Adoption Day!

1 year ago today I drove to Cooper, Texas to get my first puppy. The random things surrounding me getting Allie are kind of humorous. For instance, the guy we bought her from was so country he told us that he didn't know "nothing about no internet" and that a friend of his posted an add for the puppies online, but no one around there knew how to get pictures on. Or the fact that I was not sure if I wanted one of the boys or the only girl, but they opened the gate and the girl came running to me and jumped on me so I got my Allie girl (which is ironic considering, when she meets new people, she usually runs away from them, but she does still escape out gates!)

But I embarked on this adventure and I absolutely love having her! Here are some pictures from the last year:On her first night at home, crawled up in my lap to check me out

Learning to jump over the gate!

Many trips to the dog park

Play dates with her best friend Sasha

Halloween!

And of course, her first birthday

What a year it's been with my Allie-girl!

Honestly Speaking

Nicki tagged me for the Honest Scrap. Basically the rules are to write 10 honest things about yourself and then tag 7 people. Well I don't really have 7 people to tag, but I did write 10 honest things about me, so here you go:

1. I watch entirely too much television--for instance, I have 4 shows that I tape just on Monday nights, it's a little pathetic
2. I absolutely love baking, but I avoid it as much as possible because I have no one to bake for and I don't want to end up with all the yummy, but bad for me treats!
3. I drink water and sodas really quickly. Seriously, if I am not paying attention I will drink an entire 20 ounce bottle of water in less than 5 minutes because I just drink it until it's gone.
4. I have never played a sport and am pretty sure if I tried I would be really bad
5. I always read before going to sleep. And I usually get through at least 3 books a month.
6. I watch The Bachelor and I love it.
7. I love working with Jr High "Kids"-- most people run from this age, but they are so fun!
8. I am really enjoying the fact that my Allie girl is finally growing out of pupphood a little bit and will cuddle with me on the couch after about 6:00 each evening which is when she's ready for bed!
9. I work in a Brookshire's shopping center, which is really dangerous. My co-workers and I go there so often that when I check out, the lady often says to me "see you tomorrow!"
10. I love to make crafts, but don't feel as though I'm very good at them

Excited for the Future

I just have to say that I am really excited about everything that went on today. I was on the phone with a co-worker this morning as I was getting ready (yes, I do talk to a couple of my co-workers at all hours!) and I told her that I just wanted to stay home from work today and watch the inauguration and all of the events! I am so glad to be in America and am so excited to get to be alive during this historical event and these times. I know it will be something that I remember for a long time to come!

Sadly, I still have not had 5 minutes to sit down and watch any of the events of today, and I am too exhausted to do it tonight. But tomorrow after I get off work my DVR and I have a date to watch the inauguration and the Ball that are both recorded!

I am definitely praying hard for our new President, his family and his administration as they begin this journey of leading us. God Bless America!

Prayers for a Sweet Friend

I wanted to lift up my friend Erin in prayer and ask for all of your prayers as well. She is undergoing some medical tests this week after a routine visit to the optometrist over Christmas break. Please pray for her peace and for the wisdom of the doctors to find exactly what is going on!

Erin has been such an amazing friend to me since we met at Baylor. We met because she used to take this loser Freshman to church every week when I had no friends ;) And she is such a wonderful blessing to me. I am so lucky that she is living in the Dallas area with me--she has definitely made the transition from school so much easier and we have had lots of fun on all of our Dallas adventures over the last year. Erin is such a beautiful woman of God who has a heart and a passion for Him and I just pray for His blessings and comfort over her this week.

My newest Addiction...

I went to Half-Price books last weekend to try to find something new to read and when I saw this I decided to get it. I have been interested in reading this book for quite a while, but finally decided to get it! And I am already done. I have not been feeling well again this week and as part of that I have had a hard time sleeping, so when I wake up way too early in the morning and can't fall back to sleep, I've been reading this.

And I finished this morning.

I really liked it and so tonight I decided to go to the Half-Price Books by me to get another book about the same shopaholic and they didn't have any of the books there! Hopefully I can get to one of the bigger stores sometime soon and find more because I want to know what else happens!

Testing the Crock Pot

It has been a CRAZY week. Very busy and then I got sick in the middle of it and suddenly before I know it, the weekend is here! One of the best parts of my week was I finally used the crockpot my mom gave me for my birthday. For Christmas my brother and sister-in-law gave me a slow cooker recipe book, and she also wrote out a few of her favorite recipes. So I figured I'd start by making one of her tried and true recipes!

So Sunday evening I made Chicken Spaghetti in my new crock pot. I love chicken spaghetti so I figured this was a good start! And it lasted me most of the week and I froze half of it for some later time when I want more!

Here's the recipe if you want to try it:
16 oz Spaghetti
1 lb Velveeta Light
1 Can of Rotel (I only used half)
2 Cans Chicken
1 Can Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup

You cook and drain the spaghetti noodles separately and after they are ready you add everything in the crockpot along with 1/2 cup of water and cook on low 2-3 hours.

It was a very good first recipe for my crock pot!

PS One of the BEST things about this recipe--it's from weight watchers, so it can't be that bad for you!

Sweet Freedom...

allie has been spoiled this year so far. She has not been in her crate at all since I got home from celebrating new years! We have been staying with my mom and even though I have gone out a couple of time since then, sweet grandma has watched Allie girl while I've been gone. Which means that she hasn't been in her crate in the last 3 days! I got Allie last January and since then, I don't think she has had a day where she has not been in her crate for at least some amount of time. Even if I'm not working, I always go somewhere at least to the grocery store or somewhere when she has to be put up, even just for an hour.

Crazy girl is enjoying her freedom a little too much and she will be VERY sad come Monday morning when I go back to work and she is stuck once again all day long!

Welcoming 2009 with One Little Word

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2009?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities
From http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

I had read about this idea--to pick a word for the year-- about a month ago and it really got me to thinking. But I had pushed it to the back of my mind and hadn't really thought much about it since. Then this morning I was taking Allie for a walk and listening to some of my music and one of the songs came on. It's a song that someone sent to me when I was freshman at Baylor, but one that has stuck with me through the years and meant a lot to me. And at that moment I remembered the word of the year and it just felt right...

This year, I want to surrender

After I got this word in my head I of course wanted to look up the true meaning, but found that they all seem so negative! But I think the one that best describes what I want for myself is to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.
Surrendering is something that God has been trying to teach me for quite a while. But it's something that I am slowly getting to a place where I am ready to surrender more and more so that He might be made greater in my life.

So in 2009 I want to live a life of surrender.
Surrendered to God's plan for my life and His call for my service

Surrendered to the future He has planned for me and not the one I come up with on my own

Surrendered to the present and this moment instead of always living in the future

Surrendered to the roles I am playing right now instead of complaining about the difficulties at work or always looking for something more

Surrendered to a life of abandon--where I will take chances and live

Surrendering my self-doubt, fear of embarrassment and feelings of inadequacy to be replaced by His truth and His love living in me

Surrendering my hold on the things I keep my hand closed on--all of the things I don't even realize that I am holding on to but I know will be revealed to me as I seek this out

I know that the very best place I could be is living a life completely abandoned to Him and I hope that somehow focusing on surrender this year will bring me even closer to my Jesus. Welcome 2009--I know it's going to be a great one!



My hands hold safely to my dreams
Clutching tightly not one has fallen
So many years I've shaped each one
Reflecting my heart showing who I am
Now you're asking me to show
What I'm holding oh so tightly
Can't open my hands can't let go
Does it matter?
Should I show you?
Can't you let me go?

Surrender, surrender you whisper gently
You say I will be free
I know but can't you see?
My dreams are me. My dreams are me

You say you have a plan for me
And that you want the best for my life
Told me the world had yet to see
What you can do with one
That's committed to Your calling
I know of course what I should do
That I can't hold these dreams forever
If I give them now to You
Will You take them away forever?
Or can I dream again?

Surrender, surrender You whisper gently...
Barlow Girl's Surrender