in rainbows

I downloaded the new RADIOHEAD album today. I have been hearing about it for days (at least two!) and I just really wanted it. It is amazing to me that a band could have the confidence to do what they did.
For those who do not know, they released their album in download for only on their website. They requested that people pay not what "they thought is was worth" as some reporters have said but all it said was "it's up to you". So I paid one pound and didn't worry too much about the logistics of what "it's up to you" really means. Because I have an overly developed sense of honesty, or justice or something...I did not want to do anything dishonest by them, and yet I still feel guilty if I really think about it. But they asked right!? I know that I could have not paid anything, well actually I know that some people probably have not payed anything...there is no way I would could have done that, but sometimes I wish I could.
Anyway, the album is paying right now...it is beautiful, I love it. The melodies and tunes are just incredible, their beats are entrancing...I am so glad they did not say I had to pay "what I thought it was worth", I wouldn't have been able to handle that! How much would that be? How could I know if I was jipping them? ahhhhh!

So, Here's to RADIOHEAD!!! I am amazed by them right now...maybe that is exactly what they wanted. You check it out and you'll be amazed too!! And please DO tell me what you paid!!!
Check it out at Radiohead!!

my blog action blog....

hey...I think this blog action thingy will be pretty fun. Pay attention I will have a good one to wright about...just interesting mostly, if you like cats, birds or hate both it will be interesting. you'll know on blog action day... it is on the 15th of October. Here is what is on the site about the whole deal-i-o, yo!:

Post on October 15th relating to the environmentThe best way to participate is to post on your blog something that relates to the environment. Your post can be about anything to do with the environment. So you could write a post which is offtopic for your blog OR relate the environment back to your topic in some way.

For example, if you had a blog about programming and technology, you could write about applications used for the environment, how to make your office more sustainable, how to stop wasting paper, why technology will save the environment, or just write about an environmental issue which has nothing to do with programming!

As another example, if you wrote about restaurants, you could write about kitchen practices that make for a more environmentally friendly workplace, food packaging, produce made from sustainable farming or any of a multitude of topics.

What works best is to keep writing as you normally would. Your audience reads your blog for a reason, you don't need to suddenly change your voice, style or emphasis. Simply find an angle on your regular postings which relates to the environment.

Our aim is to get people thinking, discussing, questioning and talking about the environment, from every angle, niche, viewpoint and personality.
Don't forget to register your blog.

Peace out and KEEP POSTING PEOPLES!!!

simplicity=freedom

"Simplicity is an ongoing process, a joyful experience of detaching ourselves from what is less important and attaching ourselves to that which is more important." -Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen


Okay, I have had several people ask me about the yurt idea and I think I am ready to try to work through this on paper(or on the keyboard).I hesitate to write about it as it is really difficult to explain this and then have people not really understand it, and therefore think we are doing something for reasons other than the ones we are. But, I guess I will try to explain and you can ask the questions if you have any and then we'll get this all cleared up.

We do want to live a life that is more simple. We have been reading books, looking at different ideas on how and why this should be a workable mentality. We have also been praying and do feel God's hand is in it. The book I am reading right now, " 'Tis a Gift to be Simple, Embracing the Freedom of Living with Less" by Barbara DeGrote-Sorensen and David Allen Sorensen, is really where my heart is at with this process. It is written by Christian authors who practice what they preach. I will just have to include quotes, because they say it much better than I could try to paraphrase. The reasons we would make this change are many but this one is the biggest, because we believe that, " simplicity is more than time management. It's more than holistic health. It's more than quality time versus quantity time, self-care versus social reform. Simplicity requires us to become more focused- to serve one God instead of many"(preface,x).In understanding that it is so easy to become so entangled by your possessions that you would begin to place your need for them over your need for God, this change should be easy to understand.

But this is not the only reason that we are going to step out from under "the American dream" and are going to "move down". Financially it would be so incredible that our income not be consumed by house payments, mortgage insurance, cable bills, among the tons of other extras we add to our already stretched load. We do plan to sell our house this next spring-summer season and rid ourselves of the large portion that it consumes of our monthly finances. We do not need to own everything that we can afford!! It would also be amazing if Brad could work less and we could give more time to ministry. If we could live more affordably he would not need to make as much, and that opens up a whole new realm of options that are amazingly exciting. So, I guess I see the financial freedom and I want it, and why not take it if it is available?

Another HUGE reason is the boys, we would like to get a place out of town, where they have room to explore and play, and can work with Brad and I on growing many of the things we eat, taking care of the animals (so far we have the 3 cats...but I mean like goats, dogs and chickens...). We want them to see the incredible stuff God has created and to experience the amazing joy and work involved in taking on responsibilities. We would pretty much for sure homeschool, or participate in a charter school that were close...but there is time to think about that.

We are also very interested in "off the grid living" or a more living a sustainable lifestyle, and impacting the world around us less dramatically. But, yes...we will want hot water, plumbing, a toilet inside the house, and some sort of heat. We could grow some of our food, but let's not get too carried away and commit to more than we can handle. We do want to simplify our diet as well. Less complicated, more local stuff. Yes, we will still be eating meat...I am married to Brad, the boys wouldn't mind though...they LOVE tofu. So, yes the more we could grow the better, the more we could get off of our own land the better. And I will secretly try to eat less meat! ahha...(or maybe now not so secretly!). But, we have looked into solar power, batteries to store energy, composting toilets...and all the crazy new stuff that is out there that is available.

However, the complete absolute most utterly main reason we are going to make this change is that we want our focus to be on what really matters. We want God to be where we find our value, not in the things we own, the size or beauty of our home, the job we work at or what kinds of cars we drive. When we add things to ourselves we have to question why, and if we feel it increases our value (our inner value or how others would value us) than we better understand our value is not coming from the right place. When our value comes from the Creator...we will act accordingly, by placing him in the place of utmost value within ourselves.

Recently someone at our church said something that stirred in me. They said something to the extent of: "when you are madly in love with someone you will do anything for them, you will not constantly question them, you won't put up walls and walk carefully...because they are madly in love with you too". I realized that that is SO incredibly easy to do with God. I realized that falling out of love with Him caused me to question things that I had never questioned, and wonder about things I never even cared about. I began to look at the Bible more analytically, diagnosing if I could find an obvious flaw. This is not something I had ever done...but something that crept in slowly, beginning with philosophy classes at Oregon State University on how "the Bible as fiction" was the only true way to view this " Christian literature". I guess it is easy to loose the child-like faith that can understand such amazing things. Okay...I have veered off from sustainable living... and just so you know...I did not backslide..or start smoking cigarettes or anything...just got a little skeptical, which is probably way worse.All this on the yurt life is ramblings....and I just wrote it in case you are interested. I am being pretty open and vulnerable here...just so you know. But, isn't it through our weakness and vulnerability that he is made known. I think so, that is why i do it, if not i really wouldn't. leave comments...ask questions...GO FOR IT!!!

music mania

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I am going to start acting on what God has called me to do. This means no huge changes for our family...mostly changes in my attitude and actions. Let me explain. Since I was little I really wanted to play the guitar. When my parents found out, they took me to lessons but the teacher was a teacher of Spanish classical guitar and was very insulted that I would want to learn chords instead, so she taught me what she new...classical. I have long since forgotten all that she taught me.

Recently as the boys have gotten older and I have a little more time, I have started to teach myself to play chords. God has placed this desire in my heart and I will follow through. I feel that this is an exciting new season for me in my walk of obedience. He calls, and we hear but then we wait and wait until finally he speaks even more clearly. I am at that point now. What I know is that he has given me some talent, and I am called to use what he put in me as best I can. I know that others could do more, and that it would sound better but that is not what I am to think about...he is asking that I do what I am called to. So far I know that that means learning, worshiping, and writing songs to the best of my ability...and mostly living a life that inspires that worship to flow. I need to leave dry lands of minimal close times spent with Him and push into the deepest, sweetest places where his words will begin to drip from my lips. I need to hear his whispers, not his yells. I want to feel his breath and let it bring life through me.

All I can say is that I am at the point where all I can do is follow the call, he knows where it will lead and I do not. Wherever He goes I will go.

I have started up a music page and you should add me and then I can keep you informed of the changes and things that are taking place. I don't have songs up yet, but I am working on that...I mostly need to figure out how to get them recorded. I was hoping to just do something easy on my computer mic, but I don't know how to do that yet. Let me know if you have any suggestions! Here is my page: http://www.myspace.com/bethanycanfield

check it out!!! leave comments...and please add yourself if you want to receive updates.

my locs

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Here are some pics of my locs. I have had them for about a month now. They are taking form..yay!


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the back

i love my locs!!

you are freedom

Ross is back!! Here is a little show of his return.

Chalupsky fun!

YAY for the Chalupsky home...always welcoming. We love this place. These pics are from earlier this summer, but I finally got around to putting them on here. This is one of the best places on earth...so fun, relaxing and renewing.

dreaddie!!!

These pics are huge...sorry about the quality, I took them on my phone. Okay so I have dreads now. I had dreads once before but my hair was really short, this time they are forming better. They are kind of high maintanence in the begining...but I am looking forward to the easy days with them.

the yurt life?!

We are going (God willing) to buy a piece of land to live on and build a yurt. These are beautiful structures. There are reasons for this, if you are interested I'll tell you, but for now I just wanted to show you these pretty pictures.

free.