Making Changes

Back in November, Matt and I decided our family just wasn't big enough and while looking through some online ads, we found Tango, a black and tan mini dachshund. Tango was a few days over a month old when we got him and for the first few days, he was the ideal little puppy. He loved to be held and petted....He reminded us of this at 3am this morning when he began howling for no reason. Tango has been endowed with the bark of a dog 10xs larger than himself. It's literally louder than our smoke alarm. (We know from experience) So, with our decision to move in the near future, we are wondering how he will fare in an apartment setting. Our hope is that we'll find a house, but if not...will Tango become an issue with neighbors who, like us, just yearn for a little peace and quiet? Matt assures me that Tango is not being aggressive, he just likes to practice his bark. A lot. At 7 in the morning. 10 at night. Tango likes to talk...He is encouraged by Matt, who will literally go sit on the porch with him and Sasha to howl. He thinks it is the cutest thing ever. I told him to start thinking of a way to explain THAT to a land lord. Hopefully, by this time next month, I will have more info on when and where we're moving. Check in for an update.

Ye Merry Olde Halls of Hardin!

Tomorrow I will be attending my first graduation as a teacher. Can I have a "woot" from the audience, please? This year has been exciting to say the least. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year teaching and first year at Hardin. To all my colleagues: "My mom, who's a notorary, told me it's definitely illegal for an employer to put her toes on things!" :)

A big thanks to everyone for everything! Can't wait to start next year as a veteran Hornet!

New Goal!

At the end of April, I came up with something to keep me busy. I'm going to read the Bible through in one year! Why would I put this in my blog? Well, so you can hold me accountable! I'd like to finish in December, but I'm giving myself a year. So, next May, if you see me, ask how I did. If I say anything besides, "Yep! I did it", please ridicule me harshly. :) Today was Mother's Day. Not the best day considering my mom and I are on the fritz, but I guess it wasn't totally ruined. I got to see my sister and brother-in-law, which was great! I was informed recently that I am a doormat. I never saw myself as such, but since it was brought up, I've been thinking about it a lot. I don't know if I am. I usually like to think it's better to just go on with life than get upset everytime someone does something stupid. Others think differently. Maybe that makes me a doormat. I dunno. (But I can say that I would make quite an attractive doormat) World Cup coming up, WOOOT!!! Peace to all. Probably won't write much til summer. :)

2010: A Space Odyssey

I love this time of year! I truly, honestly do. It finally starts to warm up and I convince myself that this will be the year that I will do better. See, the official New Year doesn't cut it for me. It's cold and dreary, and not at all promising. So I celebrate now. Around the end of April, beginning of May. It starts to get warm. Everything becomes green again and I pretend I'm an out-doors kind of person. This winter was awful. Everything that could go wrong, did. But I have the feeling this summer will be much better. I feel like I've changed for the better. It's still a long process, but I just feel different. Inside. Where they say it counts. This post isn't going to be long. I've kinda had a brain drain lately, but I wanted to shout out that I LOVE LIFE! I LOVE MY HUSBAND! AND I LOVE GOD! (I also love the dogs, but don't tell them, they're spoiled as it is.)

A Few of My Favorite Things:

Here's a list I made up this afternoon while I was trying my new positive thing:
-Sitting in the sun
-Wearing hats (but only the cool ones)
-Giant bushes of pink hibiscus
-The way Matt always thinks he's right
-Dreaming of the future
-Cloud watching
-Finding Orion when I go outside at night
-Dill pickles
-Playing my guitar outside
-Laying in a hammock
-Accomplishing something I thought I couldn't
-Giving to others
-My grandpa's truck
-The idea of moving away from here
-The idea of building a house right here
-Making Matt happy
-Hanging out with Phillip
-Singing loudly in the car....but only when I'm alone
-Thinking about God
-Water-gun fights
-Mulberries
-Remembering good times
-Being naive
-Writing letters
-A good come back
-Irony
-The story of Ruth
-"Just because" cards
-Talking about Frank and baseball (Don't worry if you don't get it)

The End and Baseball

Matt and I rented 2012 today. Not exactly a movie that gets you thinking about the end of the world in my opinion, but to each his own. I have actually heard several people say this movie made them consider how the world will end....
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Anyways, I have decided that while planning helps in things like your education and saving money, you can't really plan for life. You can try and try but in the end, sometimes things just don't swing your way. I know, it sounds like I'm going cynical again, but just hold on and stay with me. My fellow man seems to think that if you plan and organize your life, then life will return the favor and always throw you softballs. But the truth is, there is always a change up. Sometimes this is for the best, and you pull off one of the greatests "at-bats" the world has ever seen. Other times, you strike out and have to start over. My mom's a big planner. She mapped out my entire first 18 years of life. Then I had to step up to the plate. Still there. I've managed to fight off being out with a few fouls and balls, but still haven't made that big hit yet.

Ok, that's all my baseball lingo. If I had the time I'd go read Ender's Game again. But I don't, so I'll just wrap up school work and think about how much I should be exercising.

The Lesson of Daily Bread

I can honestly say that at this moment, the direction my life will take has never been more uncertain. Now, to that I will add: Although I have no clue what the future holds, I've never been more certain that I am heading in the right direction. Every other day, I have a better plan. One that will fix all the problems of the last one and promise an even greater outcome. And every other day, I change my mind and decide that maybe that plan isn't it. It would sound to some like I'm having a bit of a crisis. But the truth is, I have NEVER felt more sure of myself. I don't know what brought this about. One conversation two weeks ago with my husband seemed to fix everything. It's odd how things end up working out. Matt and I were 500 miles from each other, on the phone, when everything just clicked and fell into place. It wasn't either of us. It was God. We had gotten ourselves into a funk that nothing else could get us out of. I feel like I have purpose once again. And that's a great feeling. So here's the lesson of the Daily Bread. I have been reading and re-reading Matthew Chapter 6 since Sunday. In the Lord's Prayer, there is only one thing we're told to ask for that isn't spiritual. Our daily bread. Jesus doesn't say ask for your daily bread and a few extra slices just in case. When the Hebrews were given manna in the desert. They received their daily bread. Period. Extra manna was ruined. So I've decided to be happy with my daily bread. If I'm full, healthy, with my husband, and know who my God is, what more do I have to ask for? It's not easy for me to do all the time. But since I've had this mindset, I've been 100% happier.