Sunday, November 30, 2014

We got a dog . . .

. . . and it was more of an adjustment than I anticipated. I mistakenly believed that because I had brought  child home and survived, everything else would be a cake walk.

I was wrong.
Sleeping at my feet -- all the time. She loves me, and it is very gratifying to have someone love me simply for providing food and water.

Shea is a beautiful, obedient, sweet, loyal, intensely shy year and half old chocolate lab. And we love her. That being said, I was simply not prepared for the following:

1. Getting up as early as 4:30 am to let her out to go poo.

2. Convincing Packer not to play in her water or eat her food.

3. Also, 'Don't ride Shea' has become a common phrase in our house.

4. Hives on my face. (This may have been a stress reaction, as it has since gone away)

5. Jameson's insistence that any minor ailment, from aches to sneezes to mild headaches, is due to his allergies to Shea. These complaints come often and are more detailed than I have patience for. The kicker is that he actually probably deserves my sympathy.

Any and all suggestions to solve these or other problems are seriously appreciated.

Good Book to read: Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia by Carmen Bin Ladin. Yep, Bin Ladin. This was both terrifying and informative.

Our week in pictures:

Packer loves Shea, especially walking her. Fortunately, she is very obedient and doesn't go running off at all, so her can 'walk' her.

Climbed his first tree all by himself!!

Fashioned his own walking stick to navigate the treacherous leaf piles.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Everyday Divinity

I know, I haven't posted in forever. I don't feel bad about it.

So, funny story, I forgot to ask someone to cover for one of my teachers today, so I ended up teaching the lesson on Individual Responsibility (of all things) in church. Anyway, long story short, it went well, and I got to teach.  Which I love. So things could have been worse.

Lately, I have been . . . FRUSTRATED with my chosen role as a stay at home mother. The sheer tedium of 2 year old conversations have slowly been driving me to the brink of insanity. As I studied for this lesson, I was reminded that this very work that I do that is the most important. And not for my kids. Consistent work that is motivated by love teaches me to be a better person -- hopefully more like my Father in Heaven. If our God loves us (and he does), then why is so much of our lives forcing ourselves to do things that we would rather not (thinking of dishes here)? In order to grow, we have to work. We must overcome obstacles and learn wisdom.

I still hate washing dishes, but at least for now, I remember that there is a greater purpose to it.

Good Book to Read: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle -- Seriously, I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.

Good Youtube: This is a video I showed to the ladies in church.

Our week, in photos:

Napping at Murray Park

Hanging with our main man Spencer in 'my' leaves.

Falling in love with a stuffed cat at Wiggle Worms at the library and consequently riding it for the duration of the program.

Napping at the library
Feigning (or maybe genuine) disinterest in penguins at the aquarium.

Napping at the aquarium