Utopia

The flowers around here this year are even more beautiful than usual. It might have something to do with all the rain we have had this spring.I was looking around at the wonderful flowers in our neighborhood and of the equally wonderful people whose yards they were in and it got me thinking....

A few days ago I walked outside to see my next door neighbor scolding Derek and Kooy, one of his best friends from down the street. She shook her finger at them and got right in their faces...and I stood quietly at the door and smiled to myself. She wasn't scolding them because they had broken her window, or stepped in her flower beds. She was implementing the importance of not walking behind running cars in driveways where a driver may not be able to see you, something they had just done.

I walked over and thanked her afterwards. And listened to her complain about fast drivers that she yells at when they occasionally speed down our street. And how the boys have got to be more careful...I told her how much more meaning it has for them coming from her. She understands. And I won't tell her how much it means to me that she is always out in her front garden looking out for all the kids. I won't tell her how much easier she makes my job of being a mom by being concerned and unafraid to correct the boys when their safety is in jeopardy. I appreciate her so much.

I look across the street to see my other neighbors beautiful rose filled front yard. It reminds me of a cottage in the woods from one of my favorite fairy tales. A place where a young princess would live. When we first moved into the neighborhood and Clint and some of the other kids were climbing on her green picket fence, I yelled at them to get off. She corrected me and told me that there was nothing in her yard that hadn't already been broken. She has welcomed all the kids in the neighborhood to go and swing on the hammock, play with Theo the dog, or just sit in the cool and quiet shade while she hands out root beers and popsicles.

Last year when Clint was house sitting for them, he left their sprinkler on. It flooded the basement. 2 inches of water by morning. I was completely mortified. We spent the entire day moving their furniture out of the water, and pulling up carpet...assessing the damage. They came home to find us rushing over to them, me in tears, telling them what happened. Not even the slightest hint of anger from them. Laughter, followed by hugs and them trying to make me feel better...them telling us how sorry they were that we had to move all of their furniture. Them insisting on paying Clint and reminding how much more important he was to them than any furniture or carpet. Not another word about it for almost a year afterwards, except for when Jeff tried to offer to tile their basement for them, and they refused.

Being the perfect example of unconditional love and the importance and worth of every soul. I have never seen them turn anyone, friend or otherwise, away from their door. In fact, most are invited inside for a cool drink.They give all they have, and then give more. Time, money, service, equipment. All of it. They make us all want to be the same: Giving, kind, open, wonderful.Giving runs in the neighborhood. To the opposite side of my house is another neighbor with an open yard policy where anyone can come and swing on the swing. Toys litter the yard because kids are the most important thing there. And every child feels welcome and at home.

Down the street, another mom has gotten me through a very difficult year. I could not have worked last year without her. She deals with Derek in a no-nonsense matter. Tough love mixed with patience and understanding. Letting him be upset when he needed to, getting him to preschool, helping me to understand that he will be just fine while I am at work in spite of his temper-tantrums. Derek has a best friend right down the street. She has listened to me on countless occasions complain and stress. Compassion and sympathy, and an occasional "Snap out of it" when I need it. A real friend who is willingly to help when I need it.

From down our own street to around the corner and down the blocks and back are more friends who love and care about Derek and Clint. Good friends who make them feel welcome and are always fun to have at our house. And we love them too.

Half way around the block is my sweet friend who puts up with me no matter what and can always help me see things as they really are, and to JUST NOT WORRY about it. It always has been and will always be one of our favorite places in the neighborhood to visit. And their family is such an example of perfect faith, and realizing what is really important in life. They are so open and welcoming to all. An example of the majority of the homes in our little neighborhood.

A few houses down from her and across the street is a family that has helped us for years. Giving in so many ways. They have been in Clint's life for a very long time. I used to drop him off before school before I had Derek when I was still teaching. They have older boys who are a huge influence in Clint's life. They let him tag along for yard work in the neighborhood, they let him borrow their sporting equipment, They are examples to him of good priesthood holders. The mom was there for me when I struggled with Clint's first year in first grade, which was hard on him. And I made so many mistakes. She just happened to show up before a nervous breakdown right after Derek was born and I couldn't get him to nurse. She has been someone I have looked to as another mom when I have had problems with Clint becoming a teenager. I don't think she knows how much she has done for me. But she has been another major blessing in my life. Her family has.

Across the main street and one block down is another sweet friend that I could not have gotten through this past year without. Someone who never asked for anything in return for helping with Derek when I was sometimes at the end of my rope. Again, I think she has no idea how much she helped our family just by her attitude and compassion. And she is an amazing mom.
2 streets over is another family who has literally saved us in many ways. From helping us with major furnace problems to taking care of Clint after school for years while I was working, gave me a blessing when I was going through my post-pardum when I didn't even know what I had. Dropped everything every time I have showed up on their doorstep. Let Clint and Derek borrow countless videos, been the perfect example of compassion for everyone. Welcomed everyone into their homes and lives.

One more street over is another friend who makes me laugh and has so much positive energy that I feel like the sun is shining whenever she is around. And we love just being with her family. She effortlessly keeps everything together, and has a lovely outlook on life that is infectious. I feel so lucky to have her influence in our lives.
Ultimately, there are many more houses in our little community that I would like to include...all my adopted sisters who have listened to me on countless occasions over lunch at Zupa's and the Olive Garden, or who have allowed their sweet and beautiful children to play with mine, girls I have gone to movies at Jordan Commons with, and had pedicures at a variety of nail salons with. In good times and bad, through insecurities and happy times. Letting me fill the empty parts of my heart from living so far away from my family with their lighthearted laughs and quick wits, their interest and support. I have found enough surrogates here to make my life complete. In a working class neighborhood where no one really has much of anything, I feel like we have the greatest riches of all. I feel like I have found Utopia.

Revolution

I saw this documentary on the History Channel for the first time 5 years ago. It's a 13 part mini-series. Excellent. I have watched the entire series twice since then. I just finished it again.

I feel sad because I feel like at one time, we really, as a people and a nation, really understood. We understood what it meant to be an American. Not in a prideful way, but in a responsible way. As in being responsible,and helpful to the rest of the world. Being a light to the world. A beacon of hope, Freedom, and Possibility. Freedom, in the real sense. Freedom to make a life for ourselves and for our families. Having what you work for manifest itself. Having your life mean something. Whatever you want it to mean. I know it's complicated. So many legalities, and personal "rights". But I feel like somewhere along the line in our search, as a nation, for equality, we have lost it all. It makes me sad. It makes me sad to see a NATION full of takers. Takers, takers, takers. Entitlement. Demanding. Penalties for working hard and putting to good use the fundamentals of Capitalism, and then being punished for it because you were able to get ahead by being resourceful and making free market principals work for you.

I am not wealthy. And my family and I struggle to make ends meet. But that does not mean that I do not believe in Capitalism. I do believe in it. I have chosen my income level by the life I lead. I accept it. In America, still, for the time being, we choose our lifestyle. We choose where we live. We choose the type of work we do. We choose the income we make. We choose the level of education we acquire. We are all self made in this country. With the freedom to rise above any circumstances we are dealt. We were, at one time, a nation that believed in God. And with God, all things are possible. Christianity has changed the world. Along with the United States of America. The first country where, it didn't matter who you were, or in what circumstances you were born into. We are ALL equal in the eyes of God. Every man. The Constitution was written with everyone in mind. Thomas Jefferson was furious that the anti-slave clauses had to be removed during the revision processes. All the founding fathers knew slavery was too big of a problem for them to deal with at the time and they were busy revolutionizing the world. They knew slavery would have to wait. But the slaves from Rhode Island who willingly chose to fight in the war had hope and faith in the rhetoric of this new nation that one day freedom would be for all in this country. And they were right. Culminating in the election of an African American to the highest political position in this nation. It is an amazing thing.

So while we progress in certain areas, like overcoming race as an issue for anything, we are letting other important things slip. Mainly our belief in a nation under God. Can anyone who knows and understands the history of our nation doubt the divine influence in the creation and perseverance of the United States of America? No. You cannot. There is too much evidence if you take the time to learn about it. It is kind of like the power that comes with actually reading the Book of Mormon. If you read it, the book itself has a power. In the language as well as the history in it...and you know it's true. And if you really know the history of what really happened at Trenton with General Washington, and compare it with what happened with Helaman's 2000 stripling warriors...You can't deny the help of a God in Heaven who had set things in motion with men who were willing to pay the price for Freedom on this earth. There is always a price to be paid by mortals for any divine purpose. And it was paid for by blood. Just like the Atonement was paid for the freedom of our souls.

There are just too many miracles. Like when Washington assumed command at Monmouth just like Captain Moroni, and the entire British Army open fired on him as he rode in front of his troops trying to regain leadership after dismissing the cowardly officer in charge, and not a single bullet found it's mark.

Or what Nathaniel Green was able to accomplish at Cowpen, and no one even knows who he was. The most humble, and closest to God of all of Washington's Generals, who received little glory here, did it all for the right reason. Was able to accomplish unbelievable things that no one could accomplish alone.

And then, the War of 1812...when we almost lost America again, right after we had won. It was the earthquakes, hurricanes and tornados that wiped the enemy out then. Sometimes, God steps in sooner to take care of business. War is horrible. And I use to struggle with if it was necessary. But like the Atonement, a price needs to be paid. Don't forget the sacrifice. Pray for Peace. And never ever forget, this is a nation under God. Like it or not. It really has to be, if it is to endure.