Settling in

Life in Alaska has gotten kinda crazy, sorry I have not posted in a while.

Cora is settling in with us quite well.  She has been with us for almost a week now.  She is getting much better at walking and not pulling on the leash.  She gets walks at least 3 times a day!  We left her alone on Saturday night, when we went to a church dinner.  She tore up her blanket in the kennel so when left alone she no longer gets a blanket.  Cora leaves the blanket alone at night when we are sleeping, so she has something comfy to sleep on.  We also left her alone for a few hours on Monday... she decided to chew on the crate... so we are going to have to do some work there.  Java and Cora are doing better with each other. Java some times tolerates Cora, even rubs on her to see if she can feed her, haha.  We has some problems with getting Cora to eat on Friday and Saturday, but she has eaten most of her food since so we were excited.  She is an amazing dog, as long as she gets her walks she is totally relaxed! 

I am in Love...

With Cora.  She is the so sweet.Yesterday I took her on a walk she did great passing other people, bikes and skiers.  She did OK passing other dogs.  Her and Java met for a while Java is a little leery and Cora just wants to play.  Cora did great listening to us.  Best of all she did amazing with Jacob around.  He is 21 months old and was running back and forth across our 1st floor, Cora just laid down and watched him!  Awesome!!  Samantha took some pictures of me, Cora and Jacob.  How cute!

After Mike went to work and Samantha and Jacob left  I had some work to do.  I sat on the floor and spread my papers out and Cora laid down and fell asleep.  She is AMAZING!! I can't wait until Thursday.

11 months

Dear Callen,

I cannot believe that you have been gone for 11 months.  It seems like ages ago since I have talked to you. But at times it feels like I just got the call yesterday.  I miss you tons.  I have vowed to make 2011 better than 2010.  I promise you that I am going to try to be happy and excited about life again, in both the ups and downs.
 
Callen you would LOVE Cora.  She is so sweet.  She has a personality and a few quirks.  Like her ears and her tail... or lack there of.  I think she is going to bring a lot of joy back into our lives and maybe a little terror to Java's.  Maybe you can send me a little patience when I work with her.
  
BIG CHANGES ARE COMING SOON. 

Callen please give me strength patience and a sense of adventure.

Love you and Miss you always...

We are Adopting

After a long time thinking about it Mike and I have decide to a Adopt a Dog.  We went to an Adoption Fair at Petco on Saturday and saw a bunch of dogs.  Mike we were kinda focused on the puppies but after talking we decided a dog would be better.  We looked at an adoption web page and Cora came up.  I remembered seeing her at the event Saturday.  Mike contacted the agency and we went to meet her last night.  She is an absolute Doll.  High energy yes, but very sweet.  We hung out at her Fosters house and then took her on a short walk.  She actually was listening to me, better then Mike. We are filing the paper work today and seeing her tonight.  Then I plan on picking her up on Sunday after church, walking her and introducing her to Java and our home... ( I am not sure what Java is going to think.)  If all goes well we will adopt her full time when Mike gets off of work on the 20th.  We already have a vet appointment set up on the 21st to get her checked out.... we are already in love...

Here is what the webpage said about her:
Meet Cora! She is a 1.5 year old Husky mix. This girl only stops moving when she lays down! She took a couple of days to warm up (she was shy and a bit nervous at first), but is very sweet now that she is getting more comfortable. She is very high energy, loves a lot of play and to go for a long daily walk or two. She is doing very well with the cat, and excellent with the neighbors three female dogs. She likes playing with her rope and ball, and knows all of her basic commands. She walks very well on a leash if not allowed to charge ahead. She is submissive and very well behaved but still an independent thinker. She's sleeping in a crate at night and rides well in the car around town. This girl is a gem!

Be who you Are

"Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter,

and those who matter don't mind."

- Dr Seuss

I really love Dr Seuss.  I love the poems and rhymes he made.  I found this one recently.  It works perfect for me.  I hate when people side step what they are really trying to say or pretend to be someone or thing that they are clearly not.

 

This was a great weekend.  Mike and I kicked it off by going to an Aces Game with Samantha, Hans and Jacob.  Jacob did great at the game and was so entertaining.  He had 2 cow bells and was ready to cheer, mostly at the correct times.  When the music would be his little foot would start stomping on the ground.  We had a great time watching him as much as the game.  Sadly the Aces lost in overtime. After the game we played with Samantha and Hans new X-box Kinect.  It will definitely take some getting used to.  But I can see it being a lot of fun. 

 

Saturday we got up and went to a free Tai Chi lesson at The Oriental Healing Arts Center.  Mike even got up at 8:45 to go with me.  It was interesting.  It was out first experience and I could see liking it if you spent the time to cultivate the practice.  After Tai Chi we did some running around went to Boarders Book and got "The Dirty Life," then went to Petco and saw some adoption puppies.  The puppies were so cute and cuddly.  We wandered over the Michaels and I got 2 new Cricut Cartridges, normally $80.00 on sale for $9.99!!! I was happy.  Then we went to Costco,  OMG Costco is CRAZY on the weekends but we managed to get in and out without getting run over by a giant cart.  After watching some football, reading and napping, we went to our friends’ house, Lindsey and Chris' for dinner.  We had really yummy Garlic Chicken with rice, a salad and brownies with ice cream for desert.  We also got to meet their newest addition, Greighson.  He was born on my birthday this year (7-15-10), but was not due to be born until Halloween.  So WAY WAY early at 1.65 pounds, 12 inches and 24 weeks 6 days pregnant. He stayed in the NICU until Thanksgiving, but is now home and on Oxygen and doing well.  We played Taboo and Cranium, drank strawberry daiquiris and caught up.  

Sunday Morning we taught our Sunday School kids, we had 8 today.  They are so fun.  After Church we lounged at home.  For dinner we went out to Sullivan Steak House, with 2 free burger coupons we had.  The burgers were really yummy and so were the fries.  Now we are going to go read and go to bed early.

Dr. Seuss 2011

I've heard there are troubles of more than one kind.

Some come from ahead and some come from behind.

 But I've bought a big bat.

I'm all ready, you see.

Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me!

-Dr. Seuss

I have decided to "try" to relax more in 2011, enjoy what I have and accept what has happened before.  New years weekend I spent 3 days and 2 night as a counselor at Birchwood for a youth break away retreat.  I think I may have gotten more out of it than the youth.  We watched 4 Nooma video which really made me think about this past year and how I want to change in the future.  I also had the privilege to experience a 2 or 2.5 hour Sweat Lodge, I guided prayer/meditation in a sauna.  AMAZING.  So for 2011 I want to think like a Doctor Seuss Book, taking it as it is, celebrating what I have, and when trouble come taking a big bat to them...
Now "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" by Dr Seuss.

 

Congratulations!

Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town.

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

Wherever you fly, you’ll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’ t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

But, Somehow you’ll escape
And once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.

Where will you go in 2011?