Oh Amazon...

**Note: This is going to be a ranting blurb...

I have never experienced any problems with Amazon before.  Maybe it's because I have ordered more items recently (therefore increasing my odds) but I had an order delivered two weeks ago that had defective items.  Are you kidding me?

The book I ordered said "New" but it arrived clearly used and/or possibly bargain (scuff marks all over the  cover, the book "fell" open, which new books don't do, etc.).

NONE of the five 100-pack decks of card sleeves fit my Dominion cards.  Sure the cards would go in them, but then it would bow the cards causing them to not lay flat... which is kind of crucial in a deck building game.  You would think at least a pack or two would have worked.  I should say, I have purchased the exact sleeves before from a local store and they worked fine (hence the reason I was ordering them again).  But the first time I order them online, they are all defective.  Talk about luck!

So I sent the two items back with my explanation the day they arrived (June 11th).

And just tonight... I found out my Dominion game (from the same order) had a duplicate deck and not the correct third deck that it needed.  I didn't realize this until I had sleeved an entire deck already (100 cards--sleeves were ordered directly from the manufacturer's site and work great).  So I checked what was supposed to be included... and proceeded to un-sleeved all the cards I had just sleeved.  And all this time I was wondering where the randomizer cards were... Go figure!

And what makes this specific defect so incredible? 

IT WAS THE LAST ITEM IN THE ORDER!!!!

I ordered a total of 3 items, all shipped in the same box, arrived on the same day, etc.  Seriously?  Every item in the order?  Really???  I must have had some bad "joo joo" going on when I placed the order because it seems so rare for this kind of thing to happen.  I'm just blown away.

I am however, very grateful for the customer service at Amazon in helping me resolve these issues and get my money back or switch the items.  Thank you Amazon Customer Service people!  You are awesome!

Let's hope my replacement Dominion game isn't defective this next time around... *sigh*

Eden

You know those moments in life when you realize you have become your parents?  Yeah, totally had one of those the other day.

I decided to buy a new music album off of iTunes to help me tackle a very large cleaning/organization project.  After it downloaded, I stopped to think about how my music interests have changed over the years.  In high school, if you even mentioned the word "pop" around me, I would have walked away.  But as time has gone by, my interests have gone from hard-rock/punk to alternative to pop... to instrumental.  And the funny thing is, this is exactly the kind of music my parents listed to when I was younger!  I grew up with a lot of Yanni, Kenny G., Jim Brickman, and Donny Osmond playing in the house.

In a psychology class I took years ago, I heard that as people age, they actually revert into what they experienced as a child when it comes to personal tastes, etc.  Boy is it ever true in my case!

Anyway, one of my favorite artists is Piano Guys.  They are phenomenal and made listening to piano music fun again (not to mention how David Hodges has influenced me in my choice of music as well).  As I listen to their stuff on Pandora, Paul Cardall kept coming up, and I really started to like his piano music.  So I purchased one of his CDs this last week: Living For Eden.

Within twenty seconds of the first song, I knew I was in love.

It hasn't changed after hearing the entire album.

I looked at the CD artwork and found this on the back:

"Music is a means to an end for me.  It's a gift that allows me to share emotions that reflect my life's philosophy.  Johann Sebastian Bach said, 'The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.'

Life is full of surprises.  There are ups and downs, happiness and pain.  But, through it all there exists in my heart the comforting assurance that faith in a loving God and loyalty to family creates a Garden of Eden, or refuge, in our lives.  I've learned that long-term happiness does not come from any accolades, money, or advancement in society but by putting our whole heart into love, sacrifice, and service to those in our home, extended family, and community.

This album [Living For Eden] is a celebration of my 35 years.  I love life.  I am reminded every day through my experiences of the gift of life.  However, I think of the millions of people suffering in the world.  Pain and loss is all around us.  Poverty, disease, war, the list goes on.  It's overwhelming and devastating.  My heart turns to these people.  I believe we should trust in the message of Jesus who more than 2000 years ago taught us how to live and love all people.

We should focus all our priorities in actively building homes with love and also extend that love to our communities.  And then, maybe, this world once again will become a peaceful place like the Garden of Eden."

- Paul Cardall

I want to add my testimony to his about how our priorities need to be within the home.  It is in this sacred place that we learn the basic values and morals to function in life.  This is where we should feel safe and be able to escape the concerns of the world.  I have been blessed to live in such a home.  Though it is not the Garden of Eden, it is my Eden.  I am proud to call it Home.

What will your Eden be like?