Happy Birthday, Tara!

Tomorrow, it will be one year to the day since we brought that sad, skinny girl home. Tara, or "Morgan" as she was first named, was described by the Harbor Humane Society staff as, "I am about 5 years old and just the sweetest girl you will ever meet. I am really sad here so I just can't wait to get into my new family. I am housebroken and good with kids. I am very mild mannered and always on my best behavior. I am also a perfect size and only weigh about 35 pounds. Please come down soon and meet me!"

Who could resist such an invitation? We went to see her, and fell in love. "Morgan's" eyes haunted me for days after. Ryan and I weren't sure if it was the right time to get a dog, but we took a leap of faith, purchased the things we'd need, and went to bring her home.

What a year it's been! Lots of training for everyone, including enlisting the help of Al Casimiro, the Lakeshore "Dog Whisperer" for some help with the sticky spots. I've learned more about pet ownership and responsibility in the last year than I could ever have imagined. I also found out that I was a slightly neurotic dog owner at first, as I would get up several times a night the first week, just to make sure Tara was okay. She was always fine, and gradually, I understood that she would wake me if she really needed something. Granted, she tries my patience some days, and can offer some real surprises. To date, her most naughty achievement is tied between chewing up her new bed and yakking it up onto Jenny's floor in the middle of the night or the time she ran out of the yard and down the street, refusing to "come" when called.

All in all, I would have to say the HHS staff was right. Tara is a sweetheart and she has a mind of her own that wants to be expressed! She is definitely much happier and well-adjusted than when we first brought her home. Her warm brown eyes have given unconditional love and support on more than one occasion. Watching Tara chew her toys, lick my feet, get in trouble with Molly, or bike with Ryan has given me a joy and a love for her that I didn't know was possible with a dog. Ryan and I love our girl and are so grateful for the blessing she is to our family!

Count your blessings

Life is getting a little crazy around here right now. Instead of dwelling on it, I'm going to brainstorm things that are going well and that I can be thankful for.

- I'm God's kid (the best blessing of all!)
- A good marriage to a good man (second best blessing of all!)
- Loving family and friends (ties for second best blessing)
- The fact that our basement didn't flood during the deluge last week
- Our home and the homes of our neighbors weren't damaged by falling trees
- We have enough money for everything we need and much of what we want
- We both have jobs
- An intact roof over our heads, food on our plates, and clothes to wear
-Air conditioning when the summer temps spike (especially grateful for this today!)
- Being debt free!!
- The fact that God's in control and I don't have to worry about running the universe

Some of these things may seem a little trivial, but all it took was a HUGE thunderstorm last week and destruction to my in-law's property to make me realize that the most important things in life are not things! We can't take for granted all of the blessings we have.

I am my Beloved's and he is mine

Yesterday, I celebrated my third wedding anniversary. It's amazing how quickly the time has gone by. Three years ago, I had no idea what it would mean to keep my wedding vows. Oh, sure, I meant them, but living them out is a whole different idea.

Somehow, we've managed to get through all of our vows in the first year alone, and have continued that trend for the subsequent two. For better or for worse- check. For richer, for poorer- Dave Ramsey, anyone? In sickness and in health- been there, done that. To love and to cherish- to love and to cherish? You mean, as much as I love and cherish myself? Love my husband like Christ loves the Church- totally, unconditionally, willing-to-die-for-you? Love my husband even when I'm so frustrated I can't see straight?

If I've learned anything in this last year, it's how loving and cherishing Ryan is an act of obedience and respect to Jesus. Feeling love is not enough. I need to choose to love Ryan every day of my life, whether I feel like loving him or not. As the character Michael Simmons in the movie "Fireproof" points out, "And don't just follow your heart, because your heart can be deceived. But you've got to lead your heart." I need to beg God every day to teach me how to be a good wife. Every day, I need to learn how to die to myself- my "rights" and my "needs"- in order to serve my God and my husband.

God meant marriage to be for life. When most people say "for better or for worse", they mean only the "for better" part. I'm willing to die to myself for my marriage to succeed. In the eyes of the world, such talk is crazy, at best. But, as the Bible says, "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I still mean every word of my vows, even though I now have some idea of what it means for them to be fulfilled. I'm excited to see what God will teach us in our fourth year!