God Principle: Trials

Sometimes, while minding my own business, raising my five-year-old girl, I have opportunities to see things through God's eyes to some degree and I call these God Principles.

A couple years ago, Kate chipped her two front teeth at the school playground and her teeth were pushed up into her gums. I took her to the dentist a day or so later and she recommended we wait for the teeth to grow back in and watch to see if the teeth die. Over the past year, I've noticed the color in those two front teeth change from normal white, to a light brown and I could tell that the teeth were becoming increasingly sensitive. In all Kate's innocence, she called them her tickly teeth. She didn't complain about it but I knew that she was young enough that she didn't really know any difference. 

About three weeks ago, I took her to the dentist who recommended two root canals. I worried that two root canals would be a lot for young Kate to bare. I also knew the cost of the procedure would be high (The dentist quoted $600 she must have discounted it considerably because the bill came out to $462  in the end). I was willing to pay for it, even though these teeth were temporary and would only last another two years at the most. I was willing to pay because I wanted her to experience brushing her teeth and eating with comfort. I also knew this would help her have a more sparkly smile. Her teeth would be that normal white color and they would be shaped correctly. I didn't want her to worry about kids teasing her in school when she starts kindergarten this fall.

I scheduled the procedure and prepared Kate with bribery. I told her that she would get a prize if she was cooperative and brave.

Kate was amazing. I was more nervous and uncomfortable watching the procedure than Kate was experiencing it. At times I wanted to reach out and grab her hand to comfort her but then I would stop because I didn't want her to think that she couldn't do it alone. Plus, I was struggling with it more than her. She wasn't cringing or anything. She was completely relaxed. And she didn't need any laughing gas or anything! I was so proud of her. I was chuckling inside with joy that she was so brave and so strong.

But while I sat next to her, watching her calmly allow the dentist to work on her, I imagined God looking at me going through the trials that He is allowing me to endure. I felt Him reminding me that He does it because He loves me. He wants me to be happy. He knows that the end result will be beautiful and that I will look back through the pain I endured and be grateful. He has bribed me with a prize... Eternal Life if I endure well. I felt how hard it is for Him to watch me struggle. And how proud He is of me when I take it well.

When the procedure was over, Kate was SO excited to see her pretty new teeth. I didn't realize it would mean that much to her. She even thanked me for her beautiful new teeth.

My Cushion of Protection

Yes, at least for a little while I plan to park as far away from other cars as possible, even if that means I have to walk nearly a quarter mile to enter the store. I just feel safer that way. And everyone else is much safer too (wink).

Yup, I Ripped it Clean off...

I did a pull-through parking job at my local Target and shopped for a bit. When it came time for me to load my groceries in my truck and leave, I pulled out and turned to the right too tightly and felt a crunching towards the rear of the passenger side of my truck.

I quickly re-parked and hopped out to access the damage. I couldn't believe it. I had ripped the front bumper of the other car clean off.

 I went into the Target to have them page the owner of this silver Hyundai Sonata and to notify the police of the accident. This wasn't one of those times you leave a note on the car, "Sorry about your car. call me, xxx-xxx-xxxx." and leave. No, even in my shock I knew that wasn't going to fly. The policeman came quickly and was wonderful to work with.

 We waited for the owner of the vehicle for about a half hour. While we waited, Scott came to provide moral support. He didn't even tease me for getting in an accident with a parked car. I teased him that we might want to buy me a smaller vehicle. Scott talked to our insurance company and soon the owner came out and turned out, as the policeman had suspected, to be an employee of Target. She took the news in stride.

You can barely see anything but the hubcap is dented and the tire has a few scrapes but that's all.

I felt sorry for the nice Target employee whose car I busted. She and her husband had just bought the car, "used", two weeks ago. A tow truck was needed to get the car safely home (the owner's husband didn't want Scott to secure the bumper with a bungy cord for the drive home - worried it would come apart on the freeway - good call).

I encountered good fortune in all of this. I have car insurance, that will help a lot. We are receiving our tax return this week and that will help with the deductible. I was on private property so I didn't receive a ticket. I wasn't injured and I didn't injure anyone else. I didn't have anywhere I needed to be, that couldn't wait that is. Kate was safe at preschool and I had plenty of time to pick her up. And I witnessed the kindness of a bystander who came to see if I was okay after the accident and helped me remain calm and focus on what I had to do next. She was a sweet angel to me, and I don't even know her name. And the kindness of the policeman and the owner of the damaged vehicle were both very kind and understanding. I received a lot of comfort from what the policeman said. He first told me that he was surprised I didn't just drive off. And when I was expressing how badly I felt about it all later on, the policeman said, "Well, that's why they are called accidents."

Hilarious Photography Prank

click on link below.
TVKim- Watching: Kim's Picks- Hilarious photography prank

The Hidden Hinge of a Camel's Hump

Kate: Do deserts have flowers?
Me: Yes.
Kate: What flowers do they have?
Me: Oh, let's see, Yucca plants grow in the dessert and they have flowers.
Kate: And that pokey plant?
Me: Oh, yeah, the cactus. You're right, it has flowers too. We live in a desert but we water our yards so we can grow things that don't usually grow in a desert.
Kate: Yeah because usually deserts don't have any people or food and water.
Me: Yeah, just a lot of sand.
Kate: Camel's live in the dessert and they store their water and food in their humps. When they are hungry, they just open their hump and eat.