I love my cargo bike.

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Pets

Finally. We are getting some pets!

Puppies are due late fall, so hopefully there will be one for us to take home around Christmas.

I've been wanting a cat (or two) and I've convinced Chris that it would be good to get kittens and a puppy close to the same time so that they'll grow up together. This worked really well for my dog and cat when I was growing up.

We're getting the dog from a breeder. It will be a Bernese Mountain Dog. I don't have any experience with those kinds of dogs, but it's supposed to be a fantastic family dog. We're looking forward to it. Plus, it will be matching in size to the Rottweiler next door, so they can easily play together.

I'd like to get two cats from the Humane Society. Two cats cost the same as one, which is a nice perk. Also, the dog would probably come with us on trips, but the cats would stay home, so having two would allow them to keep each other company.

Anywho, probably won't get the cats until after Thanksgiving since we have to dog-sit for my parents a bit and then we'll be up north with Chris' family for Thanksgiving. It will be easier to deal with the cats after that. So they'll be a birthday present to myself. :)

Bike Rules

I think I've got another rule to add...

• If it's more than 10 miles away, it's okay to take a car (unless you have the time and are feeling ambitious).
• If you need to take family, friends or pets to the doctor, it's okay to take a car.
• If it's an emergency, it's okay to take the car.
• If the weather is manageable but miserable (ex: downpour), and someone else is already going where you need to go, it's okay to carpool with them.

Biking

Well, on October 7 I mentioned on Facebook that I was curious about a car-free year.

Starting October 10 I rode my bike to work. And the next day and the next. I haven't told anyone that I'm trying for a whole year, I'm just trying to consistently ride my bike.

I've received some push-back from concerned parents for night riding and we'll see how tomorrow goes (it's supposed to pour all day). My parents are already concerned and my coworkers will think I'm crazy.

Ah, well, here goes!

A few "rules" that I've started formulating, otherwise it's biking or walking for me:

• If it's more than 10 miles away, it's okay to take a car (unless you have the time and are feeling ambitious).
• If you need to take family, friends or pets to the doctor, it's okay to take a car.
• If it's an emergency, it's okay to take the car.

I still haven't figured out how to handle this with Chris. He'll support me riding, but he's not really interested in it for himself... So do I limit dates to the Holland/Zeeland area and just meet him there? Or do I just plan on going on dates in Grand Rapids so that it's okay to drive?

So, there ya go. We'll see how long this lasts!

Hrm.

Wow. It's been far too long since I've last updated. And it's been a whirlwind of a summer.

To give you a brief update on what's been going on in life:

• Chris and I started P90X. We did really good the first month. We did so-so on the second month. The third month, we pretty much stopped. But we'll give it another go this winter!
• We started leading a Financial Peace University class. That lasted all summer.
• My mom found out she had cancer. It was melanoma. We took her to UofM to have some surgery to remove what they found.
• I set up a Care Page for Mom & Dad to keep people up-to-date.
• Mom got set up with a doctor in Grand Rapids to continue cancer treatment closer to family.
• Mom & Dad moved out of their rental in Findlay, OH and back to a rental in Zeeland, MI to be closer.
• Mom had an MRI or PET scan and found out the cancer is everywhere. Leg. Groin. Possibly breast. Brain.
• Did you see the one above? That hurts. It's been a long summer full of fear, doubt, worry, appointments, moving parents...
• Mom has no fears, trusts God completely and feels the many prayers. She has minimal side-effects from treatments and is mostly just tired. She's amazing.
• Weddings. Both of my brothers. That kept us busy, in a good way. :)
• I did a lot of canning:
• Peach Salsa
• Chile Sauce (it's really just fancy ketchup)
• Thai Sweet & Hot Sauce
• Peaches (sugar free!)
• Stewed Tomatoes
• Peach Jam
• Zesty Salsa
• Pepper Relish
• Hot Pepper Jelly (frozen kind)
• We also went apple picking with friends and made hard and soft cider

Now we're into the fall and Pumpkin Patch start last weekend. Chris and I will be up there again this coming weekend to help wrap it up.

Then we'll have our annual Pumpkin Stew party.

And then we'll can some apple sauce.

I'll try to be better about updating, now that we've survived the summer...