Caffeinated Randomness: Could somebody please take out the dog?

Dear Child Who Is Begging His/Her Parents For A Dog and Will Die If You Don't Get One So Please, Please, PLEASE Can We Have One,

Yes, dogs are cute. Especially when they are puppies. They're so sweet and funny and cuddly, and do crazy things like trip over themselves trying to get over the one inch edge where the driveway meets the grass.

I know that you think that you are going to do all the work taking care of the dog. I know you think that you are going to take it outside every time it needs to fertilize the lawn. But have you really thought this through? Do you realize that you will actually have to clean up after the dog? Every time?

Also, dogs like to go outside. At 2 am. In the middle of blizzards, rain storms, and gale force winds. And then bark at things like owls hooting or snowmen wearing hats, which totally distracts them from the whole reason they are outside in the first place. You know to fertilize the lawn. So while you're standing outside at 2 am freezing your cute little tooshie off because you figured this would be a quick in and out trip, because who of God's marvelous creatures actually wants to be outside at 2 am freezing their cute little tooshie off, your dog will be running around sniffing every single last blade of grass and barking at it for the next 29 minutes and counting.

And, dear child, dogs like to play. At precisely the minute you are engrossed in the storyline of the brand new episode of your favourite show that you absolutely must see if you expect to survive the playground tomorrow. Your dog will stop at nothing to get you to play - it will tug at your pants, tug at your shirt, tug at your hair, tug at your toes, and drop a soggy, chewed up bone right on your lap at the precise moment you are reaching down to retrieve your snack. Assuming the dog hasn't eaten it. Which he likely has. Because that is something else dogs will do.

Did I mention the fertilizing? Oh, yeah. I did.

And let's not forget the lovely little presents your dog will leave you in your room while you're out for the day and forgot to close your door, and mom was so busy doing other important things, like wasting time on Facebook, that she forgot to close your door and take out the dog in time, and then you discover it at the exact moment your sister tackles you to the floor and your hair lands in it.

I just want you to be aware that this is the reality of having a dog. Other things that may occur:

• she may eat your cell phone (the old one your parents gave you that doesn't work,because why else would you have a cell phone, child?!)
• he will eat your crayons
• she will sniff out your very favourite bear and chew it
• he will find your underwear. And chew it. And then try to lick you, right on the mouth.

Yes, there will be good times - like when you come home and she's never been so happy to see anyone in her whole entire life, even though you were only out of the house for two minutes to take out the garbage. Or when she flops down and waits for you to rub her belly, or cuddles up with you in bed when you smuggle her into your room without mom noticing (note: Mom notices. She just pretends not to.) Or when she perfoms her whole repetoire of tricks for you, even if they aren't the ones you told her to do.

I just want you to know that it's not all fun and games. But you know what?

It's all worth it. So if you need someone to talk your mom into getting you a dog, come see me.

We'll just neglect to mention the fertilizing.

****
Don't forget to link up your own brew of randomness below! 

Read more...

Have You Heard: More Than Coping

I was thankful when Lisa directed me to the site More Than Coping, a site meant to encourage believers suffering with mental illness. While this is not an issue for myself personally, I do have a family member or two who does suffer, and sometimes the stigma is suffocating.

In the words of the site's founder, Allan Adams, More Than Coping serves to "offer information about Mental Illness as it relates to the Christians who visit as well as anyone else... In short, many Christians who suffer emotionally are hanging on by their fingernails, as they try to get by and survive. Quite literally, they are coping as best as they can. My desire is to see all of us do more than simply cope. We serve a loving God and we all desire the abundant life He promises. Hopefully, this blog can be used by Him to that end."

The site does not offer diagnosis or medical advice, but simply support for those who need it most.

If you or someone you know suffers from mental illness, it may be worth your while to visit More Than Coping, if only to know that you are not alone on this journey.

Please click here if you would like more information on Have You Heard.

Read more...

Handbag thoughts

Just to clarify from yesterday's post, no I did NOT actually buy any of those outfits. I would love to, but my husband might not appreciate the bill that comes with it!

Oh, bills, why must you be a necessary but ugly accessory? Couldn't you be frivolous and fun like a scarf? Or a new handbag?

My brain is full of frivolity this week. I think it's rebelling against next week. Or in denial. Every single time I get an email from work I freak out because I don't want to deal with one more thing. I feel like adding an automatic vacation responder to my work email that says something like "No, I cannot answer any more questions or deal with any more meetings. I am spring shopping. And I may never come back."

Sometimes, if you only knew the things that run through my head, I wonder if you would still think the same of me as you do now!


By the way, thank you again for your prayers for our friend and my grandma. While we are still waiting through both situations, it has really helped knowing others are praying.

I know full well that God is in control of both of these situations, and that some good will come from them. I have never doubted that. In fact, just yesterday my husband was talking with a co-worker who professes to be an atheist who actually begged God to do something about their friend in the hospital. His prayer would shock you if I told you his exact words - many would be offended at his audacity. And yet I look at it as an honest response to what he is feeling - and I think God can handle it. The fact he acknowledged that God is the only one who can fix this is amazing to me. And that he confided in my husband tells me more about my husband's own influence in his work place than anything else can.

Still, we are sad. Heartbroken. If he survives, he likely won't be the same person he was two weeks ago. And we may never know what happened.  That's the worst part - not knowing.

And so, I think that because of this and everything else, my brain can only handle dwelling on silly things like ruffles and flowers and pretty pink shoes. And handbags. You can never think about too many handbags.

Read more...