Stress

Stress will do many things to a person. It will make them irritable and tired; frustrated and easily provoked. It hampers common sense and it raises blood pressure. Stress has been the name of my days lately. Not really work, other than long hours. Church...a little bit...I'm unsure of what I'm supposed to be doing now. Marriage...ah yes...quite a bit but its mainly because there are 2 stubborn people living together, trying to learn the art of give and take. I guess there are lots of little things that I let stress me out...things like, not having the house spotless, laundry done, yard cleaned up, shopping done, etc. My desk as we speak is a total mess of paperwork, pens, electronics, and more. My coffee table has tons of magazines/catalogs and other miscellaneous on it. Not to mention my dining room table, our nightstands, and my kitchen counters! I hate clutter, but have a hard time letting go of anything. I believe in: "a place of everything and everything in its place" and yet, I don't seem to have a place for everything. I stress because I can't give my foster dogs the time and attention they need/deserve. I stress because there doesn't always seem to be enough money for all the bills, gas, groceries and extras. I stress because I badly want to paint my house and put hard flooring in, but there isn't enough money right now to do that. I stress because I want to lose 20lbs, but am not motivated enough to exercise regularly or constantly eat right! I think I need a vacation away from everything! A hideaway in the mountains or a cottage on the beach. Somewhere to go that is peaceful, non-commercialized, relaxing, quiet...with no phone to answer, no email to check, no dogs to take out, no house to clean or dishes to do or dinner to cook. Just to get away from everything and revamp! ~~~

Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue

Hey Everyone! This is not your typical blog.....

Most of y'all know that I foster for Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue. Although I love doing it, I'm at my wits end right now. I have Josi & Bobbie/Buddy. Buddy needs a good home as he is a very young pup and is at the "impressionable" age. Josi needs one too but since she's going through heart worm treatment, right now she would be a foster-to-adopt. I'm at my wits end because of stress; and its not fair to my fosters to not get the attention they need/deserve. They are both very sweet but I worry--especially about Buddy because he does not like the crate and they are in there for 10 hours a day with only one short potty break during my lunch hour. I also do not get the time necessary to truly work with them on their different manners and such.

Please pass these links below to all your friends!! My 2 fosters are: Josi (white female boxer) who is about 2 years old and Bobbie-Buddy (fawn male boxer) who is about 8-9 months old! I need your help in finding these two their forever home!! View their "blogs" below to learn more about them and send the links to all your friends and family! Consider adopting them for your own homes if the time is right. Help me help these babies find their forever family!! If you'd like to put a flyer up, maybe where you work, email me and I can send you that.

If you would like to consider fostering or adopting one of these or another boxer, visit the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue website (www.blueridgeboxerrescue.com) and put in your application! We are always in desparate need for both foster homes and people to adopt! Feel free to use me as one of your references!

Thank you for all your help!

Jess

DOGGIE BLOG LINKS:

Buddy Petfinder Page
Josi Petfinder Page

Welcome Josi (*top link*) & Buddy (*bottom link*) to your Family!
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/893974
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/920521

Broken, Crushed...Hope

Sunday dawned bright! An extra hour to sleep in thanks to DST. A 30 min drive to church. A shocking surprise awaiting me. Heartbreaking news found its way to my ears within 10 min of getting there. I sobbed almost the entire service. Nobody died, but it felt like they had. The church was packed, but yet it felt so empty. I wanted to immediately type a blog but I waited. This week has been rough...all the "what ifs?" running through my head; not to mention the "why's?" and "how could it..?" Today I found the whole story...the truth if you will. It was not as it seemed; it was almost much worse. But I'm thankful to have the friends I do; I'm thankful to have the whole TRUE story. I am just so sorry it had to end like this. But my friend is right...God is and was watching out for us; He knew this would happen and He will make something good come of it. "Though sorrow may last for the night; HIS joy comes in the morning." There is light right around the corner and I believe that God will be glorified in all that is to come. Though many hearts were broken with this turn of events, I hope they will remain strong in the Lord and find comfort in his Word!!
~~JR~~

Reflections & Weddings

It has been a beautiful day, even though it was rainy! My best friend--the one I went to high school with-- got married today!! It was absolutely beautiful! Even though I wasn't part of the wedding party, I was still there to help them get ready! I wouldn't have missed it for the world! We had a lot of fun!! The wedding itself was beautiful and the reception brought on a lot of laughs and many tears! I wish the happy couple the absolute best!

All weddings make me think of mine! There's a lot that I would change if I could do it over! I think I would've tried to have an outside wedding; possibly at the camp where we met, or on the beach, or just on the waterfront. Then again, for that season of life that we were in, where we had it was perfect. Still, I can't help but think of what I would do different! There would've been one or two different people in the wedding party, I would've worn different shoes, might have even had my hair a bit straighter with waves instead of curls. I definitely would've had a different photographer!! I did not get all the shots that I wanted! I might've even had different colors, then again I'm not sure. Most of this is coming from how I've changed in the last 3 years. My tastes have changed in many areas of life and I think that is where most of these thoughts are coming from. Yet again, for that season of life that we were in...the majority of what we did and how we did was just right.

Weddings are very special, especially when it is someone you love getting married. I cannot believe how much we have all grown up. It just doesn't seem possible. Just yesterday we were in the beginning of our freshman year, weren't we? Now we are grown and married. *Sigh* Where does the time go? How do the years pass so quickly? Life...it's about change. So, chica, as you read this, remember to treasure each day as if its your last. Say "I Love You" as many times as you can. Honesty is the best policy & don't stay mad at each other...life is too short and too precious! Save for the future, but live for today. I love you & Congratulations!! Let God be the head of your household; cling to Him in the good and the bad. ~~I love you!~~

~~JR~~

Refreshing Waves of Memories

This post is dedicated to a very good friend of mine...


I'm sitting here tonight very calm, relaxed, and very much content. Today has been a good day and this weekend proves to be busy. My friend of 8 years is getting married tomorrow!! Another friend of mine of countless years got married this past Sunday! It was beautiful as I'm sure tomorrow will be, too!

Today has been part of my 4 day weekend and it has honestly been a very good day. I met with a very good friend for breakfast. We spent 2 1/2 hours talking like old times. A friend that I have grown up with since the 3rd or 4th grade; a friend that has always been more like my sister; a friend that I love dearly and respect. We share a multitude of the same dreams, thoughts, likes and dislikes--especially when it comes to music, books, and God. We were raised similarly, both home-schooled and brought up in church. Raised with Christian standards. Hers a little more strict than mine. A friend whom, as we have grown up into our young adult years, we have fallen slightly away--due to the paths of life we are living and to the fact that everything and everyone changes. We've both changed in many, many ways, and yet we are still so very much the same. I'm a married young woman with a house and a husband; she a single young woman going back to school and working. Two different paths of life. And yet, I believe deep down in my heart, that we are still two peas in a pod. You see, I say all that to tell you our story...


It began many many years ago. As said we were both home schooled and it was probably 3rd or 4th grade when we met. We remember two very different ways we met....one at the park during a home-school group meeting and two at her house for a Valentine's Day Tea. Either way I believe we became inseparable the very first time we met. Throughout our growing up years we did so much together. We were always at each others house (I think I was at hers more...LOL), we were in 4H together, rode horses together, shared a passion for reading which in turn meant we shared the latest books on our shelves. We had orthodontic appointments at the same time just so we could see each other. We wrote books of letters back and forth constantly. We dreamed big together, shared our most heartfelt secrets, played the piano (her better than I by a long shot :-)), and just loved life. We were kids. I went to her graduation with her, and a few years later she was my Maid of Honor. She started college and I finished my last 2 years of high school. I didn't get to see her a lot during the school year when college started. But I did go to many of her concerts and plays. She is so talented! And then, one fateful night, I/we made a foolish decision. All we wanted, or thought we wanted, was this one chance that was always held out of reach. It was a decision that separated us for a long time (not by our choice, though). Long enough for us to miss the most critical years of transition together. Long enough to make it a bit hard to pick up where we left off. But we did. We picked up the pieces and little by little the pieces are being placed again. Today was one of those pieces. I think we could have talked for hours again if our responsibilities hadn't beckoned. How much I miss those young, carefree days where we'd stay up till 4 in the morning; only to have to get up at 6. Days where we played in the woods or in the front yard with her cousins and brothers on the family's land. Nights where we'd lay in bed and dream out loud. Trips we'd take to many 4H events and other things we went to. I remember all those years! I always felt like I was part of her family, not just a friend. I was so blessed to have grown up with her. I am so blessed to have her as one of my dearest friends. So my Friend, as you read this you know who you are...you were my best friend growing up, the twin sister I never had. You will always hold that special place in my heart, no matter where we live or what we do. I believe we'll always have each other to fall back, to come home to. Please know that I love you dearly and will always be here for you no matter what! Faithful Friends Forever Be, Here and through all Eternity!! I love you~~Numbers 6:24-26 & Jeremiah 29:11~~ God be with you, dearest sister!~~

~JR~

Hope for a New Light

Two dogs, a cat, a husband, and myself. That's who makes up my household. Three bedrooms, 2 bath, 1300 SF, front porch with a swing, fenced backyard...that is our house. In the neighborhood I grew up, surrounded by people I've known my entire life. In the town where I've lived for 16 years, in the state where I've spent all but 3 years of my life. A wife, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, great-granddaughter, daughter- & granddaughter-in-law, best friend, good friend, co-worker...that is me. A dreamer, a writer, a singer, a Christian, a lover...that is me. Basic things that make up my life. "A hope and a future" from the only God who exists; "a love everlasting" from a Father who holds me in the palm of his hand. A desire to make the world a better place; a heart and passion for music, a love for reading, and writing. A published author, a poet; a daughter of the King. Trying to find my place in this world, learning to walk the Lighted path; running through fields of Peace, skipping through brooks of Joy, falling into Arms of Love, blessed by Mercy, finding "Amazing Grace" at every turn, holding on to the "Power in the Blood".

The years have gone by at what seems to be such a rapid pace. We must slow down, twirl around like carefree children in the wind, run through fields of wildflowers with no cares in the world, splash through the river like fish in the sea, walk by streams of clear, cold, crisp water, dance in the shower of the heavens, fall into autumn leaves, sit on the edge of a mountain and watch the sun rise and set, hold on to our loved ones like there's no tomorrow, hug our friends, and pray hard!


~JR~