Sundays are bittersweet. As much as I love sleeping in a little later (I get up early for Zumba on Saturdays), going to church, lunch with my husband and sometimes friends, catching up, cleaning, organizing, being outside, walking Manning, and going to small group, I know tomorrow is eek, Monday. Over the past few years, the term "Sunday Funday" has been popular. While we may do fun things, it's not a day for partying. It's for worshiping, fellowship, family, getting ready for the week and most of all resting/relaxing! We have just started going to our new small group at church which we love. It's nice to have those to hold you accountable and study the sermon from the morning. There will many service opportunities with this group which excites me.
May is going to be a busy month. I so hoped this would have been a pretty weekend since it's the only one not jammed pack with events. But alas, I spent time indoors organizing closets and throwing things away. That's one of my favorite pastimes. Next weekend is our niece's first birthday party. I can't wait to see how excited she is with her presents and smash cake. Then there is Mother's Day. I also can't wait to see how excited my mom is over her present. (Mom, don't even ask. I will not tell you.) The following weekend is Boyd's graduation, friend's wedding, decoration and Caleb's Nanny's 90th birthday party. The next weekend is the spring football game and Memorial Day which holds no telling what. When it rains, it pours, but it's nice to have all these people in our lives that bless us. I hope we can be a blessing to them. We are hoping to get the pool open next Friday. Fingers crossed. This girl needs some sunshine and a tan!
June won't fail as a busy month either with the all-star game, summer practices, our 2nd wedding anniversary and a trip to the beach with Caleb's family. Literally at a blink of an eye, summer will be over and it will be football season again.
Jenny and I have been busy planning our 10 year high school reunion which is in August. I am still in disbelief, but am so excited to have everyone together again.
I have a new found love, Zumba at Complete Training. It is close to home, affordable and fits in my work schedule. I attend class 3x/week and dance at home 1x/week. It's so much fun and my gansta friends Olivia and Kristi make it even more fun. I sweat and have fun at the same time. It never feels like an hour has went by. And my quads, inner thighs, butt and abs are always so sore the next day. Jodi is an amazing teacher.
I have also branched out and found a new hair stylist closer to Soddy as driving 2 hours round trip to Pikeville has been hard to fit into my schedule as well. She did a great job on my hair and I will definitely go back.
Manning's training has been going so much better. He now understands sit, down, shake, look and heel. He doesn't always get it the first time, but if I make my voice more stern and yank on the leash, he wises up. I am going to try to take him back to his trainer this month so she can see how much better he is doing and give me instructions for the next phase. He still dislikes most strangers, dogs and cars, but he now knows mama is in control. Right now he is asleep beside me with his chin resting on his favorite ball and his back legs on the floor. This dog is the sunshine of my life. And Dolly too.
Apparently I didn't have much else to write about nor a specific topic like I usually do! So enjoy this hodgepodge of our busy life!
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Sitting on G
It's always hard for me to think of a title for my blogs. I do not have one right now as I am beginning, but once my fingers start flying as my thoughts pour out and I actually figure where all these ideas will stream into, I will have one.
My thoughtful, encouraging, inspiring friend, Heidi, sent me this link this morning that made me laugh and then really think. This woman compared the personalities of her two dogs, one being a Siberian husky and the other a German shepherd. They are pretty much the same as my Manning and Dolly. Manning is always alert, anxious, awake, sitting on G waiting on O to play ball, walk, go for a car ride, go outside, go upstairs, whatever. Where as Dolly is perfectly content sitting under a tree,chewing on some wood, lounging on her chaise, resting her head on the window sill, or wallering in the floor on her back (what she is doing as I type now). They do play together a lot, but their personalities are night and day. They actually somewhat reflect mine and Caleb's personalities. I am always looking for something else to do, chores, laundry,cleaning, a new recipe online, organizing something, etc. Caleb is very laid back and will get things done in his own time. I am the over eager busy body German shepherd and Caleb is the relaxed, go with the flow bloodhound. Caleb is very sweet just like Dolly too where as I have more of a temper like Manning.
If you read further into this woman's post, she then forms the analogy of God's servants. Are we ready to go and be used for Him at anytime or are we content/relaxed in our own little worlds? Are we actively waiting for Him to tell us how we can be used for his service here on Earth, or are we too busy with our own lives that we are too worn out for what He could use us for?
I feel that I have been a mixture of both at times. Sometimes I feel that I am so busy with worldly things and thoughts that I am too worn out to serve Him, who should be put first. Others, I am finding I am just seeking Him on all occasions and even sometimes not paying attention to the world. I am happy to say that lately I have been more of the latter. Our new small group is making me more "busy" but in a good way. In a great way. Growing spiritually is never a bad thing. I am learning to sacrifice things that I desire in order to make more time to attend small group, study, or pray. I am turning down invitations for not so important social engagements because I really do not want to run around like a chicken with my head cut off. I like having the time to just take a walk with Manning, manage my home & be caught up by the time Caleb gets home so I can hang out with him. Putting God first really does somehow put everything in its proper place/order of priority. It's not always easy though.
The following 2 verses really sum it up:
Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (NIV)
Luke 12:35-36, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him." (NIV)
If you have never heard of the website www.proverbs31.org, you should check it out! They will send you a daily devotion via email and there are also categories to look through as well from past posts. Big thanks to Heidi for telling me about them.
P.S. Manning is 2 weeks into his hard core "boot camp" training with me. We have only missed 2 days of walking due to weather. He seems more interested in me now during walks and less about where he wants to go or his surroundings. He hardly pulls at all now. Granted, he has on FOUR collars. Yes four. Tick collar, regular ID collar, pinch collar (for corrections) and hunting shock collar (for MAJOR corrections or if he gets off his leash). He looks like he is Mr. T. He actually walked past 2 kids and a poodle yesterday and barely looked at them! When I tell him NO when another dog begins to bark at us, he actually puts his heckles down on his back and keeps going. Is he perfect? Of course not. But we are onto something. And if I just keep it up, 2 miles every single walk almost daily, one day he may just listen to me in stressful situations (vet, strangers, etc). I have learned to have patience with him during our walks and patience in the fact that he won't be perfectly the way I want him trained overnight. I do think it has strengthened our relationship more as he listens better, sits before going in/out doors, getting food/treats etc, and respects me more.
Caleb is almost home, so I am going to wrap this up. Thanks for reading my ramblings. If you don't like it, then stop reading it! ;)
My thoughtful, encouraging, inspiring friend, Heidi, sent me this link this morning that made me laugh and then really think. This woman compared the personalities of her two dogs, one being a Siberian husky and the other a German shepherd. They are pretty much the same as my Manning and Dolly. Manning is always alert, anxious, awake, sitting on G waiting on O to play ball, walk, go for a car ride, go outside, go upstairs, whatever. Where as Dolly is perfectly content sitting under a tree,chewing on some wood, lounging on her chaise, resting her head on the window sill, or wallering in the floor on her back (what she is doing as I type now). They do play together a lot, but their personalities are night and day. They actually somewhat reflect mine and Caleb's personalities. I am always looking for something else to do, chores, laundry,cleaning, a new recipe online, organizing something, etc. Caleb is very laid back and will get things done in his own time. I am the over eager busy body German shepherd and Caleb is the relaxed, go with the flow bloodhound. Caleb is very sweet just like Dolly too where as I have more of a temper like Manning.
If you read further into this woman's post, she then forms the analogy of God's servants. Are we ready to go and be used for Him at anytime or are we content/relaxed in our own little worlds? Are we actively waiting for Him to tell us how we can be used for his service here on Earth, or are we too busy with our own lives that we are too worn out for what He could use us for?
I feel that I have been a mixture of both at times. Sometimes I feel that I am so busy with worldly things and thoughts that I am too worn out to serve Him, who should be put first. Others, I am finding I am just seeking Him on all occasions and even sometimes not paying attention to the world. I am happy to say that lately I have been more of the latter. Our new small group is making me more "busy" but in a good way. In a great way. Growing spiritually is never a bad thing. I am learning to sacrifice things that I desire in order to make more time to attend small group, study, or pray. I am turning down invitations for not so important social engagements because I really do not want to run around like a chicken with my head cut off. I like having the time to just take a walk with Manning, manage my home & be caught up by the time Caleb gets home so I can hang out with him. Putting God first really does somehow put everything in its proper place/order of priority. It's not always easy though.
The following 2 verses really sum it up:
Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (NIV)
Luke 12:35-36, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him." (NIV)
If you have never heard of the website www.proverbs31.org, you should check it out! They will send you a daily devotion via email and there are also categories to look through as well from past posts. Big thanks to Heidi for telling me about them.
P.S. Manning is 2 weeks into his hard core "boot camp" training with me. We have only missed 2 days of walking due to weather. He seems more interested in me now during walks and less about where he wants to go or his surroundings. He hardly pulls at all now. Granted, he has on FOUR collars. Yes four. Tick collar, regular ID collar, pinch collar (for corrections) and hunting shock collar (for MAJOR corrections or if he gets off his leash). He looks like he is Mr. T. He actually walked past 2 kids and a poodle yesterday and barely looked at them! When I tell him NO when another dog begins to bark at us, he actually puts his heckles down on his back and keeps going. Is he perfect? Of course not. But we are onto something. And if I just keep it up, 2 miles every single walk almost daily, one day he may just listen to me in stressful situations (vet, strangers, etc). I have learned to have patience with him during our walks and patience in the fact that he won't be perfectly the way I want him trained overnight. I do think it has strengthened our relationship more as he listens better, sits before going in/out doors, getting food/treats etc, and respects me more.
Caleb is almost home, so I am going to wrap this up. Thanks for reading my ramblings. If you don't like it, then stop reading it! ;)
Sunday, April 14, 2013
55 things about my dad
My mom is going to be jealous, but she will have to wait until November for her birthday I guess. My dad turned 55 today. The double nickel. Sammy Hagar's I can't drive 55. I have told him numerous times I could never ever repay him for all he has done for me. The list is too long to name. He really is always there for me, my car, my house, my dogs, my plumbing, etc. My dad shows his love by doing for others. He is not the sentimental type. He is getting a little bit softer now in his grey hair years though. Here are 55 reasons to proclaim what a great person and dad he is with a few memories in there too.
1. He is SO funny. He is a big cut up everywhere we go. He used to give the name "Griswold, Clampett, Drysdale" at restaurants for our table waits.
2. He used to tell me I could not date until I was 28. I guess I can date as of now.
3. He has a value for classics. Look in his garage.
4. He can bust a move. From the Twist, Macarena, Cupid Shuffle, you name it. I will never forget when he demonstrated the Cupid Shuffle to me in our kitchen at breakfast one morning. I had no idea he knew it. Our father daughter dance to My Girl was also pretty entertaining.
5. He makes to do lists. And checks them off. This is where I get my OCD from.
6. His garage is labeled and the attic is alphabetized.
7. He wore sunglasses in my wedding to hide his emotions.
8. He loves to sing karaoke. Also where I get this. Song of choice: "Crazy" by Patsy Cline. Dogs howl :)
9. He built my mom's dogs a "dog condo." Heat, electricity, ceiling fans, the works. Who does that?
10. He can invent anything.
11. He can hang custom built 70 pound pinterest inspired window mirrors in no time.
12. He is the only person I have ever witnessed to "spank the baby" on a diving board, all the while shaving the hair off the back of his thigh.
13. You could eat off of his cars.
14. You could eat off of his lawnmowers. No really, he waxes them.
15. He dives in the pool with his sunglasses on and they fall off every time. I get to swim down and retrieve them.
16. He is impatient. Just like me.
17. He hates clutter. Just like me.
18. He washed my car nearly every weekend when I came home from college.
19. He has only missed changing my oil in my car once since I was 16.
20. He uses his work vacation days to do projects like my tile at my house.
21. He uses his work vacation days to remodel his mother's house.
22. He used to drink sweet tea out of huge measuring cups at Sunday dinners at my Mamaw's house.
23. He bought his dad a goat (Billy Tom Clinton) and a pot bellied pig (Maybelline) for Christmas presents. The pictures and videos are priceless.
24. He once entered a woman less beauty contest for charity, donning fake nails, pantyhose and his mother's bra stuffed with half Nerf footballs. And he won.
25. He has the neatest handwriting.
26. He asked me every day after school "Did you learn anything or do you gotta go back tomorrow?"
27. We saw the ocean together for the first time when I was 4 at Daytona.
28. If you see him in Wal-mart, he may embarrass you over the loud speaker. Or in a hospital even. He knows how to work them all.
29. He wore the biggest smile on his face during both of my college graduations.
30. He drove his precious 55' Chevy on a farm and it nearly got stuck all because I wanted him to drive me up to the aisle for my wedding.
31. He made sure to wipe it off before getting me out to get a laugh out of everyone.
32. He finds a new hobby every 5 years, adding to his old ones.
33. He has a DJ business on the side and loves to have a microphone in his hand.
34. He really has never liked sports. But he watches football with my mom because he is sweet.
35. He once dressed up as a UT football player at the Bledsoe Dunlap game. He made the news and the yearbook.
36. He washed the paint off of his very first car because he washed it every single day.
37. He knows everyone. Literally he does. "Oh, your Tom's daughter."
38. My childhood memories consist of going to car shows almost every weekend with my mom and dad.
39. His favorite color is chrome.
40. His favorite Christmas song is "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" and he will sing it daily during the holiday season.
41. He is the worst fisherman known to man. His stories will have you crying from laughing. Sunk a knife and a boat are a couple off the top of my head.
42. He was my landlord for 7 years after buying me a house to live in while I was in college and grad school. He always mowed my grass.
43. He has no idea what rest, naps, or relax means.
44. His favorite show is the Barrett Jackson car auction.
45. He will never get a clean plate for dessert. Just pile it on top of the remaining spaghetti sauce or chicken and dumplins. "It all ends up in the same place."
46. He has both fallen off and gotten stuck on top of our roof.
47. The only time he has flown is to the Barrett Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
48. He would help anyone he could out (unless they are a "foreigner" and even then he might would)
49. He could have made millions in all the car repairs and borrowing of tools he has done for other people over the years.
50. He can splice fiber optics, fix cars, and build almost anything. But he cannot work a computer, iPod, TV, DVD player, or cell phone without IMMENSE education first.
51. He once bid on and won 3 big screen TV's on Ebay on accident. That was fun to fix.
52. Don't touch his car. He may scream really loud and then blame it on a bee.
53. He used to love to give me wet willies in my ear. Once I stood and watch him come up behind a girl he thought was me. She turned and gave him the weirdest look and I just waved at him. Got him back for a change!
54. He cares more for others needs than his own and stops at nothing until they are done.
55. He is MY dad. We may have our differences and scary similarities so we don't always get along but I would not trade him for any other.
Happy Birthday, Daddy.
Love your little girl,
April
Friday, April 12, 2013
Who's training who?
Since we got Manning (exactly one year ago this weekend), I have seen similarities in how it would be like raising a child as puppies are quite needy and require a lot of attention/care. So I can see how it would somewhat prepare a couple for a baby. A German Shepherd like mine however, is preparing me for the worst behaved child imaginable. Imagine taking your child to the doctor, and he kicks and yells at every person he sees, trying to show them he is boss. Imagine him nearly pouncing on every new guest you have at your home. Imagine your embarrassment. You feeling like a bad parent. Welcome to my world. Don't get me wrong. I love him. He is photogenic, he is handsome. He lays in my lap and gives me kisses. He loves to play ball. He is a perfect angel at home with just us and Dolly. Public or with visitors, not so much. I kept blaming his "puppy-ness" but we are a little too past that now. This has to be fixed. ASAP.
Manning is testing me daily. He is that kid that says, "what happens if I do this? and this... and this?" pushing me a little more and more. He has literally tried and almost succeeded at controlling me. Well, we can't let that happen so off to one on one specialty behavioral training we go.
Training day one at home:
Manning sat, looked at me and laid down for turkey pepperonis just perfectly in our driveway prior to our walk. I thought, "This is going well just like last night at training class." Loose leash walking? Forget that. My dog is the most hyper active busy dog in the world. "Who is that? What is that? Where are they going? What's that car doing? That dog think he can bark at ME? I will show him!" It never stops. Our normal 15 minute one mile walk took us an hour tonight as I was TRYING (emphasis trying) to make him mind me and be mannerly the entire time while keeping slack in his leash. Talk about an arm workout. My neighbors throughout our subdivision were chuckling at all the correcting, "sit, down, NO, good boys" and Manning yelping from his pinch collar corrections. All I could think was "CHILDREN CANNOT BE THIS HARD TO TRAIN." I mean, at least I am bigger than them for the first 8 years or so. At least I can warn them that they will get grounded and they will understand. At least I can hope they get my genes and are well behaved and listen most of the time. This 70 pound dog can pull me around like it's nothing and I can't threaten to ground him or take way his toys or TV time. Either God is preparing me for the most misbehaved rebellious children in the world or just laughing in spite of himself.
The concept that good ole Freud developed seems so simple. Task complete, give treat. If you have 1,000 repetitions in which to do it. (uh, full time job, direct sales, husband, social life, family, working out, cooking, class reunion planning, church activities, cleaning...need I say more?) Needless to say, I have my hands full.
Don't worry, I won't be doing daily training blogs on his progress. I am mostly just marking this day down in hopes that in two or three weeks I can come back and compare and he has shown improvement. I know he has potential to be trained, but do I? I feel like I am the failure here. I can't train my dog to behave correctly, so how could I be a good mother? Frustrating to say the least. I just keep trying to tell myself that God has His reasoning. God is training me. He is using this experience with Manning to train me to have more patience. To be more diligent, compassionate and understanding. To love and be love. To trust and learn to be trusted. None of us sinners get it right the first time. We often repeat our mistakes. God still loves us. He gives us extra chances to get it right. If God can be patient with me, I can be patient with Manning. If I can get through this training, I may feel as if I can conquer the world.
I urge you, friends to take a look at whatever may be frustrating in your lives. Something that seems to test you. Something you lose patience with. It's that way for a reason. You feel that for a purpose. God would never give us anything we can't handle, as long as we trust and confide in Him. I feel he gives us trials so we lean on Him more. So we learn to trust Him and have more faith.
I am being trained just as much as Manning is. God always has a plan that trumps mine tenfold.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Manning is testing me daily. He is that kid that says, "what happens if I do this? and this... and this?" pushing me a little more and more. He has literally tried and almost succeeded at controlling me. Well, we can't let that happen so off to one on one specialty behavioral training we go.
Training day one at home:
Manning sat, looked at me and laid down for turkey pepperonis just perfectly in our driveway prior to our walk. I thought, "This is going well just like last night at training class." Loose leash walking? Forget that. My dog is the most hyper active busy dog in the world. "Who is that? What is that? Where are they going? What's that car doing? That dog think he can bark at ME? I will show him!" It never stops. Our normal 15 minute one mile walk took us an hour tonight as I was TRYING (emphasis trying) to make him mind me and be mannerly the entire time while keeping slack in his leash. Talk about an arm workout. My neighbors throughout our subdivision were chuckling at all the correcting, "sit, down, NO, good boys" and Manning yelping from his pinch collar corrections. All I could think was "CHILDREN CANNOT BE THIS HARD TO TRAIN." I mean, at least I am bigger than them for the first 8 years or so. At least I can warn them that they will get grounded and they will understand. At least I can hope they get my genes and are well behaved and listen most of the time. This 70 pound dog can pull me around like it's nothing and I can't threaten to ground him or take way his toys or TV time. Either God is preparing me for the most misbehaved rebellious children in the world or just laughing in spite of himself.
The concept that good ole Freud developed seems so simple. Task complete, give treat. If you have 1,000 repetitions in which to do it. (uh, full time job, direct sales, husband, social life, family, working out, cooking, class reunion planning, church activities, cleaning...need I say more?) Needless to say, I have my hands full.
Don't worry, I won't be doing daily training blogs on his progress. I am mostly just marking this day down in hopes that in two or three weeks I can come back and compare and he has shown improvement. I know he has potential to be trained, but do I? I feel like I am the failure here. I can't train my dog to behave correctly, so how could I be a good mother? Frustrating to say the least. I just keep trying to tell myself that God has His reasoning. God is training me. He is using this experience with Manning to train me to have more patience. To be more diligent, compassionate and understanding. To love and be love. To trust and learn to be trusted. None of us sinners get it right the first time. We often repeat our mistakes. God still loves us. He gives us extra chances to get it right. If God can be patient with me, I can be patient with Manning. If I can get through this training, I may feel as if I can conquer the world.
I urge you, friends to take a look at whatever may be frustrating in your lives. Something that seems to test you. Something you lose patience with. It's that way for a reason. You feel that for a purpose. God would never give us anything we can't handle, as long as we trust and confide in Him. I feel he gives us trials so we lean on Him more. So we learn to trust Him and have more faith.
I am being trained just as much as Manning is. God always has a plan that trumps mine tenfold.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
You are my strength when I am weak
Have you ever had like 20 blog topics on your mind at once? Just me? Ok. This post may be a big hodge podge of topics strung together. I kinda don't even know where to begin so I am just going to let my heart do the typing. For some reason writing out my feelings has always been easier and made me feel better so here it goes. I like being an introvert sometimes. It's the only child in me.
Last week for me can be summed up in one single verse:{ "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.} 2 Corinthians 12:9
I literally was praying walking into work, on my lunch breaks, and in between patients just to get through the work day. Everything was piling up on me. Work, people, home, life. When life knocks you to your knees, pray. That's exactly what I did. Looking back, God was working within me. I have never been an "overly-spiritual" person. I have grown up in church all my life and while I loved God and became a Christian at age 14, I have never been on fire like this. I guess I never was placed in the correct places or among the right people to realize all my stress & worries in my life do not have to be faced alone. I have been trying for 28 years to do that. And now that I have boasted my weaknesses to several people this week and now to the blogger world, I have seen God's power first hand. If it took last week's misery to make me see this, then I am ever so thankful.
I know everyone has their own issues, but it sure can be covered up well. Some people share it and others don't. I will just say what everyone else is thinking: Life is Tough. Working sucks. The general public is hard to please and sometimes smell bad. Keeping the laundry up and house clean is exhausting. The economy sucks. Politics suck. Bills are never ending and depressing. Keeping up with all this while trying to maintain yourself & your household is not as easy as it used to be. And I want to add to my family one day soon? THAT SCARES ME TO DEATH. It is not as if we are trying to add to our family right now, but it's in the near future. All too near. Some people plan it, some don't but they all make it somehow. Well, hello, I am April and I like to be overly prepared for everything. I want to have 100% of our non mortgage, truck and school loans/bills PAID off by 2014, home projects, laptops, etc. I have been busting my rear with Origami Owl in order to try to do that. I have so many financial fears. Adding short term disability takes money out of my paycheck. If I change to our better insurance plan, that takes even more money out of my paycheck. Where do people get their money trees around here?? Everyone makes starting a family look so simple. So free. Trust me, if babies were free I would have 50 of them. Every time I check my bank account I think about these things and wonder if my goals will happen when I want them too. Then I think just as the Lord had His timing with getting married, He will take care of this too. I just have to be patient. Easier said than done especially for this girl!
As I have prayed, confided in friends, and studied this week I was setting my mind to just trust in Him. If it's His will to let everything work out by 2014 to ease my fears, then He will. If it takes longer, then I will just accept that. Most people get frustrated over the getting pregnant part. I am so not even there yet. I am at the step before.... the "are we really ready for this part?" Ready financially, mentally, physically, spiritually?? That's where this morning's church sermon comes in.
The title: "Our House: We grow when you grow." I listened. I followed along. I sang. I prayed. I took the Lord's supper. We sang "you are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek, you are my all in all. Seeking you as a precious jewel (big smile- my Nana), Lord to give up I'd be a fool, you are my all in all. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name." That song alone made me feel so much comfort and eased my past weeks worries. It always feels great to worship with our church family and friends. I then walked out with Caleb and was digging for my keys. There was a member attendance/prayer request card in my purse. I pulled it out and saw this:
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My beautiful, wise, encouraging blessing of a friend, Heidi had put that in there. I had already asked her for a couple books that she brought to me at church today because I had mentioned to her about my week, etc. She took that sermon and applied it to my situation. Something I didn't even really think of during the sermon as our preacher was applying this to the church body growth and growing your Christianity.
"Your house grows when you grow." Wow. I needed that. My house will get ready to grow as soon as I do. And boy do I need to. I know the past 2-3 years I have grown somewhat, as my husband and marriage have brought me closer to God. Not everyone is lucky enough to marry the man they met at Bible camp in the 6th grade. Caleb has been the only guy I have ever dated that was Church of Christ, like me. I thank God everyday for him, his love & his Christian devotion and faithfulness. God knew I needed a man like Caleb so I could get closer to Him. Then God started working in my social life. Everyone grows up and goes through stages of life at different times. They move, they get busy with work, family, etc and this is what is supposed to happen. It took me a really long time to realize and accept that, but I finally have. If I hadn't stopped chasing those that didn't chase me back, I would not have had room for all the new friends I have now. The ones that have not only helped me through this new "grown up" stage in my life, but have helped me grow spiritually. Or the ones make me laugh uncontrollably as my Zumba partner (Olivia Pippin) because physical growth (or shrinkage) is important too. :-)
Now that I have grown in those ways, I need to grow stronger spiritually. I need to place more faith in God and His timing. I need to grow my amount of patience. I need to grow in my spending habits, as to not spend as much. I need to grow in the time I spend studying my bible and in prayer. I need to grow in my time staying off social media as much. I need to grow in the way I handle stress. I have been made aware of this big time this week in so many ways. I need God. I need my husband. I need my family. I need my encouraging friends. I no longer need to compare myself to everyone else's timeline or finances.
"We don't grow our house by counting noses or money but by growing ourselves."
I am going to stop counting others and what they are doing (the noses) and stop counting our money and just start counting my blessings and spending more time with the One who can truly balance my budget for me. God. Our awesome God. The one who will give me all the essentials I need to make it through this crazy life (love, patience, faith, trust, family, friends, dancing to de-stress, sunshine, health, food, etc) and I need not worry about the rest. I know He will lift this weight on my heart. He has given me the tools in which to do so which have unveiled themselves today and last week. Let His will be done. Amen.
Thanks for reading. I feel so much better. Love to all! I hope some of this can apply to you in some ways as well.
Last week for me can be summed up in one single verse:{ "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.} 2 Corinthians 12:9
I literally was praying walking into work, on my lunch breaks, and in between patients just to get through the work day. Everything was piling up on me. Work, people, home, life. When life knocks you to your knees, pray. That's exactly what I did. Looking back, God was working within me. I have never been an "overly-spiritual" person. I have grown up in church all my life and while I loved God and became a Christian at age 14, I have never been on fire like this. I guess I never was placed in the correct places or among the right people to realize all my stress & worries in my life do not have to be faced alone. I have been trying for 28 years to do that. And now that I have boasted my weaknesses to several people this week and now to the blogger world, I have seen God's power first hand. If it took last week's misery to make me see this, then I am ever so thankful.
I know everyone has their own issues, but it sure can be covered up well. Some people share it and others don't. I will just say what everyone else is thinking: Life is Tough. Working sucks. The general public is hard to please and sometimes smell bad. Keeping the laundry up and house clean is exhausting. The economy sucks. Politics suck. Bills are never ending and depressing. Keeping up with all this while trying to maintain yourself & your household is not as easy as it used to be. And I want to add to my family one day soon? THAT SCARES ME TO DEATH. It is not as if we are trying to add to our family right now, but it's in the near future. All too near. Some people plan it, some don't but they all make it somehow. Well, hello, I am April and I like to be overly prepared for everything. I want to have 100% of our non mortgage, truck and school loans/bills PAID off by 2014, home projects, laptops, etc. I have been busting my rear with Origami Owl in order to try to do that. I have so many financial fears. Adding short term disability takes money out of my paycheck. If I change to our better insurance plan, that takes even more money out of my paycheck. Where do people get their money trees around here?? Everyone makes starting a family look so simple. So free. Trust me, if babies were free I would have 50 of them. Every time I check my bank account I think about these things and wonder if my goals will happen when I want them too. Then I think just as the Lord had His timing with getting married, He will take care of this too. I just have to be patient. Easier said than done especially for this girl!
As I have prayed, confided in friends, and studied this week I was setting my mind to just trust in Him. If it's His will to let everything work out by 2014 to ease my fears, then He will. If it takes longer, then I will just accept that. Most people get frustrated over the getting pregnant part. I am so not even there yet. I am at the step before.... the "are we really ready for this part?" Ready financially, mentally, physically, spiritually?? That's where this morning's church sermon comes in.
The title: "Our House: We grow when you grow." I listened. I followed along. I sang. I prayed. I took the Lord's supper. We sang "you are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek, you are my all in all. Seeking you as a precious jewel (big smile- my Nana), Lord to give up I'd be a fool, you are my all in all. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name." That song alone made me feel so much comfort and eased my past weeks worries. It always feels great to worship with our church family and friends. I then walked out with Caleb and was digging for my keys. There was a member attendance/prayer request card in my purse. I pulled it out and saw this:
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"Your house grows when you grow." Wow. I needed that. My house will get ready to grow as soon as I do. And boy do I need to. I know the past 2-3 years I have grown somewhat, as my husband and marriage have brought me closer to God. Not everyone is lucky enough to marry the man they met at Bible camp in the 6th grade. Caleb has been the only guy I have ever dated that was Church of Christ, like me. I thank God everyday for him, his love & his Christian devotion and faithfulness. God knew I needed a man like Caleb so I could get closer to Him. Then God started working in my social life. Everyone grows up and goes through stages of life at different times. They move, they get busy with work, family, etc and this is what is supposed to happen. It took me a really long time to realize and accept that, but I finally have. If I hadn't stopped chasing those that didn't chase me back, I would not have had room for all the new friends I have now. The ones that have not only helped me through this new "grown up" stage in my life, but have helped me grow spiritually. Or the ones make me laugh uncontrollably as my Zumba partner (Olivia Pippin) because physical growth (or shrinkage) is important too. :-)
Now that I have grown in those ways, I need to grow stronger spiritually. I need to place more faith in God and His timing. I need to grow my amount of patience. I need to grow in my spending habits, as to not spend as much. I need to grow in the time I spend studying my bible and in prayer. I need to grow in my time staying off social media as much. I need to grow in the way I handle stress. I have been made aware of this big time this week in so many ways. I need God. I need my husband. I need my family. I need my encouraging friends. I no longer need to compare myself to everyone else's timeline or finances.
"We don't grow our house by counting noses or money but by growing ourselves."
I am going to stop counting others and what they are doing (the noses) and stop counting our money and just start counting my blessings and spending more time with the One who can truly balance my budget for me. God. Our awesome God. The one who will give me all the essentials I need to make it through this crazy life (love, patience, faith, trust, family, friends, dancing to de-stress, sunshine, health, food, etc) and I need not worry about the rest. I know He will lift this weight on my heart. He has given me the tools in which to do so which have unveiled themselves today and last week. Let His will be done. Amen.
Thanks for reading. I feel so much better. Love to all! I hope some of this can apply to you in some ways as well.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Not just a dog: Manning is One!
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My sweet handsome smart fun loving puppy dog, Manning is turning one today. Even though I have not had him a year yet, the fact that it's nearly been a year already is just surreal. He grew up so fast. Some parts I don't miss (accidents in the floor, biting incessantly, chewing everything) but I do miss being able to pick him up without getting a hernia. I miss the mornings when he would steal my socks no matter where I was sitting. He would sometimes steal them as soon a I opened the sock drawer. As annoying as it was at the time, it was one of those "you're gonna miss this" moments.
I know what you are thinking, "April, you need to have a baby and you will just forget about all this dog business." Maybe MOST humans are like that. Most humans have a dog as a dog. As a pet. As a "when I have time to deal with you and love you" type thing. Not me. Nope. He is not just a "dog."To many of you, he would just be a dog. You would feed him, pet him, walk him and cage him up and not think twice about him or his feelings. I, on the other hand, can see and feel his emotions. I love his personality. Although he can't talk back to me, he is one of the most true friends I have on this earth and I absolutely love spending time with him.
As an only child, I grew up with German Shepherds my whole life. Taylor, Trooper, Tanner, Tuffy, Thrasher, Willie, Tracker, and Titan. (Mom likes "T" names. Willie was adopted. I am going with Southern icons). They were my playmates. My friends. I would talk to them and imagine with them just like my people friends. My first spoken word was actually "dog." I told my dogs everything. They kept all my secrets. They met all my boyfriends and let me know if they approved or not. They let me cry on their shoulders. I mourned greatly when they passed away and can tell you how each of them died. They were always members of our family. To me, a family is not complete without a German Shepherd Dog, because that is all I have ever known.
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Manning has become my best friend and a huge part of our family. Even Caleb likes him. Really he does. Their relationship gives me a small glimpse of what a wonderful father he will be one day. They are adorable together. Manning provides 2 large listening ears and kind eyes. He is my alarm system and protector when Caleb is not home. He is my walking partner. He is an amazing ball player. He keeps me company. He is in my life to serve a dog's purpose: providing their "human" unconditional love. I didn't have to earn or buy his love, as he freely gives it to me. He waits for me to come home every day at lunch and after work and his excitement is always there. He is never mad at me for going away, just happy that I return.
I heard an interesting comparison a few years back: "Dog" is God spelled backwards. If you really think about their qualities (listening, forgiveness, companionship, loyalty, protection, patience & unconditional, unending love), it begins to make sense. I strive to be more like this everyday. Weird, I want to be like my dog? Yep. I really believe God put dogs on this earth for us not only to love & enjoy, but to remind us of how to live.
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Manning is way more to me than just the dog that I post on social media almost everyday. He is my friend, my child that I have raised since he was 5 weeks old & a constant reminder of how I should be more loving and selfless daily. He also reminds me to just live in the moment & have fun.
Yes maybe by the time he is five I will be up to my eyeballs in diapers and "mommyland" but Manning will always be my first "baby." He will always have a place in our home and a huge chunk of my heart. His birthday will always be celebrated. His picture will always be taken (I visualize some CUTE future pictures with newborns). He will always be spoiled and loved. He will always be my best friend that is always there for me. I plan on making everyday of his life the best that I can because he does that for me.
Happy 1st Birthday Manning (Manno, Manny, Manuel)
Thank you for bringing such joy and smiles to our home everyday!
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Here is the recipe for his jumbo puppy cupcakes: (These are for mini muffins. There is nothing mini about Manning, so I bought a jumbo muffin pan. The cook time is the same ~15 minutes. This makes 4 jumbo cupcakes. Manning & Dolly loved them. Please don't substitute for the whole wheat flour. (Regular flour is not good for their tummies.) Thanks to Eva for the recipe :-)
Friday, November 2, 2012
Been a while
Wow. Busy busy busy. Let's recap quickly:
1. Bucs went 9-1 in regular season. Won the first round of playoffs tonight. Playing ONEIDA next week. Unbelievable. What high stakes on so many levels. Going to be so strange driving up there next week after all those times I drove to go see Caleb during our LDR. Ah memories.
2. I have started selling Origami Owl. I am obsessed with it and it's so much fun. It literally sells itself. I am learning so much, meeting many people and seeing people be so generous and sentimental giving others lockets as gifts. God is good. I can't wait to pay off some bills and I know He will help me get through it! 9 parties booked so far for November. Plus my full time job as a PT, wife, Manning's mom and a maid! Whew!
3. Finally went to the allergist. I am allergic to something every season. Just peachy! I have an inhaler for pre workouts and I can now breathe and not cough my lungs up when dancing and walking Manning. It's like I am a new person!
4. Halloween was so fun in the subdivision! Never had that many "spooks" (haha) in my life! Manning hated it though! I had to start rationing candy and may have found some Easter candy... (it never goes bad right?)
5. I make awesome turkey pasta fagoli soup. Just sayin' (new favorite)
6. Our latest cardio dance routine is to "Gangham style" which I initially thought said "condom style" (hey, just listen). Anyway, it's so much fun! I love having fun while exercising doing something I LOVE!
7. One of my favorite things about every week are Friday mornings. I wake up extra early to help Caleb get all his game stuff ready, kiss him luck, tell him I love him with a "Go Bucs!" Next, I have to curl my hair for good luck. I then treat myself to Starbucks (white peppermint mocha frap non fat no whip today) and go to work. I always seek out the sports section immediately to see the football picks and read up on the game. All my patients ask me about the game and comment on my blue outfit. It may not be like game days in high school with pep rallies but it's better than nothing. I love game days!! #lovebeingacoacheswife
8. My life is great. It's really busy but SO fulfilling. God has placed us where we need to be with who we need to be with and around. He knows I need encouragement, support, love and examples. I love my family, church family, work family, husband, dog, house & close friends. I can tell God is working within me and my life more and more everyday. Hard part is letting Him lead but it's getting easier. I have been struggling with that lately. Trusting Him is the best decision I have ever made. Letting things fall into place and seeing where they land. Just as the gorgeous leaves are falling from the trees.
That's all. I have so much more I want to say but I will wait. I know these next 2 months are going to be crazy with Origami owl and the holidays. SO much to look forward to. If you are invested in my life and what's going on, I thank you for your time, love and support. It means so much.
1. Bucs went 9-1 in regular season. Won the first round of playoffs tonight. Playing ONEIDA next week. Unbelievable. What high stakes on so many levels. Going to be so strange driving up there next week after all those times I drove to go see Caleb during our LDR. Ah memories.
2. I have started selling Origami Owl. I am obsessed with it and it's so much fun. It literally sells itself. I am learning so much, meeting many people and seeing people be so generous and sentimental giving others lockets as gifts. God is good. I can't wait to pay off some bills and I know He will help me get through it! 9 parties booked so far for November. Plus my full time job as a PT, wife, Manning's mom and a maid! Whew!
3. Finally went to the allergist. I am allergic to something every season. Just peachy! I have an inhaler for pre workouts and I can now breathe and not cough my lungs up when dancing and walking Manning. It's like I am a new person!
4. Halloween was so fun in the subdivision! Never had that many "spooks" (haha) in my life! Manning hated it though! I had to start rationing candy and may have found some Easter candy... (it never goes bad right?)
5. I make awesome turkey pasta fagoli soup. Just sayin' (new favorite)
6. Our latest cardio dance routine is to "Gangham style" which I initially thought said "condom style" (hey, just listen). Anyway, it's so much fun! I love having fun while exercising doing something I LOVE!
7. One of my favorite things about every week are Friday mornings. I wake up extra early to help Caleb get all his game stuff ready, kiss him luck, tell him I love him with a "Go Bucs!" Next, I have to curl my hair for good luck. I then treat myself to Starbucks (white peppermint mocha frap non fat no whip today) and go to work. I always seek out the sports section immediately to see the football picks and read up on the game. All my patients ask me about the game and comment on my blue outfit. It may not be like game days in high school with pep rallies but it's better than nothing. I love game days!! #lovebeingacoacheswife
8. My life is great. It's really busy but SO fulfilling. God has placed us where we need to be with who we need to be with and around. He knows I need encouragement, support, love and examples. I love my family, church family, work family, husband, dog, house & close friends. I can tell God is working within me and my life more and more everyday. Hard part is letting Him lead but it's getting easier. I have been struggling with that lately. Trusting Him is the best decision I have ever made. Letting things fall into place and seeing where they land. Just as the gorgeous leaves are falling from the trees.
That's all. I have so much more I want to say but I will wait. I know these next 2 months are going to be crazy with Origami owl and the holidays. SO much to look forward to. If you are invested in my life and what's going on, I thank you for your time, love and support. It means so much.
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