dog pee on my curtain

i love my dog.  i don't know what i'd do without him.  i spend more time with him at this point in my life than any other living thing.  i don't know if that's good or bad.  but that's the way it is. and i love him.  he's my sweet sweet boy.

he was abused before we got him.  i can't talk about it because i will start to cry.  it just breaks my heart that someone would do something so awful to something so helpless.  but he's alright.  he's healing.  and he knows that he is deeply loved here.  we are his home.  but my heart swells with love for this little guy.  

this little guy has grown such a personality.  he used to just sit in a corner and shake.  he didn't even know how to jump up onto a couch.  and i love his little personality.  this is my favorite pose of his.

he puts his little butt up in the air and it just shakes so fast, back and forth, because he doesn't have a tail.  so his whole butt shakes.  i love this dog - this dog with no tail.  we keep his hair long around the little nub that is his 'tail' just to give him more confidence.  but he's perfect.  and usually when he's in this stance, he does this cute little high pitch bark letting you know he wants to play.

my house is a mess because of him.  but i don't care.  i love it.  he's so funny. and has so much personality.  you would never guess because he is so timid.

but he can be ornery,  this little doggie.

yep, that's pee on my curtain.  grrrr.  it makes me mad.  i don't know how to clean it off.  any ideas?  and i also don't know when he did it so i can't even get him in trouble for it.  

gosh i love this poodle.

O-lympics

the athletic department at U of O holds a fundraiser called the O-lympics.  The Athletic Trainers compete against the athletes in this competition.  There are many different trials including relays, 40 yard dash, tackling the football dummie thingys that the players use in practice, doing a puzzle, flippy cup (with water of course - the athletic trainer's idea to promote hydration), etc.  the athletic trainer's theme was 80s athletes.  

paul is the one in the blonde wig on the left.  these are the people in his cohort/master's program.

see the 'precision line of the sideburn' is what one of the girls commented on. ha!

gross gross facial hair.  and he is keeping it this way for a week!  we went to dinner last night with him like this!  hahaha! how embarrassing?

that's my man dominating at tug of war.

and arm wrestling

and this has to be one of my favorite photos of all time.  the guy in the white with the black mullet wig would be luke, one of the football athletic trainers racing his athlete, one of the running backs on the football team, in the 40 yard dash. hahahaha!  the photo finish was incredibly important as you can see that it was ALMOST a tie.  so close, luke, so close.  luke's response to this loss, "i was racing a ninja, what do you expect"! haha.

i hope this brightens your day.  and contrary to popular belief, i am not the weird one.  the weird one is my husband. gosh, i love him!

matthew 26

so paul and i have been going to this church called ekklesia.  ekklesia is just the new testament greek word for 'church'.  the teaching on wednesday was seriously the best sermon that i have heard in a LONG time.  phenomenal!  Please, if you have 55 minutes, listen to this.  you will not regret it. it will refresh your soul.


http://www.ekklesiaeugene.org/videos/preparation-for-the-cross-pt-4-2/

or vimeo

http://vimeo.com/35339654

if your internet is too slow for the video, just roll your mouse over 'teachings' on the ekklesia website, then click 'wednesdays' then click 'Matthew 26:47-68'. click 'download'.  there is a podcast as well that just has sound.

Cihat - the 1 out of 100 chance that you read my blog...  i think that you would love this teaching.  if you listen, please, let's discuss it.  i love to hear your opinion.  keep seeking truth, my friend. we appreciate your friendship so much.  paul and i are in deep prayer for you.  be blessed, brother.




one of pastor wes's main points that touched my heart was about Peter cutting off the soldier's ear.  Peter - a disciple who is so depraved and so human.  he makes rash decisions based on his emotions.  he is always getting in trouble and doing exactly what Jesus said not to do, however, Jesus is so patient with him and so loving.  He teaches Peter (and us) to be slow to anger, quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to wrath and abounding in love.  And yet, despite Peter's being that black sheep who does everything wrong, Jesus said, 'Peter, on this rock I will build my church...'  peter is a key component of Christ's bride.  


anyway, peter, being quick to act and quick to anger, cuts off a soldier's ear.  typical peter.  pastor wes makes the point that there should have been 4 people on calvary that day.  that soldier should have been able to report, 'this man, peter, wounded me, he cut off my ear!'  but there was no evidence.  jesus put the soldier's ear back on and healed it.  there was no evidence of peter's sin.  peter would not be the 4th cross hanging on calvary that day.  Jesus, the forgiver of sins.  the one who heals us and makes us blameless.


wow!  


i think about my life.  how gracious my savior is with me.  he is still working on me.  i want to be like him in possessing the fruits of His Spirit. but my humanness and depravity keeps me from that.  i hate to think of the people that i have hurt and the poor example of christ's follower that i have been.  but Jesus is in the business of healing people's hearts and getting rid of our sin.  because of him, there is no evidence against me.  he takes care of even the victims of my sin.  praise him.  it just amazes me.  thank you for continuing to teach me and grow me.  i need more of him and less of me.  

(source)

ear infection.

i have an ear infection.  it is not pleasant in the least bit.  i've never had one before and i now understand why little kids scream and cry when they get ear infections.  it feels like someone is taking a really sharp pencil/stick/knife and just shoving it into my ear.  i can't hear anything either.  i pity anyone who has ever had an ear infection.


when i woke up this morning, my husband was smiling and said, "good morning beautiful".

lord bless my husband for making him think i look beautiful. ha. this is literally me this morning.

seriously though, my husband is awesome.  he has been helping me an supporting me and taking care of me since i started getting sick last thursday. i freaking love him.  i don't know what i would do without him.

i'm really good at catching people at their best.  this looks like a mug shot.

i have been spending a lot of time reading.  because my ears like the quiet right now.  this is our coffee table right now and it seriously made me laugh.  if someone came over i would be embarrassed.

how many bibles do you see? 4.

we are not holier than thou, believe me.  this sight just made me laugh because this is our life right now.

and i was going to save this for another post, but i'm afraid i'll be in prison....

i opened this box along with TONS of other mail on the day we got home. our neighbor had been hanging onto it because she said it was sitting outside for days.

notice that i opened it upside down.  this is how it was when i opened it.  all packaging from DISH network with nothing in it.  i think someone stole its contents because we were gone for 3 weeks and it sat on our front step for DAYS.

then i started thinking, what in the world?  we  didn't order anything from dish network.  so i turned the box over and to my dismay, this box is for J Martin.  Sorry J Martin, but you put our address and i accidentally opened your mail which is a felony.  it was a complete accident.  and someone stole your stuff.

so the UPS man left a note on our door yesterday wanting to pick up J Martin's box from dish network.  uh-oh. so i am really hoping UPS man understands.  in case i am not home to explain what happened, i left him a note.

does anyone have any experience with accidentally opening someone else's mail?  and what if that person's stuff was stolen before you even opened it? i'm freaking out here!

a. d a n g e r o u s. woman.

Dangerous Women Creed

(source)

Dear God, please make us dangerous women.

May we be women who acknowledge our power to change, and grow,

     and be radically alive for God.

May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.

May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot

    speak for themselves.

May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.

May we pray deeply and teach wisely.

May we be strong and gentle leaders.

May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.

May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us,

     and righteous anger energize us.

May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.

May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.

May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.

May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus.

And in that name and by that power, may we change the world.

Dear God, please make us dangerous women.

 Amen.

contentment

i am applying for grad school in october.  it is a difficult program to get into.  but Jesus knows whether i will or not.  i am applying to The Ohio State University's Graduate Entry Family Nurse Practitioner Program. There are so many things I want to do with it to make a difference in the world.  more on that later.


i have a lot to do and focus on.  i need to take pharmacology and the GRE and do well on it.  


i started a phlebotomy class (learning to draw blood) this last week.  and after much prayer and discussing with my hubster, we decided it really isn't of benefit or a smart financial choice.  so i dropped out of it.  it feels really good and it's the right choice.  after calling to drop out, i went to cancel the books i ordered and they hadn't been shipped yet, PTL. so it was simple to cancel that.  we were also supposed to pay for that class by today and Paul's school loans to help us live have not come through... so it's a really good thing that i dropped the class because I would not have been able to pay for it anyway.  i don't know if i'm writing this well and you understand, but basically His timing is perfect. and i know it's right.


i've never trusted Jesus like this.  it feels really good.  i don't know what's going on, but He does. i just love spending so much time with Him.  


i had THE worst day of my working experience EVER on Tuesday.  I worked alone with a new pharmacist for the first time.  it was also my first time closing.  i didn't know what i was doing.  the training at Target Pharmacy is awful and useless (or maybe it is just my experience).  it was a mess.  the pharmacist was really mean and short with me at some points.  but i stuck it out.  i wanted to cry and just walk out and leave.  but i didn't.  by His strength, i made it through.  I have no other way to explain it.  i don't know why this is the job he gave me, and why it is so hard.  but it's where i'm supposed to be.  it will look good on my graduate program resume, it's good experience, it pays decently and i'm fully leaning on Him.  I came home and just WEPT all night.  Paul and I prayed and read together.  and i have peace.  it is REALLY hard. but on Monday, i am going back to my job and i'm going to do it all over again.  and i have faith that He will give me strength and get me through it.  I cannot take a breath or go a day at work without His spirit in me.  i'm just leaning on Him and we're just going right along.


i need to go through this.  it's the hardest thing i've ever done.  but we will make it through.  it's so sweet to trust in Him and walk with Him. i have no one else but Him.  no community to walk with, no family here. no close friends.  It's my husband (we are one) and my sweet sweet savior.

(source)

and now i'm sick.  tissues and tea it is.

rock of ages

i am getting ready to go to work for the first time since break.  and i am incredibly anxious (prayers appreciated).  i have been dreading this part more than anything since before i left to come back to oregon.  


during my sweet time with Him today, i was listening to this song.  


Rock of Ages by Ascend the Hill


and the part that my heart is crying right now is, 'let me hide myself in thee. thou must save and thou alone.' do you know that feeling?

here is the video:

click play

Lyrics to Rock of Ages :

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

let me hide myself in thee; 

let the water and the blood, 

from thy wounded side which flowed, 

be of sin the double cure; 

save from wrath and make me pure

Not the labors of my hands 

can fulfill thy law's demands; 

could my zeal no respite know, 

could my tears forever flow, 

these for sin could not atone; 

thou must save, and thou alone

Nothing in my hand I bring, 

simply to the cross I cling; 

naked, come to thee for dress; 

helpless, look to thee for grace; 

foul, I to the fountain fly; 

wash me, Savior, or I die

Wash me, Savior, or I die

Wash me, Savior, or I die

While I draw this fleeting breath, 

when mine eyes shall close in death, 

when I rise to worlds unknown, 

and behold thee on thy throne, 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, 

let me hide myself in thee

Let me hide myself in thee

Let me hide myself in thee