Monday, June 22, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Father's Day
Listen to your father, who gave you life,...
Proverbs 23:22
Honor your father and your mother...
Exodus 20:12
We learn so much from our fathers, and I think, a lot of times they don't get the attention and recognition that they deserve. I am so very thankful for my dad. He is a deeply loving, caring individual.
Happy Father's Day to all fathers.
Remember also, to praise The Father.
Friday, June 19, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Disappointment
I seem to be experiencing a lot of it lately. Mostly, I've become disappointed in several other people over the last couple of weeks, and it has been depressing me. Therefore, I think (obsess) about it all the time.
The first person, I'll call "Pencil" (so I don't use real names or pronouns), has developed a double standard for the things that "it" can do as opposed to what the other "its" in its house can do. And, Pencil is just acting really immature. There's nothing I can do about it except accept this apparently new side of Pencil and get over it. The people that Pencil is directly affecting need to do the discussing, but Pencil isn't listening, and definitely isn't seeing both sides of the issue. I feel that Pencil is being very selfish.
The second person, Pillow, just doesn't "get" me, and it's frustrating when trying to communicate.
The third person, Parrot, seems so self-involved, that it's a little difficult to be around. Parrot is extremely pompous and opinionated, but otherwise, very smart and friendly.
The fourth person is more like a group of people; they are closed-minded and won't even listen to other points of view. They don't follow tried and true methods, don't speak up when they need help, and completely disregard me as a source of information and experience.
My first reaction (as a result of frustration) is to just ignore it; be numb to it. If I expect nothing from these people, then I won't be disappointed. This solution isn't really a solution. It's just avoidance of a problem. If I don't work through the problem, then it will always be there, at least in my mind. Then again, there is no reason for any of these people to change. They are just being themselves. I wouldn't want someone to try to change me, and I certainly wouldn't want someone to approach me and tell me that they are disappointed in me. My reaction to that would probably be one of anger, and in that state, I would have no desire to help repair the other person's opinion of me.
So, really, disappointment in other people is a conundrum. At least, for me it is. Maybe I'll come up with a solution some day. Until then, I just need to not be so judgmental, and to just try to expect people to be themselves, instead of what I perceive themselves to be.
The first person, I'll call "Pencil" (so I don't use real names or pronouns), has developed a double standard for the things that "it" can do as opposed to what the other "its" in its house can do. And, Pencil is just acting really immature. There's nothing I can do about it except accept this apparently new side of Pencil and get over it. The people that Pencil is directly affecting need to do the discussing, but Pencil isn't listening, and definitely isn't seeing both sides of the issue. I feel that Pencil is being very selfish.
The second person, Pillow, just doesn't "get" me, and it's frustrating when trying to communicate.
The third person, Parrot, seems so self-involved, that it's a little difficult to be around. Parrot is extremely pompous and opinionated, but otherwise, very smart and friendly.
The fourth person is more like a group of people; they are closed-minded and won't even listen to other points of view. They don't follow tried and true methods, don't speak up when they need help, and completely disregard me as a source of information and experience.
My first reaction (as a result of frustration) is to just ignore it; be numb to it. If I expect nothing from these people, then I won't be disappointed. This solution isn't really a solution. It's just avoidance of a problem. If I don't work through the problem, then it will always be there, at least in my mind. Then again, there is no reason for any of these people to change. They are just being themselves. I wouldn't want someone to try to change me, and I certainly wouldn't want someone to approach me and tell me that they are disappointed in me. My reaction to that would probably be one of anger, and in that state, I would have no desire to help repair the other person's opinion of me.
So, really, disappointment in other people is a conundrum. At least, for me it is. Maybe I'll come up with a solution some day. Until then, I just need to not be so judgmental, and to just try to expect people to be themselves, instead of what I perceive themselves to be.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Croods - Movie Review
I'm not really one of those "deep" movie critics, that analyze a film, explaining all of the nuances and how they correlate to the world we live in. I really just wanted to say, that I really enjoyed this movie! I thought it was funny, like in a slap stick kind of way, entertaining, and engaging. I give it 5 thumbs up.
"The Croods", Written and Directed by Kirk De Micca, Chris Sanders, 2013, Dreamworks
Sunday, June 14, 2015
For those who don't know
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (NIV)
If you proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will spend eternity in Heaven. Jesus died for you, for your sins. It is the greatest gift. Spread the word.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Thursday, June 11, 2015
What Beagles Think
Velvet was barking out the window the other night, so I was telling her to get down from there.
This was her reaction.
Velvet: "You talkin' to me?"
{{{thinking}}} "I'll just hide here."
At this point, I'm just repeating "Get down. Get down from there. Velvet, get down."
Velvet: "What?!"
"Whatev's, mom."
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Thank You, Lord
I found this on facebook and wanted to share it here. I am in awe of His power and presence in my life and am truly thankful for everything He has done for me.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Cushing's Disease update
Its been nearly a year since I wrote the first post about Velvet having Cushing's Disease, and wanted to share what's going on with her now.
What ended up happening last year after that post was that one Vet said it was Cushing's Disease, another Vet said it was Kidney Disease, and a third Vet said the tests were inconclusive. (There are 3 vets at the office where I take her. I imagine if there had been a 4th one, I would have had a 4th different opinion. The last vet wanted me to take her to Cincinnati for an ultrasound that would hopefully be more conclusive (the other 2 vets weren't 100% what was wrong with Velvet either, so still, no medicine). I told him, that was just too much. I'm not taking a 15 year old dog, on an hour+ drive to have a $200 test that may or may not give me a conclusive answer. Velvet sheds like a I-don't-know-what just going from here to the vet. By the time we would get to Cincinnati, she would probably be bald.
So, I did my own research. I found that she has a lot of the symptoms of Cushing's Disease, and not so many of Kidney Disease. She has the distended stomach, diluted urine, unable to control it sometimes, going often, losing a lot of fur, and drinking a lot of water. More recently she has developed weak muscles, is panting a lot and seems more hungry (if that's even possible, haha).
What I did last year was change her food and treats to ones for older dogs, and with fewer ingredients. Once she had finished her antibiotics (ended up being about 6 weeks worth), she was like a new (but still old) dog. So, for a year, everything has been been fine, or at least manageable. We taught her to use pee pads for when we're not home, and take her out more often. She always has water available and I try to keep an idea of how much she drinks each day. Some days she doesn't drink at all, so I add water to her food.
A few weeks ago, I woke up on a Saturday morning to a very sick dog. She was panting non-stop, very shaky, and very lethargic. So I took her to the vet, thinking "this is it." It turned out to be an infection, and the Dr. said "due to her unresolved kidney disease." I know he just said that to explain why she had the infection, but I couldn't help but feel that he disagrees with my choices.
More on that later.
To be continued...
*Note: these are just our own experiences and what we have learned. Please don't take it to mean that I am knowledgeable about this subject, only how it affects my dog.
Monday, June 8, 2015
7 Rules of Life
I found this on facebook and wanted to share it here. I think these are some pretty good rules.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Online Presence
I am trying to get organized and simplify my life, chipping away at all of the excess that I don't even know I have. I'm doing this with bins of my "stuff" that I've collected over the years, as well as trying to simplify my online presence so that I know what I'm putting out there.
Step One:
Make a list of every social media, or shop I use or have used in the past:
11 email addresses (I'm sure there's more, but I don't know what they are)
7 blogs
4 etsy stores (all empty)
2 ebay accounts
4 photo sharing accounts
3 twitter accounts (but I can't remember the 3rd one)
3 facebook accounts
1 each tumblr, pinterest, and instagram
2 zazzle accounts (again, can't remember one of them)
1 google+
1 linkedIn account that I linked to an email address that no one has, so no one can find me
That's just what I can remember (and what I can remember that I've forgotten).
People tell me that when you rid yourself of excess baggage, you feel "lighter", less overwhelmed. However, I don't know how to get past being overwhelmed enough to get started.
Step Two:
Take a deep breath. Pick one thing and deal with it. Cross it off my list when its completed. It will feel great.
Step One:
Make a list of every social media, or shop I use or have used in the past:
11 email addresses (I'm sure there's more, but I don't know what they are)
7 blogs
4 etsy stores (all empty)
2 ebay accounts
4 photo sharing accounts
3 twitter accounts (but I can't remember the 3rd one)
3 facebook accounts
1 each tumblr, pinterest, and instagram
2 zazzle accounts (again, can't remember one of them)
1 google+
1 linkedIn account that I linked to an email address that no one has, so no one can find me
That's just what I can remember (and what I can remember that I've forgotten).
People tell me that when you rid yourself of excess baggage, you feel "lighter", less overwhelmed. However, I don't know how to get past being overwhelmed enough to get started.
Step Two:
Take a deep breath. Pick one thing and deal with it. Cross it off my list when its completed. It will feel great.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Do Not Worry
Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus is speaking:
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
25 “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? 26 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? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Making a Difference
A story that I heard years ago:
Once there was a really bad storm that left thousands of starfish stranded on a beach. They could survive there for a while, but they wouldn't make it until the tide came in, and several were past the point where the tide would ever reach them. After the storm had passed, a boy was on the beach. He picked up a starfish and threw it back into the sea, and then another, and another. He kept doing this over and over again. An older man showed up on the beach and saw what the boy was doing. He went up to the boy and laughed, saying "My boy, look at all of these starfish. You'll never be able to save them all. Do you really think you can make a difference?" The boy looked up at the man while throwing another starfish into the sea, and said, "I just made a difference for that one." He bent over to pick up another starfish, and threw it into the water, "I just made a difference for that one, too."
How often do we see things happening around us that seem insurmountable, and therefore we do nothing, because we think doing something small is the same as doing nothing at all?
Once there was a really bad storm that left thousands of starfish stranded on a beach. They could survive there for a while, but they wouldn't make it until the tide came in, and several were past the point where the tide would ever reach them. After the storm had passed, a boy was on the beach. He picked up a starfish and threw it back into the sea, and then another, and another. He kept doing this over and over again. An older man showed up on the beach and saw what the boy was doing. He went up to the boy and laughed, saying "My boy, look at all of these starfish. You'll never be able to save them all. Do you really think you can make a difference?" The boy looked up at the man while throwing another starfish into the sea, and said, "I just made a difference for that one." He bent over to pick up another starfish, and threw it into the water, "I just made a difference for that one, too."
How often do we see things happening around us that seem insurmountable, and therefore we do nothing, because we think doing something small is the same as doing nothing at all?
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
My wedding anniversary, and the Good Samaritan
Yesterday was my 2nd year wedding anniversary. I am so blessed to have found this wonderful man. He ended up having the day off, but he still got up early to have coffee with me before work. He visited my parents, picked up medicine for my dog, planted flowers that were given to me, emptied the dish washer (wow!), drove 30 minutes away to buy my favorite wine, then over an hour back to my office where he surprised me with a bouquet of flowers.
For my part, I wanted to go to Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Ohio to buy some of their freshly made salmon patties. I put together a salad from the salad bar, and spent time reading through about 8 anniversary cards before finding the right one. Then, I spent several minutes trying to decide what kind of ice cream to get for desert. I went to check-out and found that I had left my wallet at work. I had 2 checks though, but no ID. I found I had my passport with my old last name on it and a current health insurance card. Plus, I had their DLM card. I've been going there for over 20 years, but since our office moved, then it hasn't been very often. I wrote a check and she tried to process it, but they didn't have my current checking account in their system. The lady brought over the manager and I went through it all again. At this point, I considered leaving it and going back to my office to get my wallet, but the ice cream would have melted and it would have taken me another half hour. My husband goes to bed in the evening because he has to be to work super early, and so I was running out time. I was about ready to just give up when a Good Samaritan named Alexis came to my rescue! She came up and said "let me pay for it". She didn't even know how much it was; she didn't know me. It warmed my heart so much to meet such a kind and giving person. I was speechless. I said thank you, and told her I could write her a check; my last check (thankfully).
Alexis - I doubt you'll ever come across this little blog of mine, but I still want to say "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!"
I felt so very blessed, and so, so thankful. It was such an amazing feeling to have a stranger come to my rescue. There are truly good people in the world, and while they exist, we have hope.
Spread the love and do an act of kindness for someone today.
For my part, I wanted to go to Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Ohio to buy some of their freshly made salmon patties. I put together a salad from the salad bar, and spent time reading through about 8 anniversary cards before finding the right one. Then, I spent several minutes trying to decide what kind of ice cream to get for desert. I went to check-out and found that I had left my wallet at work. I had 2 checks though, but no ID. I found I had my passport with my old last name on it and a current health insurance card. Plus, I had their DLM card. I've been going there for over 20 years, but since our office moved, then it hasn't been very often. I wrote a check and she tried to process it, but they didn't have my current checking account in their system. The lady brought over the manager and I went through it all again. At this point, I considered leaving it and going back to my office to get my wallet, but the ice cream would have melted and it would have taken me another half hour. My husband goes to bed in the evening because he has to be to work super early, and so I was running out time. I was about ready to just give up when a Good Samaritan named Alexis came to my rescue! She came up and said "let me pay for it". She didn't even know how much it was; she didn't know me. It warmed my heart so much to meet such a kind and giving person. I was speechless. I said thank you, and told her I could write her a check; my last check (thankfully).
Alexis - I doubt you'll ever come across this little blog of mine, but I still want to say "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!"
I felt so very blessed, and so, so thankful. It was such an amazing feeling to have a stranger come to my rescue. There are truly good people in the world, and while they exist, we have hope.
Spread the love and do an act of kindness for someone today.
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