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....

GOD'S SCHOOL OF OBEDIENCE TRAINING

Sometimes on Saturday mornings, we have a young man that comes downtown on the "green" in our little town and brings numerous dogs and their owners that he has been working with in obedience training. He also brings his own "personal" dogs with him and the things he gets these animals to do is just incredible! It doesn't matter what is going on around them, they are not distracted and their attention is directed solely on their master. Anything he commands them to do, they do it without hesitation and a lot of the commands are given without speaking a word - just by a hand signal. It is really amazing to watch!

Dog owners enroll their dogs in obedience training to teach their pet to listen and obey their master's voice, as well as to break them of unacceptable behaviors. Some of these "bad" behaviors might be - barking, biting, chewing, digging, running away, messing in the house, etc.  (As I write this, I have a hole big enough to put a Volkswagen in in my backyard that my son's dog dug! lol)

As I thought about how amazing these animals were to watch, it reminded me that many times in God's Word He refers to us as His "sheep". "For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand..."

 (Psalm 95:7) 

God demands obedience in His "sheep".  When He calls us He wants us to obey Him. He tells us in His word that, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me". (Jn. 10:27) 

This got me to thinking......If God has me in "obedience training", (and He does!) I wonder what behaviors He is trying to "break" me of in my life. 

 

** Am I guilty of "biting" words?   

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Ps. 19:14)

** Do I continue to "chew" on things that the Lord wants me to let Him handle? 

"...do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matt. 6:25)

** Do I suffer from separation anxiety?  

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)

** Have I been "digging" into things that I know are "off-limits" to me? 

"Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith , love and peace.." (2 Tim. 2:22)

** Are some of my bad behaviors stemming from fear or lack of trust?  

"And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, for Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10)

** Do I have a bad habit of "barking" that I can't seem to break?

"Do not talk out of both sides of your mouth. Avoid careless banter, white lies and gossip." (Prov. 4:24 The Message)

** Am I trying to listen to more than one master? 

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other..." Matthew 6:24

When these animals are in obedience training, they attend classes with their master. Their ONLY master. They learn to recognize their master's voice and his commands. They don't concern themselves with anyone or anything else around them. They are totally devoted to their owner/master.

To teach obedience or break bad habits, some pet owners resort to various means of teaching their animals, i.e. invisible fencing, choke collars, electric shock collars, etc. 

What if God used some of those same tactics with His "sheep"?

What if every time we exhibited one of these "bad" behaviors we got a choking sensation around our neck? 

If every time we "ran away" to some place that we knew we shouldn't go, we got shocked? 

If every time we "barked", or "bit" someone with our words, we got "zapped"?

God has given us a wonderful way that we can become more obedient to His voice - by spending more time in His Word - listening to His voice, becoming more familiar with His voice, hiding His word in our hearts. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." - (Psalm 119:11)

We are continually in God's School of Obedience Training. Thank You, Lord that You never give up on us!

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

John 14:15

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!

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!