Happy Birthday Mom!

Dear Mom -

Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday dear Mom!
Happy Birthday to You!

I love you very much, Mom, and wish I could be there to party-hardy with you.

Heather

PS - You're present will be in the mail today soon.

One of those days

It is one of those days. One in which I really wish we owned a luvable, cuddly, lick-you-in-the-face dog. How wonderful would it be to receive a cute little puppy with a big bow around her neck and know she was for me!


Isn't she adorable?

I don't know when my love of dogs started. My mom said I was never afraid of them as a child...she almost wished I would have had a little fear. My baby-sitter's family had 3 giant dobermans that I played with all the time. At the age of 5, I dog-sat for a big dog named "Bear." And, in North Carolina I remember playing catch with 2 of the neighborhood dogs all the time.

Our first dog's name was Annie - a labrador mix. She was a beautiful black dog, but she had a tendency to chase the cows. I remember how devastated I was when Dad took her to the humane society promising me that a good owner would come find her. The next dog was KC. She was a black cocker spaniel with super curly, thick hair. She was with me for 8 years and maybe became a little possesive of me. I cried for a week when she was put down. We bought a buff cocker spaniel, Holly, for my parents a few years back. I love visiting her and it reminds me of how much having a dog adds to a home.



For a while, I was too busy to have a canine companion and give it the love and time it would need. Now, my life is free, but the apartment complex 1) is not the place for a dog and 2) does not allow pets. I see people walking their dogs, running with their dogs, playing catch with their dogs. I see dogs hanging out the car windows - tongues out, ears flapping. I see pictures of dogs. It all keeps piling up, making me long for a dog even more.




How can you deny that face?

To all you pessimists out there, I know that I will have to vacuum once a day, wake up in the middle of the night to yelping, train the dog, clean up poop, pay for the vet bills...I get all that. But, it doesn't stop me from wanting one.




This may be too many!

I guess until May, I will just dream of having a puppy and search for a new place with a yard and that allows pets!

A Stye on my Eye

I woke up on Tuesday with a sore eyelid.

By Tuesday evening, it was swollen a little.

By Wednesday morning it was more sore and more swollen. After a trip to the eye doctor yesterday, I found out I have a stye. Which, for those of you who are interested in the medical world, is an infection in an oil gland around my eye by Staphylococcus aureus. Staph is on our skin naturally, but there are times that it can cause an infection. Maybe I didn't wash my hands when I touched my eyelid or something. However, it's nothing a little antibiotic can't fix and I should be back to normal in three days. Warm washcloths feel good on it, too. And it already feels better today!



This is a freaky picture! Can you even tell which eye is infected?

Seven Years Ago Today

My grandma left a message on my phone. She has a one-year Bible that she reads through each year. She writes in certain events on the date in which they happened. Her message on my phone said that 7 years ago today we were in Italy on a missions trip. On this particular day, we were sanding a railing on the house that was about waist level high. Not 10 minutes into the day, grandma's pant leg got eaten up by the only electric sander and broke the machine. How her pant leg came in contact with the sander, we will never know.

Oh, how I wish I had those pictures with me today to post. It was so funny. And, what does her granddaughter rush off to do? Not help her. Not call for help. No, I ran to grab my camera to capture the moment. Thanks for reminding me of that trip!

Do you know what you were doing 7 years ago today?

The Little Brother Moves to Town

Yesterday, my youngest brother, Jake, moved to town. Mom and Dad came to help get him settled in so we got to have supper with them. Someday, I hope our visits will last more than 1 hour.

Jake is going to attend college here, but decided to move in a few weeks early to hunt for a much-needed job. The search started this morning, but if anyone knows of something, suggestions would be helpful! We all know how much fun it is to look for a job.

I did mean to take pictures. I bring the camera along, just forget to actually take the picture. What kind of blogger am I anyway? So, your introduction to Jake is pictures from cross-country season last year.

Heather Renee

After seeing this on other blogs, I decided to try it out myself. Here is what a computer said about my personality. I'd love to hear if you think it is accurate or completely off. I have my own opinions. Post it in my comments.

What Heather Renee Means

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

New Shoes & More

It has crossed my mind that most of my blogging friends write about much more substantial, worthwhile things in life (ie - their children, their house building progress) besides their new shoes. Oh well.

Richard heard on the radio that a local mall was giving out a $15 gas card if you spent a certain amount of money at any of their stores this weekend. Richard and I both were overdue on new running shoes and Richard also needed some stuff for his bike, so we decided this would be a great time to take a little shopping trip. Once we got to the shoe store, our decision was confirmed because Scheel's was having a sale on shoes - $15 off any pair!

I must insert a little aside here - I have only had one pair of running shoes so far (Asic's Kayanos) and they lasted me 3 years. Therefore, the shoe shopping experience for Richard versus me is quite different. I have no idea what I am looking for in a running shoe - comfort? support? So, I would pick a shoe that I liked, show it to my hubby, and he would give the yea or nay.

So, I pick out 3 pairs of shoes and ask a saleslady to bring me a size 6. She returns with nothing. So I pick out 3 more pairs of shoes and she returns with the kayanos (same shoes I have been running in). I try them on and they are great shoes really. So comfy and I already know that they are good shoes for me since I have enjoyed the pair I have already. The down-side is that the Kayanos are pricey. I ask for 2 more pairs of shoes, just to compare, and she returns with none. Richard finally asks, "Do you have ANY in a size 6?" She encourages me to keep picking out some and she will keep checking. So, I grab 5 pairs of shoes - not caring about the style, fit, or brand anymore - just hoping that there will be some in the back room! While she is gone, I start picking out some more, knowing she will come back with nothing, but to my surprise, she comes back with 4 pairs. I try them on and narrow it down to 3 pairs - Asics Kayano, Asics Nimbus, and Brooks Defyance (like you care, right?).

Here they are - my new pair of running shoes. The Brooks Defyance. The Asics were great, but more bulky than the Brooks. Plus, the Brooks were less pricey which is a plus for sure.

I have been told that you should put 400 miles on your running shoes before buying a new pair. Hence the reason I had my last pair for 3 years! I've starting a spreadsheet and I am going to record how long it takes me to get to 400 miles...any guesses? I haven't updated you on my running progress, but I have continued to run since the Havelock race is over. I will admit that vacation and the extreme heat has put a damper on the progress, but I am not going to let myself quit. Honestly, I have come to enjoy the activity.

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Richard and I took a bike ride on Saturday morning. That is a great way start the day. It wasn't unbearably hot and I just love the morning-time. We also went to the pool and played Bingo with our flock. Richard and I didn't win, but it was fun.

My grandparents were in town and we had coffee with them. They gave us great encouragement from the Word in making decisions for our future. Verses that I am sure God wanted us to remember as we seek His will for our life.

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At my Bible study on Saturday morning we continued discussing Elohim, which is the word used for God during the creation account, and other places throughout the Bible. I don't think it was coincidence that I was studying this name while we were in Hawaii. God revealed Himself to me in how great and awesome He is through His creative creation. Look up these verses and you will see what I mean:

Isaiah 40: 12, 15, 22, 26-31

Yet a God this big - who weighs the mountains, pulls the heavens back like curtains, and lifts up the islands - He desires a personal relationship with you and me.