Rub-A-Dub-Pug

Circle of Life?

2008-10-27T10:33:00.006-05:00

It's ironic that the weekend our Best Friends got a new puppy we found out that Kenners has cataracts and is now blind. Now, I know that it is not exactly the circle of life, but it is close. I am head over heels for Hagrid the chocolate lab, yet I am full of (so it took me 10 mins and I still can't come up with an exact word.) I am reading articles to help Kenners and us adjust, but it has NOT been a cake walk. I have cried a ton and have rolled a few ideas around in my head, but I just can't seem to come to a conclusion. I know that doesn't make much sense and perhaps that is because this situation doesn't make much sense to me. I have decided to just post pictures of Hagrid.

Dewberry Farms, Here We Come!

2008-10-07T16:49:00.003-05:00

Wooh Hoo! Our bestus friends are coming over for the weekend and we are headed to Dewberry Farms for a bale of fun! They have a corn maze, bales of hay, rope swings, amazing jams and the best part of all; they take you on a hay ride to a giant pumpkin field and you get to pick your pumpkin. So cool. I want to get a couple of pumpkins that vary in color and size and make a topiary display. I am giggly just thinking about it. This is about as close to a fall season as we can get here in Houston.

Justin Jones, I'll Miss You

2008-09-29T15:57:00.003-05:00

My friend Justin Jones passed away just as the hurricane was about to hit.
I thought I would share a small story that really captures the essence of Justin.

I was about to preform my first solo in front of my fellow classmates. Since I was nervous, I made the mistake of telling Justin which song I was planning on singing. The song was Mercy Seat which references a lot of running. Well, he concocted a plan to have everyone in the crowd run in place, which he told me just as I was about to walk onto the platform. I took a deep breath and sent daggers (via my eyes) at Justin who was ginning obnoxiously at me. My song started and I clinched my eyes shut to keep from laughing as I saw everyone "running." Well the joke was on him because by the time I got to the second verse the Glory had fallen and people were running to the alter. Justin was among those. Knowing Justin, that might have been his intent all along. He believed in worshiping with your whole body and claimed to have a few theories about it.

You were a good friend Justin and I will miss you.
http://justinwaynejones.wordpress.com/

Quin Harman

2008-08-06T13:42:00.004-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I write about my granddaddy's funeral.

It was the last night of our vacation and I had just crawled into bed at 3:30 am. I know what you are thinking and it was due to an over-zealous game of cranium that we arrived back so late. Then at approximately 5 am my phone rang and my heart clinched into a terrible knot. I couldn't bring myself to answer because I knew what was awaiting me at the other end of that line. My aunt left a message and then immediately called back and this time I answered. It was true. My grandfather had passed away. Angela needed my mother's phone number and broke down a few times while trying to ask for it. As I hung up the phone with her, I prayed a short and simple prayer and waited for my mother to call. She called sobbing and distraught. I did all I could do to comfort her and reassured her that Shane and I would be there no matter what (there had been debate as to where the funeral would be held, North Carolina or Wichita Falls, TX).

I waited a short time and then began to make my own calls. I called Janice first as she is my constant, outside of God and Shane, and got the reassurance I was looking for. Then I called Nan (Shane's Grandmother) as I knew she would know exactly what to say and what to pray. I was a little blubbery after that and could not talk to anyone.

Friday night Angela asked me to put something together to say at the service and perhaps a song on a CD. Well that's easy you say, no, not at all. My g-dad wasn't overly demonstrative or loving. He wasn't a Christian man by any means and he wasn't big on civil duties either. No that just wasn't him. He did teach all 6 of his grandkids to drive and fish. He was always ready to give you a cold coke and a story, but he hide his true feelings more often than not. So what do you say about a man that wasn't cruel but wasn't loving, who had a very small family and almost no friends, who didn't do much in his community and didn't really believe in a life after this one? Yeah, I didn't know either.

I suggested a WWII song, sung by Billie Holiday that simply says I'll be seeing you in all our old familiar places, but that was turned down. Instead, I was asked to sing Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds as we drove to the grave site. Luckily, my aunt had the words written down and I sang it a cappella which helped since I am only slightly familiar with it. Then my cousin and I sang Silent Night because he requested it every Christmas and it usually brought him to tears and caused him to leave the room. He was a navel man after all and as such should never cry.
At the service, I read the poem below and was able to get through it fairly well. Although, when my cousin Dustin spoke I drenched my hankie and had to dig out the spare I brought just in case.

At the grave site the navel men did a taps solute. The piece was originally purely instrumental, but I found these lyrics as I was searching the full significance of the ceremony.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh, Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the hills, from the lake, from the sky
All is well, safely rest; God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear, Friend, goodnight.

The sound of that clear trumpet was so moving. Honestly, if this had been any other day and I saw my beautiful countries flag blazing in the sun and those men in uniform playing that clear sweet trumpet. I believe that my heart would have swelled, exactly as it did, and my eyes would have overflowed with the emotions that were transpiring inside of me.

After it was all over, I just could deal with it any longer. I didn't want to hear the familiar family bickering and snide comments. I really was too exhausted for any of that, so Shane and I chose to cowboy up and soldier on and make the long trip home. Well...with a pit stop in Burleson for some sweet tea and burritos (what a great combo).

We arrived home about 2ish in the morning and I thought I would fall over dead, but I didn't. I lay there tossing and turning and have continued to do so for many nights hence.

If I should die and leave you here awhile,
Be not like others, sore undone, who keep
Long vigils by the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake turn again to life and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hands to do
Something to comfort weaker hearts than thine.
Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine
And I perchance may therein comfort you.
A. Price Hughes

Vacation ants in my pants

2008-07-22T10:06:00.002-05:00

We are down to 24 hours before Shane and I jump in an air-o-plane and head out to Las Vegas, Nevada. Woo-hoo!!! I am so ready to go it's silly. I can't wait to go hog wild on the state of Nevada. Our friends David and Bryony just moved there and have learned the ropes so here's hoping that we can pair it all down to the good stuff and forgo the retarded.

I will fill you in on the details as soon as I get back. Have fun at work this week...SUCKAS!!!!!

Fourth of July Fun

2008-07-15T10:28:00.005-05:00

I got a call around 6:30 am that my mom and brother and his new fiance would be at my house around 1 that afternoon. Of course I was spazzing out! My laundry was on the extra bed, the house needed to be vacuumed and I was recovering from a cold. Ultimately, none of this matters b/c we are family and my goal as a hostess is to be peaceful and fun and an example of Christ's love, but I am still a girl and want my house to look pretty since my family hadn't seen it yet. Well to make a boring story short, I got the house in order and was ready to have some fun. Our weekend consisted of a trip to the beach, taking some engagement photos and an awesome fireworks show at our church. I was soo glad to have my little family at my home!!! I hope they come back soon.

Derek's Birthday Dinner

2008-06-24T17:05:00.001-05:00

My half birthday

2008-06-24T16:55:00.003-05:00

So a friend and a co-worker found out that I was...well let's say lacking in the birthday party area. Together we threw a hilarious half birthday party, complete with a Christmas theme. It was fun and fantastic. If only I was better at cookie decorating.

Shane's Birthday Cake

2008-06-24T14:33:00.006-05:00

By golly Shane is another year older! This year I made a recent food favorite of Shane's. He discovered his love of molten lava cake on the last cruise we took, so I thought I would make it for him. It turned out to be a ridiculously easy recipe and a total hit. Shane loved it so much he ate 3 1/2 of the 4 cakes. One of the many reasons I love him...he appreciates my cooking/baking. He knows that I do it out of an expression of love and he receives it as such. Plus, he says it is delish. I am going to attempt a link to the recipe page to the title of this post.

Mini Road Trip

2008-06-24T14:04:00.020-05:00

Janice and I took a quick trip up North to gather Joy's belongings and return home. We decided to make a little road trip out of it. We started at the airport and the weather was nippy, but not truly cold.

We got there and it was rainy and SOOOO COLD!! I kept looking for snow it was so cold. We trekked up and down 3 flights of stairs to load Joy's car with her stuff. It was full. Very full, so we kicked, squished, and smooched till it all fit.

For a very long time we saw only 18 wheelers on the road and no one else. I won't lie, a few times we contemplated if the rapture had happened there were so few people. We did, however, see lots of fields. We saw brown fields and green fields. Exciting stuff.

Finally, we saw the mighty Mississippi and the outline of the city's pyramid. The town we were entering? Memphis of course. About the only thing I liked about this city was the Slave Haven Museum we visited. Oh and the trolley, but we didn't get a chance to ride it.

Then we headed to Hot Springs for a refreshing hot bath before the long leg of the journey.

Woops!

2008-06-24T13:59:00.001-05:00

OK so I feel a little behind. In effort to not just jump ahead in time, I am going to place a few "in between" post in.

Congratulations on your Graduation!!!!

2008-01-07T16:00:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Janice Mireles and Nick Rose on completing your Bachelor Degrees. Your hard work and determination has paid off, now to see the fruition of your labor in your salaries (Nick) and in the knowledge that you will pass to your children (Janice).

I am very proud of you both, if not a little jealous.

Austin and Round Rock

2008-01-07T14:54:00.000-06:00

Christmas Break got off with a rocky start and in a sense it ended rocky too. I was only home from work 3 hours when I began to vomit. Boy did I ever vomit. 13 hours and 10 pounds later, I finished and managed to make it to the doctor's office. Of course there is nothing to be done for a short term virus and I proceeded to suffer at home for the next week. It was a bleak week as Christmas passed me by. Pooh! Why couldn't I have been sick on my unwanted birthday instead of Christmas? Or any other week where I could have taken time off from work? But no, it was not meant to be. Once I began to eat again, it wasn't long before I was back in what I like to refer to as Rachael form. That is a combination of long lasting smiles and an inability to not laugh. Just in time too because Shane and I were due to check J and D's new digs in Round Rock. They even painted the place for our arrival. Well the place looked great and while I was there we bought roman blinds and they look awesome!!!! We had so much fun. The Lord blessed us with fantastic weather and we took advantage of it. We took the pugs and hiked! We saw the original Round Rock and where the Chisholm Trail crossed a certain area (wagon wheel tracks included) and crazy people swimming in the river. Stupid crazy people. Though I did stare and laugh at you and that was probably mean, but I was in two sweaters and you were topless. It seemed only right at the time. Of course I was paid back in kind when Janice and I breached our canoe on a rock in the middle of the river and a large group of people gathered round and laughed at us. Actually, to be accurate they pointed and laughed. I realized that it had to be funny to watch us break free only to swing around and catch our other end on the same rock, but come one people do you really need to point? Be more constructive with your feedback.

Moving on. We did take a little time out to stop by a cool location and indulge in a small, collective hobby of ours...photography. I loved shooting the location and the people. I posted a small sample below.

Austin and Round Rock

2008-01-07T14:53:00.001-06:00

Rachael Moss “Civil Servant”

2007-11-06T14:58:00.001-06:00

Immediately after entering the facility, I felt as if I was involved in a cattle call. A dreary voice droned over a staticy sound system rambling off number after number. My number was soon called and I was lead down a long flight of stairs into the belly of the beast. They forced us to cluster together into squares that were taped onto the floor and reassign us to new numbers; before herding us on from there. While we waited in the bowels, I head various cries of how to get out of serving. One suggestion was to stare the judge in the eyes because they supposedly don't like the threat of an assertive juror. Crazy. Still another suggestion was to answer every question and disagree with anyone else's answers. Also crazy.

As we walked slowly from the dungeon to the correct courthouse, in a single file line, I was positioned in line behind a tree of a woman. Her legs were giant, thick, and seriously forested with hair. I walked, and starred at the legs which surely hadn't been shaved in years. Then the woman turned around and I received a giant shock. She shaves her face! If only this would have been enough to distract from the rest of things that were going on around me. It seemed that everywhere I looked there were homeless people. It occurred to me that they gathered around the courthouse to feed off the people on jury duty. Regardless, there was one happy homeless man who caught my attention because he had an mp3 player. I don't have an mp3 player! To the left of me there was a woman was rapidly having an angry conversation with herself. Obviously, she has a mental deficiency and requires the care of a mental health professional, yet she is lost on the streets, presumably because she has no family or government program to insure her well-being. Finally, there was one man who caused my stomach to sink to the very bottom of my feet. He was the owner of a gaping, oozing sore on the side of his face that looked to be infectious. I truly tried not to stare and I felt guilty for eating the breakfast I had packed. It is not as if I knew I would run into this situation, nor would there have been enough for all and then whom do you pick, but a part of me feels as if I should have anticipated this situation.

Let us skip ahead shall we. The man who was about to be on trial sat in front of me and demonstrated through his actions that he was soo guilty. Among other things, he kept his hand over his mouth; that is when he wasn't laughing and smiling. Come on bubba you are on trial for MURDER! To compound the whole situation his lawyer used his "interview time" to lead the jury away from first-degree murder to reckless behavior. He kept undermining his murder by suggesting whether you could really condemn someone who may not have intended murder, just recklessness and you know to cause bodily harm to her, but that's it. I argued that a certain level of recklessness implies intent. I guess that is why I was not picked to serve. A part of me is sad that I will not be further participating in my "civil duty" but the rest of me is worn out, remembers that I took the bus here and would like to get home before dark.

I jogged (in wedges) many blocks desperately trying to make the bus. I failed miserably. I noticed a large group of large men and decided to duck into a pizza parlor till the next bus pulled through. An hour+ later I was on my bus and headed south. Now my bus ride in was uneventful and quicker than I anticipated. That was not the case on the way home. My bus driver seemed to be playing a game with himself. This game consisted of him honking at EVERY bicycler and passer-by. Toot-toot! Toot-toot! I must have heard the horn 60 or so times; just shy of enough times to truly drive me to the brink of insanity, although I got a nice scenic view. Once I was home I took a very long shower and tried to let the memory of the day wash off me, and swirl away down the drain, but it stayed with me and so I am blogging about it. Enjoy.

I meet Rachael Yamagata!

2007-09-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

WoW!!!! I meet Rachael Yamagata last night!!! She was soo funny and sweet and a potty mouth. She did a semi-short set of about 6 songs. Then she came down and talked to people in the crowd. I ended up talking to her for 5 minutes or so. I had just introduced myself and was trying to tell her how much I loved her music and the show when this gross old man interupted me and began to insult her and the show. I was just staring at him with a disgusted face. Meanwhile, Rachael is sweet and classy (I wouldn't have been). When he finaly walks off, Rachael leans in and is like, "What was that about?" To which I said, "Don't worry about it you get to do this for a living, your making the money not him". Rachael then cracked me up with her response. After that we talked about Mandy Moore's new record and she said she would be hopping on stage for a few songs with her (they were great) and then she left to go meet a guy that had been waiting on her.
Mandy Moore's show was really good. I was totaly surprised. She really poured her whole self into it! On one particular song she began crying and had to turn away from the crowd. All in all it was a fantastic 6th year anniversary!

Moss House

2007-07-26T13:26:00.000-05:00

It came to my attention that this blog doesn't contain any pictures of my new house except the tiny one on the side. So this is my second shameless plug of something I love... Our new house that God has graciously given us! Enjoy. Yes, I love color!

Poll Time

2007-07-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

OK so I thought I would propose a poll. Shane and I are currently saving up to take another trip somewhere in the world. The problem is Where? There are so many area that we would love to explore and we are having a tuff time narrowing down our choices. So I am putting it to a vote. Please respond with your top three choices for us and help us decide where to GO! Votes will be tallied on Aug. 31. Thanks!!!!!!!

Monday is Wish day.

2007-07-09T16:57:00.001-05:00

If only, if only, I had a vespa! I would drive my little scooter to work, to church, to the grocery store or anywhere in the whole world. He he he, how much fun that would be. OK on a more serious note, I want a vespa. According to recent studies at Harvard University, I actually NEED a vespa or I may combust! I am serious, serious by nature. Well I am typing today's blog via Microsoft 2007 AKA windows vista. This version has a blog layout that is supposed to load strait to any blog and I thought I would give it a try while simultaneously begging Shane for my long awaited vespa. Hope that everyone is have a great Monday.

Freedom

2007-07-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

What does it mean to be free? There are so many definitions of freedom that I am curious as to how my friends define freedom. Is there an example that you point to and say, "That is freedom!" I know there have been defining moments in my life that left me feeling as if I was gulping in the fresh air of freedom. The first time I went on a trip by myself and was completely unaccountable to anyone and I thought I could just drive forever or sit and stare at the scenery according to my time schedule. Then there was the time that God delivered me from resentment and I felt so light and unburdened that I remarked upon the miracle of walking, for I felt that I was floating. In stark comparison, I know without doubt what slavery looks like. Slavery is a mind unfed, living in a body that is engorged by fat, in a single wide trailer infested by every pest I could conceive and some that I cannot. Slavery is found in every addicts' mindset. Slavery is breed thought the generations and seems to gain further grasps if it is not constantly combated against. I know now why we are called to be a separate nation. It is to give us distance from the chains of slavery. It is why God makes us NEW creatures. There is no question when God works in your life and your situation. I am NOT the person I used to be! I have been bought with the price of sacrifice and am a Holy Ghost filled creation. Thank you Jesus for the difference you made in my life. I hope that I will always honor You with the way I live and the decisions I make.

Best Kiss Ever

2007-06-26T16:40:00.000-05:00

Wow! Time; she is a-flyin! It has been 3 years since our trip to Paris and yet it seems so familiar so close to my heart. Just as that trip was a milestone in our relationship so is today. Yes! It is my very proud honor to announce that today marks the 10 year anniversary of the day that Shane gave me my very last First KISS. We were so young and yet from the moment it happened I was sure that I would one day marry this amazing man. It's a good thing that God placed that desire and assurance because there were a few trying times along the way. Today when I get home, I will fix dinner and about the time it is done Shane will walk in the door, exhausted from work and slightly smelly from the commute. Yet, he will greet me with love and appreciation for dinner (as he always does) and he will stop me for a moment and place a kiss upon my lips. And today, just as every day since that first kiss, I will be breathless and flustered once again. Shane you are not just an amazing Godly husband but you are a wonderful __________(please fill in the blank with an adjective of your choice because I can guarantee that Shane excels at it). I love you in every way and am yours alone.

Character Examination

2007-06-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

So, I have never thought of my self as an instant gratitude type person, but on the "Dave Ramsey" system I find myself losing patience. To be honest though I have felt more freedom and peace with my finances than I have EVER felt before. I owe that to the lack of delusional lies I had been telling myself, regarding my finances of course. That is what makes these impatient feelings so confusing. Is it residual from lack of discipline or am I actually an impatient person? I find myself a bit unhappy with the rate that my savings are going, but I am also unwilling to increase the amount at the cost of something else. Which leaves me no room to be upset and yet I am. I want a handful of things and I guess I want them NOW. What a brat and subsequently a bummer! What is a girl to do? Well, I am going to do the only thing that I can do. I am going to wait patiently till I have enough cash to make each purchase (which each will be deeply reconsidered I am sure before purchased) and by doing so I hope to show myself a good stewart over what God has provided me with. The key here is that I must proceed with the right attitude. I have decided to follow this "new" mind set of never buying another thing till we have cash for it, but if I don't have the right spirit about it what will it profit me? So I say, "Thank you Jesus for the opportunity to learn and grow in this area. I will be successful in Your Name!" Now having said all that should you want to donate to the Rachael needs new shoes fund please don't hesitate ACT NOW! Slots are filling up fast. You don't want to live with the guilt of knowing you could have helped one poor ol soul. =0) Just joking...kinda of.

London Scout

2007-06-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

Shameless plug of my favorite baby. Scout!!

Friendship

2007-06-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

Recently my best friend left me for almost three weeks. "How dare she!" you say? I concur. Strongly. I arrived here in Houston a naive and lonely 17 year old girl. I was nervous to go places and meet people and vastly becoming disillusioned to the girls I had begun associating with. Needless to say, those people left, but they left me feeling smaller than I had started out and worse than that, they left me...alone. Granted I did have Shane's fantastic company, but he was not the shopping partner I longed for. He was not the sympathetic ear to my more delicate issues. No, no, I needed a girl; I needed a friend. Shane joined with me and we began to pray for a friend. My prayers were not answered right away, but the way in which they were answered is quite memorable indeed. Choir practice is where it all went down. Janice!! She was young, outspoken, and a very....let's just say "hands on" kind of person. I would leave practice complaining about the curly haired girl who wouldn't stop touching me, till Shane snapped and said, "Her name is Janice, Rachael! Learn it! And you say you want a friend, well she might just be it..." Yes, the ellipsis was an implied one; as i knew he meant to finish with "if you would stop complaining and start receiving." Talk about a nice, Hardy, smack in the face. After that I approached choir practice with a new nervousness. Would this girl want to be my friend? The answer was yes! Now several years into our friendship, I cannot imagine my life without her. She is beautiful, oh yes, no doubt. But, it is her openness and her adventureness that I find myself admiring most. Janice has no fear. She attacks each day with gusto. She is constantly forcing me to reach beyond myself and my anxiety and afterwards I am thrilled with my accomplishments. She is fiercely loyal and that is so obvious once you meet her because she hides nothing. Janice will be graduating this December and I am keenly aware that my own small graduation was largely in part to our friendship. I am so very thankful to God for giving me someone like Janice. I am so very thankful to have her returned favor as well. Before I sign off I would also like to say a heartfelt (and filled with love) thank you to Jean and Tammy for their friendship as well. I would say that ya'll are my surrogate mothers and most certainly my friends! I treasure you all.

Suptin `bout summer

2007-06-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

There is something about summer. The halls here at work seem to disappear without students to fill them. The office grows quite and slows down; like a fading heart beat, the life of the office seems to dwindle away. On the bright side, I have a bit of down time and can catch up on normal life outside of school walls and halls. Having read through two of my cousin's blogs, I felt inspired to create a little glimps at my life. I only hope that I don't have to neglect this endeavor in order to satisfy other obligations. OK here I go...Have you ever seen or heard something that just knocked you out?!! Well, here is my answer. What is yours?