Oh my Father

He is a great guy!

If there is a more handy fellow alive I would be shocked. If he happened to be young, attractive, and single I would immediately convince him to marry me. My dad is really the best man I know. He is smart, funny, talented, and has pulled off that mustache for the last 30 years. Not anyone can rock a mustache. He is also much like my Heavenly Father and this weekend I had an experience that reminded me how great my Dads are.

On Friday afternoon I left work as soon as I could to meet up at the West Stake Center with my ward to head on a temple trip. I had just stopped at Sonic and grabbed something to eat (stomach growling in the temple is rough, it is so quiet everyone hears). As I was pulling into the parking lot  a strange noise started and I suddenly smelled anti-freeze. Then I saw coolant spraying and steaming out of my hood as I parked in my spot and turned off my car. It continued to do so until there was a giant puddle of car pee on the passenger side of my car. I immediately called my dad who was working and couldn't pick up. He called me back a couple minutes later and we talked. He told me not to drive my car, find a ride to the temple, enjoy my time there and ask someone to drop me off at home when we got back. He couldn't do anything right now (we live in different towns), but he would drive up in the morning and we would figure out what we need to do then.

I did just that. I went to the temple, did a couple baptisms and road home with the 1st Counselor in the Bishopric and his wife. I even got a blind date due to a conversation on the ride home (you know how some ladies are when they see awesome single girls).

The next morning I woke up, cleaned my house, did some laundry, and watched some football. My dad showed up around 10 and we went to go check out my car. Thankfully we were able to find the problem pretty quick and with my fathers help it was a cheap easy fix. My car has also had some problems with the window regulator, air conditioning, and a squeaky serpentine belt. He checked those out too. He was able to fix the window (not as necessary, cheap, or easy- but he's a champ and it was nice to get it fixed right away);  he also helped a little of the squeakiness although there's not much we could do, and he diagnosed my air conditioning problem. I also got to chat and eat lunch with my favorite fellow which was great!

Fixing cars is what my dad is good at. It is also what he loves to do. He also loves me and was willing to put fixing his race car on hold to help me out.

Similarly fixing our problems is what Heavenly Father is good at, and he loves to do it. He too loves me and is willing to take the time to help me out. Sometimes I try to talk to him and it seems like he is too busy to answer. Sure enough though he gets back to me in a couple minutes. Are my problems solved right away, no. But just like my earthly dad he encourages me to continue my righteous pursuits and look to others for help as he plans out a way to help me in my trial. He then works with me to solve the problem. Sometimes there are other issues that we work on as well while we are on the course. Occasionally I tell him about a struggle I am having and he tells me what needs to be done but that I just need to wait until he can get the things in place that will help me fix it.

My Fathers love me and will not let me suffer. They know what is most important and are always there to give me help and perspective in times of need. They also teach me ways to avoid making my little problems big. Due to my recognition and immediate attempt for assistance from my father I avoided an overheated car and more costly and labor intensive repairs. I love my Dad and am grateful for the example he is to me in my life. I hope I am lucky enough to one day find someone who is just as willing to come to my rescue.

I love my life, my job, and my dead car battery.

Here is the deal, when I consider all the things I have been through in the last week I am left wondering why I am not frustrated and irritated. Instead, I am thinking to myself "Dang, I make awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies!" Here's what has happened.

Thursday I came home to no internet or cable. Mind you my cable has only been on for a week because it took them 3 weeks and an extra $70 in service fees to actually get it working for me. I call them, "We are sorry ma'am you didn't pay your bill on time so we locked you out." I had paid my bill the Sunday before. Apparently something didn't go through with my bank and they didn't think about notifying me. "Please go online and check out your account." That would be great but you have locked me out of my service. I go to school early, go online, and find they have locked me out of my online account. Chat with an online service rep, get my account back and have to start teaching. I call again at lunch, no more help but 30 mins. down the drain. They tell me to go into the store which happens to be a straight shot from work...through 7 miles of construction. I pay it again, this time with my debit card. They turn on my service! Finally. All of this hassle is made up by one entire day dedicated to watching college football. I AM IN A GOOD MOOD.

Sunday, I go to church. Get TWO callings (I have only been in the ward 3 weeks). I deal with it-and am looking forward to it. BTDUB's I am the choir pianist and a gospel doctrine teacher. After getting set apart I head to my car. On the way I run into a little metal ring sticking our of someones bumper and give myself a 2 in. round bruise/welt on both my shin and calf. Then I get in my car, turn the key and nothing. No sounds. We jump start it and I get home but my battery is dead as a door nail. Thankfully the next day is Labor Day so I don't have to worry about getting to work in the morning.

Thanks to some help from a cute guy in my ward, a got a new battery and he got it installed. I was also grateful that he picked up the battery and I could just write a check to pay him back because when I went to the ATM later that day I found out my debit card was expired. After another long chat with an online CSR from the bank (it was Labor Day so of course the bank as well as the customer service line were closed) I found they had never sent me a replacement, or may be they had- there were some conflicting stories on their part. Guess what though, they couldn't verify my authenticity over the internet-even though I am telling them exact charges on my account that they can see on their computer. So, I have to call the bank tomorrow and talk to another CSR who should be able to help me out.

In the mean time today, I seriously ticked of one of my students as the bell was ringing (I told him he need to put his pencil sharpener away, awful I know). Everything about him tightened up and he was shaking with anger. He was also refusing to leave the classroom, and we have already had problems with him getting home on the bus. Way to end the first day back from the weekend.

Lucky me I had no meetings this afternoon. I also had my Seminary and Institute Preservice class today and I always enjoy that. I decided I would then make some cookies to thank the nice gentleman who helped me out with my car. Unfortunately, I don't really know where he lives and it is hard to find a place on Google maps when you are driving in the dark in North Tucson (We don't believe in street lights up here.) I will deliver them tomorrow when it is light out. In the mean time I ate one and it was still warm. MMmmm. Dang I make good Chocolate Chip Cookies! (They weren't actually chocolate chips but chunks of toffee almond symphony bar)