Can You Trust?

A few weeks back, the computer on my bike failed. It is a Specialized Speedzone Wireless Computer. The bluetooth transmitter that picks up wheel speed stopped working. I did the whole change the batteries and reset the computer to no avail. So I looked to see what kind of warranty Specialized offered. The manual said it had a two year warranty. But I had to ship the computer back to Specialized where they would repair or replace. Okay...do I send it in and trust that Specialized would honor the warranty? (Meaning I'm without a bike computer for a few weeks.) Or do I just buy a new one? It comes down to trust. Can I trust a company to keep its word? Twenty years ago or so, this wouldn't even be a question. But with the way many companies have recently betrayed the public trust, (just watch the Nightly News every night!) I had to make a serious decision. So I decided to go for it.
About two weeks later, a FedEx package arrives at the door. Inside was a brand new computer! Specialized came thru and honored their warranty. The weird part is that I was suprised at all. I shouldn't have been. A company should back its products and honor their warranties. But I cannot deny that I wasn't surprised. While I commend Specialized for doing the right thing and I will continue to do business with them, the fact I was surprised says something about the state of commerce and public distrust in America today - that I fully expected them not to do the right thing.

School's Out

Yeah!!! Today was the last day of school for the year for Abby and Emma. They have now completed 1st grade. Bonus: We don't have to get up at 6 am to get them on the 7 am bus. Downside: I loose my "date days" with Sheri on Fridays.

Forty One

Yesterday was my birthday - my 41st. I woke up thinking it wasn't going to be a big deal. But it evolved into something somewhat significant for me. The first moments of the day included receiving gifts from Sheri and the girls: An iPod Touch (how cool is that) and a couple of nice dress shirts with matching ties - very nice. Later, I got to work and at 9:00 am, the entire staff met for our usual Monday Morning meeting. As each staff member entered the room, the told me "Happy Birthday." And then they decided to take me to lunch. Later that afternoon, I opened up Facebook and found that dozens of my friends from all over the country had taken the time to wish me a happy birthday. That evening, I enjoyed a nice dinner at home with my family, followed by phone calls from my sister and from my parents.

I was just going to write off the day as a tick on my personal odometer. But all of these people in my life made it so much more. I am truly blessed beyond imagination. I, a sinner worthy of nothing, have been chosen by my God to be his child through baptism and has called me to be an ordained servant of the Word among some amazing people. My Heavenly Father has taken care of all my needs - most especially the gift of salvation through my Lord Jesus Christ. I have a wife with whom I am privileged to share my life and she shares her life with me. We have been blessed with the gift of two beautiful and incredible daughters. And yesterday, so many people took the time to share in my day.

Forty One isn't so bad after all.

Abby's Spring Recital

Abby gave her spring recital today. Her pieces include "Brother John" and "Graduation Song."

R.I.P.

Abby and Emma and some of the neighborhood kids were all playing early this evening. Abby came running toward our house and said, "I need some tape." And I, of course asked why. She said, "For the roly poly grave. She died." Apparently, they found a dead roly poly and decided to give it a proper burial. One of the other kids made the tombstone. In case you can't read it in the photo. It says, "Mrs. Roly Poly died here." with an arrow pointing to down to the very spot where they laid her to rest.

I'm pleased my daughters and their peers are realizing their importance as stewards of God's creation.

The other day, I found this wonderful poem as I was reading to the girls from A.A. Milne's book, Now We Are Six, one of the books in his Winnie the Pooh collection. The name of the poem is "Waiting at the Window."

These are my two drops of rain
Waiting on the window-pain

I am waiting here to see
Which the winning one will be.

Both of them have different names.
One is John and one is James.

All the best and all the worst
Comes from which of them is first.

James has just begun to ooze.
He's the one I want to lose.

John is waiting to begin.
He's the one I want to win.

James is going slowly on.
Something sort of sticks to John.

John is moving off at last.
James is going pretty fast.

John is rushing down the pane.
James is going slow again.

James has met a sort of smear.
John is getting very near.

Is he going fast enough?
(James has found a piece of fluff.)

John has hurried quickly by.
(James was talking to a fly.)

Jon is there, and John has won!
Look! I told you! Here's the sun!

I thought this a great rainy-day poem - good for rainy spring day, like today. It reminded me of rainy days I spent as a child when I would sit by a window, bored, watching the raindrops run down the window. The simplicity of childhood!

Bathroom "After" Pics

The Bathroom is finished! The construction was done a week or so ago. But Sheri needed to paint and I needed to get the hardware on the walls.