Welcome Home, Jake!

So, after only being a foster mom for a few months... I have my first foster fail. Welcome to the family, Jake!

Courtesy of Double Dog Rescue http://www.doubledogrescue.org

Yes, he's an adorable mushy face, isn't he?

He's fit so perfectly into our routine... I brought him to rugby with me last night and he just laid in the grass, watching us quietly. SUCH a good boy! Sadie is in LOVE. They like to cuddle and share marrow bones and drink from the same bowl. And... yes, I know, I'm obsessed.

There's no better cure for what ails your soul than puppy love.

Life's Little Messes

I returned home after my workout this morning close to tears. I am just. so. tired.

Tired of feeling behind the 8 ball. Tired of trying and failing and trying and failing and trying again to get on top of my eating habits and general health and well-being. Tired of cleaning. Tired of studying. Tired of hospitals and courtrooms and grief and worry and sadness.

As I threw a urine-soaked towel (our newest foster/maybe forever dog, Jake/Hutch, isn't potty trained yet) into the washing machine, I realized...

Tired... but, closer to happy than I've ever been.

My messy house, my messy dogs, my messy husband, my messy desk at work, my messy study desk, my messy car, my messy personal life, my messy family... They're a mess... but MY mess. I own my own home. I'm married to a wonderful man. I love my dog(s). I belong to more than one tight-knit community of friends/co-workers/teammates/colleagues.

This is the life I've been given. I only have one. It's messy, but it's mine. There's only so much in my day that I can control... and what I do have control over is pretty damn good sometimes.

So, yes, I'm tired, and my life's a mess, but, it's my life, and I'm living it the best I can.

Carry On

I keep saying I'll start writing again... no day like the present, eh?

I'm not religious - at all - but, on day's like today, I find it's useful to count my blessings, as my mom would (and does) advise.

This week - well, the past few years, really - this week has been especially trying... an important deadline approaches swiftly that means a lot for my family's future, my uncle has started chemo-therapy to treat an inoperable tumor, and a very dear friend was in a serious motorcycle accident and remains in the hospital. On cloudy days like today when the dark clouds on the horizon threaten to open up and pour, it's hard to remain cheerful even in the best of times. It's damn near impossible today. But, in the words of Pollyana, let's play the glad game... (If you haven't seen that movie - see it!!)

- law school is done for the semester and I don't have to open another law book until August
- Steve and I managed to get two new rose bushes planted in the yard and trimmed the other two; my yard will be full of roses in a few weeks
- I've managed to work out/do something active/physical EVERY DAY this past week while I do the Whole Life Challenge
- I've been making significantly better choices when I eat; even though I'm far from where I want to be, I'm making good progress.
- Sadie Mayhem has been an ANGEL lately
- I seem to have that phantom abdominal pain beat! I haven't felt it at all since my surgery last month
- My knee still hurts - but, I'm getting closer to figuring that out, too.
- I get a new foster puppy this weekend who is absolutely adorable!

And above all...
- I have an awesome community of friends and family. No matter what, we surround each other with love and support. We'll get through it.

When you're down, you're not out until you're out of blessings, right? Carry on.

- Carp