Scaredy Cat

I decided I needed to get Oliver some exercise, so I took him to a dog park. Now, I need exercise too, but I thought he would enjoy running with other dogs more than walking with me. When we walked through the gates, he took one look around and tried to climb up my leg. I walked him further in and he literally hid between my legs. When ever I moved, he was right there moving with me. Other dogs came over to visit, he couldn't get any lower to the ground. His poor little tail was curled up under his belly. I moved across the park to a bench where it was empty and he hid under the bench.

THIS IS MY AGGRESSIVE PUPPY!!

He is so friendly with people and little dogs, but when it comes to bigger dogs, well lets just say, he is a scaredy cat.

I will take him again soon.

Meow

Guilty Pleasures

As I watched my DVR'ed program this morning, I started thinking that there are certain things I wickedly enjoy. Yes, I am admitting to some guilty pleasures, please don't judge.

I really, really enjoy "Pushing Daisies", this program makes me laugh out loud even when I am alone. (Which is the only time I watch it, because Brigette isn't close by to watch it with me and Kevin doesn't care for it)

I sneak a Snicker's bar every so often when stressed (thanks Tina).

Janet Evanovich novels (thanks Lisa and Mom).

Watching reality TV (Biggest Loser, Survivor, Jon & Kate plus 8 and Little People, Big World, which I also DVR because Kevin doesn't enjoy them).

I absolutely love watching a fight break out on the ice while the Red Wings are playing. (Kevin does watch the Wings with me and probably enjoys the fights even more than I do).

A grande peppermint mocha latte with whip, thank you.

Looking in people's windows at night when their shades are up (only because I want to see how they decorate their house).

Organizing my pantry so all the labels are facing forward and the cans and jars lined up exactly (my whole family thinks that this is a bit of OCD, okay, a lot of OCD, so I try not to do this too often!).

Singing or humming to myself in public (it's amazing how many looks I get, so I don't do this too often either).

And last but not least, chips with french onion dip.

There I confessed, so now you know. What are your guilty pleasures?

Chilly Morning

Last night we had a few wet snow flakes fall for the first time this year and we woke to a very chilly morning. We have been diehards and haven't wanted to turn on the furnace, the floors were cold and we all had goosebumps. When it was time to send Lance to school, I bundled him up in a sweatshirt and winter coat and sent him out to the driveway to wait for the bus. In the mean time I had on my big fluffy bathrobe and warm socks and I was fine. Both Kevin and Lance are gone by 6:30 a.m. so this morning I decided to climb back into bed and curl up under the comforter for another hour.

When I got back up, I realized it was even colder yet and finally broke down and turned on the furnace. After about ten minutes I began to wonder where Oliver went to, I couldn't find him anywhere and that's when I discovered that he was partway under the front of the couch. We have a register behind the couch and you can feel the heat radiating from underneath it. He found the perfect spot to warm up.

A Good Day

We had a beautiful day yesterday. We traveled a little over three hours to visit Maranatha family vacation/conference center in Muskegon, it is right between Lake Michigan and a small lake named Mono Lake. Even though it was rainy at times it was also lovely with the fall colors and falling leaves and what beautiful facilities they have!! We were there to check out the site for the summer Joni and Friends Family Retreat. It will be able to hold approximately 95 families. (truly amazing!!) I wrote about our summer experience this past August in upper MI, in an earlier post. It is such a necessary break for many families who have who have loved ones with special needs. This facility has condos, hotel rooms, apartments and houses, they have a beautiful pool, tennis courts, a climbing wall and a zip line. There will be horseback riding, a gorgeous beach and trails to wander as well as fishing and boating. There is an amazing gym with a workout room and a fully staffed cafeteria (believe it or not, the food was very good!) There are also plenty of meeting rooms and a huge chapel for services. The people who plan this event were so excited and can't wait!!

Now comes the hard part...we have to find Short Term Missionaries or STM's for short. We are going to have start recruiting area churches to look for people who want to serve. It is a great way to experience a mission trip without having to pay so much and travel out of the country. Everyone who serves love the experience and want to go back, our problem is we always need to find more people because there are so many new families each year.

We need to pray and ask God to lead us to the right place and the right people.

Forever Friday

That's what I would like it to be, forever Friday. Fridays are so expectant, they are full of plans and feel so different than a Monday or a Tuesday or Wednesday or even a Thursday and they don't have the gloom of a Sunday evening. They hold promise. On Fridays you are making plans for the weekend such as going out on Friday night or staying in and hunkering down. You plan for Saturday whether it is doing a family outing or staying home and working around the house. And of course there are the football games or a Saturday day hockey game. Family birthdays are usually planned for the weekend and best of all, Sunday morning breakfast with church service following and a family lunch or dinner planned for later that day.

So here's to you Friday!!! I am so glad you are here! I have a nice weekend planned with dinner tonight with friends, a Saturday drive out to Muskegon with Kevin and Lance and a relaxing Sunday. I will also get a hockey game or two to watch. And I will not think about Monday until Sunday evening.

The Last Visage of Summer

It was a glorious weekend and we were able to finish most of the yard and outdoor work. I cut down all the hostas, astilbes and peonies, but I couldn't bring myself to cut down the last of the perennials. They survived last week's frosts and continued to bloom. Here are a few pics.

We also were able to get a some what chilly bike ride in. Here is Kevin and Lance on Lance's tandem.

Rants and Raves

I had to take Oliver to have his stitches removed and do a few errands. While out, I decided to treat myself to a cup of coffee. I only had a couple of dollars in change (rant #1) so I pulled into a Burger King to get a Mocha Joe. Now, I prefer to go to Starbucks, Caribou Coffee or even an independent coffee shop but a Mocha Joe will do in a pinch. Anyway, while waiting in line in the drive through, I saw a woman in a black Cadillac Escalade very sneakily, throw her trash out the window. It infuriated me!! All the talk about the environment and keeping our planet clean, you would think that she could just hold onto it until she got home... Well now we get into the whole entitlement thinking thing and you don't want me to go there.

We went to see the new Christian movie "Fireproof" last night. I was very disappointed. I realize that Christian film makers are trying to break into the movie industry and I applaud their efforts, but you have to pick GOOD ACTORS!!! As the movie got going Kirk Cameron started to become believable as well as some of the firemen in his department, but that is where it ends. The rest of the cast just couldn't pull it off. I know there are very talented christian actors out there, please look for them. I guess it is like the music back in the eighty's and early ninety's, eventually they will get it.

What is it about staffing for the special needs or elderly? There is not a week goes by that one or more of the staff people, who work with Lance, call to cancel. I know that they are not paid well (which is another grip that I won't get into right now) but it is a job and Lance looks for forward to seeing them. He does not have friends outside of school and gets pretty lonely at times and let's face it, what 22 year old young man wants to hang out with his parents all the time. They help him with some of his chores or help him make a simple meal or dessert or they go out into the community. He treasures these times and is so disappointed when they don't show up. Also, do they realize that when we don't get the full amount of hours allotted through the county, we end up losing them?

Okay I am finished at the moment, thank you for letting me get these things off my chest. I will face my day with optimism and hope, I will also look for the good in all that is around me.