More dog ramblings

I look over at Novie while I'm working, and like most of the time, she's sound asleep.

Her little wrinkles are so adorable, and I find it hilarious when she has a whole bed to sleep on but she finds the extra blanket and cuddles up on it for extra softness.

She has so many human likenesses.

What a life she has, eating and sleeping. Does that seem enjoyable and fulfilling to her? Does he realize it's kind of weird that she lives indoors with us?

I wonder if God had that in mind when he created dogs. Did he purposefully give us something that could read our emotions and be there to warm our hearts without talking to us? I think that God had/has a plan for all, so I guess he did.

I love my puppy, and I love my God that he gave us something so simple that would provide us with so much.

Thriving on destruction

At church yesterday, the pastor went through Daniel 11. At one point, the prophecy in that chapter jumps from years before Christ to prophecy that goes into even our future. It talks about the anti-Christ and all he will do to the world.

The pastor said something about Satan that really struck me. He said that unlike us, who feel fulfilled and peaceful after going to church or communing with God or serving others, Satan thrives on death and destruction. That's what makes the great evil-doer feel good.

Being a woman, I have seen a lot of drama in my life. I hate drama, and I try not to take part in it whenever possible. However, I have seen many women who seem to thrive on it. They like to create problems and find happiness when others around them are struggling.

There was a woman years ago that really bothered me, and I never even met her. She had a crush on Nate, and she tried to steal him away from me. She purposefully did things that would create drama in our relationship, and I have to admit that I let her get to me. It caused big problems between me and Nate.

I couldn't understand how this woman could feel good about what she was doing. Who likes to cause drama and heartache?

I think this morning I realized that love of conflict is just evil playing itself out in people's lives. When they don't have the God-shaped hole in their hearts filled, they have nothing to combat evil. We all have evil desires, and non-Christians aren't able to combat those desires without the armor of God.

Conflict, drama, death, destruction - that makes Satan and his demons feel good. Don't give in to those evil desires.

The importance of church

We've been out of town, visiting our niece, Nate's sister and our brother-in-law in Florida, so I'm a bit behind on blogging! This morning at church though, I got a couple of ideas to write about.

We are still working our way through Daniel in church, and we're on to the complicated portion with prophecy. I have read Daniel before, but like the pastor mentioned this morning, the second half of the book is quite unclear if you just read it alone at home.

There's talk of horns and statues made out of different types of metals. It doesn't make much sense. That is, until the pastor goes back and explains the history of the era and how the horns and metals represent different kingdoms. He has talked about how Daniel's prophecies were fulfilled exactly, giving credit to him and the Bible and God.

Sometimes, people don't realize the importance of church. Why go sit in a different building when you can read the same stuff at home? Then there's times like this when the pastor goes through passages you have read multiple times before and all of a sudden they mean something!

I love my church because the pastor delves into history and theology and explains passages I have read time and time again in a way that I had never seen in my own Bible study. It's so important to go to church and gain knowledge that you would not be able to gain by simply reading the Bible at home.

Many people talk about the importance of church being the fellowship of believers, and that is also important. However, it is also great for us to attend weekly services to hear the teaching of wise Christian leaders.

Valentine's Day

What is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is a child waking up to find a box full of sweet treats from his or her parents on the nightstand.

Valentine's Day is a box full of notes and treats from friends at school.

Valentine's Day is a floral surprise at work.

Valentine's Day is a candlelit dinner.

Valentine's Day is a shared dessert after a quiet meal.

Valentine's Day is a kiss.

Valentine's Day is holding hands.

Valentine's Day is a card full of sweet nothings.

Valentine's Day is having to work all day but getting to come home to a wonderful spouse who doesn't mind that you had to work all day.

Valentine's Day is love. It's romantic. It's happy.

But beyond Valentine's Day, life is still as full of love, romance and happiness.

Don't forget that tomorrow.

A year ago...

I entered a blog post a year ago today titled "Best night of my life." It tells all about the night that Nate and I got engaged.

I kind of can't believe that was only a year ago. One, I can't believe that some people are engaged for a year or more! I would hate it if we were still waiting to get married. I am so glad that we were only engaged for a few months.

Two, this has been one of the craziest years of my life - engagement, a new car, wedding preparations, our wedding, our honeymoon to a tropical isle, bidding on a house - it seems like this last year was just jam-packed.

With Valentine's Day tomorrow, I guess I can say a little bit about love too. Our life has changed since we've been married, and I think both of us have as well. We're learning how to be one, not just two people in a relationship but one married couple.

It frustrates me sometimes when people act upset that we've changed. We're the same people, but our priorities are different. My priority is Nate, and his is me. No longer can we think about only what we want, but we have to consider what is best for the other person as well. If that means "whipped" to some people, then so be it.

I know that marriage is work, and I know we'll have problems in the future. But I have to say, so far in this newlywed phase, life has been just about perfect. I couldn't ask for anyone better to be my valentine. I try to store up these feelings in my heart to look back on when troubled times hit. I'm so thankful for what we have right now!

Walk by faith

You know what the biggest hindrance to my faith life is?

I am a horribly selfish person.

I like to think of myself as pretty selfless. I make dinner for my husband and try to serve my friends without them asking.

Big whoop.

When it comes to God, it's all about me. I say I want to get close to God but I don't discipline myself to have daily devotional time. I'm terrified of what he might ask me to give up. I value what people think of me instead of how God views me. I'm scared of being persecuted even a little bit if I stand out for my faith. What if I lose friends?

When it comes down to it, my faith isn't as strong as it could be because I still claim my life. I think it's mine, and I want to have fun here on Earth while I can.

I sure can talk the talk, but walking is a little more difficult.

I know I need to truly let go of my life and let God be in control. I'm just not sure how to do it.

Jefa-fa Dunham

Nate and I had tickets to see a Jeff Dunham show this week, and it was a wonderful night out!

I have had a busy week at work, and it was nice to head out an hour before I usually get off work to spend a night on the town.

We walked around Target for a few minutes because we were early for the show, and we got some coffee at Starbucks. Well, Nate was in the mood for ice cream so he got a strawberries and creme frappucino which really is basically a shake made with milk instead of ice cream.

Then we went to the venue and sat down in the fifth row, great seats for the show.

Nate and I talked about how we wondered if a comedy show would be different in person than watching it on TV. I have seen all of Jeff Dunham's comedy specials, and although hilarious sometimes I wonder why the audience is laughing so hard at stuff that doesn't warrant such guffaws.

It was apparent before Dunham even started his show that the audience was in the mood to laugh. His puppet Walter answered questions in a slideshow, and people were laughing just reading them. I guess with thousands of people in one space, someone will always be laughing so it seems like every joke is just hilarious.

My favorite part of the entire show were the moments that Dunham went off script. At one point, when he was working with his trailer trash puppet Bubba J, he accidentally called him Bubba Day. That went off into a rant about how that sounds like it could be Bubba J's gay French cousin, and then Dunham completely lost where he was in the act.

It took about 10 minutes for him to regain his composure, and in the meantime he was spouting off random jokes and really just making his puppet say nothing. However, because it was the puppet rambling and not the puppeteer, it was hilarious.

There were other moments, like when he started using his own Little Jeff puppet, that he didn't even have a set act. He made himself laugh constantly, and the puppet kept looking at him weird - like a puppet can look at someone weird... - and Dunham said, "I'm hearing the punch line a split second before they are."

My favorite part of comedian's acts have always been when they crack themselves up. It's so natural and so human, and so so funny!

After the show, Nate and I grabbed a pizza at Little Ceasar's and ate in the car on the way home.

The whole night reminded me of when we were dating. We used to stop at Starbucks a lot, and then the show was definitely a date. The only thing that was different was that we didn't have to go home to separate houses. I love being married ;)

"love you"

I married the right man.

It's a conclusion I've come to quite a lot over the past five months. And yet again I thought about it last night.

I was coming home from work at 8:30 p.m. after a 12-hour day, and I was tired. I wanted to go home and spend some time alone with Nate.

However, he was out with a friend, and they were in the midst of making dinner. I said I would go over there, but I said it in a tone that meant it was not what I wanted to do. He caught on and said I didn't have to come, but I wanted to be with him so I said I'd go anyway.

I got a text from him that said two little words "Love you" when we had hung up the phone.

I have to say, there's not many men that would take my grumpy attitude and say "love you" to it. Most would probably get annoyed with me.

His little text made me smile. And confirmed once again that I married the right man.