I first read about Saddam Hussein's execution about 10 hours ago. When I woke up this morning, there were plenty of pictures and videos plastered all over the internet. I really thought that I would feel joy or some other positive feeling over this man's death, but instead I just feel sick.

It's not that he didn't deserve what he got. The man was a brutal dictator who committed horrible atrocities against his own countrymen. He raised two sons and encouraged them to do the same. He killed his daughters' husbands after assuring them that they were pardoned. He was definitely a guilty man.

I'm certainly not a peace activist. Like most soldiers, I see the value in what we are doing in the middle east, and I understand that trade embargos and idle threats rarely initiate change on their own. Violence was required to depose the horrific leadership in Iraq, and the military presence continues to safeguard its current leadership and public servants.

So many lives have been lost, whether soldier or civilian, American or Iraqi, adult or child, noble or evil. For me, watching it all happen hasn't made me numb to the value of human life; rather, it has had the opposite effect. I will deploy one last time and do my job to the best of my ability. I love my country and support her endeavor to bring opportunity and choices to oppressed peoples around the world.

I just wish the killing would stop.

Our new digital camera has arrived and is beautiful. We can't wait to use it on our honeymoon!

In addition, Mike showed me how to "sync" my IPOD. This is the coolest gadget ever! 1455 songs are on there from my CD collection; it's absolutely amazing.

Now if only I can figure out how to operate my new toys...

We are so blessed to have a fun and variegated family. I use that word because our combined family is like yarn: colorful, multi-textured, and very diverse. And they're a blast!

We managed to spend some aspect of Christmas with every member of our family that resides locally. I even got my first taste of "fresh sausage", and there was no hair on it at all! (Thanks, Amber).

Our family is a multi-stop shop for fun and ever-changing experiences.

Boing, boing, boing...

At 1500 yesterday, we officially tied the knot. It was a nice, quiet, small service and the reception at my parents' house was perfect! We spent our wedding night in the hotel at Casino Aztar with dinner at Max and Erma's, the restaurant at which we had dinner the night we officially became "exclusive". Mike showed me how to lose money at slots (just a couple of bucks) as well. And so the marital adventure begins...

One never knows what to expect when spending an afternoon with the Mitchell family. In this case, after a yummy lunch yesterday at El Maguey in Boonville (celebrating Dennis' birthday), I found myself on a hunt for South Dakota quarters with my future in laws. It was a carefully-planned operation. In essence, the bank only allows you to purchase two rolls of quarters at any time, and we walked away with 8 rolls and some loose quarters, so let your imagination roll on that one...

We're down to fewer than seven hours until we get married!

Well, I ordered a new digital camera today. I wanted a smaller, more compact one to take overseas without compromising the optical zoom capability. I'm giving my other one to my parents as a starter digital camera, since they haven't had one before. Mike and I will give the new one its test run in Gatlinburg. Hooray!

Last night, my parents hosted a fun and successful dinner party to get all the parents together with Mike and me for a get-to-know-you-better type of event. The hot chicken salad (a family favorite in the Herrin-Pelky household) went over very well and the party finally ended after around four and a half hours.

I have to admit, I'm marrying into a pretty terrific family. Mike and I are both blessed to have families that we both genuinely love and enjoy, and we are doubly blessed by how supportive they all have been, particularly with our moving up the wedding. We'll all be getting together again in six days for the big (small) event!

Mike is significantly more computer-savvy than I, but I wanted to prove that I could log into this all by myself. Keep checking back for unclassified, non-political thoughts and experiences that I'll be sharing in the future.

Did I mention we're getting married in eight days?