Valentines Day 2009...

I feel so loved... my strong silent mysterious man surprised me Thursday and brought home some crab legs. One of my favorite things, but it meant so much because he does not like to be in the same room with almost everything seafood.

That's love!!

Friday he surprised me with dinner out with my bff... he made all the plans and phone calls!

This is really love!

Tonight he is taking me to a sweetheart dinner and dance... he surprised me and signed up to go a few months ago!
Truly Love... because he doesn't dance!

And he has been spreading the love all day long.... even the puppies got to lick his cherry tootsie pops (don't worry nobody ate it when they were done)
They were all so patient with each other taking their turns...
That's really love... it is normally dog eat dog when it comes to food around our house.
I can't get the video to upload... it is hilarious!!!

I love my man...

And I know he loves me!

Happy Valentines Day Sweetheart!

Taylors trip to town...

Yesterday afternoon, My strong silent mysterious man had to go get a part for a motor at work the next day, so he came by the house to see if I wanted to ride over with him.

He was going to one of the few stores in town that let you bring your dog, and Taylor hasn't been out much this winter to practice her obedience training in distracting environments. So "we" (I) thought it would be a great idea to take her with us.

So here is Taylors trip to town.... she was so excited!

One of my favorite stores in town... and they love having the dogs come, they even have treats at the front counter for them.

My strong silent mysterious man was concerned... you can see it in his eyes.

So she just had to do well, or it might be her last trip to town or anywhere for a while.

She doesn't need it much anymore, but we threw the leash on for safety, and for others to think we actually had control of her (very scary to see a dog off a leash, when they are not yours).

But since Taylor started off as a puppy ripping my arm out of the socket, and we can walk with her healing by our side without one... it's pretty exciting and fun to show her off!

She did so good! Stayed right with Dad as he looked and searched for his part.

Only a few times distracted, like when he went down the dog food isle... she wanted to pick out her own bag.

But mostly, she stayed when he said stay... we tested her allot this trip.

And she was even really really good when he got distracted and wasn't paying attention. Which is really the ultimate goal, to have them pay attention to you instead of you having to watch them all the time.

It was a fun trip to town for all of us.

I love dogs so much! I love obedient dogs even more, and I think they are happier dogs too!! Someday I think I want to volunteer at the animal shelter or have a job that I keep dogs when their owners go on vacation or have a daycare for dogs that are too nervous to stay home alone during the work week by themselves, or get too lonely... someday, maybe.

Skiff of snow...

Yesterday we got another skiff of snow.

I am not sure what is happening to my days lately,

but I don't feel like I am accomplishing anything, the house is filthy, the chores are backing up, I am barely taking care of the basic needs;

but I am also dabbling in almost everything... from my sons homework to my husbands basketball plays, to reading state payroll rules and regs books online, to studying a spiritual thought more deeply, looking at old photos, and dreaming as I surf the Internet for information but get sidetracked by something that peaks yet another interest, going through files;

I am all over the place mentally... trying to stay focused on the important things, but not getting it done. Barely functioning, and feeling guilty because I am not on top of all the things that I want to be important to me.

Yesterdays snow helped me remember not to be too hard on myself.

When I am in that mode, wanting to do everything, but getting nothing done, because I am losing focus so easily... I get tense, and everything annoys me!

She didn't even care that the Frisbee got broken, I freaked out and got mad that she was being too rough and not taking care of her toys, and she kept running and playing with it. What in the world was I getting mad about? When I am tensed up and really just missing life...

There is Taylor, out there reminding me to...

breathe,

smile,

kick up my heals a couple times a day,

run,

be playful,

laugh,

don't take things too seriously,

have fun,

live life,

don't freak out if the toy gets broken,

relax and renew!

I am so glad I can learn really good life lessons from my dogs.

Sometimes, I just really need them, more than they need me.

Thanks Taylor, I will try and cherish the moments in the snow with the

broken Frisbee playing with you more often; and cry over spilt milk, and feel sorry for myself way less often.

Wordless Wednesday...

SPT ~ I think it would be romantic...

"I think it would be romantic..."

I am really far right on the romantic scale, while my strong silent mysterious man is on the other end of the spectrum with the left feet of romance... so this spt was hard for me. I often find myself dreaming of romantic trips in exotic places, but the reality is, if I want to go there, he won't be with me. So I try and stay grounded and think of ways to be romantic in places and doing things he would love.

Since I was struggling with this... I asked him to fill in the blank.

He didn't come up with anything at first... then when we stopped by Mickey D's for dinner with 400 screamin' youngins' for half price happy meal night (perfect killer to any romantic thoughts I might have been having... jk, it was too fun watching all the little kids and literally hundreds of happy meals... a great entertaining date night); he pulls my camera out of my purse and takes this photo and says

"I think it would be romantic... if you paid for dinner all the time"

Somehow, just that he was willing to participate in spt with me (including taking the spontaneous photo), was really romantic!

You gotta love it when the strong silent ones are good sports too!
So mine is...
"I think it would be romantic... if you wrote a song for me"

Temples bring peace...

Sunday, the theme of the day seemed to be about temples and temple marriages. The Primary President spoke about Temple marriages in our sacrament meeting. She is a single mom, and even mentioned she had questioned why she might be given this topic to speak on. They couldn't have picked a more perfect speaker, she gave an amazing talk... I was crying my eyes out and was so touched by the spirit. I was so touched by her testimony of temple marriages as she encouraged everyone to hold them in the highest respect and treasure them.

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Then in our relief society meeting, the teacher was a lady who had been recently re-activated and finally made her way back to the Temple, and has been every week since Dec 23rd. She set a goal and has been able to focus and keep that goal to attend, even working a full time job; what a wonderful example. She mentioned that she has faith that by being a good example and doing what she knows is right and living so that she is worthy to attend the temple, her inactive kids will one day come back to church.

I thought about the time when I was a single Mom and I had so many questions about what was right, and if I was strong enough or had enough faith to make the commitments necessary to attend the temple. I was so afraid of failing! I didn't want to let anyone down, especially my Father in Heaven.

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I have been so blessed, and had so many tender mercies afforded to me. I fall down allot, but I have learned so many principles to pull myself back up again. I feel like I am not afraid to fail anymore, that I can do anything with God. I am so grateful for the Temple, and to have my family be sealed forever together. It is a great comfort and peace in my life. I am so grateful for peace in my heart during times in an ever growing tumultuous world. This peace helps me to know, I am not failing, HE won't let me fail. I am sooo grateful for this peace.

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I will cherish peace today.