Has it really been 6 month?......

Since I last posted! Wow, am I a bad blogger! Well, let's let bygones be bygones, shall we? It has been a roller coaster of a year so far, and it's only May! Alot has happened in the Slaughter House. That sounds really gruesome, huh? The kids love to pick up the phone when they're at our house with a menacing "Slaughter House!" to scare off callers. Anyway, I digress. The biggest change that has come with the news year has been a new addition to our family. And no, not of the human kind, Suzy P., stop your squeals of delight, it is our puppy, Duke! He is a miniature yorkie that has brought me so much delight in the past 5 months that we've had him. Phillip bought him for me as a surprise at Christmas. I was REALLY homesick for my family and friends, and so my wonderful husband searched and searched all over Alabama and Arkansas for the perfect pup for me. For those of you who know my husband, this is a big step. I mean, a monster step. It is not that he doesn't like dogs, because he does, he really does. It's just that he doesn't like dogs for US. Or DIDN'T like dogs for us, before Duke. They quickly bonded. Now, I love my dog, don't get me wrong, but the biggest delight of all for me is to see how Phillip has evolved from simply tolerating Duke to really loving him. They are so funny together. In fact, every night I go to bed about 10, which is WAY too early for my night owl hubby, and so Duke and Phillip stay up together for hours every night. So they have alot of time together. Having that dog really makes me excited about having kids, because I think about how much I love Duke, and how protective I feel of him (and how protective is of me!) and how I don't ever want him to hurt or be sad, and he's just my dog! I can't imagine how we will feel about our kids, when we have them in 9 years (according to PHillip, and seriously, he must be dreaming if he thinks I will wait 9 years to have our first baby.). But all-in-all, he's been fun.

Besides Duke, another big change this year has been adjusting, and I mean really adjusting, to living in Alabama. It is similar to Arkansas, but also very different. And the main downside for me is my family is not here. It was very hard, emotionally, on me at first, but over the past couple of months I have really made the concious effort to change my thinking and my attitude, because that's what it's really about. God really convicted me about my attitude. Yes, I would rather be in Arkansas than in Alabama, but I would rather be living out God's will for my life than living in Arkansas, and that is exactly what I am doing. God put us here for a reason, and I intend to make every day count. I have really been claiming Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we main gain a heart of wisdom". Every day is an opportunity for God to teach me and use me, and I am beginning to learn to focus on that fact, rather than wish the days away, longing for the days when I can go home again. So, I am spending more time in the word, spending more time outside, enjoying the beautiful place where God has placed us, spending more time enjoying my husband, etc. etc. etc. And it has really made a difference. "Bloom where you are planted" really sums up what I have been doing this past couple of months.


And I do have alot of things to be thankful for. I have been accepted to Auburn University Montgomery and will be starting back to school in August, with only 1 YEAR left! I am very excited, a little nervous, and really ready to jump in there and do it! I have a great job that I still love. I get to do alot of the stuff with the kids and youth at church. One thing that I really enjoy is teaching 1st and 2nd grade choir on Wednesday nights. I love that age, and we just have a really good time. I also get to teach Jr. High girls on Sunday morning, which is always interesting! :) So I am pretty blessed.

Well, I guess that will wrap up my year so far recap, so i guess I will sign off. Please leave comments, maybe that will encourage me to post more often!