The World according to Elvis!

Our 110 lb. Weimareiner gives new meaning to "My Space"! We got "Elvis Marvin Gaye Ledbetter", by default, when he was two. He's been both a joy and a royal pain to me in the seven years since then! Heaven knows, he is typical of his breed, but I dare say he's in the high precentile of those that are their own breed. Yes he is a dominant alpha dog which makes him socially unacceptable to most other dogs...until he shows his prowess and is comfortable with them. After initial contact with another dog, he either becomes boss or the other dog has to leave - by force or by wise choice of its owner. Let's just say animals that aren't dogs cannot cohabitate in his space. It would be detrimental to their health and wellbeing! Despite his social ineptness, he is still a sweetheart of a big boy. He's lovable to us, albeit a bit challenging for the rest of the general population. They just don't understand his passion! Like the original Elvis, he loves to shake his booty and eat good food. Inadvertently, its cause for bouts of tunnel vision more often than not. Get out of his way when he's excited or has a meal in his reach. Anything between him and his target is going down!
Bill and I had to laugh the other night at his behavior....for the umpteenth time! He has to have his own space and sometimes invading that chosen space makes him pace around until it is freed, fluffed and fixed for his sole occupancy. We have moved our liesure time into a family room where we have a new tv setup and it has messed up his routine hangout space which is normally on a couch or bed, but always by our sides. He, like many of his breed, has separation anxiety that makes him want to be close to us at all times when we are home.....close, but not always touching - that would invade his space! Yet, the other night, he had enough of just a rug separating him from a hardwood floor. The comfort zone had been minimized, so he paced for a while and eventually jumped up between us on the one couch in the room. Surprisingly, he didn't care that his behind was touching me and his head was in Bill's lap. Normally that would just not have cut the mustard, but now it was the better choice for his comfort. If he couldn't have his own cushy space, he would encrouch upon ours. After all, its all about him!
Being the softie that I am, I went out yesterday and got him a new dog bed for the room, so his comfort would not be compromised! Yes, I helped create this monster, or at least enable him to get his way. He loves his comfy new bed and as I'm writing this, he is snoring at our feet as we watch Tiger try to come back from behind to win the Master's. He could care less. Once again, he's in his own space, his own world, according to Elvis! What could be any better?!

My baby is 21 today! Happy Birthday Kristen!!! To say I am proud and honored to be her mother is an understatement. Thanks, Kristen, for being you (even when it's not cool!). The little premie that came into the world a month early on April Fool's Day, 1987, is nobody's fool. Did I tell you she made Dean's List at the University of KY last semester? SHE DID!
She's a pretty cool CAT!
Happy Birthday Baby. WE LOVE YOU!!!

Who will roll the stone away?

Easter is fast approaching. It's funny what comes to mind when we think of Easter. There's nothing wrong with bunnies, baby chicks, eggs and (especially) chocolate. I'm all for having a fun time with the kids at Easter. Some of my favorite memories from childhood are of hunting easter eggs with my cousins in my grandmother's yard. But my childhood idea of Easter can't compare to the joy I have now in knowing that my eternity is secure because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. I love Easter now because I love my Lord. I know the extravagant kind of love it took for Jesus to willingly surrender to death on a cross in order to pay for my sins. He did that for me! WOW!

The gospel of Mark, chapter 16 verse 3, recounts how two women were going to the tomb where their beloved Jesus had been buried after his crucifixion. Their love and devotion for Jesus motivated them to take spices and perfumes to annoint his body. Verse 3 captures their dialogue:

Mark 16:3 - and they asked each other, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

That leaves a mark in my spirit. A mark that looks like a word picture of faith and intense love. My bible footnotes tell me that rolling the stone into place was not that difficult, but that taking it away from the grooved bedrock into which it had become lodged was no small feat; especially for two women (physically) alone in their endeavor to take away the barrier that separated them from their Saviour. Think about that for a second. What faith it must have taken to set out on such a mission, knowing that the tomb was sealed; not letting it deter their determination to honor their Lord. They may have appeared to be alone, but God was with them. Just as He is always with us who have put our trust in Jesus as our Saviour.

Mark 16:4 goes on to say, But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

I want to have that kind of faith. To love Jesus with such intensity that I don't let anything come between Him and me, to know that He can roll the stones away and to know that no stone can ever separate me from His love. I'm all for that!



Happy Easter!



Oh - note this interesting bit I just discovered about why Easter is so early this year. Call me a nerd, but I just like information. I may not remember it all, but I get a kick out of "stuff" that enlightens me.
http://www.leadingsmart.com/leadingsmart/2008/03/why-is-easter-s.html

SPRING is in sight!

I finally got a job this week. God is good! He has been trying to teach me patience these past four months, as I have had many doors shut to finding employment here in Rockford. The job is only part-time, but I am thankful for the opportunity and I have great peace that God has put me in a great new place to work. I didn't think I would lose my salary and great benefits when we moved here, so the adjustment has been a bit painful for me at times. But I know my Father's pension plan is much greater than the earthly one I have been so concerned about. Even though I am confident that where God guides He provides, my human nature kept getting in the way of my peace with that. Did I tell you that my spiritual gift is faith?! I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm afraid I let my fruit be exposed to the cold snowy winter and I've had a severe case of spiritual frostbite. I'm ready for the thaw-out and it seems like SPRING may finally be right around the corner. The temperature is in the 40's here today; it feels like the tropics.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Today, especially, I will be glad and rejoice in it!