The Lesson of The Rubberbands

 

Man. Sometimes it's obvious that temptation isn't necessarily something big. Sometimes it's the little things that will either make you or break you.

 

I'll freely admit, growing up I wasn't the most honest person. It wasn't really until Christina was born that I decided that I needed to do better. I once read a message by President Hinckley that said it is completely possible to be honest in every moment of every day.

 

With that said, we ran into a tricky situation the other day. There was a girl in ballet who wasn't paying attention to the teacher, was being rude and disruptive and then blamed something on Christina that wasn't her fault. Christina walked out of ballet and was telling me this and then smiled saying quote, "But I taught her a lesson. I took her rubberbands."

 

Crap. Seriously? Actually, back up. My first reaction was what? What is going on?

 

I knew immediately she needed to return the rubberbands but the girl was gone.

 

I explained to Christina that sometimes we are tempted to do things that seem right, but aren't. We know not to rob a bank. That's easy. But it's the little things like stealing rubberbands that is a wrong choice and not what's best for us. Satan makes things look right, but in the end it's just a trick to lower us.

 

I want my children to be better than I was. I don't want them to have to have regrets or sorrow.

 

Christina cried for a half an hour straight. She told her daddy even though she was scared. We hugged and told her that no matter what she ever did in life we would always always always love her and be there for her.

 

For 2 weeks she tried to give back the rubberbands & apologize and the girl wasn't there.

 

3 weeks later and Christina shows me the girl.

 

Yes.

 

The biggest, hugest girl in the class.

First off, I didn't know that was the girl. I had seen her pushing around Maria one week, playfully, but none the less when you are 100 pounds heavier, Maria went flying. She was always shouting at other girls, being very forceful, making rude and brash comments. I wrote her off as a bossy sassy pants.

Well, 3 weeks later and she walks in like she owns the place. One girl asks where she had been and she starts with her loud mouth, "What do you care. I was in Disneyland. I got sick. I was gone. I can't control the world."

No sweetheart. You can't. No matter how much you try.

I could instantly see why Christina wouldn't get along with this bully. An instant Hail Mary went up to The Lord. Please don't let my child get beaten.

Well....

God hears our prayers.

 

Christina: I'm sorry but I took these rubberbands of yours.

Loud One: It's alright.

 

The End.

 

In Christina's journal she wrote, "I learned never to ever take something that isn't mine."

 

But as an interesting side note, Joe had said something that made me give him the silent treatment. I wanted to teach him a lesson. No sooner did this all happen that I realized that perhaps the rubberband situation was to really teach me. My heart was broken alongside my daughters. I felt her pain and wanted to help her in any way possible. I watched her as she sobbed and felt total remorse. I can't remember the last time that I cried because I felt so bad for something I'd done. But treating Joe rudely needed that type of remorse. Which, if I'm being honest, never really quite came. But the reality of the lesson did.

No one is in charge of justice except The Savior.

We are to follow the commandments and judgement is His.

Maria- Officially 6!!!!!!!

 

How on earth has the time gone by so fast!! My Maria. My sweet lil' angel and smarty pants.

Everything comes easy to this little girl. She is good at everything. She can run. She can read. She plays piano well. She can climb trees, fall, get a bloody gash and not cry. Yet, she is sensitive. The other day she just missed her dad and cried for 5 minutes straight. She is kind. She is just and has a strong sense of making sure things are fair. She understands things very clearly and can find own examples in her life to compare. She is the queen of scattegories... clever clever clever!!! For example, G was the letter and things you'd take on summer break... "Globe- so you could see where you want to travel." Yes. She is a great writer. She is thoughtful. She is the best big and little sister out there!!!

She knows EVERYTHING about Greek Mythology. I really am tempted to see if she can get a job at UNR as a professor. She reads this book hourly.

For her birthday breakfast she wanted Martin Luther King Jr. pancakes and Christina made her fancy face toast. We also got doughnuts. For lunch she had popcorn and gummy worms.

In my defense school was 11:30-1:10 and it was supposed to be a movie snack. Then she wanted Cheese Ravioli for dinner. She was in heaven playing with the make-up Aunty Ram got her. I think she was aiming for a Frida Kahlo look.

She wanted to go to U-Swirl instead of having cake but they were mysteriously closed. So off to Swensen's we went! It's been ages since we've been there and it didn't disappoint!!! We were in heaven!!

At one point Eli decided one spoon wasn't enough.

I tried searching for Stiner's name but couldn't find it. You'll have to tell me what year you mastered the earthquake!! I must document!!!

 

I'm so grateful for our precious Maria!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!!!

Maria turns 6!!!! Percy Jackson Party!!!!!!

Well, our angel is growing up. Hard to believe she is 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maria wasn't even hesitant on what type of party she wanted... Percy Jackson all the way!!

Thank you PowerPoint and pinterest.

 

Sisters wearing their Camp Half Blood shirts.

 

We started by building statues at Aunty M's Garden Emporium.

 

 

Next was a left/right game. We used Golden Drachmas to pass around. This was the story I made up:

If you want to be a demigod RIGHT away, you’re crazy! At every turn LEFT and RIGHT there is danger and monsters to face. They were often LEFT by their immortal parents to live life LEFT alone. Sons and daughters of Greek gods and goddesses, demigods are stronger than humans, RIGHT away you can tell how quick and sharp they are. However, being mortal LEFT them able to die easily… often by the hand of monsters that surrounded them to the LEFT, LEFT, LEFT and RIGHT. Percy Jackson is one such demigod. Percy is a hero, RIGHT on!! He never fit in at school. He was always LEFT behind and didn’t make friends easily. He had one friend named Grover. Grover never LEFT Percy’s side and was a true friend. One day, they LEFT school and went to a field trip to the museum. While at the museum their English teacher asked Percy to head to the LEFT to a different room. Once there, the English teacher LEFT!!! Where did she go? Percy glanced up and Mrs.Dodd’s had turned into a shriveled hag with bat wings and yellow fangs! RIGHT away Percy was shocked! Had everyone LEFT the museum? What was going on? Another teacher, Mr.Brunner was there too. He could not use his LEFT foot or his RIGHT foot. He was in a wheelchair. He tossed Percy a ballpoint pen. How would a pen help him with a crazy monster to his LEFT? RIGHT? And yet suddenly the pen turned into a sword RIGHT away! It was awesome!!! He was able to fight off the evil monster and she LEFT in a puff of smoke as he slashed through her. Many an adventure is found LEFT and RIGHT in the pages of Percy Jackson. From bullies getting what they RIGHTLY deserve in bathrooms to quests RIGHT here in Nevada, you should read this book RIGHT away. Don’t be LEFT out. Find out about what Zeus LEFT on Mt. Olympus and was stolen RIGHT under his nose. Find out if Percy escapes the underworld and who must be LEFT behind there. Annabeth and Percy share a story of friendship, though they didn’t start as friends RIGHT away. They even rescue a Zebra LEFT on a truck to die. Nothing is what it seems in this magical set of books!  And beware RIGHT at the end is a surprise you’ll never see coming!! It will hook you RIGHT into the next book!! Read it RIGHT away!!

 

Up to bat next PERCY JACKSON JINGO!!!

 

Medusa Red Light/Green light. When sunglasses were off they had to freeze!!

 

Minotaur Munch: Eat a minotaur/bugle off your shoulder not using hands.

 

 

 

And lastly, capture the flag!! Lils got it twice!!!!

 

Blue food was so much fun!!! We had Port-o-Subs too, Maria's favorite. I was semi-tempted to see if they could make blue bread.

Man, I tried doing ruffles.... was NOT working. Glad the flowers turned out!

 

Pinata!!!!!!!!!!!

 

We had the best people over!!! We love our family and friends!!!

 

 

Thanks Ram & Jackie for the gorgeous pics!! It felt like Christmas looking at all of them!!!

My gorgeous green eyed baby.

 

Dougie cracks me up. This kid is way too cute. When he is excited, he is excited!!

 

BFF!!!!! Or is this just a really old picture of Ramya and me?

Other Best Friends!!!

Maria had a great time and we enjoyed some great company.

 

We handed out these to the kids at the end... bless you dollar store. Because every hero needs their weapon!! It was fun to see the archery after party.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

Valentine's was nice and simple this year. I usually do valentines in the kids lunches the week before and this year decided to have a heart pizza. Upon looking at it though, it doesn't really look like a heart. Ah well, you can't beat paper plates!!

 

 

The girls made us oodles of notes. They were precious and I loved seeing them work so hard on them. Eli loved all the candy his sisters gave him. It was nice.