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Confessions of a Germ Freak

It's not easy being the son or daughter(s) of a germ freak.
Oh the things you have to endure.

Constant handwashing, the habit of not touching public handrails, door knobs or elevator buttons.

Only using a public restroom in case of emergency, sanitizing the grocery cart and above all else, NEVER walking barefoot in a hotel room or lying around on the bedspread.

I know.
They'll need therapy later.

For the most part, they go along with me.  In their world, this type of thing is normal.
So they really shouldn't have been too surprised when I abrubptly checked them out of school last week and hauled them to the Health Department for an H1N1 vaccine.

Since it was the first day it was being offered, there were about 362, 987 other moms with the same idea.
We filled out the paperwork and waited, and waited, and waited.

I started to get a little edgy with the crowds of people in such close quarters.  Then I made a keen and wonderful observation.  Almost all the moms around me were feeling the same way.  They had their personal hand sanitizer, used their own pens, kept their babies covered, and brought books and other things to keep the little ones occupied instead of letting them play with the Health Department's toys.

We are among friends!  I happily proclaimed.

Samantha took a wipe out of my purse and started washing the chairs.  "Yes, she's mine," I said to the nice and very impressed lady next to me.

Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.  Crossing our fingers that we don't get that nasty swine flu and that the twins don't have to miss school due to illness.  They need all the education they can get. 

After all, education = good jobs = ability to afford their own therapy bills.

Trying to be Like Jesus

Monday night the kids and I were enjoying a nice dad-out-of-town dinner together. (aka grilled cheese sandwiches and a can of soup)

We were going over the events of the day. The twins told me about a friend of theirs. Someone they have known for many years. They talked about how this friend is changing. Angry, mean, aggressive and bad temper are the words they used to describe him.

Rachel had asked the friend what he was going to be for Halloween and he answered with a rude and sarcastic comment. Linc asked the friend why he had missed a day of school and the boy told him to shut up _____.

I listened and nodded and asked a few questions. They commented that he wouldn't have friends for long if he continued to be so angry and that they didn't really want to play with him anymore.

I started on the dishes while they left to get ready for bed.

I felt bad for their friend. I felt bad for them.

Later that evening we sat down for Family Home Evening. We decided to watch Elder Holland's April 2009 conference address. It was about last days of the Savior's life.

We listened carefully and reverently as Elder Holland took us through Jesus' Messianic arrival in Jerusalem on the Sunday before passover. There were many who wanted to follow the Savior, many who walked with Him. But in Elder Holland's words, " Eagerness to continue walking with Him would quickly begin to wane."

We sat captivated, rewinding parts here and there. We learned that from one event to another, Jesus felt more and more alone. Elder Holland taught that even the Savior's closest friends could not stay awake while He was in the garden, Peter denied knowing Him and how Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

He talked of the unjust trial, the scourging, mocking, the humiliation and the incomprehensible agony. How in the Savior's deepest, darkest hour He felt alone as He cried out. "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Elder Holland then testified that the Father had to briefly withdraw His presence from His beloved Son. This was a critical and necessary part of the atonement. Jesus had to gain a perfect knowledge of what it feels like to be completely and consummately alone so that He could better understand us. Because of this, He knows of our pains, our disappointments, our heart aches, our darkest hours. He empathizes with compassion and extends His perfect love to us.

Elder Holland concluded by reminding us that "because Jesus walked a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so" and that we can show our gratitude and humility by committing our lives to serving Him and knowing Him, trying to become like Him. In this we stand beside the Savior.

When it was over, we sat there quietly. We discussed what it means to truly follow the Savior. To stand by Him, to follow Him, to do and say the things that He would. I shared my testimony with the twins and then we knelt together to pray.

Rachel went first. Completely unprompted by me, she began to pray for her friend. She asked Heavenly Father to soften his heart so that he wouldn't be angry. She asked for help in being more kind and patient with him. Finally she asked Heavenly Father to make better whatever is happening in his life that is causing anger.

When she finished, Lincoln prayed for the same things. My heart was very full of love for them. My heart was also very full of love for the Savior of the World.

I know that He does understand us, He knows us, He can be our truest friend if we will let Him. It makes me want to do more, try harder and be better. In these types of moments, my own weaknesses are so magnified and at the same time I feel His love.

Sooooo far to go.... but today I am feeling a little bit closer.

Turning Two Checklist

By Samantha


Pink Princess Potty with sparkly purple jewels purchased.   CHECK


Princess panties washed and waiting in drawer for the big day.   CHECK


Ability to open the childproof door knob to big sister's room.   CHECK


High chair gone.  CHECK


Figuring out that The Little Einsteins and Caillou are just a click away.  CHECK


Big girl bed picked out.  CHECK


Discovery Gateway on Tuesdays. CHECK


Girlfriend play group on Wednesdays.  CHECK


The Zoo on Thursdays.  CHECK


Grandpa's special hiding place for treats found.  CHECK


Singing "I Am A Child of God"  will get me anything, anytime, anywhere.  CHECK


Tantrums will work when strategically thrown in a public setting  CHECK


Knowledge of how to use the words:  Me, Mine, I, My, and No.  CHECK


Still have Mom, Daddy, Brother and Sister COMPLETELY wrapped around my 1.5" finger.
CHECK and CHECK and CHECK.

Here comes two!!