Right On Time

Tears flowed around here last night for a bit.  One of our friends is in town, and we were catching up.  She has a new job, and we were talking over the last week's activities specific to her new position.

The tears were healthy tears.  You see, ThatManILove had just given our friend what we call a Position Statement. 

Sounds bad, doesn’t it?  It’s not.  A Position Statement is just that.  It’s a position. It’s a clear, concise view of how you see that person, in that moment.  And this is what he said to our friend:

ThatManILove: “I have a Position Statement for you.”

She sat up straight on the couch.  I held my breath.  (Isn’t it funny, how we always brace ourselves for bad?)

She said, “Okay.”

ThatManILove:  “Girl, you got this.”

I breathed.

She breathed, or tried to breathe.  When she could, she said, “Thank you for caring enough to share.  I promise to weigh it carefully.”

And then, she burst into tears.  I did, too.  In saying those few words, ThatManILove affirmed that she was in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing.  He spoke right into the very core of her being.  She grabbed each of us, hugged us, and thanked us for our portions in her life, and for our encouragement and counsel.

This young woman has scaled mountains.  She has come up higher in her relationship with the Lord, and He is her everything.  The Lord is prospering her, in every single facet of her life, her family, her job, and most importantly, in her minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day relationship with Him.  With Jesus.  With God as her Father.  As the Lover of Her Soul. With the Holy Spirit.

And she is blooming.  Her joy, contagious.  Her zest for life, uncontainable. As it should be.

As it should be.

I look at her, and I am encouraged.  Growth is encouraging. And inspiring.

Thanks, my friend, for being open to what the Lord is accomplishing in you today.  You're right on time.

For who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

For my readers:  I hope this post has encouraged you.  We all struggle...and Jesus lives to intervene on our behalf.  Turn to Him.  He will hear your heart cry.  I promise.

I've Been Puppyjacked

We’ve been attending the Pathways training.

It’s changing our lives.

Heck.  It’s changing my life.  And thusly, my outlook.  Henceforth, changing our lives, because what I do affects ThatManILove.

Here's what the training’s doing to me, and for me.

This training hits you at heart level.  Gut level.  Oh, it hits you in your thinker, too.

qweiuhnvjk;ahupf...

Well, puppy pawola.

My son’s dog Pea took it upon his hairy self to attack me, jump in my lap, and as such, on my laptop.  He puppyjacked me.  And then, he slobbered all over me in kisses of apology and “come play with me”.  As he’s a 40 lb Australian Shepherd, he’s kind of hard to ignore.

I guess today’s not the day to write about this.

I’m going to think about it some more and maybe my next post will be clearer and more concise.

I’m gonna give this pup some attention.  He deserves it...he’s a super sweet puppy.

It's A Dog's Life

Hello, World!

Yikes!  RobBear let me know I’d been a little lax in posting...but we’ve been superduperbusy.  (I know, that’s not a compound word...or adjective...or adverb.)

I can't remember everything, so I'm going to take you on a little photographic journey of the last month…because even if I've not been writing, my camera stays locked and loaded!

I took baby bump pix for friends, who have each subsequently birthed their beautiful babies. We worked.  We had guests for dinner.  We cooked out.  We entertained. We worked. We had a birthday party for ThatManILove.  We traveled. We worked. Bailey the Wonderpup came to visit during Spring Break.  Our friend Tinlee brought her two baby cocker spaniels to see us, along with our friend Raegan.  We worked. Our friend Jenaya cooked birthday dinner for ThatManILove, and everybody came over. Our friend Becky from Pennsylvania came to stay a week with us, while she worked in Midland.  We miss her already.  Our friend Raegan kept us laughing.

My trainer, V'Lesha…at 8.75 months pregnant.  She and her husband had a beautiful little baby girl.

My friends, Jeremy and Jannah.  They had a big little boy, so gorgeous!

Me, and my friend, Becky, from Pennsylvania.  She stayed with us for a week…we miss her already!

Bailey the Wonderpup came back to visit us over spring break.  We love her!

Our friend, Jenaya, who came over to cook for ThatManILove's birthday!  Fun stuff!

Our new friends, Ruthie and Rixie…cocker spaniel pups belonging to Tinlee.

I call this one "Blonde, Redefined."

ThatManILove and one of our good friends, Doug.  Love these guys.

Beautiful Tinlee, owner of Ruthie and Rixie

My friend, Raegan…she makes us laugh all the time!

We've had a busy 30 days, including one trip to Lake Granbury just to sit and look at the water, and a trip to Dallas this past weekend, just to be alone and enjoy each other.

Healing takes time…and love…and friends.

Thanks for your patience…I've missed you, each and every one!

A Little More Cracked

Damn you, cancer.

Michael and his Mom.

We lost my husband’s oldest living brother, Michael, last Monday night about 10:30 p.m.  My husband was by his side, as were his wife and children and another brother. I cannot imagine what they all felt that night.

ThatManILove immediately called me, sobbing.  My heart, already broken, broke some more, for my man and his family.  I know what it’s like to lose a brother.  Not fun.  Killer deal. And here I was, going through some bizarro rerun, though a little remotely.

Being the only family in our town at the time, I was sent to inform Michael’s mom of her son’s passing.

My friend Clara was still here, thank God, so she went with me to my Mom-in-love’s to give her the news at 11 p.m.. My heart? Broke completely as I held this small woman whom I’ve grown to love as a mom, and told her that her son hurt no more.  That her boy was gone. She sobbed.  I wept.  Clara wept.  

I know, I know. Death happens. 

For a mom to bury a child - it should not happen this way.  And it’s really hard when you’re a mom, to see not one, but two of your sons pass before you.  I remember watching my mom as my big brother passed.  I don’t really know what “the natural order” of things is, but this cannot be right.  It sucks.  It really sucks.

We buried Michael yesterday.  His beautiful wife and children put together the greatest video of photographs of his life, along with some of his most loved songs.  The service was standing room only.  This man, Michael, was an honorable man of great character and integrity.  A man who loved his family, above all else.

I want to be like Michael.  Heck, we all do. He was an amazing man.

I’m more than a little angry.  Perplexed.  Hurting, for those I love, who called this man Husband. Daddy. Pop-pop. Son. And Brother. I'm waiting and watching. Caring. Loving.

And I’m praying. Praying that healing will come, and please, Lord God, sooner than later.  And until then, that Love will dull, and soon remove, the sting of pain for all of those beautiful people that are Michael's loves.  


Happy trails, Mike.  Until we meet again.

Funny For Monday

We did it.  

We had our precious Zanna spayed last week.  It’s the right thing to do - we can’t handle a dog pregnancy and puppies, with our schedule, and almost every day there is a hunting dog abandoned at the local pet shelter.  We just didn’t want to contribute in any way.

ThatManILove says this is Zanna's sexy look.

We opted for the laser technique, which is supposed to be less painful in every way.  Zanna seems to be doing well, a little shaky about jumping down from the bed, so we’re still giving her an assist when she gives us that “I’m helpless” look.  We hate to see our girl in pain, but know it will pass and she’ll be back to herself soon.

I asked ThatManILove what it cost, and he said somewhere around a couple hundred.

I said, “Dang.  We paid more than that for doggy diapers.”  Which led me to remember this story, from last year.  I repost it, again, for my faithful followers, who might need a laugh on this Monday.

From months ago...aka "the last time THAT happened."  Argggggh!

Sunnnnyyyyyy beeeeeeaaaaaches.

Guess I’ll expound on the never boring adventures of the WonderDogs. 

This morning, I’m getting ready, out of the shower, about to dry my hair.  It’s about 6:20 a.m. The dogs ask to go out.   As is our norm, I go out to the “almost oasis” of a back yard.  (I love it in the morning!)  I sit down on the porch, grab a water bottle, settle down to enjoy the beautiful morning, and let them do their business.

I’m soon to discover that it’s not to be that kind of morning.  Zanna’s in the last stages of her heat cycle.  ThatManILove and I have been in some serious discussions this week as to whether or not to breed Zanna, or to get her fixed. Let me take one second to note that TMIL has NOT been in town except on weekends during the last three weeks.   I’ve been dealing with this heat cycle, the diapers, the panties, all that drill.  It’s making me crazy.  ThatManILove doesn’t want her stout championed bloodline to end; I, on the other hand, could care less about menstrual cycles any more, much less my Zanna’s.   


Whatever romantic vision I had about being an awesome breeder of champion German Shorthairs has this very week faded away in a fluff of shredded cotton and denim.  Zanna’s gone through more panty liners, doggie diapers, and puppy panties in three weeks than any woman I’ve ever known (however, that may be because most women I know don’t eat their sanitary products).  I’m ready to put this madness to an end.  Zack’s interest in her is at…well, let’s just say he’s peaked this morning.  I’m not worried, though, because 3 years ago, we made him a sports model.  Yup, we had him fixed.

I’m relaxing, drinking a glass of water, and all of a sudden, Zack starts acting kind of aggressive towards Zanna.  And she’s, ummm….letting him.  The little wench is even coming on to him.  She’s flirting.  And before I can say “You don’t have the stuff anymore, cowboy, don’t even think about it!” , Zack has mounted Zanna.  Oh, yes, he has. You’ve heard “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up?”  Well, he’s mounted,  and he can’t get down.  Or she can’t get loose.  Or something.

I scream at him.  Totally ineffective.

I run get the water hose.  Same result.

I call ThatManILove.  He doesn’t answer his cellphone.

So, I do what most warm-blooded over-intelligent females who are seeking answers to such a dilemma do.  I run to the door, go inside, shut the back door so I don’t have to watch them do the dirty deed anymore, and go ask Mr. Google what the heck to do.

Turns out the first two things, screaming and water, only make situations such as this, worse.  (Don’t say I never taught you anything.)

After I read the article twice, I decide to venture to the back door to peek out and see how things are hanging.  Whew!  They’re apart.  Zanna’s giving me that, “Gee thanks, oh you human protector of all four legged things  – you suck at this” look.  I, in turn, am glaring at Zack, thinking, “You RAPIST!”  I hustle them both into the house and kennel Zanna, pronto.

Then, and only then, does ThatManILove call.

“Hey, babe, did you need something?”

“Ummm, yeah, well, I did…but it’s all good now.  Zack mounted Zanna.”

“What? He can’t do that.”

“Oh, yes he can, and he did.  I was an eyewitness.  And they got stuck.”

“What?  Are you sure?  I don’t think Zack can do anything.”

“I am not even gonna repeat it. Zanna’s been violated. Maybe even drugged.” 

Silence.

And then I can hear him.  He’s giggling.  And then he starts laughing.

And that just pisses me off more.

“When did we get Zack fixed?”  Yup.  Still giggling.

And we figure it out. Two years ago.

And you know what he said to me then?

“Don’t worry baby.  Semen doesn’t have that kind of shelf life.”

Don't Ya Let Go

“Whatevah!!!”

That was the nice version of what I said when I entered the safe house that is mi casa today.

I have so many things weighing on my mind por la travajo.  I was SO done.

And then, my daddy in the Lord, Leo Free, sent one of Dimlit Daylight’s videos linked via Facebook, urging all to “listen to the lyrics”.  Josh Free and Anthony Montanino are the members of Dim Lit Daylight, and write all their own songs and music.  I love them.  Their words and music have always captivated me.  Sometimes, I believe they have a direct line to Heaven, though in genre, their music would most probably be classified "secular".

Back to Leo.  “Pay attention to the lyrics, (more than photos)...way cool writing,” he said.

And I did.

I “heard”.

I’m going to share it with you, in case you need to "Hold On Tight 'Til I Say So".

Blessings to you, Josh and Anthony - thanks for reopening "my ears".  

Dim Lit Daylight - "Til I Say So"


For those of you down Austin way, Dim Lit Daylight plays there frequently.


You can check them out at Dim Lit Daylight.


Tell 'em That Janie Girl sent ya.  They love me.  And the feeling is definitely mutual.