The Library Book Goblin

Well,  well, well… where do I even begin. Ok, so let’s just start out by saying that my daughter has some serious issues with books.  Library books in particular. She just loves taking them everywhere she goes. If any parents are out there reading this you know what this means. When it comes time to return them…they are nowhere to be found. We used to have this really good system where they stayed in one place and were never moved unless we read them. Well, my daughter has resorted from carrying around one or two books to the entire bag of library books (which is usually somewhere between 10 and 15 books). She basically pulls the bag along because it’s so heavy! It’s quite the sight.  Now Grace takes naps in our room. This, as you can imagine, presents another problem…can you guess? Yes, we find them all over our bed and around our bed.  So now that you can see my beginning distaste for library books, I will now share with you my dilemma.

It all started when my mom took the kids for an overnighter at her house. Grace knows (or should have known) that library books do not leave the house. Well, she brought a whole bag of her “stuff” out to Grandma and Papa’s house. Little did I know she left with several library books.  When it came time to return the books to the library we found all but one book. Yes, that ONE blasted book!!! Ahhh!! I practically turned my house upside down to find this book. I’m convinced that there is a Library book Goblin that comes and steals library books! And for some reason he picks our house just about every week! Well,  I finally resorted to realizing I was probably going to have to buy this book. In my mind I figured it would be way cheaper to purchase a book off of Amazon than pay a ridiculous price at the library for a book. So I went ahead and found a used book for a little over $3. I went to the library and explained what had happened and asked if it would work for me to just replace it. No problem. Yes…resolved.

I went ahead and began looking for more books with my kids. As I was going to check out the new books the librarian told me that there was a problem. They told me the book I needed to replace was hardcover and I had brought them a soft cover book. Now, here’s where my blood starts to boil. Ok, I know that I know that I know that the book was soft cover. I remember specifically thinking, “Hmm…this book will never last at the library with kids. It’s soft cover. I never get soft cover books from the library. That’s weird.” OK, there is a .0001% chance I could be wrong. But I highly doubt it. I explained to her that I was positive it was a soft cover and went through the thinking I mentioned above. They wouldn’t accept it. Their computer was what they went by. I said, “So basically…you don’t believe me.”  They told me to replace the hard cover book it would be $14.00.  Ok, if you’re anything like me and have a strong sense of justice, and right and wrong then you would be feeling a little frustrated at this point as well.  I told them I would go search Grandma’s house myself (since it seems like Grandma’s just don’t search for a library book like Mom’s do..heehee) and to renew the book for now.

So, I am fuming as I drive to Dalton to my parents house today, not only because there is a fee that is involved in replacing a type of book that I/we did not lose, but because I am now wasting more money in gas (from our gas hog truck because the van is broke)!!! THIS BOOK IS GETTING SPENDY!! This is getting ridiculous! All because I don’t want to pay $14.00 and my pride wants to prove to them that I am RIGHT!! I think I am mostly upset because they basically are questioning my integrity!! Anyone else out there ever feel this way?? Please?? Am I alone?  $14.00 may not seem like a lot of money to some people. This would be a non-issue for most of you I’m sure. But when you have an $850 vehicle repair in the same week the dollar is so much more huge! (And again...I’m sure $850 is pennies to some out there too…not us…yet! J) 

Did I find the book at my parents house? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Now, this has become what seemed like a wasted trip. But God knows! I am still determined to not give up yet and to FIND this book!

Now, on a good note (which I know you are all waiting for) I was able to meet some of my mom’s friends that were up for the weekend while I searched for the book.  Mom just had to show off the grandkids. Turns out…one of them needed a massage! Yepper doo! AND turns out …we had wonderful fellowship! AND it turns out… I invited them to church and they are coming tomorrow! I’m super excited. So all that to say, as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” If I had never went out to my mom and dad’s to look for the book I would have never met these dear sweet people, they wouldn’t be enjoying our church service tomorrow, and I wouldn’t have the massage $ in my pocket either.  Who knows…maybe this book was supposed to be lost after all. J

But as I mentioned I’m still not giving up!! I’m still frustrated by the whole situation…just not fuming any more. I am determined that we WILL find this book and not have to pay $14.00 and *cough* that I was right.  So, if anyone out there sees the Library Book Goblin out there…could you please tell him to bring our book back? I promise to leave him some cookies and milk…just please tell him to bring it back soon! Thank You! J