private void handleSignInButtonAction(ActionEvent event) throws Exception{
        mainGridPane.setOpacity(0.5);

        //this should display a progress spinner before database connection
        spinnerAnchorPane.setVisible(true);

        String username = userNameField.getText().trim();
        String password = passwordField.getText();

        //database connection here
        int status = loginService.authenticateLogin(username, password);
}