Benevolence



Kindness Jar



Tis the month of December.  This cursor blinks as I think about the magnitude of responsibility this month carries with it.  It is not a month to take in lightly.  It's not February ~ Black History Month.  It is not March ~ good 'ol St. Paddy's Day, nor is it July ~ the celebration month of our nation.  It is December --- the month of benevolence, kindness, compassion towards others, goodwill, altruism, etc, etc. 

December stresses me out because this is the month, as a parent, that I feel I need to ramp up all the good things we are supposed to do.  My money to my local charities are padded and even my garbage man leaves me an envelope, enticing me to fill it with Christmas cash. 

When December rolls around, I try to plan for "family moments" to share and embrace.  I ask questions like, "What play should we go see this year?"  "How can we volunteer to help others?"  "What needs in church should be filled?"  and the end result is stress.  I am stressed and I don't need to be. 

Why is it that the month of December needs to be a time to remember others? 

Why am I asked in the month of December is I want to add an extra dollar here, or add in a $20.00 donation there?  Why do I feel the pressure to place my kids under the miscroscope of "positiveness" and "charitability"

This year, I inducted a "Kindness Jar." and I told my kids that they only thing I want fof Christmas form them is a significant act of kindness.   The "Kindness Jar" is a glass jar that sits upon our table with color coded pieces of paper and when they do an act of kindness, they are instructed to write it out and place it into the vase.  These will then be all read on Christmas day.  In theory, it sounded like a solid plan.  My children will be encouraged to do 'kind deeds' during the giving month of December...but on January 1, this is all supposed to stop?  The 'Kindness Jar' will be emptied and put back into the cupboard, the sales clerks will stop berating me for those few extra dollars, my extra donations to church will come to an end and my children and I will no longer need to be attentive to those in need.

(note: i had three additional paragraphs that closed this little segment off quite nicely....but somehow they disappeared.  I will not be fixing this now...hopefully in the near future)

Thanks for listening and if you find this blog and you find yourself to be in the 'giving' frame of mind, please look at David's page and click on the 'donate' button.
http://davidplaisted.bbnow.org/

A Bathroom Story

Almost 9 months ago, I said out loud, "I HAVE to change that bathroom.  I began to write emails and make phone calls. On April 19th, I was given the go ahead by Home Depot Corporate Office to call my local Home Depot and make arrangements for assisting me in this desire of change.  That was 7 months ago that I have been physically active in all accounts trying my hardest in doing something extraordinary good for a friend and her children after the death of her husband.  The vision of his moment had to be erased.

A demolished bathroom and remodel all done quickly in a weeks time.  Donated material from HD was free but cheap.  Plumber was free and took short cuts to get job done.  Visual looked good, but in days time, turned out to be a non-working bath and shower.

Take 2: New Plumber - expert plumber.  Paid Plumber.  Leveled an uneven tub, but in the process, the cheap tub took a beating and began to flex in places it shouldn't have.  Water began to pool in places and within days, began to drain over the edges of the tub - creating a waterfall effect onto the floor.

Called plumber back, met at the home, assessed the bathroom issue and concluded that the tub must come out.  A top of the line model is what is needed to sustain this family.  Again, back on the phone, talking to tub reps, Home Depot managers, UPS delivery, and plumber.

Almost 3 weeks ago, I ordered the tub that came by recommendation - as Home Depot does not carry a tub of that size in their store front, but they do sell it online.  I order the tub and schedule the plumber for today (Wednesday). I met him there at 9am, he took out the surround, took out the tub, through it all in the dumpster that is now on the driveway and went to get the new tub.  He and his co-worker bring it in, get into the bathroom and shout my name.  "It's backwards.  The drain is on the wrong side.  We need a right hand tub and this is a left hand tub."

Back on the phone. Plumber makes calls to all his contacts.  "Is there anyway to get a 32" tub here today?" is the question of the hour and he and I pass each other up in our paces of the floor. 

It is concluded that I need to go into Home Depot and have a meeting with the Store Manager.  A bit of face to face time.  A bit of time that I can not afford.  The 2 year old has not napped all day, has not had a decent lunch and is now going with me to a meeting of sorts.

Sitting down for 40 minutes, the Manager and I find out that Home Depot Online does not sell a RH Tub, but only a left hand one.  The right hand tub has to be special ordered and no, they can not express deliver it because it is too big.  It will take an additional 12 days for delivery.

I left defeated.  tears in my eyes.  This family now has no tub in their bathroom.  No shower for 12 days. 

This is not how the picture was to look like 7 months ago.  Why is this room giving me such constant issue?  When I have that answer, I will share it with you.

Thanks for listening.
http://davidplaisted.bbnow.org/

A Furnace Story

A month ago, John and I decided that it was in Joy's best interest to be on the Home Service Plus Plan.  I told her that it would be our Christmas gift to her (laugh).  In that, I had scheduled a maintenance check on her furnace for Nov. 30th.  Being familiar with Joy's karma at the moment, it seemed necessary to get a clean bill of health for her furnace.

8:15am Centerpoint Energy walks into the house. 8:25, the representative was out in his truck calling into his supervisor. He came back into the house, and red-tagged Joy's furnace, deeming it to dangerous to operate. I arrived at the house after Joy's text arrived on my phone telling me not to come - as the furnace is now off.  Joy was informed that the earliest she could get a new furnace was early next week (Monday, December 5).

I went home, made some calls as another friend sent over her handy man to assess the situation.  A new furnace - this was to equal thousands of dollars.

I remembered having a conversation with a friend who worked with Community Action.  I called them, left messages, sat on hold, etc.  By day's end, I had spoken to a person who had Joy's file in front of her -- as Joy qualified for Energy Assistance, they had a file on her.  She promised to put it on the desk of her supervisor to look at in the morning.  In the mean time, I ran over two space heaters, one for a bedroom and one to keep the house Water Well pipes  from freezing over night.

Thursday morning, I call first thing - trying not to be in the long line of those who also need attention.  The same game - on hold, messages left, and by mid afternoon, I spoke to the supervisor who in turn wanted to get a hold of Joy.  Joy rarely answers her phone - so i immediately texted her, "Pick up phone when it rings." 

Jennifer told Joy that Friday, she will have someone out there to assess the furnace.  Friday morning 8:30, a man came in and immediately walked out.  He could not work on the furnace, but would let Joy know of the plan later in the afternoon.

9:00 - a team from a furnace company came, knocked on the door, went downstairs and began to dismantle Joy's furnace.  by 10:30, they were bringing a new one in.  Both Joy and I were baffled by how this communication came about.  Joy called Jennifer, who's voicemail said she would be in meetings all day, and talked to the furnace guys - no one could say where the communication came from.

Joy finally talked to Jennifer who told her that all receipts will be invoiced directly through Community Action and Joy will not have to pay a dime for her new Energy Efficient furnace from Centraire.  at 4pm, Friday, Joy texted me to say that it was 62 degrees and feeling like a heatwave.

So, that is my furnace story.  Something that was supposed to take 6 days to even begin was all said and done with in a matter of 48 hours. 

Thanks for listening