Crazy Dogs and Blood Donations

So, I am not really much for confrontation but there are times that it just can't be avoided...this is just one of those times. Let me start at the beginning. I have two dogs and I have a neightbor that has two dogs. I have a poodle and a beagle mix. She has a pit bull and some other cute little mut dog. We have NEVER had problems other than our dogs barking at each other and having to watch ourselves to not walk them at the same time. No biggy, right? Well, two days ago I had my dogs in the yard when her pitt got out and ATTACKED my poodle...UGH! I had to beat the crazy mess out that dog to get her off and it took forever (if you know anything about dogs...especially pitts....then you know they don't exactly like to let go of things once they got their jaws on them)! I was SOOOO SCARED! But, my poodle was okay (obviously the pitt was NOT trying to kill or she would have). I talked to the owner and she promised to keep her in from now on. Everything was going well for two days. But then, my mom and I were walking the dogs tonight and I saw the pitt coming down the street and I yelled for my mom to pick up my poodle and I picked up my heavy tail beagle mix. BUT...that didn't stop the pitt. She kept on trying to get to the poodle scaring the CRAP out my mom. I mean WOW! She could feel the dogs breath and hear its jaws snapping shut as she tried to get to my poodle. NEVER have I seen my mom so scared. So, I had to go talk to my neighbor again and I told her that I would eventually have to call the cops about it if she got out again as it was getting very dangerous for us. Well, I just got a door in my face. I was not mean about it. I was sooooo nice and as kind as I could be...all things considered. I am a very understanding person and would never yell or be mean to anyone. And I am sitting here worried about the whole thing becausee I don't like people not liking me. I mean, I was really VERY nice about the whole thing. I don't konw what else to do. I mean, the dog attacks! It is scary! So, why is the neighbor mad at me? I have NO issues with the neighbor. I have always liked her just fine. But, come on! I can't just keep on letting a bitt bull pick on my little 12 pound poodle...and not MY MOM! I mean, come on! What do it do?!?

Well, on a better note I GAVE BLOOD TODAY! This was the first time I ever had the guts to do it. I mean, I was sooooooo nervous. I am SO not a fan of blood. But I did it and it wasn't even bad at all. I was a little dizzy after but it was so worth it knowing that my blood will be used to help someone. Pretty cool! After I was all done....eating my cookies and drinking my juice.....I watched them stick someone to get the blood and I saw how HUGE the needle was. I am sooooooo glad I didn't see that needle first or I would have never been able to do it. Then they started telling stories of different things that had happened in the past. Like one lady that worked there didn't the gauze on in time after taking the needle out and the blood squirted across the room. GROSS! If that happened OMG! I have no idea what I would do....UGH!

Well, today has been eventful and could use some prayer but I gotta tell ya....all in all..... Life is still good! God is good! God is great! Everything that surrounds me is basically amazing!

Be blessed!

Out With the Old....In With the New....

2011 has been the best year yet! It really amazes me because I was sure that nothing could get better than 2010 yet things got even better. I have done sooooo much this year.

For starters, I have become single and stayed that way! WHOOT WHOOT! I know there are so many ladies out there trying to NOT be single but I have actually trying TO be single...and this is the first time I have accomplished and been happy at the same time. It has been good to be able to spend so much time with my daughter without having to worry about another person. Soooooo, the plan is to stay this way for a few more years....we will see how it goes. I am just happy that I have finally learned to be a content single person instead of an unhappy person constanting chasing the next relationship.

I have also changed my major which was a HUGE step. God has really been working on me to stick with Seminary and I have been running like crazy from Him for some time now. Well, you can't exactly run from God...LOL! So, I finally did it. This is the year that I enrolled in Liberty's Seminary for my MDiv in Professional Ministries. One of hte greatest decisions I have made....it has been such a blessing (a stressful blessing at times....LOL....but a blessing nonetheless)YAY!

And the healthy changes in my life have been great also. WW has helped me lose some weight. I have lost 15 pounds so far. And when I went for my physical this year I was in super shape! Praise the Lord! I have also started exercising again! :)

And Hanna and I have grown closer and it is great to be learning about God's Word with her each day in our daily devotions and Bible studies. We have also found a GREAT church and Hanna LOVES the youth group there.

In general, 2011 has been a time of change. There is been ALOT of stress but everything has been for the good and life is just awesome. I must give all the credit to God! Without him I would be nothing.

So......bring on 2012!!!!

No More Wasted Time :)

Well, I do love my facebook but I have realized that really all it does is waste time. Yes, I have seen many people up there that I haven't spoken to in awhile but no one that I really need to talk to and no one that really talks to me much now anyway. Then there are old friends that I like to believe are my best best besties still because they were from way back but really that is not true either. I mean, the past is the past....time to move on. I go out of my way to interact with people only for it to not work out. I mean, I set up lunches and make calls but the fact is...we are busy....they are busy....everyone has their new life now and that includes me. I mean, I do have many many friends that I talk to regularly but these people actually use the phone. Even better....many of them I see face to face. I don't NEED facebook to continue a relationship with them. If I need facebook to have a relationship with you then chances are I don't really NEED a relationship with you to start with. Of course, I will miss the updates about the church and the youth group my daughter is in and the couponing advice I get (and never use might I add). But...guess what, I can get ALL the church and youth info I need when I am actually at church. I am there AT LEAST once a week. I will walk up to people and actually talk to them....there's an idea that it seems people have lost touch with. So, 2012 I am NOT using facebook at all. If the year ends and I have managed to live without facebook then I am just going to permanently delete my account. So, we will see where this new adventure will take me. Yes, it is an adventure. I will actually have to see people to know what the look like and call them in order to know what is going on. And....it wouldn't hurt if people picked up the phone and called me every now and then (just sayin....LOL).

There are also other screens in my house that I will be limiting. I mean, really....do I really need to watch TV every single day? I don't think so. I have books...most importantly ....God's Word. And how often do we sit around brain dead staring at a screen when God just would LOVE to hear our voice....and even more....would love to speak to us through His Word. How much do you think you could read in the time it takes to watch a 30 mintue show....a 1 hour show.....a two hour movie? Now, I am not saying I will never watch TV....just limit my screen time so I can expand my God time :)

Everyone has things they do when we all know we should be doing something else. That is what I am going to do this year! I am going to stop procrastinating....limit my screen time and do things like spend time with God and my family!

Be blessed,
~Dawn~

People come....people go.....

Well, here it is December 11th! Where does the time go? It seriously feels like Christmas 2010 was just yesterday. I just got done writing out my Christmas cards and while doing a little research on some people before sending the cards I found out that one of my old bosses died last year. It kinda makes me take a step back and realize that sending Christmas cards once a year is just not enough. I have to start connecting with people in my life instead of just taking forgranted that they will always be there. I get a reminder of this everyone now and then even though you would think I should never need this type of reminder after losing my best friend some years ago. We must not take the people in our lives forgranted. They may not be here tomorrow. I have made many many New Year's resolutions just to break them in the first month but this year I am making a resolution that I WILL keep. I will connect with the people in my life that mean something to me and I ask that all my friends out there do the same. We all have people in our lifes that we love yet we never tell them. People that mean so much to us that don't even realize it. We gotta take that first step in healing the relationships in our lives...