(Hard to believe it’s been almost a year since my last post–I think I forgot I even had  a blog!)

She’s a Valley Bulldog. And now for your total reading boredom pleasure, a little bit of history.

Ray has always wanted a Valley Bulldog. (They’re a cross between a bull dog and a boxer–and the Valley, because apparently, they’re from here, yup, right from our very own gorgeous Annapolis Valley!)   So, Ray has wanted one, yadayadayada, but it’s never worked out for him. He’d find some for sale, he would call, and they’d be gone, or we’d find some for sale, but money would be tight.

So, he was at work a few weeks back, and was talking with the guys about dogs. His love of this breed came up, and one of the guys said that he had a friend that breeded them, and would find out when the next litter would be ready to go. A few hours later, he hands Ray his phone and says “Here, he’s got one for you.” Turns out he had a 4 year old female, who hasn’t bred the past two times he’s tried. So he wants to give her away. And guess who gets her?

Great guess! We brought her home that night.

And yes.  She’s not very cute.   That’s what Ray loves about her.  She’s also extremely well-behaved.  And I appreciate that about her. 

This is our other dog Colby.  He’s a 2 year old Border Collie.  He’s as active as Beebee is lazy.

And just because, here’s Chuckie the cat:

And now you know all our pets.  Aren’t you so glad you stopped by here today? 

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On another note, thank you to all of you for your thoughts, prayers and kind words during the past few days. 

Life is returning to normal, and I’m finally able to remember what day it is.   I’m off to a hair appointment later this morning, and Mackenzie gets her 5 year old needle this afternoon.  We’re going to do lunch in between.  Fun stuff.   Yesterday, an impromptu trip to Michael’s in the city with a dear friend made for a wonderful day.  And I had a gift card for Michael’s which made it even better.  Bag full of stuff, with no money spent!!!

Happy Thursday!

I’ve been feeling far from God the past little while. Life is busy, and there’s always an excuse for not getting together with Him.

This morning Ray had already left for work, I was wide awake at 5:45, thanks to his cell phone vibrating on the table, ( on a Saturday morning!!!)  the kids were still asleep, and I thought that I would like to lie in bed and read for a while. So I got up to find a book, and walked past my Bible on the table. And heard a very clear voice in my head telling me to pick it up, open it up and READ it.

So I did what I always do when I’m out of a Bible reading habit. I opened it up, and just read random verses here and there. I was reading Psalms, and was cross-referencing a verse in Hebrews. And started reading in Hebrews. Chapter 4.

I’ve been especially tired lately. Except never in the evening when I should be. So I stay up late because I can’t sleep, but then am like a zombie later in the day. Until evening comes, when I’m wide awake again. Only to start the process all over again.

So when my eye caught a verse about rest, you know that I was all over it.

Hebrews 4: 9-11 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of disbelief.”

God did His work,and then He rested when it was finished. In verse 10, it is talking about Jesus entering Heaven when He finished His work. And in verse 11, we are told that we will enter that same rest–after we finish our work. Which is that no man fall under disbelief. So often I tell God that no, I’m too tired to do that too. Lord, I already do this, this, this and this for You. And those last two, Lord, they require alot of work, and keep me really busy, so You can’t really mean that You want me to do something else. 

My job here on earth is to tell others about Him.  And if I’m tired because of it, I know that I will have rest someday.  But  if I’m exhausted because I’m too busy doing other things,  then it’s time to smarten up and do what I’m supposed to be doing.

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It’s been a rough week around here.  While I don’t want to share any details, please pray for my family, as my Grandmother passed away yesterday.   We’ve expected for a few days that it was coming, but it was still very sudden. 

I’ll be back to the blog in a few days.  Which reminds me that I haven’t introduced you to the newest member of our family yet.  You’ll be able to meet her in a few days.  I know, you just can’t wait.  And yes,  I am crazy.

Chocolate chips cookies cooling on the table.

Laundry all caught up.

A big bag of clothes ready to be donated after purging everyone’s rooms.

My desk clean, neat and organized.

The sun back after a couple of grey, rainy days.

Dandelion bouquet on my kitchen windowsill.

Baking with my chattering  little girl.

Yup, life is good.

Just because I find this absolutely hilarious:

And because my truck is going back in to the garage today for a wheel-bearing and again next week for a ball joint.  So I’m being cranky, and don’t want to come up with anything on my own.  Oh, and because this made me roar laughing yesterday, and I needed it.  So funny!

Be sure to visit Andrea’s for more caffeinated randomness!

Happy Friday!

We were sitting at prayer meeting last night.  and we were doing a lot of flipping back and forth between the OT and the NT.   This particular time we were in Isaiah and were going to Matthew.  And I turned the wrong way.  Yup, back towards Genesis.  What was I thinking!!  I was so embarrassed for myself.  And my first instinct was to look around to see if anyone had noticed.  Honestly, what a pathetic reaction. 

Which brought to mind this post, and then it was all I could do not to laugh out loud at my silliness.   Honestly!   Who cares that I missed a turn. 

Although, to be very honest, and up-front with you, I do have to admit that I am one of those people who is secretly having a “sword drill” with you every time we have to turn to a new verse.  Especially if it’s a hard one–oh yeah, I’m going to beat you!

On a totally different note, look what I’m sipping my coffee from this morning:

I won this adorable mug a few weeks back on Andrea’s blog.  It arrived earlier this week with a package of thank you notes.  If you can’t read it,  it says Psalms 25:10 “Every path He guides us on is fragrant with His loving kindness.”  (THB)

Love it!

Andrea was actually one of the first blogs that I started reading who wasn’t someone that I knew IRL.  And then she changed her name  and I lost her, but then I found her, but my crazy computer was acting up and I couldn’t leave comments on blogger blogs, and then I got a new computer and found her again.   I know!  We have quite a history. 

All that to say, I’m so glad that I found her again (and not just for the mug!) 

I’m off to take the truck in to get it serviced.  Yay me! My favorite thing to do.  At least it`s sunny and gorgeous here today, so M and I can go for a walk instead of waiting in the garage.

Have a wonderful day!

Last  night was our Awana closing.  We always go out with a bang, and this year was no exception.  We had a Wild West theme, with many cowboys and cowgirls running around.   It was lots of fun, and completely exhausting! 

Here’s a few pictures, with more to follow when I get the rest.  (Hi Shannon–no pressure!)

This is my little cowgirl!  She’ll be old enough to a clubber next year–we can’t wait to have our whole family there together!

Here’s one of the cakes we had.  Love the boots!This is one of the wanted posters we had hanging in the sanctuary.  Ray and I did one for each leader.   They were quite surprised.  And the kids loved it!This is one of my boys!  We got pictures of most the clubbers “riding the horse”.

I’ll post more pictures later of our decorated sanctuary, and the cute prizes. 

It was  a  fabulous evening.  Lots of food, prizes, and awards given out.  Exhausting, but so worth it.  And now we’ll enjoy a break until September!

Stop by Andrea’s for more randomness! 

Happy Friday!

I missed last week, so I just jumped right in for this week. We read Psalms 7-14. If you don’t know what Book Review Friday, go visit Shannon at Watch the Sky.

I’m going to apoligize in advance for how short this is going to be. I may be a teensy wittle bit exhausted from our big Awana finale last night.

I love Psalms 8:3-4 “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

What a reminder of God’s hugeness, and my tinyness.  Humbling. 

Psalm 9:1 “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.”

Do I really praise God with my whole heart?  With everything in me?  Always?  When things are going well I do.  But what about when everything isn’t going the way I had planned.  When the kids are sick?   When hubby’s work is cut way back?  When my back pain flares up?  When money is tight?  When hubby is considering a carrer change that could have major implications on life as we know it?  When regular little life irritants get in the way? 

Do I always praise God then with my whole heart? 

Nope. 

Do I need to?

Absolutely!

Maybe if I was praising God with my whole heart, even through the difficult times, then maybe the difficult times wouldn’t seem like such difficult times.  (How many times can you type difficult times in one sentence??)

Lots of other things jumped out at me, but that’s all I’ll write about today.

It’s not to late to join in.  Grab your Bible, read in Psalms, and write about what spoke to you.  Then leave a comment over at Shannon’s so everyone else can read your review.

But I was also amazed by something as I viewed this house again. I couldn’t believe how small it was. When I was a kid, that house was huge!  HUGE!!  Or so it seemed to my child-eyes.  Main floor, upstairs, and a basement!  A dining room, and a sun porch. It seemed so big to me then. But now, I realized that it really wasn’t that huge house that I remembered.  Just a small little 2-storey home.  Funny how things seem different when we see them through child-eyes, isn’t it?

And then I got to thinking.  Do I still view God with my child-eyes?  With eyes so full of wonder, so amazed at His hugeness?  Even though I’m now a grown-up, is God still as big to me now as we was back when I was first getting to know Him?

I pray that I will never forget the hugeness of God.  Never stop being amazed by the wonders of Him.  Never not be quietly in awe of His Holiness.

Isaiah 6:3 ” Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.”

And my shoes? She was absolutely right–they are very cute!  Course, Mama wouldn’t wear a pair of shoes that she didn’t love.

Ignore the mud–just a sure sign that spring is here!

Feeling random?  Be sure to stop by Andrea’s!