Posts galore!

I know - I was sooo far behind in posting on here. I had many ideas and knew what I wanted to post - I just never got around to it. So here are several posts that I have been meaning to post for the last month and half. Enjoy...

And then there was 2.... maybe....

Yep, I did it. I decided I wanted a second dog. My mom found Toby in Lake Placid. He is a beautiful, 10 month old yorkie. Rudy and Toby get along sooo well. They just love to play together. It is a hoot to watch them chase each other and tumble - or as I call it have wrestle mania (there are many rounds each day). As you can see in the picture, they get along so well they can eat off the same plate.


They try to get the same toy from each other (even though there are about 20 toys to choose from).


And then they collapse and sleep peacefully...


However, I have come to realize that I don't know if I am a 2 dog person and I have placed an ad in the paper to sell Toby. He is a good dog and they play so well together that I wasn't sure at first. I know Rudy is going to miss Toby but I think it will be better. If he doesn't sell then, I guess I will become a 2 dog person!

Jesus's birthday!

Last week was Christmas - Jesus birthday! I always stand amazed that God loved us - me - so much that He would actually leave Heaven to come to Earth just so I can be with Him forever. He didn't have to do it, but He did just because of His love for us. Thank you!!

Fostering....

Late September, Florida Baptist Childrens' Home (FBCH) visited my church, Summit (the most awesomest(I know but I like that word) church around) to talk about fostering children. God stirred in my heart and so I checked it out some. At first, I didn't know if this is something God wanted me to do but I started the process. I have come to realize this is going to be a new ministry for me so I am very excited at what God is going to do. Also, I am really scared - but what new mom isn't. At first I wasn't sure if this is really what God wanted for me, but things have just fallen into place that God has reassured me that He wants me to do this for Him - to take care of some of His children in need. As of today I am nearing the end of the process to get licensed - just some paperwork to wait on. Terry from FBCH gave us a date of about Feb 1st of when I should have my license. I am cleaning out the purple room to get it ready. I am slowly trying to acquire some toys to get ready. Most importantly I am praying for wisdom and strength. Please pray for this new ministry.

My birthday...

Yeah yeah yeah I know... my birthday was a month and a half ago but I just never got around to posting about it and I have wanted to. I turned 40 this year and had the nicest birthday in a long long time. I have some wonderful friends who really made me feel very special. I had a "birthday weekend" and on top of that - it was 3 weekends in a row. I already talked about Angie and Ive taking me to Pinchers the week before my birthday. That was such a blessing. Since Angie took the pictures, I only have this one of Ive and I. I wanted Angie in here too.. so I found this 3 year old pic - we need to take some together Angie!


The weekend of my birthday, Ive and I went to check out some scrapbooking things and then to Iguna Mia to get my free meal and of course the sombrero (got to love the sombrero!). I've known Ive for such a long time and she has always been a great friend and an amazing example of what it looks like to trust God and live that out.


Sat night after church, my small group went out to eat and surprised me with a wonderful gift card to a spa and sang happy birthday. I so didn't expect it and it made me feel special from these new friends of mine. No pictures, sorry.


Sunday, my very dear friend Melissa (and her precious daughter Julie - Braden was with dad) wanted to spend the day with me and we went shopping. She took me out to lunch and then we wandered around Gulf Coast. It was a wonderful day of shopping and sharing. (This pic isn't from that day, but wanted to post a pic of her and her kids - Melissa we need more pics together!).



The Sat after my birthday, Lisa took me out for an afternoon ice cream and to shop at Coconut Point. We had such a nice time and found some good deals. Lisa has gone from a parent of one of my students to a sweet friend. This picture isn't from this day, it's all I had and I like it.


That evening, two dear ladies, Tracy and Pam, whom I have gotten to know better over the last year and grown to love took me out to Macaroni Grill. (You all know how much I love Macaroni Grill!) It was yet another sweet evening of fun and friendship - and of course the free chocolate cake!

Of course I can't forget my team at work who helped celebrate at school. I am blessed to have an amazing team to work with and share life with.

I think I got it all. Three weekends of celebrating - woo hoo!
Thank you all for making this year a special time. God has blessed me with some very dear friends and I appreciate you all and consider myself lucky to have you in my life. God bless you all!!!!

Pursuing Intimacy....

I have been overwhelmed lately with knowing how much God truly loves me, how much He is pursuing me. How much He wants to spend time with me, talk with me, and just love me. I have known for many many years about His love for me (and for you) but recently I have been floored with that knowledge. I have a renewed desire to read His word, pray, and be in His presence. At church recently Todd talked about dying to self and gave the real example of how he needed to die to sleep to spend time with God. That's so what I needed to hear. That is my new prayer and ambition - to die to sleep by getting up earlier and seeking Him first thing. I just love to sleep so it's always been hard to get up even a minute before I have to. Now I am working on getting up and seeking God - pursuing intimacy first thing. I know God is going to bless my efforts and most importantly, our relationship is going to grow and get stronger. Yeah!

I'm thankful..

So today is Thanksgiving and I am pondering the many blessings in my life, and praise God I have many. I heard a great saying at church on Sunday: "Stop determining your blessings by your circumstances. Consider the blessing that I have God no matter what." Isn't that great! Helps me totally refocus back to the One who is the giver of blessings and off my life.
Well I thought I would list a few of my blessings:

1. God. Don't even know what to add to that - that thought/blessing is so encompassing and yet complete. It amazes me daily that He loves me soooo much period. I don't have to do anything to make Him love me more or even less. He's just there - looking out for me - loving me.

2. Family - I don't see them much or have a huge family but boy do I love them all. I won't see them today, but I am thinking about them all, with tears in my eyes. I am thankful I have a great family, that though we aren't real close, they are always there for me.

3. Friends - God has blessed me with such amazing friends: some near and some far, some new and some tried and true - but all a blessing. So many invited me to dinner today and that was awesome. Beth even threatened to drive all the way down here from St. Pete and take me up there if I didn't have anywhere to go (Though, Beth, I don't know if you would really do it - as you had to bake like a billion loaves of bread and pounds and pounds of potato casserole, but the sentiment was there and meant a lot).

4. Rudy - Gosh he drives me crazy sometimes with his HUGE puppy energy and never ending biting but he has been a joy. He is curled up in my lap right now and is a great companion. I am sure one day he will sit still enough long enough to cry with me and let me tell my silly stories to him. I still miss Remi terribly but God sure blessed me with Rudy.

5. My job and the stable income it provides - I am loving going to work, teaching kids. I am also thankful that in the times we are in that I have a stable income which allows me to pay my bills and not have to worry like some are having to worry. My new mantra lately has been - I didn't have it good when it was good, but I am not having it bad when it is bad. Thank you God for a good job with a stable income.

Well I am sure I could write for a while about the blessings God has given me, but I need to go make the rolls to take to Tracey's where I am having Thanksgiving dinner. I am not sure how good they will be, or even if they are rising like they should but I am working on it. They just may not be a blessing today! ha!
Happy Thanksgiving all!

Antlers or Antennas? and the latest Rudy adventures...

So are these antlers (though a little early for Santa) or are they alien antennas? Rudy's ears are not standing up yet, so I took him to the vet to get them checked out - I wasn't even sure if it was too early yet (he was 13 weeks when I took him). The vet just wanted to try out how long Rudy would keep the tape on his ears if we were to tape them up, and this is the result. He actually left them taped all day and I took it off right before bed - though the gaze inside that tape had already been pulled. So by the end of the day, the antlers were really sagging.


We are continuing to work on house breaking and he does pretty good - well ok. He knows what to do outside but he will still go in the house. Thus he now wears the belly band or puppy diapers as some call it. This is so I don't have to clean up as many messes - though it seems like I am washing out the band alot!

Finally, we have started puppy classes this last Wed. It lasts for 8 weeks and hopefully it will teach me how to train Rudy - as you know the class is really for me not Rudy! We have learned one command so far - look - and he is great with it (even if he is just "looking" at the treat!). We have homework to practice the look command 3 times a day/ 10 times each session. The class is interesting as I am training with a clicker. When he does what he is supposed to, I click and he gets a treat. Thus he loves that clicker! Hopefully by the end of the class, he will be going outside, walking on a leash (verses being dragged on a leash), looking, coming, and staying. Stay tuned for updates!

Desiring intimacy

For a while now my intimacy with God is not what it once was, but I want it to return. Actually I want it to be deeper than ever. So...I have a new prayer for my life - I want an unquenchable thirst for my God. I want to desire Him more than anything. I want God to be the first thought of my day and the last thought as I drift off at night, along with being consumed with Him during the day. I want to desire Him so much that I need to rush home to spend some time with Him, just as I rush home to see and spend time with my puppy.
So, if you have stumbled upon this post, please help me pray to seek my God with utmost earnestness.

Taco soup

I just had the best soup and I thought I would share. I have been craving since I first had it on Halloween. I got the recipe from a dear friend - thanks Tracey! Sooo yummy!

Santa Fe Soup

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey
1 onion, chopped
2 (.5 oz) Ranch dressing mix
2 (1 ¼ oz.) Taco mix
1 – 16 oz. can black beans, undrained
1 – 16 oz. can kidney beans, undrained
1 – 16 oz. can pinto beans, undrained
1 – 16 oz. can diced tomatoes with chilies, undrained
1 – 16 oz. can tomato wedges, undrained
(I used plain diced tomatoes since I couldn’t find wedges and I didn’t feel like cutting them.)
2 – 16 oz. can white corn, undrained
2 cups water

Cook meat and onion together until meat is browned. Stir in Ranch and taco seasonings into meat. Add remaining ingredients with juices from all. Add water and simmer for 2 hours.

Garnishes: sour cream, shredded cheese, sliced green onions, Fritos or tortilla chips.
This makes a ton of soup. Freeze extra for later.
Once the soup was in my bowl I put cheddar cheese on top and had fritos with it. YUMMY!

Friends helping celebrate

I just returned from dinner with some dear friends who took me out for my birthday. I had a fun time with Angie and her family, Angie's parents (who are almost a second set of parents to me), and Ive and her husband. We went to Pincher's Crab Shack - I've never been there but had a great meal. They had the entire restaurant sing happy birthday after ringing a very loud bell. I had a wonderful time. Angie, you always remember my birthday and always do something to celebrate! Thanks!
(I'll try to get a picture up if I can get one from Angie.)

Rudy

I have a new love in my life - Rudy. He is a 13 week old puppy who is a ball of fire. He was a rescue dog so I am not completely sure what kind of dog he is. My vet thinks he is a cairn terrier (Toto!). He sure does keep me on my toes! He loves his toys and I have bought many for him (to keep him from chewing on things he shouldn't!) Though he loves to cuddle also. We took at nap today and he is definitely learning how nice it is to sleep on the bed. (He sleeps in his crate at night.) I woke up from the nap and he was asleep on his back with his feet in the air! More updates to follow.

Beginning......

Well.... here goes a new adventure. I thought I would try to blog and see how well I keep up with it. I know I am not nearly as articulate and creative as most bloggers but I thought I could just ramble. I will probably write a lot about my God, my new puppy, Rudy, and other things that come into my life. If anyone is reading this I hope they don't get too bored. Thanks for joining me though and I pray that God continually shows His love to you.