Hip Hip Hooray: Holly is Coming!

Holly will officially be here in two weeks!!!  We've had this trip planned for several months, and it's taken every ounce of will-power to ignore the nagging desire to clean, organize, and plan for her trip.  Two weeks away, and it's time to listen to the nagging desire and now use the will-power to get it done!!!  Too bad our guest room is the catch-all for EVERYTHING.  Spring cleaning here I come!!!

And no amount of planning would be complete without a list. :)
-Organize desk and file paperwork
-Clean out guest closet
-Wash linens for guest room
-Dust book shelves in guest room
-Clean refrigerator & pantry
-Plant vegetable garden and other flowers
-Scrub bathrooms
and the list goes on.

I LOVE CLEANING!!!!

Abandoning the Fish

Matthew 4:18-21

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman.  "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  At once they left their nets and followed him.  Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat their father and followed Him.

Simon, Andrew, James, and John were all fisherman.  Their arms were strong from pulling nets, and their hands probably always smelled like the sea.  What they knew was fish--tying knots, casting nets, fileting fish--the Bible makes it clear "they were fisherman."  Yet, when Jesus tells them (He doesn't ask) to follow Him, they drop everything they know and follow.  James and John even leave their father behind to follow Jesus.  I've read this passage numerous times, and yet it never occurred to me just how much these men left to move forward.  They left their comfort zones, their lifestyles, and everything they knew to follow a man named Jesus.  He tells them, "I will send you out to fish for people."  Jesus took men who limited themselves to fish to reach His children.

What might Jesus do with our talents--our comfort zones--our lifestyles?  What might he do with a teacher, a carpenter, a chemist? The fact is, He uses ALL of us, as long as we are willing to leave our fish behind and follow him.   

Sick in Bed

Jesse has stayed home the last two days due to aching joints, sore throat, fever, and just plain bleh.
Hope he gets better soon!!!

Hutch Has Gone GQ

This weekend ushered in the Cherry Blossom Festival in downtown DC at the tidal basin.  Jesse had to work on Saturday, so on his way to his office, he dropped Hutch and me off so we could go enjoy the blossoms.  Little did I know what I was in for.  I always knew people enjoyed puppies and even stopped to oooo and awe over them, but what I didn't know is that lines will form if you have the cutest puppy known to man....which apparently we do. :)  Not five steps would be taken before I would have to stop for someone to either ask to hold him, pet him, or take a picture of him.  I've never been photographed by so many strangers in my life.  Even a newspaper photographer stopped and did a quick photo shoot of us.  Perhaps Hutch's new peacoat had something to do with his adorableness...

 We woke up to snow on Sunday morning-Hutch's first experience with the white stuff.  He stuck out his tongue to catch the snow as it fell.  I think he liked it...until he realized he DID have to go potty on this wet cold snow.

This weekend wore our little Hutch out.  That's good!!!

Growing Up

The garden is well underway!  It seems every time I go home, there's another little seedling popping it's head out for some air.  The sunflowers are growing so quickly that I've had to prop the greenhouse lid up higher. 

And as always, these simple little things in life have a way of knocking a little knuckle on my head saying, "Yoohoo, what does this remind you of?"  These little seeds would've remained seeds if it weren't for adequate water, nutrients, and plenty of sunlight.  They require an exact recipe to evolve from a dry seed to a green leafy plant.  I'm no different.  On my own, I'm just an empty person, but by God's grace and salvation, the Word, and lots and LOTS of prayer, I too can grow into a healthy woman of God.  And yet, why is it that I struggle daily to pick up my Bible and get the nutrients I need?  Why is it that prayer goes in spurts?  I don't want to be a seed--I want to be a plant.

Friendship

Hutch and Kolby have officially become friends. 

Sprouts & Sleepless Nights

Sprouts
Not long after I blogged about patience while waiting for seeds to sprout, I went home and discovered five tiny green sprouts poking their heads through the dirt.  Way to go Zinnias!  Who knew one could grow a garden on a cement oasis.  As of this morning, the zinnias, sunflowers, gazanias, and one lone pea plant have sprouted.  By the time Holly arrives, my vegetable garden will be well underway.
Sleepless Nights
Yesterday was vaccination day for Hutch.  Surprisingly, when he enters the veterinarian office, he sprints his way to the back, excited for what is to come.  I just call it denial.  After two shots, toe-nail clippings, and a clean bill of health, we headed home.  When the clock chimed bedtime, Hutch was in no mood to slumber, but we put him to bed anyway.  After listening to him whine and bark for way too long, I went against my motherly instincts and moved his kennel to the living room...far away from our tired ears.  Don't worry, he was just fine--I'm not guilty of neglect.
This morning, I went out to wake him up, only to find him outside of his kennel! Somehow in the process of moving him, the door unlatched because it was evident he'd been playing all night long.  Toys were strewn about, a little pile greeted me on the puppy pad, and his water dish was empty.  To my surprise, there were no potty accidents!  Way to go Hutch!  I guess that'll teach me to try to put a hyper puppy to bed too early.

Have Patience, Have Patience. Don't Be in Such a Hurry...

This past weekend, I sowed a wide range of seeds for my spring garden.  If all goes well, we'll have peppers, radishes, snap peas, cayenne peppers, zinnias, sunflowers, columbines, and more.  And now, we wait. 

Weekend Wanderings

With two blank squares on the calendar, we knew our unplanned, unscheduled, weekend was going to be glorious.  And it was.

 

After a very yummy Sushi dinner on Friday, my fortune was quite simply a nice way to end the day.

Saturday mornings seem better with coffee and freshly baked banana bread

Wings wings wings!!!



Spring has sprung...here come the dresses!

Bringing the flowers indoors

Hutch got to meet Mom and Grandma over Skype!!

Spring is in the Air

Better Homes and Gardens  and Country Living are doing their job.  Not only do I want to paint my bedroom a soft yellow hue and cover my home with freshly cut flowers, but my fingers are itching to dig in the dirt.  A trip to Home Depot and the local nursery is in order for this weekend.  The frost has disappeared (of course who am I to put the reigns on weather?), and the cherry blossoms are already starting to pop.  SPRING IS HERE!

Tomorrow Will Worry About Itself

Jay and Brenda thought Hutch would enjoy one of Mauer's rawhide chews, and boy were they right. Hutch took on this big hunk of chew for the entire morning today. While watching him, and definitely enjoying some much needed rest on the couch without having to entertain a puppy, I began thinking about how I myself try to take on bigger issues than I can handle. I worry about tomorrow--whether the bills will be paid if Jesse loses his job with a government shut-down. I worry about family and how to love them best. But as I sat there watching Hutch gnaw on his way-too-big chew, I realized God was telling me "STOP WORRYING." Just as Hutch is no match for that gigantic bone, I am no match for life's worries. Matthew 6 popped into my head, and I immediately knew I must surrender my worries.

Matthew 6:25-34

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Lost a Puppy?

When you can't find him, just look under the pillows...

I worked late last night, helping my boss organize his very messy desk.  Hutch hung out while we worked, and he managed to find a good sleeping spot.  Can you find him??

Lunch Break...He was in a cuddly mood.

Stuck

Do you ever find yourself stuck?  Against a wall or standing in front of two open doors not knowing which one to venture through?  Hutch's predicament last night got me thinking about life in general and how we can so easily find ourselves pinned when we try to take matters into our own hands.

 

He cornered himself between his play pen and the dishwasher

But at the end of the day--or the week--or the month--God still loves us.  No matter what mistakes we make, how broken we are, or how many times we get stuck, He still picks us up and puts us back on our feet...no need to hide our heads in shame.  

Weekend with Hutch

Who would've thought the weekend could be more exhausting than the week!  Early morning wake-up "calls," constant ball throwing and tug-a-warring, and persistent corralling toward the puppy pad makes for a very tiring week.  But despite all that, and with the help of a nap here and there, Hutch has been a lot of fun.  For eleven months, he's doing pretty well at going potty on the pad, coming when asked, and he loves to play with the other dogs in the building.  We may have black circles under our eyes, but we have smiles on our lips.

 Hutch and I met our friend Tina at Starbucks on Saturday.  He doesn't especially like car rides, but I caught him in a relaxed moment.  (Don't worry...we were stopped at red light--hence taking a photo while driving AND no hands on the wheel)

Hutch found a new favorite place to lounge.

God's Persistent Love

Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it.

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

As these words resonate in my mind and sweeten my tongue, I become aware of yet another way God blesses us.  This week has been "Gift Awareness Week."  First, I realized how the cerulean skies and budding trees are gentle gifts from God--His special way of brightening our day.  And now, He's brought to my attention yet another way He reminds me He's there.

Every day this week, I've woken up to a worship song mulling inside my foggy head.  This morning, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing played over and over like a broken record until I finally paid attention to the words that so easily came to mind.  "Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise!"  By the time I finally paid attention to the lyrics He'd placed there, I felt the urge to say, "DUH, Heather."  Why is it that I can so easily get caught up in my own daily tasks--eating breakfast, picking up my cluttered home, and visiting with Jesse--that I forget WHO created me, WHO loves me unconditionally, and WHO placed me here for a purpose? 

My gift today from God:  His persistence to remind me of His love by placing Scripture and hymns inside my head before I've even woken up.  Consider it a "poke."

Puppy Album

As requested by my sweet mom...here are some more photos of Hutch.  I didn't have time to upload from the real camera, so iphone pics will have to do for this morning.

 We made a quick trip to the pet store last night to purchase some more toys.

 We found some TINY tennis balls...more his size.

 He loves his new Snuggle Octopus...kind of blends in with his blanket though.

BUT...no matter now many toys we get him, he still finds pant legs and fingers to be his favorite.

The Sun'll Come Out...TODAY

Our wool coats were left behind this morning--in fact, Jesse didn't take a coat at all. The transition from dormant winter to active spring is fascinating.  Suddenly, as if at the switch of a button, life emerges from its hiding place.  Squirrels skitter-scatter across every grassy surface, and the birds can't sing enough.  Tiny buds have begun to appear on some of the trees, and I can't help but smile to think about the beautiful pink and white flowers that will soon cover this region.  God sure has a beautiful imagination to create all of these gifts.  And to think He made it all for us to enjoy!  We think opening presents on Christmas morning is fun, but if we really think about it, each morning we wake up and see the sunrise or experience a thunderstorm, we're opening a gift from God!  Enjoy opening up YOUR gift today!

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:25-26

Spending time with high school girls has opened my eyes to the battle here on earth.  When I was a teenager, I mostly struggled with lying and talking back to my parents.  Today, the stakes have been raised, and teenagers are dabbling in sex and doing everything they can to improve self image. The battles they face each day are far beyond their maturity level.  They giggle and blush about kissing, yet they have no qualms about meeting a boy behind the bleachers and giving everything to him.  They try so hard to fit into this world.

Their struggles have made me look inward to see my own.  I too try to fight battles that are beyond my maturity level.  Rather than always looking toward God, I find myself falling flat on my face after trying to solve my life on my own.  Yesterday on my way into work, I prayed that God would give me the strength to keep my eyes on Him and not surrender to the temptations all around me.  Gossip, dirty jokes and conversations, pride, competition, and so many other temptations come ramming at me the moment coworkers filter through the doors.  Have you ever felt like this world is one great big battle, and you find yourself surrounded by a band of warriors with their weapons raised?  That's where I find myself now.  How can I honestly and honorably teach young teenage girls how to live a life worshipping God when I don't do that myself? 

Jesse and I are reading A Purpose Driven Life right now, trying to refocus on why we are really here.  One of the truths that has stuck with me is that EVERYTHING we do can be worship to God.  Meditating on that simple fact has convicted me.  I'm sure God did not feel worshipped when I laughed at an inappropriate joke.  And I'm sure God did not feel like I had a spirit of praise when I envied someone else's life situation.

So I'm putting on the armor of God.  "Earth has nothing I desire besides you."
When the weapons are raised, remembering "God is my fortress and my strength."