What a week!  And it's only Tuesday (and I had Monday off, ha).  Took a few days this past weekend to enjoy my birthday and take some time off work... if you consider working from home taking time off.  Unfortunately Friday I did nothing but watch the depressing news all day and was really hit with the feelings of how thankful we all should be every single day for what we have... unfortunate that it takes instances like Friday for our communities to come together and outwardly celebrate how precious life is.  Since Friday I've been trying to make it a point to consciously realize how trivial my troubles are and know that God has a purpose for everything... and we should celebrate the eternal love given to us each and every day.  In some ways, Sadie signifies for me that there is a purpose for everything and that strength is found within. 

Over the weekend, I was really feeling lonely and having a hard time sleeping.  As usual, Sadie must have known, and I woke up in the morning to my arm asleep... and Sadie literally sleeping in my arms on top of me.

Not sure who looks more tired here but we finally both had a good night's sleep :)  Good thing Sadie doesn't have stinky dog breath!

Exciting news on the heartworms front... tomorrow is the last day of medicine for the next 30 days (before her first Immiticde treatments).  The medicine definitely gets the best of her some days, and she turns almost manic.  Unfortunately this usually happens during the middle of the night or early morning, so I'm looking forward to the next 30 days of normal Sadie (whatever that is).  It's taken a bit of time, but Sadie's also finally gaining some weight and LOVING food.  The first few weeks, it took everything in my power to get her to eat and now she can't get enough!  To the point that she's become a begger, and the second you have food in your hand, there's the chance she may try to dance with you :) (don't tell her I said so, but she definitely has two left feet!)

As I reported before, Sadie definitely has a neighborhood boyfriend.  She hears him bark each morning from bed and insists on barking back.  Tonight Sadie and I ate dinner outside together and the barking between yards ensued... so I took her down to see him and as you can see, Sadie just glows around him :)

After a little play time, we are both spent and ready for bed.  Until next time... don't forget to be thankful tomorrow, tell someone how much you love them, and do something nice for a stranger.  Never know how something so unexpected can change a person's day... or life.

Another week has passed, meaning another week of forward progress.  I've been so busy with work that I typically just come home later in the evening and hang out with Sadie... She's definitely getting more into her routine and comfort in knowing this is her house (I just pay rent).  She's had a few irritable nights from the medicine, and even had an accident in bed :(  but how do you get mad at this face?

Funny story... a few days ago I took Sadie in the car with me and she had her first fast food drive through experience... When the lady started taking my order, Sadie couldn't figure out where the sound was coming from and continually barked so loud we couldn't understand each other.  Still lots to learn here!

I'm also happy to report that Sadie now has a boyfriend down the street... will work on getting a picture of them together but he's the only dog Sadie doesn't bark at.  Every time I take her for a walk, she drags me up to the fence.  Pretty darn cute.

So throughout my daily interactions at the house, Sadie continues to insist on following every step I take.  I've been pretty close to either stepping on her or tripping over her probably once every ten minutes!  We decided to have a girl's day yesterday morning and did our own pedicures.  Sadie went with black nail polish... :)

On a more serious note, as I expressed a few posts ago, the response to the trials I'm going through at the moment have been so overwhelming.. Family sending money, friends I haven't talked to in 10 plus years coming out of the woodworks.. I just want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you reading this.  I truly believe everything happens for a reason and Said has certainly touched my life in a way I couldn't even imagine in a very short amount of time.  Her strength made me reach out on a limb this past week and do something outside of my comfort zone.  I've been inviting probably the least likely person you could ever invite to church for the last 8 months and he finally came this past weekend... to say it was all a part of God's plan seems like an understatement to me.  There was a very specific reason for all of the puzzle pieces that fell together for us to be sitting in church yesterday.  Nothing like feeling the grace of God pouring over you.  These moments continue to make the hardships easier and easier to deal with... in focusing on all of the positive and encouraging gifts that He is blessing me with each day.  Can't help but think of how much Sadie proves these gifts each morning when I haven't even set foot outside of my bed.

On that note, I think it's our bedtime Sadie!

Some time has passed since my last post and honestly I feel like my world has been thrown off by the 4^th of July falling on a Wednesday.  Just felt like an “off week.”  I’ve taken on some extra responsibility at work (basically another full time job) and I’ve just been exhausted by the time I get home.  I crawl into bed each night to Sadie wanting to be playful, and not understanding the irony behind the notion that she isn’t supposed to be… and I’m too tired to be!  This is the face I go to bed to… And sometimes it takes 15 minutes before she’ll even lie down or move!  Never thought I’d say it feels uncomfortable trying to fall asleep with a dog hovering over you…

The 4^th of July came and went.. and was over before I blinked it seemed.  Had a great day with Sadie visiting family and just relaxing.  Sadie informed me that the 4^th of July was her favorite holiday (most likely because of her intuition that it’s my favorite holiday), so I did my best to make sure everyone knew it J

Outside of work, I’ve had many invitations to go out and be social.. but by the time I get home, I’m not sure if it’s the lack of energy or the guilt of leaving Sadie at home all day that keeps me here with her (i.e. not spending money and not making poor decisions).  We’ve been shacking up and watching movies together..it’s really more exhausting than you would think with the A.D.D. of a dog, leaving the room every few seconds to get some water and then me having to explain what she missed in the movie!  Sheesh, the nerve of dogs!

The last few days have been full of rain and storms, much needed here in Colorado!  So blessed that God must be emotional and his tears are giving peace to the wildfires… just another piece in the puzzle of life in which everything always comes together.  None the less, I happen to love rain more than most… so after discovering Sadie’s absolute hatred for thunder, last night we spent some quality time laying in the yard in the pouring down rain and lightning, finding comfort in each other and staring up into God’s amazing space he has provided for us.  Was a defining moment in which it felt like we were together in the snowglobe of life with God watching us looking up at him in wonderment and amazement. 

And here we are tonight… on a Saturday night doing laundry and making dinner (Sadie actually got a little of my homemade onion and cheddar stuffed burger tonight, so I think she’s a much bigger fan of cooking at home when she gets to partake in the meal).  The thunder and rain has yet again led to us spending an evening in the peace and quiet of not entertaining all of the offers to go out on the town… a decision I’m sure to be happy I made in the morning, and in the mean time am going to enjoy another movie with my best friend J  Until next time…

Overall,  it's been a pretty good low-key weekend here for Sadie and I.  Unfortnately I've had to go into work both days, so Sadie decided to lend a hand to the scheduling world :)

Was actually really nice to have her at work with me.  I think she also enjoyed the all day company, not to mention getting out of the house!  Last night was the first evening I went out, leaving Sadie at home.  Felt like a mother dropping their child at school for the first time... worried all evening about her!  Most of all because of all of the medicine she's on, she's drinking SO much water... leading to needing to go out more frequently.  And we all know how bad it is when you're on a long car trip with no restroom!  Can't imagine feeling that way in your own house, ha.  So upon my return last night, I spent some good quality time on the floor with her (also working on "shake", but that'll be for another day).

Today after work, I went to visit a good friend and brought Sadie in the car for a little excitement.  She's always so good in the back of the car, that I decided to put part of the back seat down to see if she's put her head out the window/make her way to the front of the car... Within minutes, I had an instant visitor in the front of the car that caught me by surprise!

I was stuck in traffic and within minutes, Sadie was falling all over the place (into my lap, across the cup holders) to end up here..

With leather seats and her not wanting to cooperate, i had to pull over and be the parent... constraining her to the back of the car once again.  Some things we still have yet to learn! 

Off to enjoy our Sunday night and descend upon week 2 of healing hearts!  Only up to go :)