Ta da!

Before:
And after:

Six years minus two days ago...

...I married my gorgeous husband. I am the luckiest woman in the world.

About a month ago, Andy posted something on facebook about needing a flash drive, her friends suggested an external hard drive (or maybe she recommended that to someone else; can't remember.) Anyway, it was a reminder to me that backing up files is a project that shouldn't be put off. I went out to Walmart and bought the smallest hard drive I could find. Cory promptly backed up all our files on the PC downstairs. We primarily use the laptops now, but until about six months ago, we exclusively used the downstairs computer.

Last week, I needed to print something on my printer connected to the old computer, so I went to pull the file up.

GONE.

Everything was gone, from the entire computer. All of our pictures, my work documents, and computer programs. I remember my friend Nancy called right as I realized that we had backed it all up. When she asked what I was doing I said, "Thanking Jesus!"

And now, as I browse through all those saved memories, I am reminded of my wedding day and the week leading up to it. I knew then that this marriage was going to be this good.

I love you, Cory. Thank you for loving me (and for backing up those files).

Peace and Love and all that.

One thing about me: I am an idealist. I see the world how it could be, how it should be. I think the person who is not an idealist is perhaps a realist and sees the world exactly how it is.

Therefore, many of my viewpoints reflect my idealistic tendencies. I have been called to the table on it recently and I want to discuss it.

The current subject under discussion is torture. Should the United States tolerate or partipate in waterboarding or other forms of torture to extract information from detainees? The argument for torture is that we should be able to do whatever necessary to ensure the safety of the United States.

My arguments against torture are threefold: 1. It's illegal; 2. It's immoral (see Matthew 5:38-48); and 3. There is no proof that it works.

In my idealistic world, there would be no need for torture, because there would be no war. I get that is not realistic. I know there is war and I know there are gray areas associated with war. But I cannot weaken my resolve on this. I can't accept that it's okay, under any circumstance, to purposefully hurt another human being. Regardless of their actions. As hard as it is to "love our enemies," isn't this as bad as it will get? Are not our enemies those who try to hurt us? Are they not the ones we are to love the most?

And I know, most of all, that this is complicated most for those in armed services. They are paid to protect us and I mean no disrespect to them.

I'm not sure why I chose to blog about this subject. It is, like everything here in Bits and Pieces, open for discussion. It is also, like everthing here, a view into my world and my opinion. I feel strongly that each human being in the entire world is God's child, and we need to treat each other kindly and with respect.

Peace and love and all that. :)

Thinking...

Yes, I'm still here. And I have some big topics on my brain, but I'm trying to decide how to present them. I takes me awhile to make sense of things in my head, unfortunately. Or fortunately. Then I don't just blurt things out. :)

At any rate, this is the color my house will be when it's done. The big swatch, the dark brown. It's growing on me, even though it's not what I thought I'd be getting! Corey the Painter thinks he'll be done tomorrow, so look for before and afters later this week!

Felt like summer!

Yep, today it did. Toasty warm, sunscreen (except for me...whoops), lots of water. The kids were in their glory. What a fun treat.

And, I must say, I'm okay with the 60s that they say it's going to be for the next few days. It's May, after all.

Oh, and you can't tell by looking at these pictures, but it smells AMAZING out there...lilacs, apple blossoms...yum.

The little cedar that will.

I've been thinking a lot about energy and how all of us are an extension of the earth. My thoughts are too lengthy for this blog post, I think, but I loved Libby's post about light recently. I was reminded of it when I took this picture of Jack today. Can you see the light in his face?

Almost two years ago, this little seedling came up through the woodchips at my in-laws. His dad said we should take it home. It had a great little shape and I loved the thought of it starting at their home and living at ours. Kind of like Cory did. My mom took a seedling from her parents house when they retired to Michigan, and now it's one of the largest trees in her yard.

Anyway, we had to transplant it from its temporary spot in the backyard, and moved it here. The boys are helping to water it. They will help it grow, and as it does, I intend to chronicle their life with it.

They are in it and it is in them.

Stay Out, Jack!

I thought he was too young for this, but this morning Matty told me: Mommy, I need to make a sign for Jack to stay out of my room, okay?

I guess. Sigh.

That's how we roll.

One more thing.

This totally cracked me up. My brother posted it on my facebook page. I love him.

Sharpies= $10

Ink cartridge to print signs= $30

Signs themselves= $50

Qdoba= $10

Fanny Pack= $10

Extra treats to keep the kids content= $25

Hair appt necessary from gray hair caused by stress= $125

Total revenues= $200

Net income= -$60

Garage sale play-by-play on facebook= Priceless

D.A.R.E.

As part of the D.A.R.E. program, a military helicoptor lands at the elementary school near our house every couple years. Matty and I were lucky enough to be able to go watch it take off. Pretty impressive (and loud)!

Garage Sale

For those of you not on Facebook, I thought I'd share my garage sale pictures here. It was a wild success. Every day was super busy and I made $490, $10 short of my goal. I'm happy with that! I'll be doing it again next year. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

I took a lot of guff for my fanny pack/money holder, but it worked super slick and will become part of my regular wardrobe. HANDS FREE!

My pretty signs. Each side took me 25 minutes. 25 x 10 = 250 minutes = more than four hours.

My helpers.

How about that weather?

Here's the thing about Minnesotans: We LOVE to talk about the weather. Every snowstorm is an item for discussion, how many days this month were blow zero, the blistering humidity in July...and gifts from God like the weather today. P-E-R-F-E-C-T. I could not have asked for a better temperature for my sale...calm and 75 degrees. And sunny. And every Minnesotan who came into my sale couldn't help but comment on it!

What I'm doing.

I know, it's consuming my life. I will be glad when it's over (even though I really enjoy planning and organizing). T-minus 45 hours...

Grace

As you probably know, I went garage saling with my mom and my older sister Shari this past week. (Chrissy joined us for a couple hours too). That is another post for another day. Truthfully, I couldn't find my camera before I left and it's not as great of a story without the pictures.

I found this print at a garage sale for $1.50. It's a little rough, but I've always wanted it. We had it in our house growing up, as did many of you likely. I've always wanted it in my home. And the price was right.

As I was walking to my car, a woman stopped me. She was a customer like me and pointed to the picture I had just purchased. Here is our conversation:

Woman: Did you have this picture in your house when you were a kid?
Me: Yep!
Woman: Do you know what this book is? [pointing to the book on the table in the painting]
Me: Um. I guess it's the Bible.
Woman: Nope. It's a dictionary.
Me: Really?
Woman: Yep. I watched a special on it. And this guy [pointing to the old man] - he's an atheist.
Me: Oh, really? [standing there, puzzled, uncomfortable.]
Woman: A lot of people don't know that. [Walks away]

I went to my car disturbed. I'm still not sure what her purpose was. Originally, I thought she was being hateful, that she wanted to spoil my experience. Now I don't think so. I think she was just a know-it-all.

And she was wrong.

Of course I researched the history of this painting. According to everything I can find, it is a painting of a photograph taken by Eric Enstrom (from Minnesota, no less), and the man is indeed praying. I do not know whether that is a bible or a dictionary, but it is not important to me. Regardless, this art, like all other pieces, is subjective. It can be whatever I choose it to be.
When I look at it now, I still feel nostalgic. And happy. Even though I really really really wish I would see that woman again to tell her the truth. Alas, it's not about that. So I'll transfer my energy into finding somewhere to hang it up.

God's grace to you.

Happy 12th Birthday, Cole!