Man's Best Friend

As if life isn't exciting enough with three children, over the years we have accrued three fur babies as well.  People think we are crazy, I'm sure. Some days I would agree. But most days, I realize how complete they make our family and how much we would be missing out on without them around.
As most of you know, I have been really sick lately.  I don't mean I haven't felt well so I have been eating saltines and chicken noodle soup and catching up on DVR. I mean, sick SICK!  I have been unable to keep crackers and soup down and the movement on the TV just makes me feel like I am on a fair ride that will never end. :(  Through all of this, I have seen friends and family cover me in love and prayers and I promise, I have felt that love and those prayers and I love you all for it. :)
I have also noticed something kind of strange.  Our dogs are super needy for MY attention. They want to be laying near me or sitting next to me.  At first, I'm sad to admit, that it was bothersome.  I spent most of the day pushing them off my legs (or my face...Osa) and some days their attention only made me feel worse.  But the last few days, it has been a constant comfort to me that they are paying so much attention to me. It has made me feel loved and frankly, taken care of. I've wondered if maybe they KNOW that I don't feel well and they want to be there for me, even though "being there" isn't anything more than simply being near me.
I don't know how long they will be with us.  I hope it's a very long time from now. But I have found a new appreciation, a new gratitude, and a deeper connection with these three fur babies.  They litter the yard, raid the trash, jump on visitors and bark incessantly, but I can't imagine life without them.
Because with all the challenges they bring, there are few more genuine greetings at the front door or more excited awakenings in the morning than the ones these four-legged monsters give our family every single day.
Animals of all kinds can bring us so much joy, not only when things are going well, but also when we feel pain and are suffering.
Dogs don't solve our problems or offer advice. All they do is sit there with us when we're emotional basket cases or maybe even when we are just not feeling well, and that's enough.  For me, that is enough. :)
So go find your dog.  Roll it over and scratch it's tummy. Let it lick your face and go get it a treat because they deserve love and will often make you feel more loved than any one person in your life.

Count Your Many Blessings.

One of the most difficult things for me to stay mindful of, as a Christian, is to be thankful in ALL things.  It is so hard to trust the Lord and be thankful when you feel like you are facing a mountain alone.  But isn't that exactly what we have been called to do?  Aren't we called to come to Him with a thankful heart?  Essentially, we are called to "Let Go and Let God".  That concept is hard for me.  I struggle with letting go and trusting Him to take care of me. Let's be honest; Haven't we all tried to take matters into our own hands and "fix" something before we even gave God the chance to intervene? 
I recently read a quote that really touched my heart and gave me reason to pause: "What if you only had tomorrow, what you gave thanks for today?"  Wow.
If you woke up tomorrow and all that was left were the things you'd thanked God for the day before, what would be left?  Family and Friends?  A roof over your head? A bed to sleep in? Food to eat?  Most importantly, would you have forgiveness of your sins?  We don't deserve these things and we certainly haven't earned them, but yet we take them for granted and even feel entitled to them.  These are all gifts of God's grace and we ought to give thanks for them every day.  
We must learn to be content with what we have and where God has placed us, not just in the good times, but ALWAYS and in ALL things.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My goal is to recognize and be thankful for the many blessings in my life.  I hope you will make this a personal goal of yours too.

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His steadfast love endures forever." - Psalm 136:1

Paris is near.

I think it is something like 17 days, 13 hours, 54 minutes, & 13 seconds before we leave for Paris and I could not be more excited, unless... I was David, that is. ;)
The boy cannot stop talking about Paris and my precious husband, who needs every second of travel to be planned out, is doing very well to fight the urge of charting our course.  We talked about it and we have decided that for once, we won't have a plan.  If you know us, then you know this is scary stuff! LOL  Of course, there are several things we HAVE to do, but we wont have a day to day schedule and that is new for us. :)

Our house is STILL on the market and I HATE it.  I now feel sorry for anyone who has ever tried to sell a house, especially if you already had your heart set on a specific new home.  It is so hard to try to be out of the house, at the last second, every time someone wants to see it.  It is even harder to get out of the house at the last second and then get absolutely no feedback, or even worse, negative feedback!  I have said all of this before, but it still applies and it is still miserable! LOL


Osa got her first professional "cut and curl" yesterday and she looks so cute! She was beginning to look pretty unkempt, but she looks so precious!  Don't you agree??

She didn't like the bows, but I think she loves her new do! :)


We are going on a double date with some of our best friends tonight and I am so excited! :)  Robert and Kathy, are you ready for this? :)
We are going to try a restaurant that none of us have ever been to: Ciao!  Does anyone have a review or recommendation for this place??

Rough Start

This day started out a little bumpy.
Maybe it will help to know our morning routine a little before I divulge the bump...
In the mornings, while I am making/serving breakfast to the kids, David will often take his two HUGE cups of coffee upstairs and start getting ready for work. This morning, he stopped to help me with a few things before going upstairs.  He was in the laundry room with the fur babies (keeping them away from the kids and their food) doing a load of laundry.  I went into the laundry room to get something and as I was leaving, I pulled the door HARD behind me (if you live in Hillcrest, then you understand why you must pull hard on doors when closing them) and the next thing I heard was a scream!  For what I firmly believe was a solid minute (at least), there was yelping and screaming. :'(  When I pulled the door closed behind me, I had apparently slammed the door on Osa!  :'(  This isn't any ordinary inside door.  It's an outside storm door and its metal. :(
I laid her down and did a thorough check.  I pushed and squeezed over her entire body, but still worried, I called the vet.  She assured me that she was probably more scared than hurt and the yelping was probably hurt feelings (which I must admit, did not make me feel better).  I don't want to hurt her body or her feelings. :(
I am completely stalking her today, as I am supposed to make sure she eats/drinks/potties normally, but more than anything I am feeling so guilty and sad about this morning.  Am I overreacting? Probably.  Does that make me feel better? Not a bit. :(
Keep Osa (and mommy) in your thoughts and prayers today.  I am trusting and believing that there is nothing wrong internally, but my "internals" ;) aren't feeling so hot. :(  She is scared of doorways and jumping back every time I try to pet her, so mommy is feeling a bit heartbroken. :(

A touch of whiny.

Before signing on, I felt like I had so much to say. Now, I am speechless. Maybe I need to go stare at a wall. lol   I am exhausted. :/
There are very few people that follow my blog that are not mothers of toddlers or at least have been mothers of toddlers at one time, so you know what I mean when I say I am exhausted.
I love this little man. I really do. I adore him, in fact.  He is cuddly, affectionate, smart, creative, kind, loving, playful...the list could go on and on.  He is also down right exhausting! lol  He is going through a touch of a whiny stage and some days I feel like I am going to break down and cry right along with him.  Have you ever felt that way?
It is hard living so far from family because there are very few people we feel comfortable leaving our children with and that leaves us at a disadvantage when it comes to a break.  I can't relay enough how important I think this adult time is for parents.  We are finally on a bit of schedule with date nights, but they cant come soon enough some days. ;)
I think I will arrange a girls night out very soon.  Who wants to come?!  :)