Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Adam & Rachel

Adam: (pointing to pictures on their shelves): "That's us when we were babies!"
Rachel: "And that's a picture of Jesus."
Dad: "That's right."
Rachel: "I love Jesus."
Adam: "I like Snow White."

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Family Pictures

Monday, July 18, 2011

At Least They Take Turns

It could be a LOT harder to raise these adorable twins, but luckily--they tend tend take turns at whining, misbehaving, being cute, throwing tantrums, etc. Today was no exception. We attempted our first official no diapers potty training day. 
It started with one willing participant (R), and one hysterical accident-prone kid (A).
The day ended with one willing participant (A), and one over tired, pant-soaked kid (R).
Believe it or not, the worst part of the day was sopping up the Gatorade that I spilled after I thought it would be a good motivation drink. It wasn't.
Overall, I call the day successful. Although I'm sure it will be a long time before I'm willing to leave the house without diapers, underwear, wipes, and a change of clothes.

In other news:

Rachel: "I want to take your picture."
Me: (misunderstanding) "you want me to take your picture?"
Rachel: "No, I take a picture. You take a smile."

and while playing with a toy snowman before lunch:
"Mommy, you hold my snowman."
"okay, I'll put him on the table."
"no, it's too hot in here. he needs to go in another room so he doesn't melt"

Adam's favorite new things to say:
"What? What you said"
"What happened to her?" (every time R cries)
"Sorry, Mommy. I didn't mean to do that."
"Sorry about that"

Yeah, seems innocent enough, but...let's just say it's a good thing he's cute.

Speaking of cute--I will post pictures soon enough.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

People or Policy?

National media outlets have had a field day recently, running a story about Delta Airlines charging a group of US Soldiers returning from Afghanistan hundreds of dollars in excess baggage fees. Now in the midst of a PR nightmare, airlines all across the nation are scrambling to amend their policies to extend additional “free checked bags” to military personnel.

This is neither the first, nor the most egregious common sense violation I’ve seen purported by an airline. While I was working at the Las Vegas airport, a knife-wielding man ran through security and took a young boy hostage. After several terrifying minutes, he moved the knife from the boy’s throat for a split-second, allowing officers to open fire. Later that night, after hours of police questions, and medical exams, my supervisor found the boy and his family huddled together on an airport bench. “What are you guys still doing here?” he queried. “Well, obviously we missed our flight” replied the Dad, “but (major US airline) told us that since we didn’t miss the flight due to weather or traffic, they’re not allowed to put us on the next flight.”

Now, I’m not mad that Delta’s policy called for charging excess-baggage fees. I’m upset at the employees who ignored common sense, and enforced that procedure. We had the same policy at our airline. But when we saw a soldier in uniform, we had the decency to ignore it. This isn’t a policy problem. It’s a people problem. Because there can’t be a written policy for every possible scenario (like a family being taken hostage), human beings need to step up and use common sense. Common decency.

I’m so sick of hearing “He’s just doing his job.” Or “That’s our policy.” These are unacceptable excuses for being an idiot- for standing behind a procedure that you yourself feel is ridiculous. I encourage everyone out there to do the right thing. The reasonable thing. The HUMAN thing. Whatever that may be. Just because there’s a policy in place, is no excuse to check your soul at the door.

I once had a boss, who after answering a litany of “what if” questions from new trainees, finally said simply “Just do the right thing, and we’ll stand behind you.”

The moral weakness of those who practice blind obedience to policy has led to some of civilization’s greatest injustices. Have you ever wondered how you would’ve acted had you lived in Nazi Germany? Or the United States during slavery? I submit that individuals who hide their own integrity and humanity behind a shield of “policy” in modern times, would’ve done the same thing in any other era. And like the proverbial boiled frog, they would’ve continued to do so step by step, until there was nothing left behind the shield. Like the sapling hidden under the shade of the mighty oak, humanity needs sunlight to survive. If you allow your humanity to be hidden under the shade of procedure for too long, eventually it will die. Fascism, Nazism, Genocide, Slavery, Segregation, have all been at one point or another, policy. Procedure. The Law. As Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.”

The Bible teaches that Jesus was constantly attacked by those who would put procedure ahead of people. And at every turn, Jesus’ priority was the individual. The Spirit of the Law, taking precedence over the letter.

So, are you a people person? Or a policy person?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Even Though...

Even though...
...we are back from Utah, we still don't want to go back to our everyday lives.
...we had a wonderful time seeing lots of old friends, we are so saddened by the circumstances.
...we are sad, we are so grateful for the powerful testimonies borne at Wes' funeral.
...it was sad to leave our kiddos, we are so grateful to our friends for watching them
...we have relived so many memories, we are anxious to read more
...we know there are so many willing to help, we are hoping to find more
...we will be back soon, we still want to be up there more
...we believe in the promise of eternal families, we mourn the temporary separation of the greatest family we have ever known.
...we are grieving, we are counting our many, many blessings.

"If in the presence of certain people you are lifted to nobler heights, you are in good company." Ezra Taft Benson

Monday, July 4, 2011

Wes

Spencer Wesley Truman
February 15, 1981-July 4, 2011

We love you more than you could ever know 

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Cars 2

Their first real movie in theatres was Tangled, but they don't remember that, so it was really fun to take them to see Cars. Yes, the theatre was full, we just are losers who like to go early and get good seats.





 
Adam has been picky about his clothes lately, so when I pulled out his new Lightning McQueen shirt to wear, he pitched a fit. But when I told him we were going to go visit Lightning at the movies he put it right on. Ryan fell asleep halfway through...but I wouldn't use him as your critic.