Life has been busy here... the remodeling is still working towards completion... the living room is done...mostly... it just needs my finishing touch...when I get a chance... and the office is getting there... desks and tops should be installed this week....and then the unpacking and organizing begins! That will be the perfect time to purge a few things....okay... maybe a lot of things! lol  And maybe...just maybe.. I will be on here more...you know with the computer back in the office...it will be more convenient.

   So... the big news this week is the puppy.... he went home with his master...yesterday.  Our oldest came home for a visit... he is back in the states after serving in Afghanistan...and  Pakistan. He came for a few days...and picked up his little bundle!  Who has gotten to be a bigger bundle!!  I will say that part of me is going to miss him a bit...but the work involved in a puppy out weighs the fun for me right now! 

His name is Modi....and he reminded me of my youngest child.....He has TONS of energy...and is stubborn!  lol  not always a fun combo!!

Here are the two of them.... doing chores...

Cute huh? yeah... that's what I said about my son too!!!!!  lol... he was as cute as he was rotten!!! 

Getting bigger.....

Looking innocent.....(don't believe it for a second )   I suppose I would do it again ...for any of our kids.... I think I do like being pet free.

  One Modi story....... You know we have been remodeling....well... I was filling nail holes...and had some left over wood putty in a ziploc.... well on a Sunday morning...hubby and son were getting ready to head to a Bears game (they won!!) and the other son left for practice...he was leading worship that sunday....Modi decided that the wood putty would be a good thing to eat!   Yeah well..I read the label and it says to "seek medical attention immediately if swallowed"  YIKES!!!!  Great... we have just killed our son's puppy!!!!!  I call the vet....I get a recording...I know...it's Sunday.....it gave us a number to call in case of emergency...hubby makes the call... well I guess they have a list of poisons and what to do...and wood putty wasn't on it!!!!

They give him a number to call...poison control (for pets?) and they charge a fee.... Double YIKES!      But... we have to do it.. this is our sons puppy... hubby makes the call...

1/3rd cup of milk and 1/2 slice of wheat bread 2 times a day for 2 to 3 days if he begins to vomit then I will need to go to the drug store and get -------? some kind of medication that i can't pronounce and don't remember... great... vomit!?.. Oh my word! I wasn't good with that when my own children were sick! lol...  well... I stayed home from church.... yes... I was a bit worried.... and the thought of possibly coming home to a kennel full of vomit!  triple YIKES!!!!!!!  lol 

Well... PTL there was no vomit... he just pooed white (the color of the wood putty) 3 times that day... that's where the wheat bread and all it's fiber came into play....

Yeah... and that was just ONE of the Modi stories....there are more.... but one is enough for now...

 Now you know why I haven't been on xanga! 

Amid the craziness of my everyday, to some people, somewhat boring life... I am feeling the need to be stretched... to step out on a limb... to start something new.

   Maybe a class... either to teach or to be taught.  I love to work with my hands... years ago I taught a handful of jr. high age home schooled girls every week....we did crafts.  I taught them to crochet, cross stitch... for Christmas we did several "holiday projects." decorations and such. I had a nice little spread of special snacks... and drinks.  It was a lot of fun. Maybe I could do something like that again?  I don't know.... Sometimes I think some type of home business would be a good thing.... you know... to help my Hubby... so he doesn't carry the weight alone. 

 I am praying about it....I feel like I am entering a new season....as my children are officially grown....? I guess 20 is grown right?  Any how.......I am feeling like I should be doing something more.............

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 I have been pondering the question lately... "What are you passionate about?" My hubby and I were asked to answer that... and share it with a group of our "young leaders" 

I'm not sure ... I feel likeI have gotten sucked into the business of life... and just going through the motions.... and I don't like it.

I know that I am passionate about my family... Family's in general.

I know that I am passionate about Marriages... and the need to keep them intact... for the sake of families. 

Okay.... well .. I feel like those are no brainers!

so... I am going to try a different approach...... what gets me worked up... maybe even angry.. (in a good sorta way) I am not the type of person that likes confrontation.... I will set in the back of the room and not raise my hand... not add my two cents..... but... on the rare occasions that I might speak up.... what does it? what draws me out? Mmmmm......

Well... there is the victim mentality that really does kinda kick it up for me... You know.... when someone has suffered.... and then blames their parents...God... or anyone else.  Yeah..... that does kinda get me worked up.  I know that bad things happen.... to children, to christians...to non-christians... I don't know anyone that something bad hasn't happened to...... But... I guess what I'm saying is that if you use that for the rest of your life... as an excuse... well.... I guess I don't have a lotta grace for that.... shame on me....but I just don't.... that woes me bit just gets old.   And just for the record... I know about hurts... as a child... as an adult.  And I know that you have to take ownership of what you can... change what you can... and choose to bury the rest... let it go.... you DO NOT have to be like your parents ... if they abused you....you DO NOT have to be like the kids at school... who made fun of you and said mean ugly things to you... You DO NOT have to be an alcoholic....because that is what you were raised with... because it's all you know.... Those are all lies from satan.... you really can be who God created you to be.... and be free from all the baggage that has been passed down..... You can be a good parent... a good friend...You can choose to change the world by raising your children in a totally different way... With a christ centered home where children feel loved... and are able to be free to being themselves...That does not mean that they won't experience "bad stuff"... or things that are hard. but I do feel like having a stable home... parents that they knew loved them... and knowing that their parents believed in a God that IS bigger than anything.... and that He IS enough...and that because we believe in a Life with God after death...well... it gives us hope.  Hope for our future... Hope to move on... get through the hard stuff....that with God walking us through the hard stuff... we will be better... not bitter.

What do you think?  What gets you going?... what kicks it up for you?... what makes you speak up?

We are beginning a remodeling project... amongst other things.... and I'm tired.... :(   I feel like I'm going through a bit of a dry spell..... I don't like it.  Maybe it's the weather (rainy).... but I just feel sluggish.... and a bit joyless this morning.... Wow... I need this to pass.... I'm not usually a negative person... but this morning finds me fighting being a bit down......and ... maybe not struggling with... but thinking about our "busyness" and just.... our lives..... I don't know.... Hubby and I have different takes... he see's the glass half empty... I see it half full... and I believe that God brought me into his life (just one of the many, many reasons that he brought the two of us together...) to help him see that it isn't always that bad..  :)   For me... I figure that after you have lost your husband of 20 years.... that (other than loosing a child) is the worst... what else could happen? The worst already has......So... finances, "people issues", work, our children's issues.... I don't know... I just feel like if God can walk me through the death of my husband.... well.... He truly can walk me through this stuff... this should be a piece of cake!  lol... ok... well... I know it's tougher than that sometimes... but if  you could see what all the Lord has done in my life.... this stuff.... well... it's just stuff.  And the worst does happen sometimes.... and he promises to be there... and he gives us the grace to handles it.

We really aren't "going through" anything especially BIG... or HARD... it's just life..... and maybe that fact that summer is half over......  :)

Enough rambling.... Thanks!!! I feel better just having typed out some of this swirling about in my head.    I just want to always remember that I would not be who I am today without the Lord in my life.... He has saved me from so, so much......And I really do have a good life. And much to be thankful for.