And another one bites the dust...

...another bill that is!

I just wrote the check for the last payment on my car. I can't believe it's been 5 years since I got that car, and I can't believe it's finally mine!

I've had a love-hate relationship with my car for a couple years.

I LOVE that it has lots of space and call haul a lot.
I LOVE that it's cute and sporty and still a 'station wagon.'
I LOVE that it gets okay gas mileage - although not as good as some cars!
I LOVE that it's the first car I've ever owned myself!
I LOVE that it only has 80,000 miles on it and should run longer.

I HATE that it's given me a lot of problems.
I HATE that I've had to put quite a bit of money into fixing things that shouldn't need to be fixed.
I HATE that the problems I've had have been bigger than I wanted.
I HATE that the brakes STILL squeak.

But, all in all, it's a good car. Now I can just drive it into the ground - so hopefully with maintenance and luck it'll last a few more years!

Book Review: The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle

The first thing that surprised me about this book was that it was out of print for a long time. The version I picked up at the local library was reprinted in the late 90's. It had been pulled from the shelves because of the language concerning one of the characters in the book, who was black.

I'm sure I've discussed my views on censorship and books a few times on this blog, so I won't rehash them. While I was disappointed to learn that a small portion of the book had been rewritten to be more politically correct, I decided to read it anyway and hope for the best.

I enjoyed the book a lot. Enough to want to read the rest of the books in the series. Only one other book has been republished with the potentially "offensive" language removed. Given that they did this one well, I am willing to read the others. When they first introduced the character, I didn't even realize it was the portion of the book that had been adjusted. (That isn't to say that I wouldn't like to read the un-adjusted portion still - I want to know what exactly was so offensive in a British book that wasn't offensive in some other books of the era dealing with the same kinds of characters).

Dr. Doolittle is a bumbling naturalist with an uncanny ability to communicate with animals. He takes on an apprentice, and along the way, he is searching for the language of the shellfish. That becomes important later in the book. Most of the story centers around their journey to a mysterious island to find a missing Indian chief and what happens along the way.

The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle is a fun and easy read. The characters are well fleshed out and interesting, and they maintain their distinct characteristics throughout the book. The talking animals are written well and actually do not seem out of place at all. I would recommend this book as a light read - just for the fun of it!

Birthdays!

On Sunday I turned 29 and my 'little' brother turned 17. It was an exciting day! I had a wonderful birthday full of love and joy and all that mushy stuff. It's hard to believe that I'm 29...here are some pictures from my growing up years...

mom and I...what a tiny baby!


yes, this was when we still lived in the teepee


look at my fat legs!


little older


cameron as a little guy


cam and I making faces


cam and I with frame


most recent brother/sister photo for mom


cameron and his new car!


us all dressed up

Happy Birthday Cam!

A Bunch of Nothing...

I've kind of gotten to the point where I think my blog has to be saying something deep to be worth reading. However, I don't often have anything deep to say so I just leave it blank.

I'm working on reversing that trend, though, so here's some non-deep stuff for you to read (or skim) as the case may be.

Allergies are dumb. Here's the thing - I never really had to deal with them until I moved to college. Even then, I seemed to miss out on most of them as i watched people around me sneeze and scratch and just feel generally gross. that was, until a couple years ago. Now I have some SERIOUS seasonal allergies, apparently. Not as bad as like my friend David, but still enough to actually affect how I feel and what I'm doing and my energy and stuff like that. i've been sneezy and itchy and drained all week. It hasn't been that much fun. however, it's still a small price to pay for the sun being out and people actually having to do things like mow their lawns. I'd still rather be outside than stuck inside!

We've been busy at the Bedwell household lately! Tim was gone for a few days, then i was gone, them tim was gone again...and we're looking forward to vacation soon, as well. I am SOOO ready for Florida! It's going to be a busy trip, but i still think it's going to be a lot of fun. We'll see some old friends, see some pretty beaches, and just in general NOT think about work and all that stuff. And, since several bigger projects have finally gotten finished, I feel a little better about leaving. i have NO idea what to do about making sure bills and stuff like that still get paid while I'm gone...but that's an issue for next week!

What else? I mailed cameron's birthday card and gift yesterday. Hope it makes it there in time. 17 year old boys are a lot harder to buy for than 10 year old boys!

Oh, and here's a couple books I just finished:
-The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle (review forthcoming)
-Let them Eat Cake
-Below the Surface

Currently Reading:
-Winged Creatures

So, that's what's going on this week...

Oh, and I turn 29 on Sunday.

The Race for the Cure

Another year, another amazing race. All week the weather people were predicting in climate weather for the race. As you can tell by the above overcast picture, they were actually right for once. It didn't rain a lot, but it did rain. About 1/2 an hour before the race started, it started raining pretty hard. Luckily, we were in the merchandise tent, and we were able to buy a couple clear ponchos to keep us a little warmer and drier.

Mom and I made our way to the race line and thought we were actually close to the front - until we looked in front of us and realized we were probably the farthest back we had ever been! (mom took some great pictures that I will post once I get them). We talked and wound our way through the crowd, keeping up a pretty good pace.

It's hard to describe the race until you've been part of it for awhile. It's hard to put to words the experience of having so many people all together for the same cause, even in the rain and cold. Mom and I managed to cry a little less this time around (until I showed her the "in celebration" flag I made for her at least).















The race course involves walking by the Indianapolis Zoo. The last several year they have had the elephants out with a pink ribbon on a blanket on their back. This year they added ribbons to the elephants ears and ribbons on the llamas and the miniature horse. It's fun to see the people at the zoo coming out early to celebrate with the Race for the Cure participants.










This is my mom and I. She's amazing. It's because of her I believe that attitude affects survival when it comes to cancer. She has endured this with such grace and dignity. I know she's been scared and I know she's thought about her own mortality, but still, she smiles and laughs and sets her mind to beating it...and that is why she does! This year she is a 3 and 1/2 year survivor (diagnosed at the very end of 2004). She's doing well, keeping her dr. appointments, and proudly wearing pink.

This weekend has become one of my very favorite weekends of the year. I love my mom and spending a weekend hanging out with her. She's awesome!

these pictures are all from the Indy Star...mom took a bunch I'm waiting to get.

Wonderful weekend, even if it was a little damp to start.

I'm so proud of my mom.

The Race...

The Race for the Cure is less than two days away!

This event is a huge fundraiser for the Komen Foundation, and a huge encouragement not only to women and men who are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, but to their family and friends as well. Considering that the two leading causes of breast cancer involve being a woman and getting older, everyone is affected by this disease!

Some people wonder why so many people walk in Komen events across the country. Here are just a few of my reasons.

• It's a cause I believe in.


• My mom is a survivor - and my best friend.


• Too many woman can't afford life-saving early detection mammograms & screenings.


• My aunt is a survivor.


• I know more and more women every year who have been diagnosed.


• Breast cancer survivors are more than statistics - they are moms and sisters and daughters and friends.


• Because I can. I am strong. I am able.


• I believe there can be a cure - in my lifetime.


• I believe attitude affects outcomes - and there is nothing more inspiring than 40,000 people united for one cause.


• I may not be a doctor or nurse, but I am willing to be a voice.


• I know it may happen to me someday, and I want to be ready if it does.

Will you join me in praying for women and men who will participate in the 2008 Race for the Cure? Will you pray for the weather (right now they're predicting rain in Indy on Saturday) and for a few hours of sunshine? Will you pray for the Komen foundation and the good work they continue to do? Will you pray for me? Will you pray for my mom and my aunt? Will you pray for the Mission of Hope women at SOCC?

Will you be a voice to end breast cancer?

My Award Winning Husband!

As you know, Tim has been in Las Vegas this week for a broadcasting convention. Every year, a bunch of the big media guys at churches around the country get together for something called gurus...a chance to talk about their ministries, vent, and show off some of their favorite projects from the last year.

Tim has been cranking out a lot of fun and really good videos in the last year, so finding just the right ones to take took some time. I don't remember the entire list, but I know he took the MythBusters series intros, the Super Bowl Sunday stuff, the Alive Sermon intro, and I think a couple more things...

...anyway, part of the gurus event is that they vote on the best video that was submitted. This year, guess what?!?!?!

Tim's Super Bowl Sunday intro video won!

I am so proud of him. He worked his little tail off on that project, making it authentic, entertaining, and fun. And, I am so proud that his talent was recognized amongst his peers. He gets praise from work, obviously, but for people who do what he does to recognize his talent made me so happy. He was pumped about it, too.

If you would like to watch the award-winning video, here it is! Go to that page and click on the kickoff video.

Needless to say, I'm a pretty proud wife!

Another Crazy Week

It's 7:46am on Monday and I can barely keep my eyes open. I've already been to Indianapolis and back dropping Tim, Korry and Ken off at the airport (they're headed to a media convention). I couldn't sleep last night because I was worried about oversleeping, and don't like the fact that I won't get to see my husband for a few days. So, needless to say, all I want to do right now is go back to bed. I am planning on leaving work around 1 or 2 so I can rest before my small group meeting tonight at our place at 7:30.

It's funny to me how used I've gotten to having another person around all the time. I used to live alone and it didn't bother me. I never had problems going to sleep and I never felt like I needed to have noise to keep me from hearing all the 'sounds' that are everywhere. but now, I am so used to Tim being there that when he isn't (which, thankfully, isn't all that often) I hear a million sounds I can't explain and just in general feel like I'm being watched, etc. So him being gone is going to be no fun!

Luckily, I have friends keeping me fairly busy this week. I have smoup tonight (after which I will probably crash pretty hard from lack of sleep). Tomorrow night my dearest friend Lizzie is coming to town to hang out. Wednesday I am hoping to do dinner with Rene and maybe over to Amy's for some good ol' scrapbooking time. Then Tim gets back early thursday morning (after I am already at work sadly). We'll have Thursday night to hang out, then I leave Friday morning to go Indy to have the Race for the Cure weekend with my mom!

Whew, it's going to be a crazy week. I am very much looking forward to hanging out with my mom this weekend, though!

I just have to find my brother a present first...what do you buy a soon to be 17 year old boy for his birthday?

Yes, I Stole It...

Like my friend Cindy, I've been short on the blogging thoughts lately, so here's a meme she found...that I stole....that I'm now doing :)


What was I doing ten years ago (1998):
-Finishing my first year of college.
-Trying to figure out a major I really liked
-Finding a summer job that didn't involve fast food (so I wound up at a grocery store)
-Ignoring the warning signs that I was in a realationship going nowhere
-Trying to find my fit

5 things on my to-do list today & tomorrow:
-help Tim pack for his trip
-sweep and mop (YUCK)
-do a few more pages in my wedding scrapbook (what, it's only been like 18 months)
-book our hotel for vacation
-find Cameron a birthday present

5 snacks I enjoy:
-goldfish crackers
-air popped popcorn
-chocolate covered sunflower seeds
-string cheese (or any cheese, really)
-pita and hummus

5 things I would do if I were a billionaire:
-give my parents plenty to retire on
-donate to lots of charities
-pay off the house and cars
-put a bunch in retirement
-but a complete bedroom suite (hey, i needed something illogical, right?)

5 bad habits:
-biting my fingernails
-chewing on the inside of my lip
-freaking out about little things
-being mean to myself
-not accepting compliments or praise well

5 places I have lived:
uhhh...I don't know if I've lived 5 places!
-Durant, OK (born and lived there for a few years)
-Albion, IN (same house from the time we moved until I moved to college)
-Bloomington, IN - Colling Living Learning Center (a separate world all its own)
-Bloomington, IN - 1111 Paper Birch Ct, my first real apartment
-Bloomington, IN - our first house!

5 jobs I have had:
-Front Counter at DQ - it was one of three option in my hometown
-Cashier a Scott's Grocery Store (no, not this Scott)
-Lineworker at Bargeman
-Copywriter at 1stBooks Library
-Business Manager at SOCC

Small Service, Big Impact

We were lucky when we bought our house. It is in great shape and needs very little work done. In fact, when we moved in, the only thing we really did was paint the two spare bedrooms and then place our furniture. In fact, upon moving in we realized there was really only one thing that needed to be fixed - the front screen/glass door was pulling away from the frame and the frame was pretty broken up.

Now, you need to know that Tim and I are great people, smart people, resourceful people...we are not fixer-upper people. It's just not something either of us do or really know how to do. So, we had a couple people look at the door and frame, and were told we'd probably have to hire a professional (AKA - spend A LOT of money) to get it fixed. And we'd probably have to replace the door or the frame, or both.

So, this wasn't something we were looking forward to doing.

We decided to ask the opinion of the guy that is in charge of the community service ministry here at the church - they do a lot of restoration and help people out with their houses and little fix-it projects. Our goal was just to have someone who know what they were looking at take a couple minutes to give us some advise.

One of the guys came over yesterday. He looked, he tore apart, he rebuilt! What we thought was going to be a short, yeah, you should have that fixed and here are some suggestions meeting turned into a hey, I can fix that, let me see...buy some wood...saw, hammer, level...done. Okay, so it wasn't that fast, but still pretty impressive! Our door is fixed, it looks AMAZING, and the guy that did all the work was such a blessing to Tim and I. He saved us an untold amount of money and blessed our lives in so many ways. (And yes, I cried when it was done, because he was so sweet about it).

It was such a tender reminder of what it truly means to serve each other and to help each other out. I'm a proud person, I don't like asking for help and always feel there are people who need help a lot more than me. And, there are, but that doesn't mean people can't see serving my family as a blessing, as well.

I am humbled by our new friend and his grace and sacrificial heart.

This, That and the Other

It seems like lately there have been a lot of little things happening in my life...some of which deserve a whole blog entry and some that do not. So, for the things that don't really mean that much in the scheme of things....

This has been a very odd week.

...I took Monday off work and hung out with my husband. It was wonderful. We met with almost our entire small group and talked about Pslams for awhile. It too was a great time and good time to learn more and discuss life. I heart being in my small group (or smoup as Tim calls them).

...Tuesday was the usual plethora of meetings and madness, somewhat complicated by the fact that I didn't go to work on Monday. however, I did go to the gym that night and ran my second mile...still hard to do, but hoping I can build upon it!

...Wednesday was more meetings (are you sensing a theme) and a chance to chat for awhile with my friend Ramona. then I did some random database training at a church in town. I also attempted to buy a new bathing suit...but only liked the bottom 1/2, so we'll see about that.

...Thursday was another strange day. I ended up spending most of it at home while our front screen door was fixed (this however, does deserve it's own blog, so you'll hear that whole story soon).

...Today, well, today the New Kids on the Block announced their reunion on the Today show...there were thousands of screaming fans holding buttons and wearing shirts from their younger "NKOTB" days. It was a strange sight.