Guess it is about time I realize that this blog isnt going to be updated every day! BUT that does not mean that something great does not happen every day! I will continue to make the effort to keep it positive though!!! :)

It is Monday... blah... I have never much liked Mondays. I really do not care for this monday because it is housework Monday! The plus side is that it will be done after today and then I can have a week to relax before I have to do it again, right? LOL If only it worked that way!

This weekend was great :) I got to spend some time Saturday with a great friend. We were in high school together, lost contact, and have now made contact again. It was so fun hanging out with her for the day! Lots of random moments, giggles, and good times! Isnt that what life is all about? Andy did say that he is slightly leary about letting me go anywhere with her because he thinks it is just trouble waiting to happen. I wonder what he means by that??? hmmmmmm

Sunday I was baptized. I have always known my faith and where I stand on my beliefs. I may not make it to church every Sunday but that does mean that a day goes by where I do not turn to God either for help or praise. I had to be baptized to become a member of the church. I had been "sprinkled" as a baby but that did not count. ;) It was a choice I was glad to make and it was nice to show my renewed faith to all those that came. It was also great to get to spend a little time with my family. I love how they all hate the drive out here! It isnt any better when I make it!!!! Yet... I still try to get over that way once a week or so when time permits between busy schedules, etc. I do wish there was a shorter way to spend some time with family!!!

OK... enough rambling. I really need to get the chores done around here! Dishes are stacked up and clean clothes are sparce! It can only mean one thing... back to work for me!

Slacker much?

Holy crap it has been a while! Amazing how experiencing a little technical difficulty can do to you. Offline for 2 days and 2 weeks later I am back! I will try to do better this time around! :)

Things are finally settling down around the house after a very nice weekend get away to the OBX. Some good friends made the drive down for a day trip Saturday. It was a nice day to be on the beach, however the dang jellyfish were EVERYWHERE! Someone please tell me what purpose these things serve? About the only good thing I have heard about them this year is that the sea turtles are getting fat and happy chowing down right off the shores! I was amazed at the shear number of jellies when we walked out on the pier Sunday night. GROSS!

Andy and I have now been married for a year. What a year! I am not sure that I would ever want to relive this last year. It has had many uphill battles but each has been fought and I think most have been won. I am looking forward to a much more relaxing year ahead that is hopefully filled with a lot more good news!

Guess I will stop rambling now. Kelsey is demanding my attention since she has missed spending time with her mommy this past weekend!

I am experiencing a mix of emotions writing this blog. I promised that I would try to keep it upbeat and happy but there are times when that is hard. I found out tonight that one of the clients I used to groom for passed away rather suddenly. He had been injuried after a fall over the weekend and died from a brain hemmorrage this morning. He was in pretty good health and still had a full life to lead. It just breaks my heart for his family. It goes to show us that you really do not know how much time you are promised here and so make sure you tell those that you love how much you really love them. Anything can happen at any moment and we are not promised tomorrow so make the best of today. I suppose even though the message today is not a happy and joyous one it is certainly a meaningful one. May the Ostey family find some comfort in knowing that their loved one is in a better place. I know that Darby was happy to have her dad and best friend by her side again this morning and I am sure greeted him with lots of tail wags and kisses! That pair will forever be etched in my mind... and the jokes about eyeore being transformed to tigger with a simple grooming! Rest well both of you and may you enjoy your reunited times in better places...

I missed another day! Told you it would happen from time to time! Maybe today will be a "two-fer" day and I might post again tonight. We will see though ;)

Yesterday was a busy day. Started off with a great breakfast at church. It is so nice to see this wonderful church community growing in front of our very eyes.

I think yesterday's moment came from Sunday school actually. We were talking about love. Not just any love though. We all have our moments where it is "I would love some chocolate" or "I would love to smack him!" but that is not really love.

It was great to realize that I am surrounded by people that love me unconditionally. It is true love. Love that I only wish I could show to every person that ever crosses my path. If only it were so easy to wrap our arms around each person we encounter and embrace them the way that God has done with each of us. I do not consider myself a "religious nut" or anything of the sort... but do know where my faith is that everything that happens rests in his hands. He will guide me through the hard times and rejoice with me during the celebrations... speaking of celebrations.

Andy and I will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary very soon. Crazy, huh? I can not believe time has flown by like it has! We are thinking about going down to OBX for a couple of days. We had a couple of leads on different houses, but sadly they have not worked out. Soooooo... It looks like this will be a camping trip. I have mixed emotions about camping in the end of July! I would much rather be camping in the fall... I have spent the morning today trying to figure out stuff to do down at the beach. We have been so many times that we have seen a little bit of everything down there. Don't get me wrong any day down at the beach is a great day! I was just trying to think up something "special" that we had not done down there yet that we could... any suggestions????

So I realize I missed yesterday. It was just a busy day and I did not get home until late so no post. It was a wonderful day though! 27 months ago yesterday Andy and I met for our first date. We decided to go out to dinner to kinda celebrate that... and then to coldstone for ice cream just like our first date! It was very nice. I am lucky to have someone that has been by my side through everything I have been through!

Today has been another busy day. I am most thankful for the RAIN we have gotten today! It is not nearly enough but it is some. The poor farmers have suffered enough already!

Today's post is rather short and sweet I know. Still got lots to get done before tonight is over!!!!!!

Today's moment comes from yet another song. Music has always touched me and made me think. The meaning behind this song is just very powerful to me... almost makes me teary eyed. I think it is a combination of the meaning and missing my dad. It certainly does not hurt that it is a George Strait song! You can listen to the song here. I hope that you can get a message from it that is at least half as powerful as the message I got.

The Breath You Take

He looks up from second base dad’s up in the stands
He saw the hit, the run, the slide there ain’t no bigger fan
In the parking lot after the game he said
“Dad I thought you had a plane to catch”
He smiled and said “Yeah son I did”

Chours
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

Fast forward fifteen years
And a thousand miles away
Boy’s built a life he’s got a wife
And a baby due today
He hears a voice saying “I made it son
He said “I told you dad you didn’t have to come”
He smiles and says ”Yeah I know you did”

Chours

Just like it took my breath when she was born
Just like it took my breath away when dad took his last that morn

Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
If ya don’t slow down the pace
Life’s not the breaths you take
But the moments that take your breath away

What a day it has been! I had several moments today where I was brought happiness. There were some sad moments as well but I have vowed to attempt to keep them off the blog... at least out of the the "happy post" of the day! I would have to say that my happy moment came form the cub scout camp that is held locally. Each year they hold the week long camp for all the local boys. I would say they have better than 100 boys out there that range in age from 6 or so to about 10-12 years old. The volunteers from the rescue squad usually man the first aid station. I would have the say that it made my heart smile seeing Andy interact with the boys today. My Eagle scout seemed to relive memories with the boys and enjoy the times there. I wish I could say that the time that we could even begin to think about the possibility of our own little cub scout was in the future but it sounds like it is still a good ways off in the distance. This was my second year being able to go out to the event... although this year I was only out there for a couple of hours (someone had to take care of the pups!) and it is just rewarding to give back somehow!

Today's post... hmmmm... where to start? Today has been one of those days that I have accomplished nothing! Andy is working a 36 hour shift that started yesterday so for the most part it has been me and the dogs in the house. I am did go up to the squad for a little while and cook dinner for the guys.

I would have to say that I am thankful to have a husband that has a good job and spoils me as much as he can! :) I am lucky that he works so close to home and as long as he is not on a call I can drop in at any time and visit with him. How many wives can say that? And as much as I gripe about cooking dinner every shift for him and Richard I think I secretly look forward to it! I love cooking and at least I know it means most times they are getting a decent meal (I said most!) So, while today is a simple and easy post, it is a reminder to me that nothing monumental has to happen in a day to realize you are happy with what you have around you! I have always been told that it is not having what you want but rather wanting what you have and that is so true!

So today's moment comes from a song that is actually on my blog page. I'm Alive is a song that Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews do together. I have kinda adopted it as my theme song in so many ways. It is most certainly easy to get down over lots of things in life but what it boils down to is we are lucky to be alive. I may not know the purpose that I serve but I know that I have one because I am still here on this earth. I am so thankful for each day I wake up... even the days it is with a swollen and stiff neck, no voice, and all the reminders of a major battle with cancer that just never seems to want to end. I am thankful for (most) mornings having the man that I love beside me.... and when he is working I have 3 little puppy dogs that love me unconditionally! I am thankful for a great family... and for friends that check in on me all the time. I may not be able to go out and party and do the fun things that I once could do but real love and friendships survive all those. I am truly blessed with the life I have... even if some may stand on the outside looking in wondering why it is so good! It is so wonderful and joyus because "I'm alive!"

Here are the lyrics to the song. I am not sure that truer words could be spoken!

I'm Alive

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to thank my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you sat and watched go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessin' can’t you see
Today's the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, when there’s not a soul in sight
But this boat has caught its wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathin' in and out's a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well

A new day... A new start!

I have attempted this blog thing a couple different times. In the past I would post a couple of times and then get bored or sidetracked by life and not keep up with it. I always found that it helped me a lot to write a blog post though. Almost like a diary entry but one that I really just did not care if someone else read.

I have vowed to myself to keep this blog going. I have a way that I am going to do it though... I am sure a lot of you have seen the "365 blogs" where you post a picture a day or something along those lines. I am thinking about doing a 365 blog for the "dog page" (Glimmer Kennels) so that really is not an idea for my own, personal, page. I got to thinking... I toyed with doing a "quote a day" page but decided aganist it as well. I have finally decided that my 365 blog is going to be something positive or meaningful that has happened to me that day. We all have days where it seems like the world is out to get you and I fully think that it is important that we remember the good of each of those bad days. The post may be a quote, picture, or story. I am sure that I will mix in a "bonus" every now and then as a real blog entry. I will either post that night or the next morning about the event. In other words, keep checking back! :)