“I Need A Proper Hug”
Perhaps my favorite line in the movie, The Blind Side is “I need a proper hug.” When the family is taking their adopted son to college, the Mom shares her advice, says some semblance of goodbye and gets in the car to leave. Her son then comes back to her and says, “I need a proper hug.”
Each time I see this, I nearly tear up with excitement and gratitude that this adopted son knows when and how to show love to and thank his mother.
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| I need a proper hug... |
Covid-19 has impacted so many people in some tough ways. Recently, I read a Facebook post from a single woman I worked with several years ago. In the post she stated how many weeks it’s been since she’s had any type of touch from anyone. She added that she’s fine, “I’m FINE, I’M REALLY FINE”... She then closed with some hash tags. It appears that she’s removed the post, but they were something like, #RememberYourSingleFriends #LivingSomeSortOfCovidHell!
I wish she had left the post on her Facebook or that I had been wise enough to snap a photo of it. I ache for her. I’ve set a goal and I pray that the Lord might help me recognize when I need to reach out to someone who is struggling and know what they need.
I also witnessed another “older” friend. He was at a food bank as the Church was donating a truckload of food. A friend of his came up to him and almost shook his hand, but drew it back because of pressure to keep a safe distance to not spread the Coronavirus. My friend then exclaimed to the lady, “Oh, you’re right, a handshake wouldn’t be proper at a time like this!” He then gave her a great big hug.
Besides proper hugs...
A couple things from my week. We’ve been working for some time to pursue the possibility of purchasing 15 rental units in Blackfoot. Last week I walked through the units with my friends who have owned rental properties for decades. They said they’ve only purchased one house that was in the poor shape that these are in. They also said it would take $20,000 per unit to get them in the shape they should be in to rent. Because of this advice and seeing the units myself, I offered way different than my initial offer.
I met with the executor of the estate that owns the properties and discussed the offer with him. His biggest concern is getting sued for not handling the properties right. The owner died and purposely left his son and daughter out of the will. All money from the estate is to be used for grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s education for 50 years. After that, it can be given to them.
I don’t think our counter offer will be accepted. As we were leaving, he asked if we’d consider managing the properties. I said that I’d consider it, but we probably wouldn’t. Yesterday I had the thought that maybe I should manage the properties with an agreement that in a few years I would be able to purchase the properties at an agreed upon price, made when I begin to manage the properties.
This might give him peace of mind that the properties are being managed and that they are becoming better. It also gives the family time to feel that their interests are being met and that the executor is on their side. Perhaps this offer will work.
I wish she had left the post on her Facebook or that I had been wise enough to snap a photo of it. I ache for her. I’ve set a goal and I pray that the Lord might help me recognize when I need to reach out to someone who is struggling and know what they need.
I also witnessed another “older” friend. He was at a food bank as the Church was donating a truckload of food. A friend of his came up to him and almost shook his hand, but drew it back because of pressure to keep a safe distance to not spread the Coronavirus. My friend then exclaimed to the lady, “Oh, you’re right, a handshake wouldn’t be proper at a time like this!” He then gave her a great big hug.
Besides proper hugs...
A couple things from my week. We’ve been working for some time to pursue the possibility of purchasing 15 rental units in Blackfoot. Last week I walked through the units with my friends who have owned rental properties for decades. They said they’ve only purchased one house that was in the poor shape that these are in. They also said it would take $20,000 per unit to get them in the shape they should be in to rent. Because of this advice and seeing the units myself, I offered way different than my initial offer.
I met with the executor of the estate that owns the properties and discussed the offer with him. His biggest concern is getting sued for not handling the properties right. The owner died and purposely left his son and daughter out of the will. All money from the estate is to be used for grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s education for 50 years. After that, it can be given to them.
I don’t think our counter offer will be accepted. As we were leaving, he asked if we’d consider managing the properties. I said that I’d consider it, but we probably wouldn’t. Yesterday I had the thought that maybe I should manage the properties with an agreement that in a few years I would be able to purchase the properties at an agreed upon price, made when I begin to manage the properties.
This might give him peace of mind that the properties are being managed and that they are becoming better. It also gives the family time to feel that their interests are being met and that the executor is on their side. Perhaps this offer will work.
For some reason, I keep feeling that I need to build up a better financial future for myself and my family. Currently, I feel that real estate (specifically rental properties) will be a strong part of that future. I keep hoping that I can improve my family’s future by providing them with less stress for finances and more freedom to serve the Lord’s kingdom by having a more solid financial base to stand on.
For example I’ve seen several key leaders who have been blessed with that. One Area 70 and his siblings oversee a huge farm, a trucking company, a bread company, and other businesses. Another member of the mission presidency and his siblings manage a huge farm, a trucking company and other things that I’m unaware of. Another former mission president and his brother own a lot of business real estate in the Pocatello area. Because of their businesses, these individuals have increased time to serve the Lord. I hope to provide this for my children and grandchildren.
Yesterday, two of my nieces, Brecia & Ashley floated the rapids and stopped in for a brief visit. It was fun to see and talk to them. I gave them the “simple” task of keeping the twins out of Mom’s papers or from crawling into the entry where they might fall down the stairs. It was fun to see them try to visit with us and still keep the twins in the room and out of things... truly an impossible task, but it was fun to watch. They would have succeed if we’d given them more time and some toys for Tate and Dawson. Either way, I think they enjoyed the twins and we enjoyed the visit. Here’s a brief video of their great efforts.
Headin' em off at the pass... Ashley & Brecia with Tate & Dawson
As we were visiting with some friends, Angie Frias, one of Becky’s friends and a sister of a girl I attend high school with, came up to visit. Angie was divorced a few years ago and was left with nothing. Angie went through two self-reliance groups (personal finance and education for better work). She then completed PathwayConnect and began BYU-Idaho classes. She informed me that she’s only a few weeks away from finishing her third semester of classes. She now is buying her own home. A few months back, she began a new job that she loves so much more—especially her boss. She worked at her past company for 3 years and with her new job, her wage went from $10 per hour to $15.
It wasn’t until I was preparing this letter that I wondered if Angie might be in the same situation that my friend was in. Did Angie need a proper hug? Hopefully she just needed a fun visit. Hopefully she’s taken care of, or that next time I see her, I’ll do what the Lord needs me to do.
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