I have been a lame visiting teacher lately. It's not often that I find myself having to make apologies and excuses for why I haven't fulfilled an obligation. Usually, I'm hard pressed to call someone to fill in for me, or to stay home from a meeting or obligation. However, in the month of February, I neglected to do my visiting teaching. It was the first time in probably 6 months I didn't physically go visit my sisters. That's pretty good considering we only moved into the ward 7 months prior, and I started going the first month I had an assignment. All boasting aside, I did not make it out in February. I felt badly, and still felt the need to at least drop by a little note. Here's what it said (and I wish I had a picture of the little card I put it on, because it was actually kind of cute):
"Because this month has been insane,
We know we have been really lame.
We didn't come to visit you,
Although we had intended to.
We hope this message helps you start
To find forgiveness in your heart.
We promise now, to never more
Neglect to show up at your door.
Please accept our apology,
And do enjoy this yummy treat!
Love, Your Visiting Teachers"
I pasted a snipit of the VT message to the back of the card, and left a cute little bundle of heart-shaped Rice Krispy treats in red wrapping on each of my ladies' doorsteps. At least I could invoke a smile, right? Even though I wasn't completely fulfilling my responsibility? Feel free to copy the idea if you ever need to apologize for missing an obligation.
Now. On to another challenge that needs similarly addressed. We've decided to put up a fence in our back yard. From the moment we moved in, we were fully aware that both our neighbors disliked the idea of us having one. I think they like the openness of the three yards, and the freedom of not having a boundary in view. However, I have some serious justifiable reasons for wanting one in, not limited to the fact that I have four small children who neglect to follow the rules of staying in our yard on their own. There is a pond in one of my neighbors' back yards. 14 inches deep. Not fenced. The other neighbor has a too-tall makeshift treehouse with no railings and way-too-steep slide right next to their in-ground trampoline. That same neighbor also has an outdoor cat that tends to make our yard it's litterbox (don't even get me started on how unsanitary that is around young children), and a dog that is seldom attached to it's tie that is supposed to keep it in it's own yard. She also finds it fascinating to relieve herself in someone else's yard or driveway (mine). Less bothersome, yet still compelling reasons for getting a fence, would be privacy, containment of children and property, and being able to grant more complete access to the yard for a dog. Plus, we plan to plant a garden this spring, and having one of the sides of our yard fenced would provide perfect and non-awkward, out of the way bed placement. So, any great suggestions similar to my visiting teaching poem/treat for a peace-offering to break the news that we're going to be putting an eyesore in our neighbors' yards?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Lame.
Labels: Annoyances, information, Personality, Perspective, Priorities, Projects, Questions
Posted by Jeff and Ashleigh at 5:42 PM
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3 comments:
If it was me, I would just do it. You could mention it to your neighbors if it makes you feel better but I would not ask for permission because that would be opening a whole new can of worms. You have so many good reasons to do it and don't feel bad if it is going against what they want. You will feel more at ease knowing that your kids will not be running out into the street with a fence in place. I think that it is a great idea to put one in.
You definitely have to say something to them, because that's the polite and considerate thing to do. We went around to the four houses around ours and told them about extending the driveway, putting a play set in the backyard, and putting another layer of stone on the one side of our fence... it just shows respect, so it's a must :) I would just tell them all your reason for wanted a fence and they will understand :).. if they don't understand, at least they will just be mad at the fence and not at you too for not speaking to them about it first.
I think it's a great idea to do what you did with the visiting teaching. Make a cute little poem about your kids and them needing a fence and put it with a yummy treat on their doorstep :) That would be good for me if I was your neighbor. I would appreciate that and see that it was nothing personal. And the treat would butter them up so they couldn't be mad :) It would be polite to let them know, but you definitely don't need to ask for permission. You gotta do what's best for your kids and their safety (and cleanliness :))
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