Month: April 2020

I probably shouldn’t write this right now because I am frustrated but I am anyway. I seriously can’t believe how rude people can be. My kids are on WIC. Yes I admit that we have it and I’m truly not ashamed of it. Anyone that has WIC should not be ashamed to partake in this program. Since the girls have been home from the NICU, WIC has been heaven sent. It has done EXACTLY what this program was intended to do; HELP those in need. 

I should probably tell you the story of the couple. I had to go to Walmart tonight for baby food. I had WIC checks for my girls that I needed to use. I followed all the protocols and took the precautions I have been told to do. Social distancing, 6 ft. apart, blah blah blah… I did it all. I have tried not to really go ANYWHERE, especially to WalMart but today, I had to go. With WIC you can’t do the grocery pick up, you have to go inside. So anyway, I needed to get food for the girls because they are getting to the point that they need solids and not all formula anymore. With WIC we get a certain amount of 4 oz puréed food containers a month for EACH girl. Since we get two checks for the puréed food, I try and be fair and split them up throughout the month so we don’t wipe out the shelves in one trip. That’s what I did.

But as I was in line checking out, I had a couple behind me waiting. At first they were okay. But as soon as they saw the WIC checks their whole demeanor changed. They were annoyed. They seemed Disgusted. The man started huffing and puffing. He went and checked other lines like 3 times. Then they started “whispering”, or so they thought. The women turned her back to me so she wasn’t talking in my direction. Extremely obvious. I overheard the man say “This is the shortest line, looks like we are going to have to sit here.” And the woman “She’s on WIC. We are going to be here a while.” And a few more jabs.

Words hurt. I normally could care less about what people think or say about me. But today these words hurt. I truly felt belittled; and I usually have thick skin. I completely understand that it’s a longer process when using the WIC checks. I’m sorry it’s an inconvenience to you. But guess what? WIC is what HELPS put food on the table for my kids. By being on WIC, it doesn’t mean we can’t afford food. It doesn’t mean we are homeless or live in a trailer or whatever other stereotype is connected. It doesn’t mean we are lower class or beneath you. You don’t know me. You don’t know my story. You don’t know the hell me and my family have been through this last year. You don’t know that we just had twins that spent 2 months in the NICU and that we are STILL recovering financially, physically and especially mentally. You don’t know that we have been in and out of the hospital with one of our girls because of a formula allergy that gave her gastroparesis and now needs to be on one of the most expensive formulas. You don’t know that I had to quit my job because child care for 3 kids is too expensive and it’s cheaper to be a stay-at-home mom. You don’t know that due to this COVID 19 quarantine business has slowed down for my husband that has been deemed an essential business/employee. And You honestly don’t know that we have an extremely strong-willed three-nager that I TRY my damndest to parent on the daily and am extremely exhausted, especially today.

So, to the couple behind me…. YOU are the reason the WalMart employee won’t say the WIC word out loud in fear of the current customer being judged harshly. YOU are the reason the people feel ashamed to admit they have/need/want assistance. YOU are the reason and YOU need to change your perspective because YOU don’t know the full story.

So think about what you say and how you say it because you never know who is listening. Rant over.

Remember Love thy neighbor and be slow to anger.

As always, make your own sunshine ☀️

Much love,

Britt ♥️

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“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men….” (Ether 12:4)

 This year has been a little rough…. don’t you agree? 2020 hasn’t turned out AT ALL the way most of us were hoping for!

Nate and I were driving the other day, I can’t remember where we were going  but Alan Jackson’s ‘Where were you when the World stopped turning?’ And Toby Keith’s ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue’ came on iTunes Radio and I asked Nate “What happened to the Unitedness of the community when 9-11 happened?” I feel with this Covid-19 outbreak, that everyone is basically at each other’s jugular and it’s madness! I was disgusted with people when this all started. I do hope that more people start to take this pandemic seriously and start self-quarantining and social distancing themselves, not just for their sake but for everyone else’s.. This is a time that we need to be united. We need to help those in need. While also keeping ourselves and family safe and as healthy as possible.

It broke my heart hearing my grandpa the other day. They came home from Arizona earlier than planned due to this virus scare. Since they go to Arizona during the winter months, their home isn’t stocked with the essentials like most of our own homes. He, who #1 should not be out in public, went to the grocery store for 1 can of soup. 1 can. Did he find it? Of course not. Because people who, in the end probably aren’t going to eat that soup anyway, have pillaged the stores. Like I said, this is a time that we all need to unite again as a community. As a country. Set aside our differences, our personal beliefs, and help one another. Not be major selfish hoarders that others suffer. Okay, off that soap box, because I obviously could go on and on. And by the way, don’t worry, my parents, mother-in-law and I got my grandparents set. They shouldn’t need to go out in public and risk their health anytime during this outbreak. I do hope though,  that all have been able to get what they need, as much as they need, and were able to leave some for thy neighbor as well!

Anyway, onto what my mind has been redirected to. I remember sitting in Sunday School about 2 months or so ago. I remember looking around and seeing my two beautiful girls sleeping, the lady next to me was scrolling through Facebook,  a little toddler screaming as his mom tried to shush him, and the teacher teaching about Lehi’s vision.

Through all of that, all I could latch on to is the comment the lady In front of me made.

Define the strait and narrow path. Most of us think of a literal straight path. We hold on to the iron rod and walk basically in a straight line.

Did you notice that in the statement “strait and narrow path”, Strait is spelled differently than what most of us think? I didn’t realize this until that moment when she pointed it out.

 So what does “Strait” mean? “used in reference to a situation characterized by a specified degree of trouble or difficulty.” “(of a place) of limited spatial capacity; narrow or cramped.” “close, strict, or rigorous.”

That to me says, this life won’t be an easy road. But what’s the fun without some bumps and bruises along the way? Just kidding. But not really, because it’s true. Have you ever been faced with a challenge or trial  that you think to yourself, “What. The. Heck?”  “Why me?” “Why now?”, then you make it through that trial and have that feeling of accomplishment or self love because you just  proved to yourself and everyone around you of how strong you really are?

Best. Feeling. Ever.

Everything that is worth something in life, never comes easy. Well, at least it never has for me.

In closing, basically what I’m saying is, life is hard. Life is messy. Every trial, obstacle, tribulation, whatever you would like to call it, every single one, good or bad, hard, tempting, terrifying etc…has shaped you into the person you are. Be proud of that.  Be proud of who you are because there isn’t another person like you.

The strait and narrow path looks different for everybody. Be slow to anger and judgment. You never know what someone else is going through.

Remember- Create your own sunshine! ☀️

Love always, Britt 💋

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