Happy Birthday Bailey

Happy 5th Birthday Bailey!  Forgive me for creating a post for our dog, but we don't have any kids so our dogs are like our kids:).  I remember seeing her for the first time when she was only about a week old.  I went out to see the puppies and immediately knew she was the one I just had to have.  She was the only white puppy and so tiny, the smallest in the litter.  I talked with Camp and my parents about getting her and they stressed to me what a big commitment it was to have a puppy but I was ready for whatever that looked like.  Waiting until she was old enough to bring home was so hard, but I would come visit often and even gave a few baths because she stayed outside and the fleas were getting her.  I finally got to bring her home and she was the most precious, little thing.  At eight weeks she only weighed 2 lbs. though and unfortunately was not doing too well...lots of fleas and worms.  But Camp and I got her taken care of and nursed her back to health.  We even had to dip her in this yellow bath liquid for her skin andshe looked like a little duckling:)!  Each day she got better and better and began to show more spunk and play:)!  She's always loved to play...when she was little - with her little frog and now with a bucket of toys.

She has been given lots of nicknames but we mostly call her "B" now.  We've also called her ghost dog, snow dog, and ratatouille.  She's always had a lot of energy and still does!  If there is a tennis ball around she'll fetch it for hours...literally until we make her stop and put the ball away.  About two years ago she discovered that she LOVES to swim and if there is a pool around it is a guarantee that she will be in it!  Her new trick is to jump in off the diving board for her tennis ball.  She's crazy as can be but also has the sweetest side.  She still loves to cuddle (my snuggle-bug in the winter) and will even still let Camp and me pick her up in our arms like a baby.  She loves playng with other dogs too...she'll pretty much get any dog to play tug-of-war with her. She's terrified of flies and if one comes in the house she hides in the office under the desk.  These are just all the little things that make Bailey Bailey...She's a one of a kind and we're so glad she's a part of our little family!  

Happy Birthday Miss B!!!!!  

The Precious Gift of Time

I have always been a person that is very aware of time.  I do not like being late.  I like to be in bed by a certain time at night.  I like to run miles in a certain amount of time.  I become overwhelmed when time seems to be scarce.  I tend to feel guilty if I have time and use it poorly.  However, today I find myself giving thanks for the gift of Time. 

So today I thank my husband Camp for selflessly providing me with this gift.  Thank you for allowing me to go to school full-time.  Thank you for giving me permission (not because you're the boss but because you knew I needed to hear it to give permission to myself) to take a couple weeks off and not fill my schedule with substituting all week as I prepare to start my summer internship.  Thank you for starting on this journey with me almost three years ago (hard to believe it will be through in August), trusting that our Father would provide for us.  Thank you for giving me Time.

I Love you,
Kathy

I've got Joy, Joy, Joy Down in my Heart

When my brother was little, he and my grandmother, Mammie, would sing this song together.  As his younger sister, I do not remember him doing this, but the memory has been shared with me.  For this reason this song always reminds me of my brother, Brett.  And today, I've got Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart for him!! 

I have always been proud to call Brett my older brother.  There is something special about an older brother.  I  looked up to him as a little girl wanting to do anything that he did.  I wanted to play with the boys, ride bikes, play sports, and refused to wear pink because I wanted to be like Brett.  We had our occasional fights along the way but we always loved each other. The older we've become the great depth of our relationship has been revealed to us.

Brett has been working as an attorney for the last six years in a New York law firm. He worked hard.  Really hard.  Honestly, an incomprehensible hard.  Brett loves to live; to enjoy life and enjoy those people in his life but the work did not allow for living.  He was alive but he was not truly living.  I looked up to him as a little girl and I continue to look up to him today.  I admire the strength that was required to do his job but most of all I admire his consideration of his wife, Tara, as he thought of her while trying to figure another path for his career to take. 

My entire family has been praying for doors to open and opportunities to present themselves.  And doors did fly open.  Brett will be starting a new career in March!  We were reminded that God's timing is very different from our own.  Praying for a year and half, knowing that God did indeed have a plan for Brett and Tara, but daily being tested to truly believe.

So to my older brother, I am so excited for you and Tara to embark on this new journey!  It has been hard to see you struggle, but I thank you for inviting me in and allowing Camp and I to journey along side you.

Love-

Your little sister      

SNOW day!

I'm not a huge fan of the cold but I think after 4 days of not reaching above freezing, I have a new appreciation for what COLD really means!  When I woke up yesterday I felt like a little kid as I looked out the window.  The snow kept falling and it was beautiful.  Although it was cold outside, all I could think about was bundling up and adventuring around in the snow.

Our house in the snow.

It looked like a winter wonderland in our neighborhood

Gizzy, our little diva, was not real thrilled about being out in the snow!


 

My dad came up for the weekend and brought his dog Levi who got to experience his first snow!  Bailey and Levi having the time of their life in the snow!  They would have played all day:)



 

A little game of football in preparation of the Superbowl.  Bailey's the quarterback calling the shots and Levi's ready for  the long pass! 


Let's just say we all, the dogs and myself included, enjoyed the snowy day!

Confession

I feel as though I need to confess.  I have been a part of the blogging world, reading others' blogs for a while now, but have not had one of my own.  Today, I will join the blogging world by creating my own.  So here goes.  I am excited to share the happenings of our journeys, probably most often not very exciting to others, but excited to spend time focusing on our story.  So perhaps, this blog is more of a place for me to take some time to slow down and remember, or better yet slow down enough to enjoy the moment rather than looking forward to the next journey.

I have always loved to write.  So here's to starting my writing journey...