Day 2

The LORD is with us even in the small-but-really-add-up-quickly things of life. I believe our appliances and other house fixtures had a secret conference at some point and planned an all-out attack on us. On the front lines at the moment are the dishwasher, clothes washer and refrigerator. While HE may be calling us to support our vet heavily at the moment, HE is aiding us in the appliance war. Yesterday, well Wednesday now, the greatest tech I've ever encountered came to our house to look at the dishwasher. He saw right away what the problem was, located a new part, and made plans to come back in the afternoon to install it - all the while giving me tip after tip on where to find good referrals, good deals on warranties and the like. His personality was super-friendly and excitable, and you could tell he was looking out for your best interest instead of padding his pocket.

Today another tech came out to check out the malevolent clothes washer. We have been unable to locate our warranties folder as of yet, so he "observed" the "potential problem areas" and left without charging us a service charge until we can locate the paperwork.

There are much more important things in life than dishwashers and carpet and fridges, yet the LORD knows and cares about the little things in our life. Being the administrative one in the family, I've been watching the expenses rising and rising while the income is staying the same. I know even greater ones are coming up as well. I can't say I'm terribly overwhelmed by it (by HIS grace), but I do have moments of anxiety when the kids are wanting to go here and there and eat out and find their satisfaction in activities that cost money. That and when I have to pay the two biggest bills close together every month. Oh, and when we have to go to the dentist...

Day 1

GOD knows how much I care about animals. We found these guys TOGETHER in the SAME room at the SPCA. They were unrelated. Frodo was a "surrendered" little man, and Psycho Sam was a stray. We brought them home with us when they were 8 and 6 respectively. Frodo made it to 17 before his little man body gave out from a severe heart murmur and kidney failure. He made it years beyond what the vet thought he would.

We took my man Sam in Monday expecting to come home empty-handed as he had been battling a raging infection and/or severe kidney failure. I stayed home the entire weekend to make the most of the time. But how can you say it's his time when he's trying to get out the door and off the exam table while at the vets? He's nudging my hand and licking me. I was elated to have to ask for all the stuff I'd packed up to give away and already given them! I know he won't be here for many more years. It could be a month. It could be a year.

He's not the same psycho dog he once was. He is still weak. Sometimes he eats; sometimes not. I am giving him sub-q fluids as well as a special diet food and meat to strengthen him back up. We've been supporting the vet heavily these last few days.

Most of our major appliances are on the fritz or have been recently replaced. The carpet needs to be replaced, walls painted, dents patched, electrical work done, well water tested... Outside classes, unexepected but wonderful therapy results...forgetting to pay increasing bills...Oh, how I want to run and hide from all these responsibilities, how I wish I had my "perfect" farmhouse, but...

I have my Sammy for a little while longer. That is the gift GOD gave me this week that warms my heart the most. To hear him snore, to hear him bark at our cat, Snooki, to have to change his diapers once again. The little irritations are really blessings...reminders that life is swift and there are unexpected curves in the road - some sharp and fast. My heart was breaking to know that I was losing my last boy over the weekend. Tears were flowing, heart was ripping as I packed up all the "stuff" we'd accumulated for them.

But GOD gave me a little more time with my Psycho Sam this week.

Multitude Monday

121. Delicate white flakes that cover the deadness of winter with a fresh white carpet
122. Snowball fights, humongous snowmen, sledding down driveways

123. Hearing Little Man read his own books for the first time
124. Fresh food
125. Stores to go to instead of dumps to sort through (see www.aholyexperiene.com)

Multitude Monday

115. watching my 16 yo Pomeranian be a tough little guy - fighting a severe heart murmur and kidney
        failure; even though I see the signs of decline, he's still here

Frodo the Fighter

116. seeing my older girls catching on to classes online
117. watching them handle lessons, life and jobs

118. seeing my "baby girl" become an official teenager but glad to see the last bit of "childlikeness"
        still in her

119. my hubby working hard even while sick; staying faithful even though the pressure is tight and
        demands are high but prospects harder to come by

120. watching my Little Man get bigger and bigger - in learning, in stature and in play

Little Man

Slackin' but HE is not

109. a forgiving GOD who does not forget, get distracted, decide to do other things rather than stop in the moment and give thanks for things possessed and not possessing
110. waiting in the doctor's office a second time for a second diagnostic ultrasound - do I really want my prayer to be done with my pain-filled existence to be answered now?
111. finally being able to share my thoughts with my definitely better half - though it be probably 2 am - waking him out of slumber due to my recently acquired late-night owl lifestyle
112. hearing that my mother's tests turned out for the better
113. fruitless (so far) searching for a necklace my daughter needs to send to a customer
114. reminders of what is important from www.aholyexperience.com