Run in at the Post Office

Yesterday we had a nice family day. It started with a power walk at the mall across the street, breakfast at home, and Merrae taking an early nap while Matt and I researched which kind of car seat we needed. We also looked to see if there were any good rental homes on the market before signing another lease here at our apartment. Merrae never really napped but it was good for her to have some down time (us too!) and when we let her get out of bed, we decided to head over to look at a few houses we found. I don't think those are going to work out though.

Anyway, the post office is right by the houses we were looking at so we swung by to get some stamps. First of all I'd like to say that I consider myself to have a lot of common sense about things and am very aware of my surroundings and considerate of other people. But, this day I had a run in with some people who were very low in life and I couldn't have done anything right in their eyes.

I was driving and pulled up to let Matt out thinking he'd be right in and right out. So, I waited in the parking lot right where I dropped him off instead of parking in hopes that he'd be in and out. I was in front of some handicapped parking spots and the front door along the fire lane. Well, it wasn't long before cars were driving through the parking lot to park or leave or whatever. No big deal I thought. Some weren't paying attention and it took them a few seconds to realize that they needed to go around me. To me it was common sense...you see a car at a stop in front of you, you go around. This happened a couple of times and then the next thing I hear is a big bang on the back of my car. My first thought was that some one's car bumped into me but I didn't see anyone and there was tons of room around my car for people to get around me. I then looked a little harder and noticed this older man that had just passed my car. I decided he may have hit my car with his fist a few times. I got out and asked another man who was sitting in his parked car if that older man had hit my car. He said, "Yeah, just some grumpy old man".

Well, I didn't have enough self-control that morning and decided this was not going to fly with me. I felt very violated and bullied and decided I was going to call him out on it. You can probably see where this is going. It wasn't pretty. I pulled into the handicapped parking spot (Merrae was with me) and got out when I saw him walking out of the post office. I said, "Are you the one who hit my car a minute ago?" He said, "Yeah, you're in the way". I said, "I don't appreciate you hitting my car. That was rude. You don't just go around hitting people's cars". He said something like, "Well then you need to get out of the way". "I think I said something like, "I'm not in the way". I can't remember what else was said because of the drama that happened next. But, whatever else was said, it ended and I got back into my car angrily because obviously there was no reasoning with him. You can't reason with someone who has the gall to bang on your car. For all I know he could have kicked it, I didn't see.

Next thing I know, Merrae and I were scared to death when someone came up to my window and banged on the glass with their keys real loud and angrily. It was a different grumpy old guy (a guy who didn't take care of himself, looked extremely rough and almost homeless) who must have over heard the conversation. He took it upon himself to stick up for that guy saying something like, "He's not the only one who feels that way, "You need to get out of the way". I said, "There was plenty of room to get around me and my husband is coming right back out." He said, "You don't just park your car along the fire lane". I said, "My car wasn't parked on the fire lane, I am in it with my baby and my husband is running in and out. Do I need to call the police so you will leave me alone?" He said, "Call the police! Maybe I need to call the police on you. Are you handicapped? Why are you parked in a handicapped spot?" I said, "I'm not parked, I'm waiting, and if someone needed in here I will let them. You go ahead and call the police. They won't care. There's another handicapped spot right next to me." He said some other rude things and I said, "I'm sorry you are having a bad day or something. This is not a big deal." He said, "I'm fine". I said, "You obviously aren't fine. You need Jesus". He was speechless and then said, "You just need to get out of the way!" Then he stormed into the post office. I decided I would pull out of the handicapped spot back where I was because Matt would be out any minute and we could get the heck out of that terrible place. Sure enough, as soon as I did, another car pulled up behind me and honked at me because they wanted to get in the handicapped spot next to me. They may have just been letting me know nicely that they were there but it was irritating considering all that had happened and because there was another spot they could have pulled into as well. I hate horns. They just don't come off as polite unless they are lightly tapped. So, I threw my hands up in the air and pointed in the direction of the other handicapped spot childishly. I had had it!!!!!

Finally Matt came back out. Funny thing is, he got stuck in line behind an old man who didn't know how to work the stamp machine. Matt tried to help him but he wouldn't let him, although he was a nice old man. That's what took Matt so long to get out of there. He came out to the car with a smile on his face not knowing what had happened to me and I burst into tears as soon as he got in the car telling him, "You have no idea the h-e-l-l I have just been through. Of course he got an earful of it and wanted to go find the second guy but I told him it wouldn't do any good. Plus I feel like it was totally immature for me to have said angrily, "You need Jesus". That was true but at that point I honestly didn't care if he needed Jesus. I just wanted to prove a point and get him off my back. I pray that the comment would not turn him away from Christ. Merrae was in the back seat concerned about me and the situation. Poor baby. I didn't set a very good example for her. She was saying, "Knock knock knock on the car". I guess she was rehashing when we got scared of the men who banged on our car. We explained to her that they were not nice and that mommy is OK. She was worried about me as I was crying. I'm sure it didn't help her to have seen me raising my voice at these people either.

Looking back on it, yeah, those guys were jerks, harassed us, and violated my property, but I want to have a heart so in tune with Christ that I let things roll off my back. Yes, hold them accountable somewhat. But, I want to not be rattled by stuff like that or shocked by it to the point that I can't approach them calmly and firmly and maturely and say, "I can see that you are irritated but I want you to know that you will get better results from people if you just kindly and softly knock on their window and tell them you feel they are in the way instead of banging on their car." Sure, those guys may have still went off on me but I could just calmly get back in my car without losing it. I had to ask for forgiveness and pray for Merrae's little heart and mind to be protected. I'm also working on having compassion on those two guys instead of just anger.

Sorry if you didn't want to hear about this mess. I just needed to vent! : )

The rest of the day went well but it took me a while to get over it it bothered me so much! We went to Party City and got stuff for Merrae's second birthday (Can you believe it's already approaching?) Her birthday isn't for another couple of months but with the baby coming I want to plan ahead. We had fun playing with all the party stuff in the store and we bought her this cute little bird pen that chirped and lit up every time you touched the button. Then we did a little Christmas shopping (still planning ahead). Christmas always seems to take us by surprise so we are trying to get better about doing a little bit here or there and financially that works out better for us too! Merrae and Matt napped when we got home and I looked for the Supernanny books online. I need all the pointers I can get in dealing with a sweet little toddler. : ) Merrae woke up grumpy and Matt took her with him to run some errands and give me a break since I deal with her daily, all day. It was wonderful! I decided to go out and run errands and didn't come home until about 9:30 that night!!! I felt a little bad I was out that long but God has blessed me with an amazing husband who understands, wants to give me that time, and truth be told, he really enjoys time to himself too. So, we all win! : ) Today he is out shooting another part of his short film in West Texas and I am enjoying Merrae being down for a nap!!!!!!!!!!! : )

Hope I didn't bore you guys....but hey! At least I posted again finally! One of these days I really will post some pictures!

Guess I'll blog......

Well, I guess I'll blog tonight. : ) Life is so full that there doesn't seem to be much time for blogging. I always seem to read my friend's blogs but never seem to write these days.

What to blog about? Well, I am getting bigger! I'm 28 1/2 weeks pregnant now (beginning my 3rd trimester) with this sweet baby boy and I'm getting more and more excited about him. : ) It's hard to believe he's about to quadruple in size these last 3 months. I already feel like my belly is huge! I can feel my skin burning from him growing and stretching it as I write this blog. Whew! Not so great feeling.

The pregnancy is going great. I went to the doctor this past Wednesday and drank that orange drink so they could do some blood work. I also had to have a shot because I have B negative blood. I had to have that with Merrae too...before and after she was born... No big deal but it does burn and they have to stick it in your behind. The doctor said everything looks on target and he thinks the baby has turned and moved his head downward...earlier in the pregnancy he was in a breech position and my doctor said he wanted to watch it and maybe do a sonogram at about 36 weeks or so to make sure we know what to expect. I've gained 18 pounds which he said is about what I had gained at this point when I was pregnant with Merrae. That's about average he said...although I seem to gain about the same amount in my last trimester alone! I've been eating a ton of sweets with this pregnancy so I am going to try and be more disciplined these last few months so that the calories I eat are healthy ones.

I'll go to another appointment in 4 weeks, then 3, then 2, then 1. Hard to believe it will only be a few more months until we get to meet this sweet blessing and have the extra responsibility!!!!!!!

Merrae is so much fun, delightful, and challenging all at the same time these days. She is learning how to handle her emotions and what is acceptable and not acceptable. Mom and Dad are learning what to do with her and praying for wisdom! : ) We are praying that God will prepare her and us for this new baby boy coming soon.

It's getting harder to lift Merrae along with this big belly....it's getting harder to do a lot of things. Seems like this pregnancy has been flying by. Not so much at the beginning, but it is now going fast. I'm trying to get a lot done before he gets here. Merrae's 2nd birthday will be 2-3 weeks after he's born, then Trunk-R-Treat at our church, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! Busy time of year.

We've decided to stay in our apartment for another 6-8 months. We have almost got our dog Lehya's surgery paid off and Matt's back therapy paid off. Then we can build our savings more hopefully. By the time the baby is born we will only have 3-4 months left on our lease and that's about how long babies stay in your room in a bassinet/ cradle anyway. So, it will work out just fine. Even if we have to go longer than that it will be fine. We're thankful to have not moved at this point because a few of the camps Matt was going to work this summer to build our savings more fell through. The camp leaders had a rough year taking care of their premature baby and therefore, the ministry suffered. They are still having the camps but cannot afford a videographer. Another reason we are thankful is knowing that we are about to have a lot of change going from one to two babies and a move on top of that would be challenging. It will be nice to just kind of ease into things. It will probably be more settling for Merrae as well.

Matt and his Filmosaic group are about to shoot another short film out in west Texas in a few weeks. Matt wrote it based on a true story our neighbor told us about. They are hoping to finish it in time for some film festivals and also before this baby comes and things get a little busier.

I'm still trying to get www.freedomexperience.com to come to the city I taught in for 8 years. It has been a slow process and will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. So far I have not been able to get a high school to agree to let us use their gym for three nights but I am also checking into doing a 1 or 2 night outreach. Please pray for the doors to open easily where and when God wants to reach out.

My brother Cameron is in town from Seattle for two weeks. He and Matt are out at a movie right now. We always see tons of movies when he's in town because it's his favorite thing to do. We just hate that! : )

More later...