Dumb Girl

She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.

                   Proverbs 31: 17

I'm embarrassed to admit that .... plenty of times I've played the "dumb girl" to get a guy to do a job for me.

Just the other day I was calling parts stores to see how much a new car battery was. Mark was going to go pick it up. I asked the guy on the other end of the phone, "Do you guys install them as well? He says, "normally no. If you come in and ask for me though, I can do it for you". I tell Mark, "guess I'll go get the battery that way you don't have to do it yourself".

That being said - I do take pride in doing things myself, when I can. I just know what I can and can't do.

Alexis' bed broke awhile back. She then got it in her head that she wanted a day bed. Our base held a post wide garage sale a couple weeks ago. Low & behold we found a day bed all piled up on someones front lawn. The lady said that the movers lost all the hardware. So, she would give it to us for $10. (Alexis is one blessed little girl...but more on that in another post)

It sat in our garage for another week until we finally had time to make a trip to Lowes. Mark is the kind of guy who would just go in, wander around and try 1000 different screws until he found one that worked. Or, he would give up and leave.

Me, being the can do,  find someone who can do girl - I took Alexis' whole head board into Lowes. Went to the counter and told the guy, " I need 10 screws that will fit into these holes". The great customer service guy asked, "Do you need washers and nuts as well?" See, it's a good thing I asked for help- I would not have thought to get washers and nuts.

Less than $5.00 & 10 minutes later we walk out, bag and frame in hand. I decide I'm going to be super handy and put this bed together myself.

I get all the pieces together. Line up all my screws, nuts and washers and get to it. Less than 10 minutes in I realize the holes on one side of the bed are smaller than the ones on the other side of the bed. My great customer service guy only measured the screws against one hole (Can't blame him. Who doesn't have the same size holes in the same bed!?!)

The next day I head back to Lowes, with kids and frame in hand. This time I actually did attempt to find the screws myself (since I remembered what aisle we were in before) After 5 minutes I gave up and asked the guy. He said the screws I had were the smallest that would work. The next smallest size is way too small to hold the bed together. He suggested I go home and try using a ratchet or a 1/4" bit to drill the holes a little bigger.

I was kinda surprised that I actually knew what a ratchet was. I figured I could wing the drill stuff. So back home we go. I get the kids settled in front of the TV and gather my the tool box out of the garage.

I have to use both the ratchet and the drill but I'm getting the hang of it. Then, I break a nail.

I'm starting to think I'll just wait for Mark to get home and do it. Then my little bit of pride kicks in and I think to myself, "I've come this far"!

I finally finish. Alexis is thrilled! It only took $15 dollars, two trips to Lowes, 2 hours and a broken nail - But I did it! My daughter is proud of me. My husband comes home and he is proud of me. I am proud of me.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:

                 Proverbs 31:28