Saturday, September 20, 2008

Simple Gifts

My wife is at "Time out for Women" today and asked me to write for her. I don't have a lot to say today. I have been experimenting with various methods today on how to motivate your children to cleap up. So far, I have had limited success. I guess I've had a couple things on my mind lately, so I'll share.


1. Heavenly Sent Carpet Cleaner

In cleaning the house, I am reminded of a gem of a carpet cleaner I stumbled upon in the grocery store. One day in search of a decent carpet cleaner and being the penny pincher I am I picked up what I thought was a generic brand cleaner due to the boring label on the cleaner. Turns out, this cleaner is AMAZING and I guess it's not a generic.



Spray and wipe--that simple. It's called Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover. Anyhow, I challenge anyone to find a better carpet cleaner. Or at the least compare this one to the one you have. They should be paying me to babble on and on about how good this thing is. But hey, the thing works and most carpet cleaners don't. So there.

2. Heavenly Sent Wife

I would just like to say how awesome Stephanie is. I know, how trite is it for spouses to wax on and on about how wonderful their significant other is?? Well, it might be trite for the reader but too bad. I haven't really said much on the subject so here goes: My wife is as wonderful as she seems in her comments. She inherited two wonderful traits from her father: 1) a big heart and 2) not easily offended. Both of these traits have been necessary in tolerating her husband. From the posts, you might think she is an emotional wreck. She is not. She is human and grieves but is not as emotionally unstable as many women I have met in my time. While at times I have to lift her up emotionally, she does the same for me. That's part of any healthy relationship. Another of her talents is the tenacity to get the job done. When she puts her mind to anything, she gives her all, doesn't cut corners and does a fantastic job. I suppose she inherited that trait from her mother, who is always super prepared whenever asked to do a task. These are just a few things I thought I'd put down and there are many others. Perhaps I'll bore you later with more details?? I know what I do when reading others' ravings about their spouse, I just skip over it. That's OK, I'm just putting it down for posterity's sake.


3. Heavenly Sent Daughters

How crazy is it that I was entrusted with raising, crafting, molding one of Heaven's souls? Sometimes I think it is too much trust God places in me. Think about how many ills and woes are caused in this world simply by poor parenting. I'm not trying to sober you up here, just marvelling at the simple idea of it. At the same time, there is a lot of teaching that comes the other way. My daughters are wonderful in their own right and their simple love helps me to remember what is most important. They help to keep me on the straight and narrow. My wife asked me to blog a couple times, I believe, for a little comic relief. While I'm probably not that terribly funny in real life, IMHO (I'm getting used to this InternetSpeak) I think I write better than I speak. Therefore, I might have given you the erroneous impression that I'm funny. Sorry about that. So on a serious note, I thought I'd write a little about Camille. I kind of wonder what keeps my wife writing every day about her. I know that part of it is to keep a record of her. Another part is to keep her alive through daily ruminations. But also, we all grieve in different ways. I miss my daughter terribly. Every morning, my wife would stick her head in the door and the giggles of anticipation and the smile on her little face would absolutely brighten up my day. I miss that most of all. However, I tend to avoid the pain. I do not want to forget her, but at the same time I do not want to feel that DEEP pain that accompanies the intimate, loving thoughts of her. I guess every now and then is good and even healthy but I just could not do it every day. I also have three lovely, wonderful daughters that require my attention (they tell me every 5 minutes, actually).


4. Heavenly Sent Savior

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Well, I guess to tie up my random thoughts and in preparation for tomorrow, it's important to give praise and honor to our Savior. He has made eternal, true joy possible. Just like that wonderful carpet cleaner I put to use today, may we use his perfectly potent atonement in washing away our pain/sorrow/sins.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your comments remind me of my husband. I hope you and Stephanie are as madly in love and like as we are after 30 years. Through the ups and downs, each up is even better because the down period. Hope my hubby feels the same!

I will make this anonymous because he reads this once in a while and I embarrass him being so slurpy.

DEANNA said...

YOU ARE AN AMAZING FAMILY. YOU TRULY ARE.

Anonymous said...

I'm one of those strangers lurking/enjoying/appreciating this blog.

I don't think any of us think of Stephanie as an emotional wreck. Quite the opposite. I think we all feel WE would be an emotional wreck in her shoes if anything.

Personally, I find it very refreshing to hear somebody rave about their spouse. There's far too much of the opposite going on in the world. I love to hear about happy marriages.

I'm going to try that carpet cleaner.......if I can find it where I live!

Stephanie Waite said...

My husband is awesome. Not only did he post on the blog for me while I was away, he wrote really nice things about me too! And, best of all, he cleaned the house. I love that I am married to a man who knows from experience which carpet cleaner is good. :)

I love you Jonathan!

Star Sweets and Treats said...

i just have to say that my neighbor gave me a bottle of that carpet cleaner. i had a party at my house and some kids tracked mud in. it is the best carpet cleaner ever. i tell anyone that will listen.

i absolutely love reading this blog.

Mrs. Morty said...

Jonathan- this is a blog with mostly women readers I'm sure. If you want to rave about Stephanie, you go ahead. It makes us all swoon to hear a man in love with his wife (and children).
I would have to agree that I don't think anyone who reads this blog could POSSIBLY think Stephanie is an emotional wreck since she seems to keep it together so well and we would all like to imagine we would cope so beautifully with the loss of a child. You both ABSOLUTELY have every right to grieve for your loss in anyway you need to.

Anonymous said...

I love reading your blog and feel inspired with every post. An additional word about Folex: it is also amazing at getting out stains on clothing.

heather and fam said...

What better thing for your cute girls than to see their daddy love and praise their mommy! That's a precious gift!

I love it when my hubby says/does things like that in front of my kids. It makes me want to point out his good traits and do nice things for him even more. I sometimes refer to this as husband or wife in training. Little eyes see everything :) Great post!

Carrie said...

Stephanie~ Thanks for having your sweet hubby post for you! It made me cry...although, I cry easily! Seriously, I love your blog and I love your strength as a family. I still find it TRULY AMAZING that your family, who has gone through more than I can imagine and comprehend, inspires, uplifts, and really makes me want to be a better wife, mother, friend, daughter and woman. I've said it several times...Thank you! You touch my life in ways that amaze me!

Hoskins Family said...

Jon, I have given bottles of that stuff to friends ever since you introduced it to me. I always love a great cleaning product. I enjoyed your post...and you are actually that funny too!

Anonymous said...

Great Post!! thanks for doing it for her. It's great to hear from you also. I hope she enjoyed her Time Out!! :) I was there.

Lisa said...

Stephanie,
I had the great opportunity to meet you today! I really enjoyed "Time Out for Women". However, I have to say, that as fortunate as I was to be able to listen to each speaker, I could not help but think of the beautiful insights that I am able to feast upon daily from you! You are an amazing person with a depth that is insurmountable. Please know that I think about you and pray for you daily. You are as sweet and thoughtful in person as you are in words.

Sister Ballard said...

You are such a great husband to always leave a message on Stephanie's blog when she tells you to. It is fun to read your posts. I am proud of you. You are a great example to me, especially in the last months. I have watched you closely and am amazed at your continued devotion to God and family and also your positive and cheerful outlook on life. Thank you. I love you, Jonathan!

Susan Anderson said...

I use that carpet cleaner, too. It is the best ever!

Stacia said...

I also agree with FOLEX being the BEST carpet cleaner! It does look generic and like it must not be that good, but it is! It is great a cleaning up pet accidents too!

So sweet you posted, and I love to read what you have to say also. I just want you to know that I love coming to this blog and getting a dose of what I need each time. Thank you both for opening your hearts to strangers.

carey said...

Thank you for posting. Both of you are amazing people and so inspiring to our family. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Jonathon, Great post. We should all speak about our spouses that way. It heals old wounds and brings growth that nothing else can. It sounds like you both rememenmber why got married in the first place!

So where do we housekeeping challenged find Folex? I have two little scaredy cat doggies that won't go outside some times at night and I am tired of the battle. Don't say get rid of them, we are "empty nesters" and these are our dotage lap dogs!

Jennie said...

Jonathon- I loved this post. I love hearing spouses lift each other up- it is so refreshing. I can feel yours and Stephanie's testimonies clearly through your writings and I really appreciate them. I do not think anyone reading believes Stephanie to be an emotional wreck. Quite the contrary! I think that is why so many faithful readers keep coming back. Speaking for myself, I wonder if I were in the same situation, if I would have the same strength and resolve as she and you have shown. Thank you for your words!

Jonathan Waite said...

anonymous, i found folex in my local grocery store. if you don't find it there, try their website, which points you to your closest retailer that carries it:
http://www.folexcompany.com/folex_retailers.html

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, Jonathan. The memory of Camille was very touching and made me miss her, too (even though I never got to meet her). And those were beautiful words about your wife. Thank you for sharing with us.

Rachel said...

As you can see from the other comments, women, at least women of the less catty variety, never get bored reading about a man praising his wife. We think it's wonderful. Stephanie's very brave to let you write on her blog, I trust my husband with my life and my heart but maybe not with my blog. Her trust is well-placed, though, you did a wonderful job.

rebecca said...

Steph I hope TOFW was great and to you, Jon, a few comments

- yes I know the carpet cleaner use it and love it.
- don't apologize for the details and the ramblings - that's the best part in my opinion.
- continue taking good care of your sweet family. it's such a blessing to have children to "ground" you so to speak and a loving relationship with your spouse.

Heywood Clan said...

You have a sweet husband. I love that he will post for you. I went to the Time Out For Women this last weekend in Las Vegas and was thinking about you the entire time. I just kept thinking how awesome it would have been for you to be there. I was so excited when I read this post and saw that you were there. When they were nominating people that have joy in their life no matter what their trials, I thought of you. You are so amazing!!! I hope you enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

Your few thoughts about your grief reminds me very much of how my husband grieved, or is still grieving when we lost our daughter. I think men and women handle these things very differently. But what you wrote sounds exactly like what my husband is experiencing.