Let's Pick Up Where We Left Off..

Where has the time gone?  I cannot believe that the last time I posted was on May 18th!!  And to think, I had such high expectations on that date, that I was jumping back into the blogging that I love so much.

Well..here we are some 3 months later....so let's just pick up where we left off.  When I last posted, I was just beginning my new "position" at my part-time job in the restaurant where I had previously been working as a Hostess. To say that I was a little fearful and apprehensive about the prospect of waiting tables for the first time in my life, would have been an understatement!  I think that most people have waited tables at some time in their lives, but I never had.  I began working part-time in a dental office when I was 15 years old and never had the opportunity to wait tables.  So...at age 54 (Yikes!)...I waited on my first guests in a fine dining restaurant!  And, I am here to tell you that I absolutely LOVE it!

I have known for some time that my "love language" is "Acts of Service", so this is "right up my alley".  There are so many things to remember and I am still learning how to think ahead and know what my guests are going to need before they even need it, but I truly love taking care of them. I love seeing people have a wonderful dining experience, and I really take pride in offering them the best time service I possibly can. I am currently averaging about 23% in tips, so I am thankful to God for providing me with this opportunity and helping me to learn all that I have to learn. I can do ALL things through Christ!

On another happy note, we have a new addition to our family.  For some time now, I have wanted a little "lap dog"...in a house filled with 2 big dogs and a 13 pound Ragdoll cat!

So, without further ado...

I am pleased to introduce to you, Isabella, who we affectionately call, "Izzie".

"Izzie" is a Bolognese puppy and currently weighs about 7 1/2 lbs.  The vet expects that she will probably weigh about 10 lbs. when full grown, so she is the perfect addition to our pet family. When I found her through a friend on FaceBook, I knew absolutely nothing about this breed, but only that she was a "lap dog" as I had wanted for sometime AND she was adorable!  I drove 4 hrs. (round trip) on the Friday before Memorial Day in a terrible storm, and as soon as I saw her, I knew she was mine!

Bolognese are of the Bichon type and have a single coat which flows in loose ringlets; sort of woolly, rather than silky.  They are not to be trimmed or clipped.  They are very intelligent and have a very keen sense of hearing. (The girl can hear a pin drop in the house next door, but thankfully, she is NOT a "yapper"!

After researching more about this breed, I learned that they were bred in Italy to be companion dogs --- and companion dog she is!  They are known for forming a close bond with their owners.  She is in the middle of everything and is clearly the boss of EVERYONE in the house.

Thus, the name "Izzy-Busy-Body" that we have nicknamed her!

Another reason for wanting a new puppy was that my Boxer, Champ, is now almost 11 years old and is starting to "slow down" a little.  The vet said that it would be good for Champ to have another dog around - that it would help to keep him young.

I think she was exactly right, but I'll let you decide for yourself....

Prayers for My Fur Baby...

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One of my sweet "fur babies", Champ, had to have surgery today and is feeling a little under the weather this evening.
If you know anything about Boxers, you know that they are prone to all kinds of "bumps" and growths.  This was my sweet boy's 3rd or 4th surgery to have a tumor removed and the second one on the same leg.

When we picked him up from the vet this afternoon he was still very disoriented from the anesthetic and he was wearing an Elizabethan collar to keep him from licking the wound and possibly pulling out the sutures. Bless his heart...he looked like he had a lampshade on his head! ) :

In addition to having surgery on his hind left leg, he had his teeth cleaned and he also had to have 2 teeth extracted that were abscessed! He keeps licking his front left leg where his IV was inserted so it must be a little sore, too. It's so hard to watch my buddy feel like this...he looks so pitiful.

He was able to have a light meal before bedtime and has been tucked in his bed ever since.  Tomorrow he starts on his prescription medicines...praying he feels much better tomorrow after a good night's rest.

I love you, "Champer Doodle"!

"The Eyes Have It"

** UPDATE : Champ went back to the vet Wednesday morning and the doctor thinks that maybe he did not run into anything after all. She said that Boxers and Pugs are known for eye problems and that some of them actually have their cornea pop off! She said they sometimes lose their eyes due to ulcers. She prescribed another antibiotic, in addition to the drops we were already giving and we have to take him back for another recheck next week.

Ironically, when I went for a walk tonight, I saw a 12 yr. old Boxer that had both eyes so hazed over that it appeared that the dog could not see. The owner said that she had had ulcers and had surgery to do a lens implant and she can see fine despite the cloudiness.

I pray that Champ does not have to go through anything like that. Thank you so much for all your sweet comments and prayers and I will keep you posted on his progress.

One morning last year, we discovered that Champ, our Boxer, had somehow injured his eye. We took him to the vet and she determined that his eye had an abscess on it, most likely from running into a stick or some sharp object.  After a round of antibiotic drops, the condition seemed to be resolved.

Well.... this past Sunday evening, I looked at Champ, and his left eye was all hazy, draining and had an area that appeared to have some blood in it.  It looked just like it had last year.

Walt took him to the vet yesterday and, once again, he has an abscess on his eye. The vet thinks that he ran into another sharp object. I am beginning to think that maybe "our boy" cannot see as well since he is getting on up in years.

Here is a picture of my boy waiting for his eye drops tonight. Bless his little heart. It seems to be so painful.

Please pray for Champ. He goes back to the vet tomorrow morning for a recheck. It doesn't seem to look much better to us, so we are hopeful that he has not done any permanent damage to his eye.

Chillin' In The Chaise

Last night while we were eating dinner, I glanced out the window in the Breakfast Room and I had to do a "double-take".

This is what I saw.......

I can't help but wonder....

Is this what Champ does all day while I'm at work?!?!?!  No wonder he always has such an awesome TAN!

Hope ya'll have a great weekend!

This Post Brought To You By The Letter....

As many of you have probably noticed, I have been in desperate need of some blogging inspiration recently. I have seen this fun little letter tag on a few of my favorite blogs and I decided to participate.

My daughter, Faith, gave me the letter "B", so .....here are just a few things that I love that begin with the letter "B":

1. Bible

I love God's Word. I love writing notes in my Bible and marking in my Bible with highlighters, but more importantly, I love how my Bible has "marked" me. I am far from being the person that I need to be, but Praise the Lord, as a result of Him applying His Word to my heart, I am not the person that I used to be!

This is the actual Bible that I have and I have used this particular one for many years. Over the years I have participated in several Kay Arthur Precept Bible studies with this Bible, but I have never had the privilege of hearing Kay speak in person.  I am so excited that in June of this year I am going to have an opportunity to see and hear her in person at the Deeper Still Conference!

2. Boots

I LOVE cowboy boots!  They are without a doubt the most comfortable "shoes" that I own. I can stand in them all day and my feet will never hurt.  I wish I could wear them to work everyday! And besides that...they're just plain cute, don't you think??

3. Big Sexy Hairspray
Any of you that have been reading my blog for awhile already know about the great "love affair" that I have with this hairspray!  I don't even bother trying others, cause this is the only one for me.  I am so excited because I found out yesterday that a local store has it on sale for $5.99 a can!  Yippee!!

4. Banana Pepper Rings

I heart Banana Pepper Rings!  I think I originally got my start with loving these at Jenna's favorite eating establishment and it has just deepened over the years.  If I have banana pepper rings on my salad, I don't even have to have salad dressing on it!  YUM!

5. Beth Moore Bible Studies

No one can lead a Ladies Bible Study like Beth Moore!  I am in my third week of her new "Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman" Bible Study and let me tell you--it DOES NOT disappoint!  The insight that she brings to the scriptures is just amazing!  I love her and I am so excited that I have an opportunity to see her tonight in Atlanta and then again in June at the Deeper Still Conference!

6. Bears

I have a huge collection of "Cherished Teddies" that I collected for many years. I even had the privilege of meeting the artist, Priscilla Hillman, many years ago and having her "sign" a few of my special pieces. Some of them are very sentimental because of where I found them or because of their names.  I have ones named with each of my kid's names -- Faith, Joshua and Grace!

7. Baths

There is NOTHING like a good hot bath at the end of the day. I love taking an Epsom Salt Bath. The Epsom Salts are good for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins out. When absorbed through your skin the salts are supposed to sedate the nervous system, relax muscles and reduce swelling.  The salts are also a natural emollient and exfoliator. My husband and I both agree that we always sleep better after taking a bath in Epsom Salt. This usually leads me directly to number 8.....

8. Bed

I  LOVE my Tempur-P@dic mattress!  There is nothing like climbing in my bed, with soft organic cotton sheets, after a long hard day. It sometimes makes it very difficult to stay up to see THIS guy...

9. Bauer!

I am a SERIOUS Jack Bauer fan! I have loved "24" since the beginning so you can imagine my excitement a few weeks ago to learn that JACK IS BACK!  Most people would need months to recover from 20 months of Chinese interrogation, but Jack Bauer only needs a shower, a shave and a change of clothes!

10.Boxers

Champ  is seriously the sweetest boy ever! Before I ever got a Boxer, people used to tell me that once you own one you would never want any other kind of dog. Now I know what they meant!  Not only is he man (and woman's) best friend, but he is Ragdoll cat's best friend, too!

This post would not be complete without one final "B" that I love and that would be all of my Blogging Friends! When I started blogging, (about 8 months ago this week) I had no idea what a wonderful network of friends that I would be joining. I have met so many wonderful ladies through this blogging world  and I look forward to meeting many more of you.  

Eight months ago I would never have dreamed that I would be on the way to Atlanta today to meet someone that I had met on the internet. A fellow blogger who I have already grown to love, even though we have never met in person!  I'll be sharing some pictures of this fun trip after my return!

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Thanksgiving 2008

Lewis trying to go as a "stowaway" on Poppa's and Bubba's hunting trip.

"E" checking out how the deer antlers would look on her!

Poppa getting excited about wearing all of his "get up" !

 

Bubba donning the antlers, too.

"E" loving her some "Callie Boo".

Do you remember THIS guy?  Look how BIG he has gotten!

Champ playing some "keepaway" with Turk. Cutest "cousins" ever, huh?

Josh is always appointed to be the carver.

Mimi's Making Meals, of course!!

Sisters having some "Girl Talk". (Moms not invited!)

Finally.....ready to call everyone to the table! (Note: Fancy jug of sweet tea already waiting!)

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of great family memories!

Every Dog Has His Day

Our family is celebrating yet ANOTHER birthday today!

It's the birthday of a very special man in our family.

He is the best friend that anyone could have.  He loves everyone and lets little children sit on him and pull on him without ever growing tired of it. He has seen various cats and dogs come and go in our home, but he's STILL THE MAN!!

Seems like it was just yesterday that he was this size.

And now he is 56 years old today!

(Well....in people years, that is!)

Happy 8th Birthday, Champ!  We love you very much!

Champ with his special rawhide birthday treat!

Lewis Update

Lewis had to go to the vet on Wednesday for his last round of shots and he is doing really well.  The vet was very relieved to see that he had not DOUBLED in weight again like the last visit!  He is, however, still living large!  He weighed in at 5.2 pounds -- a weight he should not attain until he is approximately 5 months old and he is not quite 4 months old yet!  ( I can relate to that -- I am having the same problem!)

I caught this picture of him watching a little golf, while perched atop his scratching post.  (Of course, being a feline himself, he is usually pulling for "Tiger"!  LOL)  He also likes The Animal Planet!

Walt and I went away for a few days and we almost had a stowaway go with us on our trip!   

Wish we could have taken him and Champ with us 'cause we both missed them like crazy!  I'm not sure who was more glad to see the other one -- us or them!

So glad to be back home!

THE CHAMP STILL REIGNS !!!!!

I have only been blogging for a few weeks now, but I realized that I have one family member that has somehow been majorly overlooked on my blog. I realized that his feelings have probably been hurt by the fact that this "new kitty on the block" has been featured multiple times on my blog -- even though HE has been in the family almost 8 years longer than this feline named Lewis!

I am talking about none other than the best friend a "man" (or woman) could have --CHAMP! Champ is our Boxer who will be 8 years old in October. We picked him out of a litter when he was about 5 weeks old. Here he is in Grace's arms on the night we picked him.

I had always heard people say "If you ever have a Boxer, you'll never have any other kind of dog" and now I certainly understand what they were talking about. He is wonderful with my grandkids. He lets them pull on him, sit on him, etc.

He sleeps all night EVERY night right beside my bed! He absolutely LOVES his bed. There have been times when he's so "comfy" that his snoring has kept ME awake!

He is so sweet that he even gladly shares his bed with this bossy little Ragdoll kitten that just moved in a few weeks ago!

He's a 63 pound LAP DOG!

That LOVES to play Frisbee and

"chew" on the leaf blower -- with it running!

Champ, you're the best bud a family could ever have and we love you very much!