The Mediator

We've had some drama in our little community that has gotten national attention and as I have read stories and comments about the situation that has taken place, I have felt my blood pressure rise several times. I've had a tough time not "getting involved" and defending a guy when he's down. I have thought long and hard about what to say, how I could be supportive without being controversial. Here's what I came up with. Now I'm just a small part of this whole process so I doubt many will see this. I just wanted to share my thoughts on this whole problem.

I was you. So many of you, quick to call out an injustice and demand payment for a wrong committed. I knew the offender because of the few mistakes that he had made. I knew that he was a terrible person, he must be, why would anyone do such a thing. I knew that he deserved more than he could ever pay for. That whatever punishment he received, it wouldn't be enough. Then on June 22, 2007, my life changed. Again, I was you. I knew this man was evil, terrible, every bad awful word I could think of. I knew him because of his mistake. Then I really came to know him. He had children. He had a bachelors degree. He was educated. He served in the armed forces protecting my rights to freedom. As a young child, he had seen his mother shot and killed by her boyfriend. Did I really know this man? But how could I not know him? I was sure that I knew because of the one mistake he had made against me. Surely this man, who had done such a terrible thing, surely he hadn't ever done anything good in his life. And surely now that he had committed this terrible injustice, surely he couldn't ever be a good man again. And as loudly as I screamed for justice, he cried for mercy. Justice is usually pictured holding a set of scales and blindfolded against the possibility that she may be partial or become sympathetic. There is no sympathy in justice alone—only justice! “In the course of justice [only,] none of us should see salvation.” One mistake-justice and mercy. Mercy provides a probation, a penitence, a preparation. One mistake-justice and mercy. How can both be satisfied. "Each of us lives on a kind of credit. One day the account will be closed, a settlement demanded. However casually we may view it now, when that day comes and the foreclosure is imminent, we will look around in restless agony for someone, anyone, to help us. And, by eternal law, mercy cannot be extended save there be one who is both willing and able to assume our debt and pay the price and arrange the terms for our redemption. Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untempered, unsympathetic, must, positively must fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing." I was wrong. This man deserved mercy as much as I demanded justice. This man had made a terrible, horrible mistake. A mistake that took my brother's life but that doesn't mean that this man is a bad person. That doesn't mean that his life before our paths crossed was a terrible, crime-filled life. That doesn't mean that his life after his mistake will be filled with crimes against society. What it means is, he made a mistake. I have forgiven this man. How? Because one day-or everyday-I will make a mistake. I will plead for mercy even though justice must be served.

And here we are, being a judge everyday of those around us. Judging who a person is by one or two fleeting moments when their lives might impact ours. And here we are, being judged by others for the few fleeting moments that our lives touch theirs. What if I make a mistake in those fleeting moments? Does that mean I always was and will forever be a horrible, terrible person. No. What if you make a mistake in those fleeting moments, doesn't that mean you always were and forever will be a horrible, terrible person. No. So when we make mistakes-and we will-, a cry for mercy will be sounded. However, justice will also be knocking at the door. We as a society have the power to provide both-justice and mercy. You will surely remember this as you make mistakes, mercy, mercy, mercy. But also remember this as people around you make mistakes. Justice is being satisfied, now is the time for mercy.

(excerpts taken from The May 1977 Ensign Magazine entitles The Mediator by Boyd K. Packer and William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 199–200.)

I'm blogging!!

Don't fall off your chairs but I actually have a small window to blog a little. These are just random happenings of what's going on except just of the boys and not the girls?? I think it took 5 pictures to get both boys to look at the camera.

GWL 2011

We had a great time at Great Wolf Lodge with our good friends, the Naefs. Bode was finally tall enough to go on all the slides-YEH!! Brek and I spent alot of time wrapped in a towel or in the room. Bode and Brek even got to trick or treat there at the hotel. We have made this an annual trip and have so much fun being together as a family.

Homecoming Game

I guess they do this all around here maybe in other states too but the girls will ask a guy if she can wear his "other" football jersey. Every home game and a few away games Lexi has worn some boys jersey. In the "olden days" didn't that mean you were like an item? It doesn't now. This week she worn Kelton Syrie's jersey. It was also Homecoming week at Connell and the sophomore class toook 2nd overall!! Their hall decorations won first place although I have yet to see a picture of what they looked like.
The next picture is with a boy from the opposing team. How do we know him? He is related to my friend Jenny Hokanson. He is her nephew (her brother's son). So they stopped and posed for a picture too. Connell won the game 56-0. Poor Wahluke but it was a fun night.

So Busy

I'm so busy with school fundraisers, ball and cubs that I don't have time to do anything. I think I've developed a growth on my ear that when I'm not talking into it, it's ringing and begging me to come back and talk into it. Hopefully things will slow down after the school fundraiser is over. Of course, I have been to one of Summer's games but forgot my camera so I don't have any pics. This week in an effort to keep me home, Brek got chicken pox!! YIKES!! However, it was pack meeting, 4 volleyball games-I've missed 2 this week already, school fundraiser tonight that I have to go to-so E is going to be the babysitter all afternoon and night tonight so I can be at that. Oh and the growth, yeh it pretty much follows me around like a pack of flies on rotting bananas.

Brek-ism

Brek told me today that the sun got out of bed and got up. And left his family at home. There's 3 in his family and they have 3 cars. But today he is shining and awake.

10,000 years, can give you such a crick in the neck!

Ok, peeps!! Do you know what movie that line came from. Yes, it would be Aladdin (Disney, Robin Williams as Genie) after the Genie comes out of the bottle. Well, there's something else that can give you a crick in the neck and that's going through 10,000 plus photos looking for your girls so you can post some pictures of them and make scrapbook pages. The trek photographers took 10,000 pictures of the youth this summer on the bi-stake trek. A year ago when they started planning the trek we were one stake but by the time trek time rolled around, we had been divided into 2 stakes. They still proceeded forth as planned but had the largest group ever at the Agri Northwest farm located near Plymouth, WA. 390 Youth and 160 support staff attended the event. I even went for of few hours to do a reenactment. Look closely at the pictures and you might be able to pick out my girls. They had a great time and made alot of new friends.

Lexi's VB has started

Yes, the season is here. I can't go into too much detail about pre season as I live in a small community. Let's just say it was interesting. Anyway, Lex had her first game last night. They played O Town. They struggled (Otown was getting revenge on Connell for the football game. We won 20-15.) None of the teams won. Lexi loves volleyball and has a great time. She's learning alot and getting better all the time. She only has 10 girls on her team-2 quit in pre season-yes part of the interesting-so that helps her get a little more playing time.

First ummm...scratch that..second day of school

These actual first day of school pictures that my friend took for me. Bode is with his teacher Mrs. Flanigan in his 3rd grade classroom.

which is actually the third day of school because BCE was cancelled on the first day because the Basin City water supply is contaminated with ecoli. Nice huh!! Anyway, you would have thought with one more full day to prepare for the first day of school pictures, I would have done better but alas I didn't. I still haven't gotten pictures of the girls and they both have looked so cute and stylish!! ;-} Bode has Mrs. Flanigan as his 3rd grade teacher. He has alot of his friends in his class so it should be a great year for him!! He is playing his first season of lil guy football. As usual, he has the potential to be great but doesn't have the drive yet. Lexi has chemistry, seminary (with a new teacher which she really likes but we still miss Edmonds), world history, honors english, yearbook, choir, and algebra II. They are both playing volleyball again this year which leaves me running to alot of different places. Summmer is taking world history, PE, choir, drama-which she loves, english, pre-algebra, and science. Also note the completed building-except shelves inside and doorknob. I haven't moved in yet but can't wait too!!! The baby is going to momma school along with Trigger. Every hour Brek asked where Bode, Sissy and Lexi were. He will probably have the hardest time of all of this because he has to play with me...wait maybe I will have the hardest time with this because he has to play with me. If you noticed behind him, is a new door. I'm sure you love the doorknob too. Yes we are trying a new trend. The plaid shirt stuffed into the doorknob holes is all the rage right now. Someone needs to get to town to get knobs.

Fair

The week before school start is the county fair. We go every year. It was HOT this year. Near 100. Here are pictures of the kids with their friends. We survived and everyone had a good time.