Dressing up our Dogs

Just because we can :)

Crazy Life

My life has dramatically increased in stress and business the past couple weeks. Although I am excited for the challenges, I am overwhelmed. I am feeling it now more than normal since I haven't had a day off in 10 days. I am tired. I am finding things that wouldn't normally bother me definitely rub me the wrong way lately.

I need to get away. Be with Jesus. And no one else. Even if it is for a couple hours. I am no good to myself or in ministry if I am serving out of a puddle instead of an ocean of God's love and mercy.

A Two Dog Family

Last Saturday, we got another puppy. Sammy is a lab mix, which we have discovered that he is mixed with Great Dane (he is a big boy). We thought it would be good for Sammy to have a friend at home. It has been an interesting transition, but overall we think he likes her.

Maddi is also a lab mix, but she is part terrier. I am glad that she is not going to be as big as Sammy, but right now, she is tiny compared to him.

A Whole New World

There are many things that Blake was not able to experience as a kid since he came from such a large family. I come from a family of 2 kids...me and my sister. During Halloween time, I remember going to McDonalds and getting a Happy Meal. During this time of year, the Happy Meal was given in a plastic pumpkin. Blake did not have the joy of experiencing this as a kid. Friday night, he took me to Ruths Chris to celebrate six wonderful months of marriage. Sunday night, between meetings and class, I took him to McDonalds for a Happy Meal!

I had him meet me at the McDonalds at Willow and Nees, which is connected to a Union station. I told him to meet me at the Union 76 station at 5:15 (to throw him off!). I got their early and ordered the Happy Meal, put it in a pumpkin that I got at Target, and waited for him to show up. When he got their, he loved it! Of course, it wasn't quite the same as if he were a kid, but he sure did enjoy it!

Oahu 2009

Blake's brother is in the Coast Guard and is stationed in Hawaii. This is where Blake proposed last September. We had the opportunity to go out to visit Drew, Vanessa, and our nephew Tommy a week ago. We had a blast! We were upgraded for free to first class on the way over and were given a free upgraded convertible to drive while there.

A free place to stay+airline miles (free flight)+vacation days+bulldog football=Us going to Hawaii!

Resting

I read Shaun Groves blog. I like what he has to say, even though I don't always agree with it. He is usually pretty insightful and makes me think.

I have been struggling with what it means to rest, to have a sabbath. Life is so busy that when I have an evening off, I am not quite sure what to do with myself.

Here is a portion of Shaun's blog from today:

"I’m always working because I’m never satisfied. At night I stay up dissecting the day and fretting over the next, sifting through the moments I wish I could do-over, prognosticating tomorrow’s troubles. Even when my body isn’t in motion my mind is still working away, tweaking the past and perfecting the future before it even arrives. I’m a bundle of anxiety and regret.

It’s good? Good enough to leave alone?

Taking a sabbath requires me to be satisfied with myself, with my reputation, with my income and the amount of stuff I own, with the finished and half-done and not-even-started. With God. With the life he’s made me – so far."

Am I not truly satisfied with life? Is that always a bad thing?

Do you struggle with taking a real "sabbath"? What do you like to do to rest?

To read the entire blog, go here.

My All-In-One Man

My husband is awesome. He can pretty much build, install, or fix anything. It is amazing.

His degree was in construction management at Fresno State, but he graduated from COS with his certificate in HVAC. He grew up watching his dad build custom cabinets and watching his grandpa fix/work on cars. Along with that, he has picked up many skills along the way, such as electrical and plumbing.

Last week, he built us a closet organizer.

Check it out!

If you ever need anything done, let me know!