I've been feeling SO nudged lately! You know how sometimes you just feel deep down like you are supposed to do something and then things keep happening to make it all the more clear? It started about a month ago as I finished up an awesome book on prayer that we were doing in my women's Bible study. The last chapter was titled "Are you ready?" It was a beautiful invitation to give your life to Jesus. I know there are people around me who need this invitation, so I decided I was going to share it on Facebook. But I got distracted and never did it. And the last few weeks in church, (as we are studying the Book of Jonah), our Pastor has really challenged us to share our faith. Like actually do it! Then a few weeks ago, I started a New Testament Bible reading plan. Right now I am reading through the Gospels and Jesus is sharing all sorts of parables about the desperate need for salvation in the world. I get teary eyed thinking about how so many people don't have it... don't have Him. I remember what that was like! But then I close my Bible and somehow just go on with my day. But not today, today was different. We are getting ready to go out of town for the holiday weekend and I have so much to do today, but I cannot put this off anymore. Nothing is more important than this! 

Why is it so easy to just sit on the sidelines watching this world crumble, thinking about how very sad it is, and then just move on? It is hard not to become numb in this culture. We see so much violence all around us every day and sin is celebrated and accepted by so many. It much more comfortable to pray for people's salvation behind closed doors in the privacy of my own home than it is to approach them with the Gospel. I know I am not alone here. So many believers are so quiet about the saving power of Jesus Christ. We are so worried about offending people these days. But what I've realized is that each person who ever had the nerve to approach me with the Gospel did offend me to a degree, but at the same time (unbeknownst to me) broke off another piece of my hardened heart, until eventually it was softened enough to be ripe for salvation. So that when my husband, (then boyfriend), asked me... "If you died today, do you know without a doubt where you'd be going?"... I wept and wept, because I knew the answer was no. And I finally understood the gravity of my sin and my need of a Savior! That is when it all began to change for the better. Soon after that, I gave my life to Christ and finally started to understand what true love and true freedom were all about! I am tired of holding back what He has done! I KNOW where I am going and I want as many people as possible to go with me! 

With Independence Day approaching, I've been thinking a lot about freedom. I'm proud to be an American and I am very patriotic! I love our veterans and I am so thankful for all of those who serve in the U.S. military to help secure our freedom as a nation!! The definition of the word Independence is: freedom from being controlled or ruled by another country. What a blessing that we Americans all have that physical & national independence! We should not take that for granted. But the sad truth is that many, many people in our country are still spiritually controlled by the "ruler of this world," Satan. And most don't even know it! They think they are in control of their own lives, but the truth is... You are either God's or Satan's. You're either free or you are in chains. Seriously let that sink in. Wake up to the fact that there is a spiritual war raging around us right now. What side are you on? 

"Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."                 
2 Corinthians 4:1-6

Satan has so much control over the unbelieving world. He blinds the minds of unbelievers. If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and Savior, you are completely defenseless against Satan's lies and schemes. You're anything but independent and free! (Although he likes to give you the false sense that you are). Satan loves to keep people in bondage. It really, really burdens my heart now that I am on the outside looking in. I used to be so tangled up in his darkness. I was like a zombie going through the motions and never questioning why I was so religious, yet so empty. Satan wanted me to keep thinking if I just did enough and kept all the rules and performed well that I was good to go... because then I'd be too busy and too pridefully self absorbed to see the truth. The truth that it is not about what I do, but what Jesus DID! And his plan worked for a long time. I was lost, lonely, drowning in sin, full of guilt and shame, but going to church every Sunday and looking like I had it all together. So busy making sure the outside looked good while the inside was rotting. It was terribly lonely. Satan is the king of deception and teaches us how to fake it so well. To hide what is really going on inside. And that is exactly what I did for a really long time. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28

But that is not how God operates. He brings sin into the light and shows mercy and grace and brings healing to our broken, dirty places. So we are washed clean rather than working so hard to cover up our filth. He knows everything about us and loves us anyway! He wants us to just come as we are. The truth of the Gospel is so simple, yet so profound. Jesus died so that we could live.... freely, abundantly & eternally! There is nothing like it. 

Here is what I have realized. Most people believe in God. But that is simply not enough. Even the demons believe in God! Here is the deal: You must BELIEVE + RECEIVE to = SALVATION.  It is essential that you believe in God, but please do not stop there. You then need to receive the free gift bought for you by His death on the cross. If you don't repent of your sins and welcome Him in to be the Lord of your life, you will NOT BE SAVED. Please understand that. There are a lot of unsaved, kind people wandering around this world. Folks that believe in God, that do nice things, that give to charities, etc. You can be a very pleasant person on earth and then not go to heaven. Because it is not about what YOU do, it is about what HE did! So believe and receive. That is God's design. 

When you read this today, I don't know if I am planting the 1st seed in your heart or the hundredth seed. And it really isn't any of my business. All I know is God calls me to share what I know and have been given! A relationship with Jesus, pardon from my sins and the promise of eternal life are all wrapped up in the greatest gift ever... salvation. Maybe you have believed for a long time, but if you haven't received, there is no time like the present! He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, but He will never force Himself in. You must open the door and invite Him in. He doesn't want a puppet He can control, He wants a child He can have a beautiful relationship with! He doesn't want to give you an impossible to-do list to earn His favor, He just wants you to rest in Him and let Him shower you clean with His righteousness. So that when God looks at you, He won't see your sins, He'll see Jesus. What a beautiful thing! I don't fear judgement now because I am not relying on my own righteousness anymore, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross! That is freedom in it's fullest sense. Anything else just won't cut it. There is nothing you could ever DO to earn this free gift. It has already been bought at a very high cost. 

It all comes down to one thing, a choice. Only one question remains...

I pray that whoever desperately needs salvation today will be stirred to fall onto their knees, repent of their sins and proclaim Jesus as Lord! I don't care what religion you are or what you have done in your past... His gift of grace is for all of us! I pray independence and freedom will take on a whole new meaning for some reading this. I feel strongly that God wanted me to share this message today. It is a beautiful day for lives to be changed. You just never know whose heart is ripe for salvation. Who just needs to be asked, "If you died today, do you know where you would be going?" I am asking. And if your answer is no, let's change that RIGHT NOW!! Because if you die, there is no second chance. And we all know how fragile life is. "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world but forfeit their soul?" Matthew 16:26 

 "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I'd say my last blog was more or less a spiritual update. Now I suppose it is time for more of a physical update! 

If you read my last post, you know that we have pretty much been on a break from all of the doctors, drugs, procedures, etc. etc. for like 2 years now. I have really been focusing on my health and I am happy to say that I am feeling better physically than I have felt in a long long time! I've been seeing a hormone specialist for the past year who has been helping me get my hormones balanced out, which in and of itself makes a huge difference in how I feel. They still aren't perfectly balanced, but we are definitely moving in the right direction, and I am so thankful! 

And I am also happy to report that my last check-up with my GYN Oncologist for my abnormal cervical cell issue showed an "all clear" pap smear and ECC. Praise Jesus! What a huge burden off our shoulders!!! I pray those yucky cells stay gone this time. We've been battling them for 4 years now. Every time I feel like my reproductive organs are in jeopardy, it seems God shields them and grants me more time before the dreaded "hysterectomy." Wouldn't that just be awesome if I never ended up needing to have one at all?! 

Another decision I made several months ago was to go on an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medication... after a very long time avoiding it. I can't tell you how many times Corey and I have discussed whether or not to go this route. It has definitely helped! I feel like the same person, I am still able to cry, etc., but everything just feels lighter and I am able to bounce back quicker from being upset or down. A close relationship with God is absolutely the best treatment for anxiety or depression, and He has sustained me these past 6 years. But I do believe many people also have a chemical imbalance that can be helped by medication. Especially now that I have experienced difference for myself do I really get it. There is nothing to be ashamed of! I am sure I will talk about that more at some point. Overall I am getting a lot more/better sleep (medication seems to help with that, too), I'm exercising more regularly and my stress levels are much lower than they had been. Other than the fact that I am not pregnant, I feel like I really can't complain. Major healing and restoration has taken place in my body, just like in my soul! 

But while everything seems to be changing for the better within my body, we've discovered something majorly unexpected involving Corey's body. We decided back in January to go see a reproductive endocrinologist in Tulsa for a fresh set of eyes over our entire case. Well, you have to be careful what you wish for! We got some major clarity. The doctor informed us that Corey has very poor sperm morphology (the shape of the sperm). His are 2% normal, 98% abnormal. The test that she determined this from was run 2 years ago when we had our IVF work-up.... but no one ever told us!!! (cue the jaw drop). She started talking about it in our appointment like we already knew, (because why wouldn't we?) but we were in complete shock! We had the analysis done again in Tulsa just to make sure, and the results were the same. All this time, we've thought all of our fertility problems were the result of MY issues. Turns out, this has probably been our main/biggest issue all along and we've had no idea! It was hard for Corey to hear this news, naturally. He felt really bad.... not only that he has this issue, but that I've been carrying the burden all this time. As hard as this news was for both of us to hear, so many things suddenly made more sense. It has felt for so long like we were missing something and like all the pieces just didn't fit. She explained to us that we basically have a 2% chance of getting pregnant with a healthy baby on our own. Sperm morphology issues seem to be a genetic thing and there just isn't a whole lot you can do to fix it. We do still have the option of doing IVF again and she estimated we'd have about a 30% chance of success after multiple cycles with ICSI (where the sperm is actually injected into the egg). If it did take that many cycles, we are looking at about $45,000 out of pocket. So needless to say, we are taking some time to pray and seek The Lord. I still believe He can give us a miracle if He so chooses! And what a miracle it would be! 

One positive thing that has come out of this revelation is that I feel like it brought Corey and I closer! I truly don't think anyone can understand what it is like to hear they have something majorly wrong with their body that is preventing them from being able to have a child/give their spouse a child, until they hear it about themselves. It is heart wrenching! I got to be strong for Corey in that moment and the days to follow as he grieved & processed. He is not used to being the one grieving and I'm not used to being so strong. But trading places was a huge blessing to our relationship because it caused us have more compassion and understanding for each other. He has never blamed me or made me feel guilty about any of my fertility issues, nor would I ever do that to him. They are out of our control. But if we don't end up having any biological babies, it will be nice to know that it wasn't just him or just me. We both had issues, for whatever reason, and neither of us has to beat ourselves up for being the sole reason we couldn't have kids. As a result of this experience, I've seen Corey become more sensitive to other people's trials & emotions as well. It has been so cool for me to watch how God is working in His heart! I love him now more than ever before! 

The last major thing going on with us is that we just sold our house last weekend and are moving into a rent house next week! So we are in the midst of packing craziness. Where on earth did we get all this stuff?!?!?! Anyway, we are very excited and anxious to start building our new house! It has been such a fun project for us to work on together. We started designing our plans a year ago, so it has by no means gone quickly, but we finally to the point where things will hopefully start rolling now. We just have to wait for the bank appraisal and everything to be done and the plan is to break ground in early June! We feel so blessed. It is bittersweet to be leaving this house I love, but it is also refreshing. This home has been where wonderful memories have been made and where I have come to know The Lord so much more intimately, but it has also seen A LOT of heartbreak and tears. I think a fresh start will be a good thing! But I'll always cherish our time here in our 1st home in Arkansas, on Indian Springs Avenue!

Has anyone seen the movie "Passengers?" Corey and I just watched in last night. Usually sci-fi isn't really my thing and I honestly wasn't expecting much, but it was a great movie! (Heads up, there is a spoiler alert coming).

Jim & Aurora are passengers on a spaceship headed to a new colony on a far off planet. They left their lives on earth behind with dreams of doing something extraordinary! The journey is set to take 120 years and they are planning to be sleeping safely in hibernation pods until they get there. For various reasons out of their control, they both end up waking up around 90 years too early. This obviously causes them to go through an array of strong emotions... such as anxiety, confusion, determination, anger, hopelessness & apathy.  The ship continues to have major malfunctions, but because they are awake, they end up being able to save the lives of the 5,000 other passengers on board, who are still sleeping. If it hadn't been for them, everyone would have died. They of course fall in love and end up accepting this reality that they are stuck forever in space alone, but together. Aurora is a writer and she writes a book about their life for the other passengers to read when they wake up. The movie ends with them holding each other in a swimming pool looking out into the universe, smiling at each other and saying "hell of a life!" 

As the credits were rolling, my face was drenched in a stream of tears. Like I said, I was not expecting to be moved at all by this movie. But it struck something deep within me because it felt like such a parallel to mine and Corey's story. For so long we have been "stuck" in a reality that we did not choose. We started off on this journey full of dreams of baby kicks and ultrasound pics, diapers and pacifiers. But many things out of our control have derailed our plans and caused us to battle through all of those same emotions that Jim and Aurora experienced on the spaceship. For a long time that is where I parked my heart. That was the end of my story. My dreams were shattered and I was destined to live with this broken heart forever, and there was nothing I could do about it. 

"But God..." As the Scriptures so often say when things are looking pretty grim.

There is more to this story. It doesn't end with me wallowing away the rest of my life. Maybe there are sleeping passengers around us that need to be rescued? And if we weren't where we are then maybe that wouldn't be possible? Maybe this shattered dream of ours is about more than just us. Didn't I just say in my very last blog that God only breaks us so He can put us back together more whole? Our Pastor said in his sermon last week that if God is asking us to do something we can be sure it is good for us and for others. Faith is being sure of something you cannot see. Well I am sure of this, God did not bring us here to abandon us. And I pray when others read the story I am writing through my blog, they will see His fingerprints ALL OVER.

I feel like I've been on the brink of acceptance for a while now. Scared to let go but ready to let go. This seems like a very appropriate time to hold onto Corey and look out together into the unknown before us and smile at each other and say, "heck of a life!" 

Aurora: "You can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be, that you forget to make the most of where you are."

After I finished my good, long cry, I told Corey... "with everything going on, the flood gates were bound to break." And he said, "who would have known a sci-fi movie would be what caused that to happen?!" I can't be too predictable! ;) Good night, all!

BROKENNESS & DELAYS

...Two not-so-fun words that have become rather life-changing to me recently. It is amazing the way the Spirit can transform things! Like my heart, for example. And negative words into positive ones.

When you last heard from me over a year ago, I was a few short weeks away from leaving on my very first mission trip! Little did I know, those 10 days in Ethiopia were going to be a major turning point in my life. I needed to be broken out of my bubble of despair so badly, but who knew that some precious African orphans would be the method by which that would happen? 

If those motherless children can be SO joyful,
can't this childless woman be joyful, too?

The kiddos I spent time with and loved on had a far greater impact on me than I had on them, no doubt. I thought I was going there to help change the world, turns out the world was a tool God was using to help change me! More on that in a moment.

The past two years of my life can be divided into two sections:

Recovery Mode (April 2015- April 2016)

After our failed IVF in March 2015, we decided we absolutely had to take a break from it all. It was our first "break" in 4 years and needed to happen, for the sake our my health and our marriage. I was at an all time low at this point. It literally felt like I couldn't handle another ounce of disappointment or another medication being put into my body, or I might just spontaneously combust. So we stopped. That was in itself hard because so much of the past 4 years had been devoted to doing everything possible to try and have a baby. So what do we do now? It's hard to go from go, go go.... control, control, control to nothing, just like that. It definitely took some time to unwind. I was wound pretty tight. This was a painfully healing year! I finally had the space to truly grieve like I desperately needed to. And that is exactly what I did. There was so much I had been carrying that I simply could not carry anymore. I finally laid it down. And then God took me to Ethiopia...

Restoration Mode (May 2016- present)

I consider this period beginning when we got home from Africa. I was in a total daze for a while! I knew God was doing some major work in my heart, but I didn't quite understand what it meant and I certainly couldn't verbalize it. People would ask me about our trip and I remember saying over and over that "I'm still trying to process it." It was just so very different from what I thought it would be. So very beautiful, joyful and peaceful... not scary, depressing and stressful like I expected. Yes, there were things that broke my heart... like the intense poverty I witnessed and the fact that some children were deserted by their families and left alone to die. But GOD WAS THERE!! He had transformed what could be so ugly into something so beautiful. He gave a home and a family to the orphans. They are loved and safe and being taught about Him! He gave community to the impoverished. I've never seen such fellowship! Everything moved at a much slower pace there. They had time to enjoy life. No one was in a hurry, and it was so refreshing to me. I breathed deeper. I slept like a baby. I cried like a baby. Because I needed Africa so much more than Africa needed me. I wanted to take home what I learned and keep them and the lessons they taught me, and that God taught me, so close to my heart.

And I have tried to do just that. Shortly after we returned, I quit my nursing job at the pediatric clinic. Because as much as I loved it, I realized that it was a stumbling block to my healing. It just wasn't where I needed to be working at this point in my journey. It was too hard on my heart. I also began to clear my calendar to allow for more space to rest, to not run myself so ragged. I made fellowship more of a priority. I found an amazing counselor and have been going to her consistently. And with her help, breakthrough is happening. I leave each session overwhelmed by God's goodness as He continues revealing and freeing. I've began reading for pleasure and have enjoyed having the time and the energy to do so. I've read some of the most awesome and powerful books! I am doing photography full time and am finding how well a flexible schedule fits with my personality. I am learning to set boundaries in my life and relationships. My stress levels are lower than they have ever been. My marriage is better than it has ever been. I'm taking a painting class and trying to recover my creative side. It has been a really good, blessed year... and I am beyond thankful! I am referring to it as the year of Spring, because so many dead places in me have been coming back to life. 

My circumstance hasn't changed. But I have changed. 

The hope & joy that had been slowly drained out of my body, mind and soul is being infused back in. I trust God right now more than I ever have before! He has done a work in me that I could have never accomplished myself. I needed to be broken... completely shattered of my stubbornness, selfishness, perfectionism, expectations, etc. so that He could put me together so much better. I used to be so angry at Him for doing this. But now I see that He is creating someone who I actually kind of like when I see her in the mirror. I can see more and more of Him and am beginning to see less of me. And that is only by His grace! I can see now that if I had never gone through all I have, I would not be here. I'd be back thinking I had this whole life thing figured out and I'd probably be controlling my husband and kids like a crazy person, running around like a chicken with her head cut off.... and coming to God only when things got really bad. I bet I would still be bound by my flesh and my priorities would be so far off from God's will. I don't exactly know what His will is, but I do believe a big part of it is for me to be in close relationship with Him and with a surrendered heart, seeking to see His kingdom come. And that is where I am right now, and where I always want to stay, Lord willing. I don't ever want to go back to the old me. If God does give me children, they will have a much better role model of a mother now! I know that for sure.

I'd like to share with you an except I just read this morning from this great book we are going through in my women's bible study, called "Prayer, Our Glorious Privilege" by Pastor Chuck Smith:

"God wanted a man who would lead the nation back onto the path of righteousness, back to God, back to a place of strength. But though God looked all over Israel, He could not find such a man. But God did find a woman. God closed up Hannah's womb and put her in an uncomfortable situation, by opening the womb of the other wife, Peninnah. He even allowed Peninnah to torment Hannah, knowing it would bring her to a point of desperation. In that state of desperation, Hannah prayed over and over "God, I want a son. God, I need a son." No answer. Why did God delay? God delayed because God wanted to give much more than a son. He wanted to give the nation a prophet, a priest, a judge who would lead the people back to God's path and would save the nation from destruction. God wanted to give Hannah much more than she was asking for, so He withheld her desire until she finally prayed, "Oh God, if You will but give me a son, I will give him back to You all the days of his life and he can be totally consecrated to You." There is no better place to be than right in that place God desires for us; that place where He will give us so much more than we have asked Him for. And so God granted her prayer and gave her Samuel, that great prophet, that great priest, that great judge, who saved the nation by bringing them back into a right relationship with their God." 

Hannah asked for a son. God gave her a son, prophet, priest, judge and leader! He not only answered her prayer, he exceeded her prayer, way beyond what she could even imagine. Hannah's delays led to a beautiful destination. Her brokenness was made into such a powerful testimony. God's will was accomplished through her! What greater legacy could there be? 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

That is my prayer today... that like Hannah, I will be able to be used by God to accomplish His will. I have come to a place where I want that more than I want anything else. I don't know what God is doing in my life, but I know whatever it is ...is for my good and His glory! Not just one or the other, but both. I believe He is going to do more than I can even imagine. I am excited for what that will look like. I praise God for streams in my wasteland and for this new thing He is doing! I pray that this change in my life brings hope and encouragement to you if you feel like you are lost in the wilderness of your own suffering. It will get better! God will come through for you! 

Don't be afraid to be broken and delayed. 

You can't have a blog about infertility without dedicating a post to your dog. At least I can't. Because she is so much more than just a pet! She is a big part of our family has been a constant source of love and loyalty in my life. She's one of the best friends I could ever imagine having! 

We got "Mocha," our beagle mix rescue dog, a few short months after we got married. It was October 2010, to be exact. She was the cutest little thing I ever did see, and we fell head over heels in love the very first day we had her!

Looking back, I think getting "Mocha Belle" was one of the best decisions we have ever made! I had no idea at the time what a huge blessing she would turn out to be or how much I would need her affection, and even just her presence. The depression I've dealt with has caused me at times to isolate myself from friends and family. But I've never truly been alone at any point in the past 5 years of this trial of infertility, because even when no one else is around, Mocha is always there. I can't isolate myself from her and I'm so glad. That in itself has been invaluable to me! 

A relationship with a dog is truly about the most uncomplicated relationship you can have. You don't have to talk and you don't have to listen. Or you can talk your head off and they will always listen. Dogs are always there to offer you great companionship, you don't have to worry about annoying or offending them or wonder if they really like you. They just offer unconditional love and they can't talk back! :) 

But there is more than just her presence that I treasure. "Mocha Bean the Drama Queen's" personality is the best! She is the most well balanced dog I have ever known... the perfect mix of calm, loving, ornery and playful. Sometimes I wonder how we got so lucky...but I know it really wasn't about luck, rather that God knew exactly what we needed and hand picked her for us. He truly cares about every detail of our lives! 

Mocha has given us the chance to be parents, even if it has not been in the way we envisioned. We have gotten to take care of her since she was a baby and watch her grow and change. We feed her, we take her to the vet, we love on her, discipline her, take her on walks and worry when she isn't acting normal. Like any parents, we care about her overall well being. We know what it is to have someone depend on us completely for their survival. I really think having her has helped me subconsciously avoid getting too self-absorbed in my pain. I always have her to care for, to focus on. The 3 of us have gone through some really hard times of and also some really fun times together. There is just this strong bond between her and us! 

Mocha has seen more of my tears than anyone else has. She's seen me at my best, my worst and everything in between. And despite it all, her love for me never changes. She's been there through both miscarriages, the failed IVF, multiple surgeries, the deaths of my grandparents, fights with Corey, thousands of prayers spoken out loud, way too many negative pregnancy tests... and on and on. She has such a keen sense for how I am feeling and knows exactly how to act according to that. She is such a lover!  Not only does she comfort me when I am really sad by giving me gentle kisses, putting her paw on my hand or snuggling up to me, but she also lifts my spirits in general. Every day she does something that makes me smile, even if it is just her being cute without even trying. Her puppy dog eyes seem to say, "I love you, Mom" and her tail is always wagging. There is this quote that says "wag more, bark less." I think I could learn a lesson about that from Mocha! She is one happy girl. She has 2 parents that love her and care deeply for her and she is absolutely content with that. And that gets me thinking... How much more does my Father in Heaven love me? There is no comparison. If Mocha can be so content being loved by very imperfect parents, how much more content should I be because I am loved by a perfect God? It is pretty convicting, really. 

I think that "Bella Bean" encourages us to be more active and get more sunshine and fresh air. We know she needs exercise and have come to love taking her on walks, hikes and even out on our kayaks with us! Did you know that having a dog has actually been proven to improve your health? Pet owners have been found to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and fewer heart attacks. Just being around your dog causes you to laugh and smile more, be more active and reduce your stress levels by boosting your levels of dopamine and serotonin... neurotransmitters associated with tranquility and relaxation. Laughter and dogs are the best medicine! 

Another great benefit of having "Mochie" is that she makes me feel safe. When I am home alone during the day or when Corey is out of town, I know she will alert me of anything suspicious. It is also just nice to have someone to talk to and hang out with.  It would be interesting to see what Mocha would say if she could talk, rather than us guessing what she would say and talking for her :) 

"Go Huskers! Woo Pig Sooie!"

"It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."

"I'm so embarrassed right now. But I do love all the attention I'm getting!"

We get made fun of all the time for all the ways we dress up our poor dog. But it hasn't stopped us yet!  What a good sport my little "Sugar Bear" is :)  She makes us laugh and entertains us so much, both by what we do to her and by the silly and weird things she does all on her own!

Every part of our day has something special about it that involves Mocha. In the mornings we wake up to her snuggled between us under the covers. She sneaks up there when the sun starts to come up. She never wakes us up early. Rather, she just sleeps until we are ready to get up. Then we are greeted with her sweet face. Sometimes we will lay there and pet her for a few minutes and she will whine for joy.  She loves nothing more than all 3 of us being in once place and all the attention being on her!  We feed her, let her outside and then she's right back in our bed :) It is definitely her favorite place!

If I am working from home, she will follow me around some of the day and sleep some of the day. I find myself talking to her off and on throughout my day and we often go for walks.  When either Corey or myself are gone from the house for any length of time, we are greeted with an overjoyed puppy when we get home. That is one of the best feelings!  And we are usually equally as excited to see her.  

Most evenings we have some play time with her which involves keep-away or hide and seek or chasing each other. Then she waits patiently while we eat dinner, hoping there will be some leftover meat she will get as a treat. Then we settle in to watch some t.v. and she alternates who she sits with. She is seriously the sweetest dog! I really think she takes turn because she doesn't want to hurt either of our feelings. 

When it is time for bed, Corey always beats me there because his bedtime routine is so much shorter than mine. So that has become the time when he and Mocha have "pillow time." She lays her head on my pillow and he pets her and tells her what a good girl she is. It is so adorable and it still cracks me up after all these years. Then I come to bed and we all snuggle for a few minutes before she's off to one of her 3 beds for the night. She's not spoiled at all! 

Having a dog, our dog, has forever impacted my life for the better! I talk often about how much harder this trial would be without the support of such amazing friends and family surrounding us, but the same is true for Mocha! She has been our best friend and our daughter and it doesn't matter that she can't talk... because actions always speak louder than words. She loves us so well. 

"Who rescued who?"

"Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong." 

"I'm not spoiled, my master is just well trained."

"Once you've had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished."

"Home is where my dog is." 

What do you do when it is the week of Easter, you are feeling a little down about the sad state of the world you live in ....and you just don't really feel like doing anything that you should be doing? 

You make peep bird nests, of course! Because you just want to share some Easter love. 

I remember making these for friends one time back when we lived in Nebraska & Corey was in dental school. I saw them in a Taste of Home magazine and thought they were adorable! It was probably the Spring of 2011 or 2012. They were a hit then, so I thought I'd make them again this year and then share the fun idea with you here on my blog :) Maybe you are in the mood to procrastinate, too... or maybe you just want to do something that will hopefully bring some smiles to some faces! 

So here is what you need:

A bag of pretzels

A large bag of white baking chips (24 oz.)

Some very small candy eggs of your choice

Peeps (I used 18, which was almost 2 packages)

Plates or trays to serve/deliver them on

Pour the white chocolate chips in a large bowl and melt slowly in the microwave for 45 seconds and then for 15 second intervals as needed. 

Make sure you set aside about 1/4 cup of the chocolate in a small bowl to use later. Then add the pretzels to the chocolate in the big bowl and stir gently. I did not use the whole bag of pretzels. I just kept adding until I felt like they were all covered, but there wasn't a bunch of extra chocolate in the bowl. 

If you look down, you may have a couple pooches hanging around, hoping you'll accidentally drop something! Mocha is excited to have company! My in-laws are out of town so we are keeping their dogs for a few days.  We love Remington and Daly and always enjoy when they come visit!

Next, use some tongs to drop the coated pretzels on wax paper and do your best to form nests out of them. 

Now it is time to add the little birds to their nests! Take the peeps and separate them from each other. Then dip them in the reserved bowl of chocolate and secure one on top of each nest. Do the same with the egg shaped candies. 

Before long, your counter will be looking like this! And you'll probably smile. And hopefully you'll cause whoever you share them with to smile, too! 

Happy Easter to all of our "peeps" out there!