Oakley is our toddler! Always causing messes and getting into things. She has toys spread out all over the house, but yet goes after the shoes, my face, Ted's feet, towels, rugs, clean laundry, toilet paper rolls, and ice cubes. She did manage to do the llama in after all the years Chica and Velle played with it. Oakley chewed the plastic eyeballs off and pulled stuffing out. We had a moment of reflection before I put the llama in the garbage. Puppies are not smart enough to NOT eat the plastic parts and the synthetic stuffing.
Sunday night, I was trying to have a chat with her about behaving for the groomer. This was her response...growling and trying to bite my fingers.
We went Monday morning to meet the groomer at the vet. We were there for a half hour and Oakley came out all pretty.
No drugs were used. She did not fight the gal who held her. She did yip once when they got to her toe nails. We have a plan to go every couple weeks to hang out with Mrs. Beckie and get used to her house with all the sights and sounds. "Mom will leave to go to her Bible study and we will be friends!" I appreciate her help and advice. And now that she has figured out how to get up on the couch...a whole new world has opened up to her!
Ted left work a little early and we went to Yoders on Monday. The kitchen was closed for the sandwiches we wanted. New hours...they now close at 5pm! We got to get the deli style sandwiches, fresh chips, and a Buckeye to split. We came home and spent time in the pool and then had our picnic lunch/supper at the dining room table. It was yummy!
It was so hot and I didn't feel like baking. I made no-bake cookies for our last ESL class on Tuesday.
Tuesday, Ted and I left early to head to the plant and get set up. He had executives coming in again and I had class. The time to start came and went...no students. Ted went to see what was going on...there was a mandatory meeting...and the HR manager and trainer neglected to inform me. Bummer! I was more annoyed to lose our last class than getting up early. I made my way back home and fed the dogs breakfast. I caught up on a couple other things and then headed to our first Bible study for the season.
It was such a blessing to be back together and catch up after being off for the summer. It was the adult version of the first day of school! The music and the teaching touched my heart.
Our table has gone beyond the Tuesday morning to make time to do lunch together every once in awhile...and we did it this week. To sit around the table and hear the testimonies of these gals was so encouraging. God is at work in the messy and hard times of life...in my life...in her life...here and there...near or far...all at the same time! The care of ladies who are at various life stages ministers in a special way! God knew I needed this to bolster me through the week. When we sit with others, we learn to not focus on our life and problems. When we sit under the teaching of God's Word, we learn how to do life and expect problems. When we are honest...that life is messy and life is hard...we see that others are covered with the messy and hard too...and we can cry together, pray together, and laugh together. I am thankful for this season of life.
This little oak branch fell during Wednesday's storm. I picked it up yesterday and snapped a picture. We won't always have sunny, beautiful days. There will be storms...it will get rough and loud...but we need the rain and nitrogen from the lightning...because it promotes growth and prepares us for the next season.
So this morning...we rested in the thought that He holds all things in our life in His almighty hands. The sun is shining as we look ahead to the weekend. But first, we will enjoy coffee, time with God, and puppy snuggles.
