our precious bilbo

Our precious: Bilbo 

So, Kevin and I have been wanting a puppy for a rather long time.  

It's sort of impossible to live in Colorado and not own or want to own a dog; it's even more impossible to work at the Idaho Springs Starbucks, surrounded by only the most avid of dog-lovers.  

Dogs are expensive.  Especially, we've found, corgis.  Especially corgis that aren't mixed with something else, particularly chihuahua.  We wanted a corgi.  It's become a practice of mine, when I've absolutely exhausted my typical online demands (a la Facebook, Failblog, news sites, etc), I'll look up corgis up for sale or adoption in the Denver area.  Friday, I found an interesting ad.  There was a litter of Pembroke Welsh Corgis (aka the type the Queen prefers) almost three hours away from us, but the price was right.  Kev gave the lady a call, who said she had only one male left.  We braved Friday evening traffic, stopped to get Chick-fil-A, and made it to the place just after the sun had set.  Needless to say, although the breeder didn't have papers for him (because when she bought the father, that breeder didn't get through the necessary paperwork, or something), we fell in love with this little guy and brought him home.  Well, first, we went to the hospital, because our best friends were having their baby.  Funny timing, we know.

Anyway.  We love him.  Bilbo has one of the best personalities I've seen in a dog: he's playful, but quiet.  He rarely whines, and I've heard him bark (almost whispered, like he's not sure he wants to commit to it) maybe twice?  He knows to use the bathroom outside (except when he was so excited yesterday at church - sorry about that, again, guys).  He is perfectly content rolling around on the floor by himself, chasing his tail or the rope toy we bought him.  He jumps on me when I sing (delightedly, we think), and he wrestles with Kevin like a champ. 

He's just the best.  

tune up

I'm out of alignment.  I ought to see a chiropractor - apparently, for "tune ups" - for the rest of my life to consistently be readjusted.  Made straight.

This is the first post I've written in a few months, and I realize that all too often I feel the need to blog when something's up.  Something wrong.  Something I've got to process.  Sometimes journaling and praying don't cut it when I have to process actively.  

And it's because I'm out of alignment.  I need readjusting.  

My back, yes.  

My heart, also yes.

Not many people know that I went to counseling my freshman year of college.  For depression.  So much healing took place in that office, on that couch, pouring out my struggles to what may as well have been a complete stranger.  At the end of that year, I felt whole.  Put back together.

Over the next five years, big things have happened in my life.  Good and bad.  Relationship ups and downs.  Periods of peace in feeling the gladness of God, and dry spells.  Little by little, emotionally, I drift out of being perfectly aligned.  Each jolt in the road disturbs my vertebrae.  

Do I allow time for myself to be restored?  Do I devote proper time to the things in my past that still require dealing with?  Daily allowing the Lord to redeem my mistakes, my hurts?  Do I still trust in the truth that I've learned to trust and believe as truth?  

I need to be realigned.

redefining tolerance

It is time for those engaged in contentious debate to put the pitchforks down, pick up some coffee cups and have some messy conversations. Messy conversations lead to healthy conversations. Healthy conversations lead to understanding. Understanding those whom we disagree with leads to pure tolerance.

 So writes Ken Coleman in his Huffpost article, Redefining Tolerance: The Case of Chick-fil-A.  I tend to agree.

"Gay is the new black" v. Chick-fil-a

I read two articles today.
They happened to be on a topic I am wrestling through as I hope to find the appropriate, loving, Christian response.
Read them.  Think through these things with me.  Pray about it.  I'm going to, too.

One: Gay Is Not the New Black
Two: Moreno lays an egg opposing Chick-fil-A
(For whatever reason, the Chicago Tribune site isn't letting me link it properly... so you might have to google "Chick fil A" and it's currently the top news story. Sigh.)

stuff my kids said [7.2-7.3]

Just take a look at this awesome schedule I had for two days of subbing!

Exclamations:

I chipped my finger!

One name is grape, and one name is pock! 

His name is Captain America!  I'm serious! 

Hair accessories:

Look - my headband can easily blend into your shirt, Miss Anna!

This clip is special because I found it at a park.  I mean... who wouldn't want a clip?? 

Fourth of July!

Happy Birthday, America!  ...Can America eat a cake?  (Response from another kid: YOU can eat a cake for America!)

On pets:

I don't have a cat... I have a brother.

Advice:

Stay away from those kinds of trees... there could be some fire drops left. 

Coloring:

One girl: Suns do not have eyes! Another girl: Well... I can do half eyes! 

No-nos:

One kid, during lunch: You have a coconut on your peepee!  Me: Oh, we don't say that... Another kid: Yeah, because coconut is a bad word!

a little over a month from now....

...my best friend is getting married.

And I get to stand and testify to her love for him and their love for Christ.

6 month check up on 2012 goals

1) Learn German.  Ehh.  This one is on hold for the time being.  Faith and I are learning Koine Greek, instead! Rosetta Stone's too danged expensive!


2) Read through the complete works of Shakespeare.  Gonna work on this one this summer!  AKA soon.


3) Go hiking/camping on a mountain with Kevin.  Also a summer goal.  Probably going to count this as completed when Collette & Pete come out and visit (which we so very much hope they will do!)


4) See sunrise on said mountain.  See above.


5) Use the paint supplies I have acquired.  Well, I've only got blank canvases.  No paint.  So...


6) Use the Pilates DVD and mat I bought myself for Christmas.  For two weeks, I was pretty faithful with this, but things got busy & I got lazy.  Will have to pick it up again.  Oy.


7)  Write a letter to a friend a week.  With this, I've done okay.  I wouldn't say it's been one per week, but at least three a month!


8) Journal weekly.  Yessah!


9)  Read through the collected works of Milton.  Erhm... after Shakespeare.  Promise.


10) Read through the collected works of Lewis.  Have read The Great Divorce, and am half done with The Four Loves.  For my thoughts on these, see my other blog! 


11) Read through The Making of a Sonnet, and attempt one a month.  Nope.  Haven't been feeling it.  But might be a good fall-winter activity.  Will see.


12) Work harder than absolutely necessary.  I think I've got this one.  But, to be continued.


13) Develop relationships with the girls in the youth group.  Yes!  So far so good!  Also, to be continued!


14) Sing out.  Yes... but I need to be reminded of this kinda often.


15) Develop better posture.  Oy.  I need to see a chiropractor.


16) Complete the application process and become a certified teacher in the state of Colorado.  Yes!  Finished the application, just waiting to hear!


17)  Learn more about pre-K education.  Finished ECE101, just begun Guidance Strategies!


18) Collect and read as many of my childhood-favorite books as I possibly can!  Doing okay with this one, too - read The Prisoner of Zenda, and recently acquired the Roll of Thunder series!

How are YOU doing on your 2012 goals?? 

As you can see, I've got a lot of work to do..........

but 9/18 seems to be right on track!