April Fools-I've Got Nothin'

As hard as I try, I can't seem to attempt a reasonable April Fools joke to post.  So, instead I will bask in realism and truth. :)  Somehow saying "We're pregnant" or "Jesse has lost his job" or "We're moving back home!" just doesn't have the right impact of humor right now.  Perhaps next year!
It seems this week has had its fair amount of challenges.  We're wading through the water in search of that supposed sand bar the locals talk about--waiting to emerge from the deep cold and dry off.  Jesse continues to battle the feelings of "blehness."  While he's left the vomiting behind, he still has little energy and feels sick constantly.  If I look back at past calendars, I'd see that his rollercoaster of health is usually on its way down during this season, but my prayer is that he'll find that surprise incline soon.  But, as we wade through the water, we have a little reminder of hope.  Hutch is our pet (whom we spoil far too much), but even more he serves as a healthy distraction.  When tummies hurt, he's there to sit on your lap.  When heads ache, he's there to lick your cheek.  There's nothing much better than returning home to a wiggly-waggly puppy who licks you to pieces.

Hutch sitting at his post...ignore all the wires...it's our little India

Hutch helped me pack for this weekend's youth retreat.  He wasn't in the way at all...oh no....

Hutch lost interest in visiting Kolby in his area, so Kolby ventured out to see Hutch.  Now we have a tiny little bird walking everywhere trying to find his friend.  We love our new entertainment

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.