.

Then I went to feed the animals of my neighbor who is away for the weekend. Today was the first morning and I discovered the dog is missing. I called Richard right away and we can’t figure out if they took the dog with them or not… Needless to say I am experiencing a certain degree of anxiety about it.

As I went to move the wet load of toddler underwear from the washer to the dryer I realized I had left a load of clean clothes in the dryer last night. They were all wrinkly and I hate that so I have a little trick. I keep a spray bottle of water in the laundry room and squirt the clothes until they are damp. Then I run the dryer long enough to de-wrinkle the clothes. I proceeded as usual but right before I shut the door I noticed an odd smell. All at once I recalled that last week I decided to add vinegar to my spray bottle to clean my floors.

Now, here I sit, two hours into my day and no further along with the laundry or any other preparations for our upcoming second vacation, tomorrow.

Vacation, time to get away!

These pictures were taken a couple weeks ago out on the water. The boys love the boat. Tomorrow Richard’s brother Scott is coming home from his mission and Friday we are headed to Island Park. Cameron has been talking about this trip for months. He can’t wait to watch the 4th of July fireworks out on the boat. I am saying many silent prayers that the community of Island Park didn’t join thousands of other communities and cut the firework display due to weak finances.

The life jacket Cameron wears was Richard’s when he was little. If I had thought of it I would have snapped a picture of the faded words on the back, written with a sharpie 25 years ago.

“RICHIE BIRD”

It’s too bad his spidey sunglasses were obliterated by the lawn mower. I had this great idea to give him jobs around the house to buy new ones. He’s been working hard but has decided to buy Lightning McQueen with his money instead. Oh well, I have appreciated his help with the housework and now that I know he is capable of doing it I have big plans.

Wishing you all a very patriotic 4th of July!

America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw;
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!

I’m pretty sure we could use a little more self-control as a nation.

Drama in the dental office. I think I mentioned that “the boss” cut hours. No one has been happy about this. But each week it seems there is more turmoil and strife. I usually try to stay out of these battles but it appears even I am not exempt.

Looking ahead at my schedule today I noticed that on days I was supposed to be working my patients had all been moved into another hygienist’s schedule. I asked around and no one offered any explanation. I went to “the boss.” The issue was awkwardly resolved.

All of the sudden I felt threatened. I felt like my job was threatened. I did what I always do in time of crisis. I went to my co-workers for words of affirmation. In less direct ways I begged them-

“Tell me you like me!”
“Reassure me my job is not at stake!”

Then all of the sudden it hit me what I was doing. I was trying to form an alliance. I was a contestant on Survivor and I was panicking that I was the next to be voted off. In two weeks we are having a staff meeting to discuss the schedule and I am going to be on vacation.

Miss the tribal council?

That would surely be death for my pathetic part-time position!

I did not have much luck forming an alliance. More panic. Of course, any reality show watchers know what comes next. Cue the anger and bitterness. Sure enough rage and frustration washed over me.

As I was plotting my best course of action to undermine my fellow employees and secure my best interests a thought occurred to me. I remembered what I blogged about just days before. Something about politics, every man looking out for himself, ignoring the best interest of my neighbor.

I suppose I’ll let the chips fall as they may. I’ll pray that my honest efforts at work and the friendships I have established there will not be forgotten during the shake out. It is so hard to see the way these financial hardships bring out the worst in people, myself included. But really, I’d rather lose my job than show up to work and be hated for the measures I took to keep it.

Side note: I mentioned seven years in my last post. That would be seven years since Richard and I started dating. Today we celebrate six years of marriage.

Here it goes: A Realistic Lovesong