Grateful Friday

 A few days ago I was in the hall, stapling up haunted mansion that had multiplication arrays for windows, like you do in October.  My stapler jammed and there was a bent staple stuck up inside and I couldn't get it out.  It had happened once before and I took the stapler to my dad's shop.

Riley and another custodian were walking down the hall.  I approached them just in time to hear Riley say, "God knew if I could read, I'd be unstoppable."

I have no idea what prompted that conversation....

I said, "Hey, do you have any tools to dislodge this staple."

He whipped out a big pocketknife and had the errant staple out in seconds.  

***

Tabor and my dad went to The Home Place to try to find out where the mice were getting in.  Tabor said he likes figuring out things like that.  I told him I was extremely grateful.  We talked on the phone a few times and texted and he told me my dad had a plan.  He said, "You know how it is when he has a plan.  I think you are in good hands."

My dad and his plans usually work out.

***

Yesterday some UVU students training to be firefighters came to give a presentation to the third graders.  The leader of the group came up to me and said they needed the teachers to fill out a paper for each presenter, kind of a teacher evaluation.  The dear boy (he was a big strong firefighter in training, but I felt motherly) had a faltering voice as he humbly asked me to fill out the paper and his hands were positively shaking.

The three trainees looked at the third graders, sitting on the gym floor chattering and bouncing in excitement, and they seemed unsure how to get it started.

In my best teacher voice, I  said, "Bonneville."

90 children, in unison, said, "Broncos" and then were immediately silent.  (It honestly doesn't always work that smoothly.)

In a weird role reversal where firefighters have my undying respect and appreciation for doing something I would never be brave enough to do, they were looking at me like, "How did she do that?"

They did a great job in their presentation.  They had several kids come up to the stage and demonstrate stopping and dropping and rolling and show me an 8 year old who doesn't love that!

It has all left me feeling grateful that we're all so different.  I don't think God prevented Riley from learning to read or he would be unstoppable, but I do know that He gave us each these diverse talents and interests and I will gratefully spend my days with the rambunctious third graders, knowing other talented people are doing their bit to make my world better.

What a good plan!