Finding peace midst a random act of vandalance.

This post is a bit overdue, but better late than never... A couple Saturdays ago we became a statistic in a juvenile area prank. John and I were still talking about the fun we had with Michael and Becca at ValleyScare as we turned into our driveway around 12:30 a.m.Sunday morning. Right away I noticed that our Explorer parked in the driveway was leaning one way a little and that we must have a flat. The roof of our townhouse was just replaced a few months ago and we are still finding nails around our patio area so I wouldn't have been surprised if one of those had been in the tire, creating a flat. However, when we went closer to the vehicle we noticed that BOTH of the tires on the right-hand were flat. I don't think that even with the perfect alignment of the stars could the coincidence of having I two roofing nails in two different tires make two flats. It turned out that the valve stems had been cut off of the tires. Very strange, we had not done anything to anyone (that we know of) and the vehicle was parked nicely in our driveway.

We went to bed because we were too tired to do anything that night and we had to get up early since we had an early bell performance in church the next day. While still annoyed upon waking up on Sunday morning, it was then that I found the peace. While driving to church that morning (with a sleeping husband beside me) I sang along to every word of every song on KTIS that morning. It was as if God was opening up my heart to hear his Word. We heard a wonderful sermon at church by Pastor Tim about peace and Jim accompanied the congregation to the awesome hymn It is Well With My Soul. I remember learning about this hymn earlier in my life, how it was written by Horatio Spafford after losing almost everything in his life, including all his children. After everything that had happened to him, he still had enough faith to praise God for who He is! Pastor Tim preached about how dull our lives would be if we never were anxious about anything, but God gives us a prescription for peace. God does not want us to worry and he never gives us more than we can handle.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Here is a picture of our sad Explorer after the flats were removed. Time to go to Sears and get them fixed!

I truly, truly believe that bad things happen so that our eyes will be opened to much better things around us. This incident helped us meet our neighbors. Our neighbor Roger offered to pump up our tires for us (before he realized the valve stems were cut). We met another couple at Sears that fell victim to this prank. But the biggest thing that came out of this is that John and I were faced with a challenge and were were able to work through it together. Yes, we called on the help of family, but we overcame what God put before us.

For further reading on the vandalism and related activities visit:

http://www.co.carver.mn.us/county_government/docs/Vandalism.pdf

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=527711

http://www.startribune.com/local/33212109.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Not Me Monday #2

I did not remember that Discover Card changed the payment due dates two days after my payment was due and then accidentally change the due date to another week earlier. Not me, I would never do that.

I did not get disappointed when we received a wedding card 6 months late and the only thing inside the card was the couple's signature.

I did not leave my car parked in the driveway Thursday night with the driver's side window half-down (or was it half-up?) to find that it was raining on Friday morning. Luckily the seat wasn't too wet for my morning commute!

I did not forget to bring my nasal spray along to Michael & Becca's. Yay for pet allergies.

I did not have to follow an old couple just to get out of the CVS parking lot in Maple Grove, not me, I have a good sense of direction.

Halloween Haunt at ValleyScare

Halloween's coming....are you getting scared?

John and my third date, only two years ago last weekend, was a trip to ValleyScare at ValleyFair. We thought it was pretty fun with the rides, entertainment, Halloween decorations, and haunted houses. We decided not to go last year but we figured it was about time to go back. We invited John's brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Becca, to share the evening with us. The weather was exceptionally warm on Saturday when we went. It was only the 2nd weekend in October yet the high was about 73 degrees! We were even more excited about this because we froze when we went two years ago.

We arrived at the park around 6:30 p.m. just as the sun was starting to go down. After a quick ride on the Antique Cars and the Corkscrew we were bummed to find out that due to a small amount of lightning in the area (maybe 15 miles away) most of the rides that hadn't already been shut down for the summer were being stopped until the storm past. It wasn't that we didn't want to go through the haunted houses or ride the rides that were still open, it was the fact that those things were the only thing for anyone to do. We waited in a couple of the longest lines I've EVER seen at Valleyfair for the haunted houses and went to Dr. DeMented's magic show. It was maybe only an hour and a half that the rides were down but it seemed like a lot longer. The fact that it was such a nice evening and still not being able to go on the rides made the wait even harder.

During the long lines I couldn't help but start to wonder if we weren't getting too old for this type attraction. I couldn't even start to count the number of little teenage girl clicks. You know, the ones where every girl looks the same (super skinny, tight clothes, glued to their cell phones...)

I think that ValleyScare did a great job with all of the haunted houses and decorations. It's just too bad we couldn't see more of the details. I couldn't help but wonder ValleyScare bought all of the fog machines after they went on clearance last year. We had to poke our way through the houses and park just to see if there was anyone in front of us that we might run into.

My biggest thrill of the evening was going on the Power Tower for my first time. The long line was definitely worth the wait. Thanks, Becca, for tricking - oops, I mean convincing - me to go on this ride! But where were the screams?!?!

Here is a picture of John and me together in front of the same Ogre type monster that we got solo pictures in front of two years ago...

We stopped for a few more pictures as we were leaving the park.....

Not Me Monday #1

A friend of mine started publishing "not me Monday" posts and it looks like fun. I couldn't help but think of all the dumb stuff that I do - so why not have some fun with it! Here goes...

I did not putz around the house last Monday morning (like usual) to soon realize I had to be at work on time for once since I had an 8 a.m. meeting to attend. I did not drive 212 to work for the sole reason that I could go 70 mph in hopes to reach my 8 a.m. goal. When I arrived (at 8 a.m. on the dot, thank you very much!) I certainly did not ask my co-workers if there wasn't a meeting to which they did not reply back to me "it got moved to 9 a.m"!

On Wednesday night I did not take Tylenol PM because I didn't feel well and couldn't sleep (and the aquarium was too noisy). I most definitely did not take it at 10:45 pm. Because of this bad judgment call, I did not wake up abruptly at 8:15 (mind you, I am supposed to be at work at 8). Then, I did not ask John what day it was hoping I might get lucky and it would be Saturday but it was still Thursday. :(

After Bells on Thursday night I did not accidentally hit the trunk unlock button of my car without realizing and then did not drive 2 miles down the road with the thing bouncing up and down before I could pull over to slam it shut.

A good fall day

It was Friday today, which ALWAYS means it will be a good day. But to make the day even better, John was able to work the same hours as me, 8-5. We were able to save a few bucks by carpooling in to work since we only work miles apart. For lunch John picked up Arby's, then picked up me and we had lunch together at a park near my work. It was a gorgeous fall day today and I am looking forward to a wonderful weekend with my husband!

6 months and counting...

But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

This was one of the scripture verses read at our April 5th wedding, now more than 6 months ago. I can't begin to describe how fast these months have gone. While I admit that it hasn't been all fun all the time, I know our love for each other is strengthened with every day we are together.

While John may not be perfect (and let's face it, who is?), he is perfect for me. He is patient with me while I am stressing out about the amount of work I need to get done and lack of free time. He is understanding of my special diet I insist on sticking to and makes sure I am always thought of. He tolerates my always icy-cold feet that always seem to gravitate towards his oh-so-warm legs in bed at night (yes, they're still cold even in the summer). He has made a valiant attempt at re-using his bath towel in my attempt at cutting down on the laundry load. And he lovingly looks past the mess I make in my bathroom sink and vanity area.

While we will continue to have our share of arguments and disagreements, it is working through our differences that can only make us stronger as a couple. I thank God every day for bringing John into my life and am so excited for all the other surprises and plans he has for our lives. I do not think it was an accident that we met only 2 years ago (and counting...), it was in God's plan that we meet and unite our hearts and our souls and become a family.