Wisdom on Wednesday

"If you judge people,

you have no time to love them."

~ Mother Theresa

 

 

I love this quote.

 

Which reminds me of a group of people

that I didn't mention in yesterdays post...

 

Kyle and I were sitting in an empty

tram car ~ well, empty except for us ~

when a group of boisterous, excited,

(a little loaded) "Frat Boys"

boarded the tram.

There were at least 15 of them.

I counted 7 of them carrying twelve-packs

of various varieties of beer.

They were passing around a long-neck bottle of beer.

 

One "Frat Boy" sat next to Kyle. 

As the bottle was being passed his way,

Kyle reached for it.

The "Frat Boy" smiled, and said,

"Uh,uh,uh, you are too young Dude."

Kyle giggled, and the "Frat Boy"

talked to Kyle the rest of the way to

the next station.

 

We reached the station and the

"Frat Boys" went tumbling merrily on their way.

I found it extremely touching,

that as each left the car, they

smiled and waved to Kyle.

"Bye Dude", was a much heard refrain.

 

People can be so good.

 

Take the time to SEE and love those around you.

If all you can give is a smile.

That will be enough.



People

I was very vocal yesterday in my opinion of

Las Vegas ~ it's not my favorite place.

But let me say something about people.

 

We have encountered some incredible people.

 

During our time here, as in so many instances,

we have found people who are kind, considerate,

and sort of melt when Kyle is around.

 

We saw the "Tournament of Kings" show,

at the Excalibur Hotel/Casino.

It was fantastic.

Kyle was a little bit nervous, as he often

is in new situations, a very nice man named,

Jason, came over to talk to Kyle.

Kyle wouldn't answer, so he started talking to

"the hubby".

Jason is from New Zealand.  His uncle

has Down syndrome.  We learned that his uncle is in

his 60's and his (Jason's) Grandma is in her 90's.

He hypothesized that it's because she doesn't want to leave his uncle.

We talked for quite a long while.

It was so very nice...

...we met another member of the "club".

Down syndrome draws people together.

 

One day of our stay, we went to lunch

at an Irish Pub Restaurant.

Kyle ordered "fries".

I asked the waitress if she knew where, within walking

distance, I could go to find a loaf of white bread.

One of Kyle's mainstays is white bread.

She was so kind.

She brought us a loaf from the restaurant kitchen. 

No Charge.

A very nice gesture to make one boy's life better.

 

Today we rode the tram between hotels,

people were so kind. 

Grinning at Kyle's antics on the tram and

always wishing him well.

 

People can be so kind.

People can be so compassionate.

People, given the chance, see a "stellar spirit"

and choose to respond with softness and smiles.

 

I am always grateful for those who,

with no knowledge of us as individuals,

take the time to choose kindness.

 

People can be so good.

Travel

Travel.

It's tiring.

Hurry up to sit and wait.

 

It amazes me that we can board an airplane

and in 2 1/2 hours cover the distance that would

take nearly 20 hours by car.

 

 

And we can drive in 20 hours the distance it would have taken

the Pioneers weeks to travel.

 

We left our home in the Northwest

and traveled to the desert.

Las Vegas --

It's brown.  You can see for miles!

The land is not flat, but it appears much more flat than

what we are used to....there are palm trees instead

of evergreens.  But you can find beauty wherever you look for it.

 

Las Vegas

reminds me of

Pleasure Island in the movie

"Pinocchio".

 

People come they leave reality

and get lost in whatever they choose to find

and pretend that real life doesn't exist.

They come, they play -- some turn

into jack-asses -- and then

they go home and pretend it never happened.

It boggles the mind.

At least my mind.

We've done a few fun things....and it's fun to be together.

I will be just as happy to leave.

 

Travel.

It can be so fun.  So tiring.

And when you get home...

...you can rest.

Make a Difference Day

The last Saturday of October is

Make a Difference Day

and

National Forgiveness Day.

 

 

So what will you do today to make a difference?

 

Lots of times we think that it requires

grand gestures to make a difference.

Sometimes it's the small things that

have a great impact.

 

Smile.

At everyone.

 

Compliment someone's shoes.

 

Say "I Love You."

 

Send a Thank You note.

 

Not all acts that make a difference are

big and life-changing for many people around you.

But a small act,

just might be life-changing and huge in the

life of one person.

Notice others.

That makes a difference.

 

And while you are making a difference....

forgive someone who has hurt or offended you.

That way -- you've made a difference in your own life.

Forgiveness sets us free.

 

Make a difference today in someone's life

and you will make a difference in yours too.

Neighbors

How does that scripture go again?

 

"Love thy neighbor as thyself."

 

That's the one!

 

Why, OH Why,

is it so hard to do?

 

In the "generic" sense,

you think,

that's not so hard.

But then....

your home is sold,

you move into "interim" housing

and your new neighbors move in

six weeks after you do.

They complain about you the

VERY FIRST NIGHT!

And the complaints just continue

piling up.

"You're noisy"

"You stomp at all hours of the day and night"

"You do laundry at 5:00 a.m."

"You woke us up at 2:30 a.m."

 

Oh,

and they don't speak to you,

they speak to the ladies at the Leasing Office

who then convey the complaint to you.

 

First your mind catalogues

(okay my mind -- cause this has been my life)

all of the reasons that they are wrong.

First --
"I'm not even awake at 5:00 a.m."

"They were already awake and smoking at 2:30 a.m."

"You live in AN APARTMENT, there will be noise!!!"

 

The complaints continue.

The Leasing Agents are frustrated.

We are frustrated.

They are frustrated. 

 

Then I start to think how it would be if
we lived downstairs. 
Maybe they are sensitive.

Maybe I should be kind.

Maybe I'm judging them harshly.

Maybe they should be thankful

that we don't have 4 children,

aged 4 to 9 years-old,

running around....

Maybe they should be thankful that there

aren't more teenagers here.

Maybe they should be thankful we don't have

2 or more DOGS!
Wait!  Wait!  Wait!
I was trying to put myself in their shoes...

 

Maybe I should be kind!

Maybe I should love my neighbor as myself.

Because....if it were me....

(I think I've discussed that before)

I wouldn't want the noise.

I wouldn't want to feel unhappy all the time.

I would want to enjoy the space I pay for....

 

My neighbors aren't so different from me,

are they?

 

The Leasing Office determined that the floors

would need to be stabilized in order

to alleviate the noise level.

 

For the past two days,

we have moved furniture,

had workers here, pulling up carpet

drilling screw into the sub-floor and joists.

Joe & Gabe

fixing the floor.

It was quite a process.

They drilled right through the vinyl...

After they found the joists, they drew lines,

and drilled away.

The rest of the house they had to pull

up the carpet and complete the process.

I was thankful that there were a few things we

didn't have to move.

 

To say that I was dubious about this process

making a difference in the creaking floors,

is an understatement.

However,

it worked!

The floors no longer creak!

That is not to say that the neighbors won't still

hear us moving around occasionally.

There was no sound-proofing done.

We still live in an apartment.

I'm not confident that the complaints will stop.

 

But we tried everything we can to

change the situation.

 

Today the carpet layers came

and fixed the carpet and put in new

vinyl....it looks like wood.

This is the new vinyl.

I LIKE it!

 

I was trying to be kind,

but alas I couldn't completely pull it off.

The neighbors were gone all day

yesterday -- when the drilling and such happened.

We were here all day to move the furniture.

Today, while the carpet layers were here,

the neighbors were home.

Each time they pounded and bumped the

carpet into place, I sort of rejoiced

that the neighbors were sharing our pain.

I secretly hoped that they went

to complain to the Leasing Office

about the noise.

 

I am a work in progress!

I really want to be kind and

"love my neighbor",

but sometimes it's harder than others.

Believe me, I've had conversations with God

about this....and He is patient with me, because

He loves the neighbors too! 



Technical Difficulties

We have had "technical difficulties"

with our cable, Wi-Fi, and telephones

for the past few days.

To say it's been frustrating,

is putting it mildly.

 

Thank goodness "the hubby"

speaks geek

(no offense)

and understands the ins and outs

of the modems, gateways, splitters,

and such.

I was lost just listening to him.

Thank goodness he knows the questions to ask,

the way to set things up,

and how to get my internet working again.

 

It amazes me how dependent I am

on technology.

I was pretty lost for the past few days.

Couldn't check e-mail, Facebook,

Blogger....

Couldn't look up random information

when a question came to mind.

20 years ago, when I was working at the hospital,

they were in the beginning stages

of "rolling-out" e-mail to employees facility wide.

How did we get along without e-mail?

Oh yeah, telephones.

We spoke to people, left messages and

hoped that they would call us back.

It worked....but e-mail is amazing!

 

I'm so thankful for technology.

I don't have to understand HOW it works,

to be grateful that it DOES work and

that some people do understand it

and can make it work for me!

 

Enjoy your day...

....I will be enjoying mine...

answering e-mails!

Truth

Yesterday at Church I taught

the Sunbeams in Primary.

 

If you aren't familiar with Primary,

it's specifically for children ages 3 to 11.

It's sort of like Sunday School,

except that there is a time frame where

the children meet together and have

a short message, greet visitors, celebrate birthdays

and sing.

Then they are excused to a class time which

is where a gospel related topic is taught.

 

The Sunbeams are three turning four years-old.

They are so cute and sweet and candid.

 

There were eight in my class,

and I had a friend come and help me

because teaching eight four-year-olds is a little daunting,

and I was just a substitute teacher. 

 

We got to our class time,

had a snack, and then it was time

for the lesson.

Each child was sitting in their child size chairs.

I said, "I need to get a chair, cause I'm little too."

One little boy, named Jack, said,

"No you're not ~ You are OLD!"

 

OUCH.

Okay, I'm old.

In fact to these children

I must appear ancient!

 

Truth is truth.

To them I am old.

Just like Irene Wilding was old when I was

a little girl.

And when I was a young mom with three children,

and lived next door to her,

she was older still.

And I loved her, because she first loved me.

 

Our lesson was on honesty.

I asked, "What does it mean to be honest?"

"Don't steal." yelled Jack.

"Tell the truth." said Izzie.

Both very true.

We made headbands that said,

"I can be honest."

Jack said, "I can't wear this,

headbands are for girls."

I told him it was more like a crown.

Later he told his mom,

"See my crown?  It says 'Don't Steal'."

 

Truth is truth.

Even when it hurts.

 

Truth doesn't change.

We can feel when something we've heard or seen is true.

We can't bend truth to fit our whims.

We can act against what we know is true,

but it doesn't change the truth.

 

Seek truth.

Live truth and you won't lose yourself.

 

Truth is truth.