We were at the park playing, and there was a 7-year-old girl who was IN LOVE with our frisbee. She tossed it back and forth with me. And with J. And when A used it as a sand toy that little girl hovered and continuously asked when she could use it again. A little later, as I walked ahead with baby E, I saw this little girl in the distance, across the park, running hard and with definite purpose. When Jer caught up with me, he said the little girl must've taken off with the frisbee. She had it last and he couldn't find it in the small area we had been playing. It was no biggie - we paid 50 cents for it.
What came to my mind, though, was the beginning of a thought. A small flicker that has been growing during the past couple of days.
First, it made me sad that the little girl felt she had to choose the frisbee over playing with us. We would have given her the frisbee if she had asked. But, more than that, it was simply sad to me that she chose to run away and hide with a cheap stolen toy, instead of staying and playing with living, breathing people.
My next thought, for some reason, was of the 10 commandments. "Thou shalt not steal". And immediately I made a connection. A major reason God doesn't want us to steal is that, when I steal from an individual, I am pretty much no longer able to be friends with that person. And, we have trouble being close to God, too, because we tend to feel guilty and don't feel like we can talk to Him. Or we fear punishment from Him. (But I'm thinking that the real punishment is the broken relationship that results from lying/stealing...).
And then my thoughts started to go farther and the thoughts came so quickly, I've had trouble keeping up!
All God's rules/laws are in effect to keep us in close relationships. Seriously. Adultery breaks up marriages/families. Envy for other people's lives and belongings puts us at odds with that person. Envy is also just like stealing because, like the girl who wanted the frisbee, suddenly our eyes are on the thing rather than on the people. (Jesus said this: "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder." Matthew 5)
(Have you ever had a revelation and you can't quite find the words to make it as powerful as you feel it? That's how it is right now.) :)
EVERYTHING hinges on this. EVERY old thought and Bible verse I've read has new meaning.
And, I think what I'm realizing on a deeper level is that this is the MOST IMPORTANT THING to GOD. It's ALL about being in the deepest possible relationship with God and with others. The rest is garbage. The rest is a 50 cent frisbee.
When Jesus was angry with the Pharisees for imposing laws on people without mercy, it was because they pushed people AWAY from God with His laws rather than bringing people to Him.
The prodigal son story is like my little frisbee story.
Paul's seemingly confusing teachings about the law makes so much more sense now. He says, people who don't yet know God need the Law. But followers of Jesus don't need the law. If we love Him and follow Him, the rules are obsolete because we become so consumed with Him, everything else is just dirty dishwater in comparison.
The two most important commandments according to Jesus were 1. Have no other gods before GOD and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you do these, you won't be quick to envy, lie...etc. And that's why Jesus said that all other laws hinge on these two.
EVERYTHING I can think of in the Bible is about deep relationship. It's all about relationship with Jesus and with other people, too.
I know I've learned this, heard sermons about it, and have even come to this conclusion in the past. But not to this extent. Not even close to this extent.
It's been in the back of my mind for a long time. And maybe that's why I get annoyed with super "political" Christians, angry Christians, finger-pointing Christians. Is what they're doing bringing others into potential relationship with God? Probably no.
I cringe when Christians are interviewed. They are always asked, "Do you think being gay is a sin?" It's the question that puts a stop to the interview. Who's going to listen after Mr. Christian says, "Yes, being gay is a sin."?
Here's the thing. In my opinion, "sin" needs to be redefined. Sin is who we are. No matter what. It's our nature. All of our natures. Lust, adultery, lying... it's all the ways we put ourselves before others. It all keeps us from knowing Him better. We run off with our frisbee, to hide in the corner with it. Alone. For me, this is overeating, judging others, too much TV, and LOTS of stuff - I'm selfish and self-absorbed. Like all people. Is it a "sin" to act out on gay tendencies by having same-gender sex? Probably. But it's not the big deal Christians make it. Hey Christians, Jesus wasn't angry with the gay people or the lying people. He was angry with people who forced RULES on people! He was angry with people who made it difficult for others to SEE HIM.
(Oh, and interviewers of Christians, that trick is getting old. Ask some new questions.)
I'm getting all angry, too. At myself. At Christians.
We need to change. Beg forgiveness. And start over with a "new" (but very old) mindset.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Playing in the spring rain!
It's supposed to be 60 degrees this week!
Antsy to get out, we went out.
Even though it was raining.
We drove the mile to Main Street and we walked in the rain! We went into a children's resale shop where I met yet another cool mom. She's from Bulgaria, and her little 18-month-old girl's name is Lara (with a rolled tongue on the "r"). Lara is just as outgoing as Ava, so they had lots of good times (except for when Ava got too excited and ran into her full-speed). Poor Lara. And I felt horrible. Dude, Ava. Calm down. :)
And then we walked in the rain! Ava sang songs about rain and drank the drops, and Emmett slept in his covered stroller. We went into a popular new cupcake place, but it wasn't officially open today. It was baking day. Even so, they invited us to keep dry and stay a while. And they gave Ava a free cookie. It was so fun, and so sweet. Ava is even more observant and curious than ever, and is one of those kids that dances with excitement over everything! We are going to have so much fun this summer!
(I'm sad I didn't have the new camera along, but I think I would've been too afraid to get it wet anyways.)
Thank you, God, for this amazing life. Seriously. These mini people overwhelm me with their awesomeness. And so does the grown man.
Antsy to get out, we went out.
Even though it was raining.
We drove the mile to Main Street and we walked in the rain! We went into a children's resale shop where I met yet another cool mom. She's from Bulgaria, and her little 18-month-old girl's name is Lara (with a rolled tongue on the "r"). Lara is just as outgoing as Ava, so they had lots of good times (except for when Ava got too excited and ran into her full-speed). Poor Lara. And I felt horrible. Dude, Ava. Calm down. :)
(Yesterday: petting the first little flower of the season.)
And then we walked in the rain! Ava sang songs about rain and drank the drops, and Emmett slept in his covered stroller. We went into a popular new cupcake place, but it wasn't officially open today. It was baking day. Even so, they invited us to keep dry and stay a while. And they gave Ava a free cookie. It was so fun, and so sweet. Ava is even more observant and curious than ever, and is one of those kids that dances with excitement over everything! We are going to have so much fun this summer!
(I'm sad I didn't have the new camera along, but I think I would've been too afraid to get it wet anyways.)
Thank you, God, for this amazing life. Seriously. These mini people overwhelm me with their awesomeness. And so does the grown man.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Cleaning, kindness, and love.
I've been thinking about things it would've been good to know by the time I was out of high school and starting on my own. Things that maybe I could teach my kids about earlier on.
Like:
Gardening, Cooking/Nutrition, Cleaning (laundry, fabric surfaces, hard surfaces...etc), Organizing, Auto repair, Home repair, Insurance, Loans/Mortgages, Investing, Saving money/Budgeting, First Aid...
These seem boring, but they would be so helpful to learn about before being thrown into life.
And other important stuff like:
- Kindness always matters. Always, always. No matter what anyone else (ANYONE ELSE) may say or act like, it always matters.
- Write 'thank-you' notes. A.k.a. - Be thoughtful and considerate.
- Self-evaluate. Go to counseling, read books. Self-improve. But also know that it's ok to mess up and BE a mess. We're all learning as we go.
- Pray and read the Bible. All that self-improvement doesn't mean a thing if it's forced. You need God to genuinely change you from the inside.
- Don't be afraid. Of criticism or of failure. The strongest and wisest people are the ones who can be taught without getting offended.
- Learn patience. If you can be slow to anger with parents/siblings/close friends, you're learning self-control and patience which will save you from TONS of hurt and drama.
- Don't talk about people. Each person has IMMENSE value. Even if they act mean and cruel. This one's difficult. Talk TO people, not ABOUT people. If someone offends, be calm. Think. Pray for strength and patience. And then talk to the offender. If they're still mean, walk away. Don't get bogged down in drama with those people! Pray for them and keep your distance. And, be kind. :)
All this to say, you have power over your emotions. Just because you're feeling out of control doesn't mean you have to ACT out of control. This world is full to the brim of people who just say whatever they feel and DO whatever they feel. Feelings are an indicator that something is going on, not a free pass to act on every emotion.
And, confusing as it is, sometimes it's awesome to throw self-control out the window and just give in to the emotion. Emotions are God-given and can be glorious.
The trick is to learn when to use self-control and when to fling it out the window. I heard a quote once that said something like:
"The times I ache to speak out are usually the times to hold my tongue. And the times I want to keep silent are usually the times I should speak up."
Passion feels good, but it's easily misdirected into relationships with people. Flawed people. If you throw all your passions into a romantic relationship, that other person will fail you (because they're human!) and you'll feel hugely let down. Throw some passion there, but don't place all your expectations of fulfillment there. Only God can fulfill. It's not fair to put that pressure on a human. Me and my husband agree - there's no such thing as a soul mate. There are just people with whom you're super compatible with.
You get to choose who you end up with. You don't "fall" in love. You choose to be in love. It sounds so unromantic! But it's not. Me and J are crazy in love! We know we belong together forever (10 years so far). There's lots of passion and love. We just know it's more than feelings. It goes far deeper than that. And how much more romantic is it to know that we CHOOSE each other every day!? It's pretty awesome.
Like:
Gardening, Cooking/Nutrition, Cleaning (laundry, fabric surfaces, hard surfaces...etc), Organizing, Auto repair, Home repair, Insurance, Loans/Mortgages, Investing, Saving money/Budgeting, First Aid...
These seem boring, but they would be so helpful to learn about before being thrown into life.
And other important stuff like:
- Kindness always matters. Always, always. No matter what anyone else (ANYONE ELSE) may say or act like, it always matters.
- Write 'thank-you' notes. A.k.a. - Be thoughtful and considerate.
- Self-evaluate. Go to counseling, read books. Self-improve. But also know that it's ok to mess up and BE a mess. We're all learning as we go.
- Pray and read the Bible. All that self-improvement doesn't mean a thing if it's forced. You need God to genuinely change you from the inside.
- Don't be afraid. Of criticism or of failure. The strongest and wisest people are the ones who can be taught without getting offended.
- Learn patience. If you can be slow to anger with parents/siblings/close friends, you're learning self-control and patience which will save you from TONS of hurt and drama.
- Don't talk about people. Each person has IMMENSE value. Even if they act mean and cruel. This one's difficult. Talk TO people, not ABOUT people. If someone offends, be calm. Think. Pray for strength and patience. And then talk to the offender. If they're still mean, walk away. Don't get bogged down in drama with those people! Pray for them and keep your distance. And, be kind. :)
All this to say, you have power over your emotions. Just because you're feeling out of control doesn't mean you have to ACT out of control. This world is full to the brim of people who just say whatever they feel and DO whatever they feel. Feelings are an indicator that something is going on, not a free pass to act on every emotion.
And, confusing as it is, sometimes it's awesome to throw self-control out the window and just give in to the emotion. Emotions are God-given and can be glorious.
The trick is to learn when to use self-control and when to fling it out the window. I heard a quote once that said something like:
"The times I ache to speak out are usually the times to hold my tongue. And the times I want to keep silent are usually the times I should speak up."
Passion feels good, but it's easily misdirected into relationships with people. Flawed people. If you throw all your passions into a romantic relationship, that other person will fail you (because they're human!) and you'll feel hugely let down. Throw some passion there, but don't place all your expectations of fulfillment there. Only God can fulfill. It's not fair to put that pressure on a human. Me and my husband agree - there's no such thing as a soul mate. There are just people with whom you're super compatible with.
You get to choose who you end up with. You don't "fall" in love. You choose to be in love. It sounds so unromantic! But it's not. Me and J are crazy in love! We know we belong together forever (10 years so far). There's lots of passion and love. We just know it's more than feelings. It goes far deeper than that. And how much more romantic is it to know that we CHOOSE each other every day!? It's pretty awesome.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
More technical stuff: Camera lenses.
Crash course on lenses.
After collecting all the information, this is a short example of lens abbreviations:
50mm - the focal length. 50mm is the average length - the field of vision the naked eye can see. If you see a single number describing a lens, it is a fixed lens and cannot zoom to other focal lengths. (Meaning you have to physically move closer or farther to fit in groups of people or to get closer to a far-away boat in the ocean).
f/1.8 - the focal ratio. A ratio of the focal length and the aperture. The smaller this number, the better.
IS - Canon's abbreviation for anti-shake.
USM - Canon's abbreviation for a quiet, fast zoom.
My notes:
50mm lenses are the standard for all photographs. It's the closest match to what the naked eye sees.
Below 50mm is wide-angle...
28mm is common for wide-angle (groups of people, landscapes).
Anything below 20mm is ultra-wide-angle. A fish-eye lens falls into this category.
Larger than 50mm are telephoto lenses. Good for close-up, details, and are more flattering for pics of people. (note: blurs the background, which can be ideal for close shots)
85mm-135mm are good for portraits.
200mm and more is good for wildlife and sports. Sports photographers typically use lenses over 600mm.
* You can buy zoom lenses where the focal length is adjustable. The quality is not quite as good as a fixed focal length lens.
*Fixed focal lenses also take better pics in lower light.
Zoom lenses:
General purpose lenses usually go from 28mm-80mm.
Super zoom lenses: 28mm-300mm.
Wide angle zoom lenses: 16mm-35mm
Telephoto zoom lenses: 70mm-300mm
**** DSLR cameras have smaller sensors, so the focal length of any lens changes (multiplies by 1.6x for Canon).
So...
"This means if you want 50mm standard coverage on a Nikon cropped DSLR, you’ll actually need to use a lens with a 33mm focal length (35mm models are closest). If you want 28mm wide angle coverage, you’ll need to use a lens with an 18mm focal length, and so on. So always remember to multiply the actual lens focal length by the crop factor of your particular DSLR – that way, you’ll know what you’re getting."
Standard 50mm lenses on most DSLRs act like a short telephoto of 75mm to 100mm.
LENS APERTURE:
The bigger the lens aperture, the more light gets let in, so the better they work in dim environments.
The aperture in a DSLR camera is called the focal ratio or "f-number". (This is the ratio between the focal length of the lens over the diameter of the opening in the lens.) You can usually adjust the aperture (the iris opening), but the important figure is the largest aperture (smallest f-number).
AUTO-FOCUS and ANTI-SHAKE:
All of Canon have auto-focus. The "USM" (ultra-sonic motor) is quicker and quieter.
Shaking:
Sometimes while following a subject and taking pics in quick succession, an anti-wobble camera will mistake it for wobble and try to correct it. Some cameras can correct only vertical wobble. You can usually switch the anti-shaking off.
Canon calls this anti-shake "IS".
After collecting all the information, this is a short example of lens abbreviations:
50mm - the focal length. 50mm is the average length - the field of vision the naked eye can see. If you see a single number describing a lens, it is a fixed lens and cannot zoom to other focal lengths. (Meaning you have to physically move closer or farther to fit in groups of people or to get closer to a far-away boat in the ocean).
f/1.8 - the focal ratio. A ratio of the focal length and the aperture. The smaller this number, the better.
IS - Canon's abbreviation for anti-shake.
USM - Canon's abbreviation for a quiet, fast zoom.
My notes:
50mm lenses are the standard for all photographs. It's the closest match to what the naked eye sees.
Below 50mm is wide-angle...
28mm is common for wide-angle (groups of people, landscapes).
Anything below 20mm is ultra-wide-angle. A fish-eye lens falls into this category.
Larger than 50mm are telephoto lenses. Good for close-up, details, and are more flattering for pics of people. (note: blurs the background, which can be ideal for close shots)
85mm-135mm are good for portraits.
200mm and more is good for wildlife and sports. Sports photographers typically use lenses over 600mm.
* You can buy zoom lenses where the focal length is adjustable. The quality is not quite as good as a fixed focal length lens.
*Fixed focal lenses also take better pics in lower light.
Zoom lenses:
General purpose lenses usually go from 28mm-80mm.
Super zoom lenses: 28mm-300mm.
Wide angle zoom lenses: 16mm-35mm
Telephoto zoom lenses: 70mm-300mm
**** DSLR cameras have smaller sensors, so the focal length of any lens changes (multiplies by 1.6x for Canon).
So...
"This means if you want 50mm standard coverage on a Nikon cropped DSLR, you’ll actually need to use a lens with a 33mm focal length (35mm models are closest). If you want 28mm wide angle coverage, you’ll need to use a lens with an 18mm focal length, and so on. So always remember to multiply the actual lens focal length by the crop factor of your particular DSLR – that way, you’ll know what you’re getting."
Standard 50mm lenses on most DSLRs act like a short telephoto of 75mm to 100mm.
LENS APERTURE:
The bigger the lens aperture, the more light gets let in, so the better they work in dim environments.
The aperture in a DSLR camera is called the focal ratio or "f-number". (This is the ratio between the focal length of the lens over the diameter of the opening in the lens.) You can usually adjust the aperture (the iris opening), but the important figure is the largest aperture (smallest f-number).
AUTO-FOCUS and ANTI-SHAKE:
All of Canon have auto-focus. The "USM" (ultra-sonic motor) is quicker and quieter.
Shaking:
Sometimes while following a subject and taking pics in quick succession, an anti-wobble camera will mistake it for wobble and try to correct it. Some cameras can correct only vertical wobble. You can usually switch the anti-shaking off.
Canon calls this anti-shake "IS".
Getting technical: Gathering camera info.
Ok, future self. This is wordy. But I needed a place to put all my research notes!...
The first entry-level camera that this site recommends: Canon EOS Rebel T3i (online body only: $536)
The second is: Canon EOS Rebel T2i (online, body only: $470)
(The third is $1200, the fourth is another Canon, same price as #2).
dSLR buying guide from Cnet
DSLR vs. Mirrorless.
What I gathered... Mirrorless gets rid of a mirror system that makes it possible for you to see the image in the viewfinder. And so, without this, the camera can be smaller. And then you can get "pancake" lenses that are super thin. This is best for travel photographers who don't want people to see their big, expensive cameras. But, these cameras usually don't have a viewfinder - just a screen. And they're not as fast (is that the word?) because the sensor is usually smaller , so not as good for action shots (fast-moving children, sports...).
So, since I don't care about size. I think the DSLR is better for me with its faster speeds with my quick children.
What about the "Sensor" size/type?
One friend told me that a larger sensor size is more important than pixels. I had to know more...
Cnet seems to have a pretty unbiased evaluation:
Basically, there are super high-end sensors. These are just out of my price-range. Even the sensors on the next levels down are pretty expensive.
The answer to what sensor I need is....
any DSLR camera will have a large enough sensor for most photography. "Four-thirds" is the one used by Olympus and Kodak. "APS" is the one commonly used by Canon, Nikon, Sony. The other one used is the "35mm" size (largest), and is more expensive as it captures a "full-frame". This is also used by Canon & Nikon.
After choosing the DSLR, then choose Megapixels. Any DSLR is good enough for newspaper print or internet. For magazines or large prints (16x20 and up), 8 megapixels is good. For fine art/landscapes, 10 megapixels is best.
(Scaling a picture up usually works fine/looks fine if using a program like Photoshop.)
Lenses - see new post.
The first entry-level camera that this site recommends: Canon EOS Rebel T3i (online body only: $536)
The second is: Canon EOS Rebel T2i (online, body only: $470)
(The third is $1200, the fourth is another Canon, same price as #2).
dSLR buying guide from Cnet
DSLR vs. Mirrorless.
What I gathered... Mirrorless gets rid of a mirror system that makes it possible for you to see the image in the viewfinder. And so, without this, the camera can be smaller. And then you can get "pancake" lenses that are super thin. This is best for travel photographers who don't want people to see their big, expensive cameras. But, these cameras usually don't have a viewfinder - just a screen. And they're not as fast (is that the word?) because the sensor is usually smaller , so not as good for action shots (fast-moving children, sports...).
So, since I don't care about size. I think the DSLR is better for me with its faster speeds with my quick children.
What about the "Sensor" size/type?
One friend told me that a larger sensor size is more important than pixels. I had to know more...
Cnet seems to have a pretty unbiased evaluation:
Basically, there are super high-end sensors. These are just out of my price-range. Even the sensors on the next levels down are pretty expensive.
The answer to what sensor I need is....
any DSLR camera will have a large enough sensor for most photography. "Four-thirds" is the one used by Olympus and Kodak. "APS" is the one commonly used by Canon, Nikon, Sony. The other one used is the "35mm" size (largest), and is more expensive as it captures a "full-frame". This is also used by Canon & Nikon.
After choosing the DSLR, then choose Megapixels. Any DSLR is good enough for newspaper print or internet. For magazines or large prints (16x20 and up), 8 megapixels is good. For fine art/landscapes, 10 megapixels is best.
(Scaling a picture up usually works fine/looks fine if using a program like Photoshop.)
Lenses - see new post.
Beginner photography
I fiddle. And photo edit with Picassa. And learn by doing. But I get frustrated trying to figure out why it is that one picture looks awesome and another looks horrible (grainy, dimly lit...).
If I am going to invest in a better camera, I want to know how to use it!
I found this site. The first site I landed on from my Google search. It's great for me - a beginner-fiddler. Now I know what to invest in, how lighting works...etc. It's a whole beginner course in the simplest terms. Perfect.
If I am going to invest in a better camera, I want to know how to use it!
I found this site. The first site I landed on from my Google search. It's great for me - a beginner-fiddler. Now I know what to invest in, how lighting works...etc. It's a whole beginner course in the simplest terms. Perfect.
Warm day, Target time, soap dispensers, futon mattress.
Today I awoke with no goals.
Yesterday, I talked about this problem with Jer.
But as I continued to awaken, I made decisions to do better.
It was little things. Remember patience and lightheartedness when it comes to my little girl. Do my hair and put clothes on as if I were going somewhere. You know, just little things. Little things add up to lots of good, I think.
And by mid-morning, we were all in the car headed to do whatever I/we felt like doing. That translated into feeling the warm wind on our faces as we slowly made our way into the car. It's the first really warm day since fall, and it was glorious. It's amazing how my mood elevates in warmer weather.
We spent a lazy time at Target just looking at toys and cameras (little girl broke ours the other day, so it's time for a new one). She pushed a little play shopping cart and followed me around the store. She saw a family - a little boy in the cart and a little girl walking (she was about 4ish). Ava said about the boy, "He wants me!" She went over and became part of the family. She was in love with the girl especially. They turned a different way, so I said (cheerfully), "Ok, say goodbye now!" She said, "Ok, bye mama!" And she followed them. So, I let her. Maybe the mom thought it was weird. But whatever. I love that my baby is so friendly! I don't want to squelch that in her.
And then, time to go. There was more taking our time in the parking lot, enjoying the breeze. Baby E was taking those deep breaths babies do when there's wind, his eyes getting all red-rimmed.
And now, home. Naps. Internet browsing...
My soap dispenser is too tall downstairs, and the medicine cabinet is always knocking off the pedestal sink onto the floor.
Maybe a wall-mount?
Here's a shorter one, but don't like the style...
It's also time to upgrade our futon. We like it for guests, but the mattress is horrible. This is what we'll be getting. Independently encased coils. Sounds cozily formal. Soon.
Yesterday, I talked about this problem with Jer.
But as I continued to awaken, I made decisions to do better.
It was little things. Remember patience and lightheartedness when it comes to my little girl. Do my hair and put clothes on as if I were going somewhere. You know, just little things. Little things add up to lots of good, I think.
And by mid-morning, we were all in the car headed to do whatever I/we felt like doing. That translated into feeling the warm wind on our faces as we slowly made our way into the car. It's the first really warm day since fall, and it was glorious. It's amazing how my mood elevates in warmer weather.
We spent a lazy time at Target just looking at toys and cameras (little girl broke ours the other day, so it's time for a new one). She pushed a little play shopping cart and followed me around the store. She saw a family - a little boy in the cart and a little girl walking (she was about 4ish). Ava said about the boy, "He wants me!" She went over and became part of the family. She was in love with the girl especially. They turned a different way, so I said (cheerfully), "Ok, say goodbye now!" She said, "Ok, bye mama!" And she followed them. So, I let her. Maybe the mom thought it was weird. But whatever. I love that my baby is so friendly! I don't want to squelch that in her.
And then, time to go. There was more taking our time in the parking lot, enjoying the breeze. Baby E was taking those deep breaths babies do when there's wind, his eyes getting all red-rimmed.
And now, home. Naps. Internet browsing...
My soap dispenser is too tall downstairs, and the medicine cabinet is always knocking off the pedestal sink onto the floor.
Maybe a wall-mount?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
cameras and recipe cards
Today's things.
I want a very nice digital camera for less than 1000 bucks. Someday. When I'm richer.
I got over 40 responses from people on FB when I asked what kind of camera I should get.
Here's what they suggested:
I want a very nice digital camera for less than 1000 bucks. Someday. When I'm richer.
I got over 40 responses from people on FB when I asked what kind of camera I should get.
Here's what they suggested:
The Nikon 1 V1
The Olympus PEN
The Canon Rebel
Another internet-browse has been recipe cards. After a few years of spotty recipe collection, I am out of my Lang cards (they match my box). And so, I want some new ones.
Cute fonts
Maybe swap the box for a book.
Or get a super cute new box, too.
Fun.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Baby E and getting ready for his first vacation...
Pinterest is faster for posting design sites and all other sites in existence that I like! My poor little blog. There's nothing left to blog-ify.
Baby E is four months old and can scootch slowly backwards all over the floor. He is still my noisy baby. He likes to screech happily. And "talk". And he can now get on his TOES and HANDS or on his hands and knees, too. He's so strong! I can see him already crawling in the next month! He sleeps through the night for the most part. 6-8 hours on a good night. And then, after eating, he'll usually sleep three more! LOVE this kid! :) There are still two nights a week or so that he'll wake after four hours, then do four more. Or five and four. Or three and five. It's always a thrilling surprise.
This weekend we are leaving for our first getaway since last spring. So, it's been almost a year. And E's first little vacation! We're just traveling a couple hours away this time, and spending the weekend in a resort with two bedrooms, kitchen, two baths, living room. I think this is the best way with these little people.
Time to get to cleaning some more. There's another open house while we're gone. So, we have to finish before we leave tomorrow! Fun times.
Baby E is four months old and can scootch slowly backwards all over the floor. He is still my noisy baby. He likes to screech happily. And "talk". And he can now get on his TOES and HANDS or on his hands and knees, too. He's so strong! I can see him already crawling in the next month! He sleeps through the night for the most part. 6-8 hours on a good night. And then, after eating, he'll usually sleep three more! LOVE this kid! :) There are still two nights a week or so that he'll wake after four hours, then do four more. Or five and four. Or three and five. It's always a thrilling surprise.
This weekend we are leaving for our first getaway since last spring. So, it's been almost a year. And E's first little vacation! We're just traveling a couple hours away this time, and spending the weekend in a resort with two bedrooms, kitchen, two baths, living room. I think this is the best way with these little people.
Time to get to cleaning some more. There's another open house while we're gone. So, we have to finish before we leave tomorrow! Fun times.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Grandma
My grandma collected cow knick-knacks. But not because she wanted to. She said someone gave her a cow, and then other people saw that cow and started getting her more cows. So, she had a cow-themed kitchen, but not of her choosing.
She crocheted. She made afghans for many of us grandkids. She quilted. She made clothes for her 13 kids when they were little.
She was madly in love with grandpa. They met while he was a medic in WWII. He was a friend of her brother in the 21st infantry. My 18-year-old future grandma wrote letters to a few of the boys, and to her brother. My grandpa wrote back. And they fell in love writing letters to each other. My mom, the 7th child, would often catch them necking in the kitchen.
She smelled like cookies and "Cool Waters" perfume. She was smooshy. When she hugged us, we were completely enveloped in her smooshy softness. When she laughed hard, she would put her arm on the closest surface, plop her head on her arm and laugh silently. She loved old gospel music and could play the piano. When I told her that I was dating a guy who was probably going to be a pastor, she said (in all seriousness), "But you don't play the piano."
One of her index fingers was a stub because, when she was 2-years-old, she lost the tip in a meat grinder. It was her first memory ever. And she could still remember vividly the image of her daddy standing in the doorway, white as a sheet, before whisking her up and tending to her finger.
She would rock me in her rocker until I was much too big to rock, and then she rocked my firstborn.
I miss her.
She crocheted. She made afghans for many of us grandkids. She quilted. She made clothes for her 13 kids when they were little.
She was madly in love with grandpa. They met while he was a medic in WWII. He was a friend of her brother in the 21st infantry. My 18-year-old future grandma wrote letters to a few of the boys, and to her brother. My grandpa wrote back. And they fell in love writing letters to each other. My mom, the 7th child, would often catch them necking in the kitchen.
She smelled like cookies and "Cool Waters" perfume. She was smooshy. When she hugged us, we were completely enveloped in her smooshy softness. When she laughed hard, she would put her arm on the closest surface, plop her head on her arm and laugh silently. She loved old gospel music and could play the piano. When I told her that I was dating a guy who was probably going to be a pastor, she said (in all seriousness), "But you don't play the piano."
One of her index fingers was a stub because, when she was 2-years-old, she lost the tip in a meat grinder. It was her first memory ever. And she could still remember vividly the image of her daddy standing in the doorway, white as a sheet, before whisking her up and tending to her finger.
She would rock me in her rocker until I was much too big to rock, and then she rocked my firstborn.
I miss her.
Friday, January 20, 2012
"Staging"
I <3 pinterest. Like everyone else, apparently.
It's a real time-suck. A pleasant time-suck. Buuut, we have officially listed our house, and in less than 2 weeks we have our first open house! Holy moses. How is it going to be possible to get the house clean enough for that? I have no idea. Especially with 2 babies and pinterest sucking me in. Not that I really have THAT much spare time. Right now, and for the next half hour, both kids are asleep! And instead of cleaning, I just want to take a little break! So, I will wait for J to get home. And then clean this weekend, with him here to tag-team it all with me.
Inspiration lately, as I "stage" the house:
It's a real time-suck. A pleasant time-suck. Buuut, we have officially listed our house, and in less than 2 weeks we have our first open house! Holy moses. How is it going to be possible to get the house clean enough for that? I have no idea. Especially with 2 babies and pinterest sucking me in. Not that I really have THAT much spare time. Right now, and for the next half hour, both kids are asleep! And instead of cleaning, I just want to take a little break! So, I will wait for J to get home. And then clean this weekend, with him here to tag-team it all with me.
Inspiration lately, as I "stage" the house:
Friday, January 6, 2012
My first Zumba
Holy Zumba.
I first have to admit, I've wanted to try it.
Today at MOPS, I was surprised to find out that we were going to be spending most of the meeting doing Zumba. I didn't get the warning email ahead of time.
But, maybe that was good! I may not have gone to the meeting if I HAD known.
Most of us were awkwardly flailing. I was laughing like crazy. At first. And then, I got more serious and focused, and was concentrating too hard to do more than smile a dry-mouth and panting smile where my lips stuck to my gums a little. Seriously, you want me to move my arms AND legs? At the same time? And fast? Ummm... yeah. Even while I got more focused, though, I really did like it.
I'm thinking I want to try the water Zumba. Hiding my movements in the water a little sounds good...
I first have to admit, I've wanted to try it.
Today at MOPS, I was surprised to find out that we were going to be spending most of the meeting doing Zumba. I didn't get the warning email ahead of time.
But, maybe that was good! I may not have gone to the meeting if I HAD known.
Most of us were awkwardly flailing. I was laughing like crazy. At first. And then, I got more serious and focused, and was concentrating too hard to do more than smile a dry-mouth and panting smile where my lips stuck to my gums a little. Seriously, you want me to move my arms AND legs? At the same time? And fast? Ummm... yeah. Even while I got more focused, though, I really did like it.
I'm thinking I want to try the water Zumba. Hiding my movements in the water a little sounds good...
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Day 3 - craft roominess.
Let's see... Master bedroom pretty much done. Nursery done. Spare bedroom and cluttered closet, done. Last night and a little today, I worked on the craft room. Holy Mary, it was crazy. I just cleaned it out this past summer and had about 4 garbage bags of donations, and about 2 bags of garbage/scraps. I just made another 3 garbage bags for Goodwill, and another bag of trash. It's the smallest room in the house, and by far has the most clutter! It's STILL not quite done, but it's getting there.
I have a hard time in that room cuz it's CRAFTS. You collect stuff for crafting. It is the antithesis to minimalism - crafting. And I like minimal. And I like making stuff. Scrapbooking, knitting, sewing, painting, quilting... seriously. It adds up, people. Today, I got rid of piles of batting that was filling all the shelves in the closet (as opposed to "filling" quilts. Ha.). Yes, I'll probably have to buy more batting someday. But it's such huge stuff, I couldn't keep it.
Today, A's had a tough time taking a nap. She woke up after an hour, crying. And just woke up (after a total of almost 3 hours) crying again. I'm wondering if she's getting sick. While she slept, and while I nursed and rocked E, I started reading "Forbidden" (Ted's new book! Just 2.99 for an ebook right now!). Guilt-free reading because I have to breastfeed is pretty awesome. And so I'm sleepy from sitting still. But not sleepy from the book itself! Pretty action-packed, so far.
Speaking of guilt and other negative emotions, I've been getting over that certain relative's words by just keeping on moving. And cleaning. And praying. And reading the Bible and a devotional. And blogging to myself.
Tonight, finish the craft room. Take the donations and trash out. Tidy the living rooms and kitchen? The realtor is coming TOMORROW night to see the house!! I'm nervous (what if the house is worth WAYYY less than we think? Or, when the house is inspected later on, what if the house has a super serious problem... sinking foundation... leaking roof...? What if it doesn't sell at all?). I'm also excited to get started.
Also, tomorrow am, a newish friend is coming over. And then, Friday am, MOPS time. I'm actually loving the busy-ness of this year so far! ...So far...
I have a hard time in that room cuz it's CRAFTS. You collect stuff for crafting. It is the antithesis to minimalism - crafting. And I like minimal. And I like making stuff. Scrapbooking, knitting, sewing, painting, quilting... seriously. It adds up, people. Today, I got rid of piles of batting that was filling all the shelves in the closet (as opposed to "filling" quilts. Ha.). Yes, I'll probably have to buy more batting someday. But it's such huge stuff, I couldn't keep it.
Today, A's had a tough time taking a nap. She woke up after an hour, crying. And just woke up (after a total of almost 3 hours) crying again. I'm wondering if she's getting sick. While she slept, and while I nursed and rocked E, I started reading "Forbidden" (Ted's new book! Just 2.99 for an ebook right now!). Guilt-free reading because I have to breastfeed is pretty awesome. And so I'm sleepy from sitting still. But not sleepy from the book itself! Pretty action-packed, so far.
Speaking of guilt and other negative emotions, I've been getting over that certain relative's words by just keeping on moving. And cleaning. And praying. And reading the Bible and a devotional. And blogging to myself.
Tonight, finish the craft room. Take the donations and trash out. Tidy the living rooms and kitchen? The realtor is coming TOMORROW night to see the house!! I'm nervous (what if the house is worth WAYYY less than we think? Or, when the house is inspected later on, what if the house has a super serious problem... sinking foundation... leaking roof...? What if it doesn't sell at all?). I'm also excited to get started.
Also, tomorrow am, a newish friend is coming over. And then, Friday am, MOPS time. I'm actually loving the busy-ness of this year so far! ...So far...
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Day 2 - Ahead of schedule! But also, feelings of deflated-ness.
Yesterday (day 1) the goal was to clean the bathroom cabinet and hall closet. I went on to clean out our bedroom and nursery! We took an entire trunk load of stuff to Goodwill, and threw away four or five grocery bags of junk not good enough for Goodwill (mostly expired beauty products)!
Holy cow, good day!
Today so far, I've cleaned out the spare bedroom closet. Which is a pretty huge walk-in. Now, I'm taking a little "me" time to sit here. (E is asleep and A will be awake any second!)
Thursday (which will be Day 4) we're meeting with a realtor in the evening. The guy we're meeting with has 25 years of experience, and sounded very personable and knowledgeable. I like him so far...
I've had a little wrench thrown in my attitude, which is that a relative-who-shall-not-be-named started wanting to "help", and now has sounded like she wants to take over and tell me what I need to do and where furniture needs to go...etc. Making me question the fact that I'm the 31-year-old clean freak/organizer that I am. And the questioning of self makes me lose all my momentum and the drive I've had going so far. She has invited herself over this Saturday to clean and then again next week. I feel the control slipping through my fingers. So, I will try to keep communication open, and keep (nicely) reminding her that I have a system. Her husband will be "helping" mine this Saturday, too. Poor mine. SHE suggested that my J is "laid back" or "slower" than hers and so to remind him not to get offended if her husband takes over a bit.
Just when I was really starting to get excited and make a dent in all this cleaning, I'm starting to now feel completely deflated.
Hence, the break.
Now, the task is two-fold. Clean/organize AND get over these inadequate/never-good-enough feelings. And get over those feelings FAST! I don't have time to be deflated and bummed out.
Holy cow, good day!
Today so far, I've cleaned out the spare bedroom closet. Which is a pretty huge walk-in. Now, I'm taking a little "me" time to sit here. (E is asleep and A will be awake any second!)
Thursday (which will be Day 4) we're meeting with a realtor in the evening. The guy we're meeting with has 25 years of experience, and sounded very personable and knowledgeable. I like him so far...
I've had a little wrench thrown in my attitude, which is that a relative-who-shall-not-be-named started wanting to "help", and now has sounded like she wants to take over and tell me what I need to do and where furniture needs to go...etc. Making me question the fact that I'm the 31-year-old clean freak/organizer that I am. And the questioning of self makes me lose all my momentum and the drive I've had going so far. She has invited herself over this Saturday to clean and then again next week. I feel the control slipping through my fingers. So, I will try to keep communication open, and keep (nicely) reminding her that I have a system. Her husband will be "helping" mine this Saturday, too. Poor mine. SHE suggested that my J is "laid back" or "slower" than hers and so to remind him not to get offended if her husband takes over a bit.
Just when I was really starting to get excited and make a dent in all this cleaning, I'm starting to now feel completely deflated.
Hence, the break.
Now, the task is two-fold. Clean/organize AND get over these inadequate/never-good-enough feelings. And get over those feelings FAST! I don't have time to be deflated and bummed out.
Monday, January 2, 2012
House for sale in 2 weeks!
Jan 2nd 2012 - DAY 1
The goal: clean the house and get it ready to sell in TWO WEEKS from now.
We were going to wait until spring, and use a chunk of our tax return to do some renovating. But now, we're listing it as it is. To be done with it.
Today's goal - clean and organize the upstairs bathroom cabinet/medicine cabinet and the hall closet.
The daily goal is to keep up with dishes and laundry.
This morning, E slept and A took a bath while I completed goal #1! I didn't think I'd have time until J got home tonight!
Now, time for dishes...
The goal: clean the house and get it ready to sell in TWO WEEKS from now.
We were going to wait until spring, and use a chunk of our tax return to do some renovating. But now, we're listing it as it is. To be done with it.
Today's goal - clean and organize the upstairs bathroom cabinet/medicine cabinet and the hall closet.
The daily goal is to keep up with dishes and laundry.
This morning, E slept and A took a bath while I completed goal #1! I didn't think I'd have time until J got home tonight!
Now, time for dishes...
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