Update:

My Amazon order arrived today!

I'm happy. Received the U2 360 Tour Blu-Ray. Kinda ironic it arrived today seeing that I was SUPPOSED TO BE seeing the U2 360 Tour in real life tonight!

So bittersweet.

Punishment?

I think I'm being punished. Last May I signed up for Amazon Prime. For 79 dollars a year, you are eligible for free 2 day shipping. I am an impatient person so I signed up. All was well until they began to ship books to me with a new, different carrier. The first time the package did not arrive when it was slated to. I checked the status and it said it had been left on the door step. It wasn't true. Bewildered, I called customer service because it was so strange; I'd been home all day, never saw a vehicle dropping off parcels, nothing and yet, had it been stolen? After looking for a phone number to call on their website, I finally found one and called them up.

It so happens that even though the carrier SAID they'd left it on my doorstop, it was "delayed." Honestly, I don't think this carrier knew where I live. That's my theory. The next 3 days I had more packages due with this carrier and none arrived even remotely on time. Add to that, this carrier routinely just places it on my step without knocking or making me aware it is there, and they have even delivered as late as 7:30 at night! Just when I gave up checking, it finally arrives. Sometimes I'd find it in the morning; it had been out all night.

I though the reason I paid 79 dollars was for Free 2 day shipping? Yet..... in a course of a week only one of my packages made it to me on time and that was the one sent via UPS. When I called customer service to complain and cancel my Prime Membership I was told that since I'd used it for half a year they could not reimburse me or give me my money back for the remainder of the year.

I was not happy! Why pay for this service if it did not deliver on its promises (pun intended)

Add to that, I figured out that I spend way more money with the convenience of having my books arrive in two days, plus, I wanted to get my money's worth. (I'm sure I did)

When my Prime subscription ended I decided not to renew. It made more sense; surely I could wait the 5 to 8 business days for a book's arrival.

I think I'm being punished! I placed an order on June 4th and June 5th. One was a gift for a friend's graduation from Stanford. When I placed the order the estimated arrival seemed like June 10th. Late but not too bad. I could handle that. However, I waited for it to ship and it did not. Finally I got an email saying it was shipping, apologizing for the delay and the new estimated delivery time was June 19th! Add to that it is going USPS and there's not actual tracking information. I have no idea when it will arrive.

I'm mad at you Amazon! Oh, how I love your prices, and I loved Amazon Prime if it actually worked. I am a patient, understanding person but too many packages were late or even missing! The only explanation given was you have no control over when the package shows up; it's in the hands of the carrier. I can handle that excuse once or twice but I had so many problems, not knowing if my package was lost, stolen, or ever going to show up!

So now I'm dealing with Super Saver Shipping. Only this isn't living up to what is stated either. 2 shipments, and both were delayed!

Amazon, I really like you. I like your user interface, I like your readers reviews and how you make it all so easy and fun to shop. But I'm so tempted to find another place to buy my books. Someone that keeps their promises and actually CARES.

Only Just Begun......

Today as the first day of what I consider Summer. Of course, Summer doesn't officially begin until later this month but to me, it has begun: School is out!

Yesterday was the last day of school for my 3 kids. I can't believe how fast it has flown by! Katie started as a baby, just a little short, four year old, and now she's going to be a First Grader come this fall! Reid will be in Second, and my oldest.... how can this be? How can I have a Fifth Grader?

Oh my! It is going by too fast. Way too fast!

My little munchkins had a truly special year; all with wonderful teachers that appreciated them and got to really get to know and enjoy them. When I pause to really evaluate my kids on a deeper level I see how uniquely special they are. On the surface, it is easy to pinpoint that Conor loves science, thinking things through, and is a tremendous reader. Reid is a natural athlete, and Katie is so sweet and loves unity and making folks happy. She instantly makes friends with others. Yet I think the teachers got to learn more than these things about them this year. I'm quite excited about next year, though I know it wont' be easy for the three of them.... new challenges, new friends and teachers. It will be exciting.

The last week of school was more "party" than anything else. I realized a bit late that I needed to get gifts for the teachers; they had surely deserved it! I dashed to Starbucks for gift cards. The guy behind the cash register explained they were out of the little envelopes but offered to put them in a coffee cup. Actually I think it was even better having something the kids could hold. One teacher actually though Reid was giving her coffee!

So now it begins.... Summer! Luckily I have lots of plans: an amusement park, various local parks, some weeks in the mountains, a trip to the desert, a few of David's remaining triathlons, David's 2 month sabbatical.... this is going to be fun!

Or is it?

Beautiful Concert - Gungor

When I found out that Gungor was coming to Redwood City, I knew I had to attend. I had heard such wonderful accounts of how unique and special this concert was. I already knew I enjoyed their latest CD, Beautiful Things. It just so happened that the concert was on David and my 16 year anniversary. I invited others, and one family also decided to come, even though they had never heard any Gungor music; they were going solely on the fact that I thought they were good and our pastor and a few other bloggers raved about them.


We arrived about an hour before the concert. (had to ensure a good seat!) Our friends were already there. I hate to say this but at dinner I had a margarita. Oh, I can't handle alcohol! I was actually dizzy and felt like I was in a cloud. I do not like this feeling, especially while in a church! Luckily by the time the concert started I was doing pretty good. My friend Alyssa pointed out worship leader Kim Walker. I was surprised that she knew her and that I did too; I have seen some of her videos and heard her sing. In fact, my friend Ellyn's brother is a pastor at the church she leads worship at! He even once upon a time was my youth leader in jr. high.


The opening band was John Mark McMillan. I had never heard any of his music, which put me at a huge disadvantage. Everyone els was singing, dancing, waving their arms. I enjoyed it, but it was loud. Still, I think I'd like his music.


After a short intermission, Gungor hit the stage. There were 6 musicians on stage, I guess when others saw them in Nashville there was 12. It did not seem to affect the concert. Their opening song proved that they were a different, highly creative type of band. My friends did not know what to think of the first song, but after the second song and thereafter, fell in love with Gungor.


I have to mention right now that, even though it was my anniversary, I did not stay with my husband. He in the middle of the room, standing/sitting by a chair. I absolutely HAD to be right up front, camera in hand. I was in awe. Everyone was. The people present all knew the music and were really into it. As I looked around, I saw people of all ages, sizes, colors visibly enjoying the music. Dancing. That is so unlike me but I loved watching the freedom people felt. After a few songs, the applause ceased between songs; the mood was transformed from a concert to an actual worship experience. In the silence, I heard a guy near me softly say "wow." I think that is what everyone was feeling. Wow. In awe of the music. Of God. Of community..... sharing this moment together even though we were all different. Such a collective experience.


I did not want the music to end. I doubt anyone did.



Though I was worried at first what my friends thought of the band, afterwards their faces showed how enthusiastic they now were to Gungor. We went to their booth and bought CDs and tee shirt, talking the whole time about how wonderful the concert was, how transforming and unexpected and creative. We discussed how we would've so enjoyed sharing this experience with more of our friends; our church. There is no way we'd be able to effectively communicate how truly special this concert was. David was amazed there wasn't more people there; how could people have missed this? And the tickets were only 8 dollars!


Gungor: You are amazing, and I'm so thankful you came to my area! My friends and I were truly blessed by your concert. What a beautiful gift it was.

Please, if you ever have a chance to see them, don't hesitate! And if you haven't already heard their wonderful CD Beautiful Things, please look it up on iTunes.

Deficiencies

I love to read, not a surprise to those that know me. I bring a book with me everywhere, even on lunches with good friends. I call it my security blanket. There is never a dull, bored moment with a good book.

Lately I realized that there is a lack of good fiction in my life. As a child, I read a lot of good fiction books. There really is something magical about books, about a masterful storyteller. Sometimes it is in fiction that great truths shine all the more brightly; murky things come to light and are revealed. It is in some fictional stories that the struggles and common humanity are shown simply and can't be rationalized away. Good fiction can make me laugh, cry, and just sit in awe and gratitude of the gift I'm reading.

With that being said, I don't read enough fiction and am pretty much out of the fiction loop. I was hoping that perhaps I could get a few suggestions. As you can see from my photo, I do have a few fictional books that I am looking forward to reading this summer. They include:

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K.Chesterton

Manalive by G.K.Chesteron

The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton

There is still room on my list.... any recommendations? Any books you'd like to read along with me?

Musings

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners - no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbor, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat, the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden."

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Most Profound

When I was in High School I took a week off school to be a Christian Camp Counselor for a Christian elementary school. Actually, I believe I did this twice and enjoyed it so much. I was in charge of a little room of girls in the evening an a group during the day where I'd keep track of them, do devotions with them, help them memorize the "theme" verses of the week. (we memorized Psalm One, I still have it memorized) I had such a great time with the kids and the older camp counselors.

Of course, singing is a big part of camp and while there I leaned a slightly different rendition of Jesus Loves Me. It had most of the same words, twixt with Amazing Grace, and all to a fairly lilting, mellow tune. It wasn't so sing-song as the tune of Jesus Loves Me I grew up with. It was slower, made me really meditate on the words.

Such a simple song, and yet, it and the Amazing Grace verse brought me to tears.

A year later I wrote an essay to be a pane of kids to give input to the magazine Campus Life. I wrote about how meaningful this basic song was to me.

I was chosen to serve on the panel for a year.

I still find that this simple, preschool song can be so meaningful. It still at times can bring me to tears, because it is rather amazing the things it points out:

Jesus Loves Me.

I Belong.

I'm weak, but He is not.

Faith is trusting in what He says.... and that is: Jesus Loves Me.

I know that it's not all about ME and it is all about the Glory of God, but it still is rather amazing that He, such an infinite, loving, self-sufficient, capable of anything and everything God, chooses to love and displays infinite patience with His creation.

A creation that really deserves nothing... that was created in His image to give Him glory and yet fail so often.

Jesus Loves Me.