This week...
...it's analogy time again. Time for The Parable of the Goathead Plant. One morning Jason and I were taking a walk around the park in front of our house. We noticed all the weeds growing along the edge of the grass line and lamented the City's lack of a good weed killer. I moved on to talking a mile a minute as we walked along, but Jason's attention stayed on the weeds. Before long he stopped, stooped, and pulled a weed. I admit that I huffed a little at the thought of pulling weeds on what was supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable walk. "It's going to be one of those walks, huh?" I said. And it was. He was pulling up the puncturevine, or goathead, plants that were thriving along the edges of the sidewalk where there was little grass coverage. (Didn't I sound so knowledgeable just then when I used the scientific name for the goathead plant? I know, I know. It's a gift.) When I further complained, Jason argued that goatheads are definitely one weed that we don't want in our area and especially at the park. He had a point.
From that point on, we worked together to pull the offending weeds and make piles of them along the sidewalk. We decided to bring garbage bags on our second lap in order to collect the piles. As we walked on, and amidst our yelps and yips at being poked, I got better at picking out the plants. Where I did not notice them at all as we began, I could see nothing else by the end. My eyes would not be stilled. They constantly scanned back and forth as my feet carried me around the park. At the end of our two lap walk, we had two big bags full of goathead weeds and hearts full of satisfaction knowing we did something good.
Here's the plant. Look at the dainty leaves and the pretty little yellow blossoms. Not so terrible maybe?
Well, the beauty is deceptive. On closer inspection, you can see the goathead burs already forming with sharp points sticking out on all sides.
We all have things in our lives that we battle to uproot and defeat. Goathead plants grow on the outer edges of the grass or thrive in empty lots. We must be vigilant in our lives that sin and temptation do not take root in opportune times of discouragement or idleness. Goathead plants do not grow right in the middle of the grass because they would be choked out. We must keep our spiritual strength up so that the harmful goathead plants of temptation can not choke out our faith and testimonies.
...Jason was cleared from light Administrative duty to go back to patrol with his squad. Best news ever! He was so excited to be back with his guys and work a normal shift. Light duty at the office was a little trying because there wasn't much for him to do, but he still had to look busy.
...Lainey got her haircut at a real salon. I've always cut her hair because it's just a straight trim. After she went with Claire and Emma, Lainey was begging for a turn of her own. (A $14 turn.) With her bangs growing out, it was good to get them trimmed and bended. Lainey had a blast, dirty face and all!
...Lainey danced ALL around Costco. Jason and I went shopping for just a few things at Costco and Lainey desperately wanted to get out of the cart. We pulled her out with lots of warnings about staying close and watching where she walks. Well, she didn't run off or hang on the cart. She danced. Everywhere. Up and down the isles. In and out of carts.
...Paul, Benjamin, and Claire had their Back 2 School night. They will be Mustangs this year. Claire is super excited. A new Elementary was built and some rezoning happened. Yes, they'll be starting at a new school next week. They're a little nervous.
...we went swimming again. Danica went with us for the last time. This year she'll be going to Boys and Girls Club after school.
...we had a sock brigade. Notice that Lainey has six pairs on at the same time. (They were so tight that they started to cut off circulation to her feet.)
...Lainey and I made a trip to Hobby Lobby with Grandma Zirker. As we walked by this picture of Super Man, Lainey called out, "Look Mom! It's Studio C!" Haha!
...Paul looked like such a big boy as he walked to Cub Scouts. Lucky for us, the leaders live just down the street. He walks to and from.
...we took the boys to the Barber for hair cuts. I usually cut the boys' hair, but Jason had promised Ben a trip to the Barber. Not just any barber, Aaron the Barber. His shop is next to the Spudnut shop in Richland so it works out for a nice treat once we're done. Only Benjamin didn't like the idea once we got there. Jason had to sit on his feet and keep him in the chair. Lucky for us he doesn't have a lot of hair and the cut didn't take long. The Spudnuts were definitely worth it.
...we had a neighborhood BBQ. After the shooting, the general consensus among the neighbors was a desire to come together for some social time. Thankfully our neighbors a couple doors down, the Garcias, offered to host the event. Everyone brought their own meat to BBQ and a salad/dessert to share. The Garcias also had a snow cone machine and a popcorn machine which were big hits with the kids. Then once the sun started going down, they put the Lego movie on the projector for an outside movie.
Eli Bagley, Afton Bagley, Luca Pitzer, Benjamin, Declan Levy, Reid Bagley
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