(Ice cream) Sunday and Babysitting Goodbyes

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This was going to be a long day...I got to bed really late after work as usual on Saturday nights aka Sunday mornings, but at least it was before 1 am this time! But I'm dead. All day I could not stay awake; my eyes and head were dropping at everything. Church was really good, but I was struggling. All day I just tried to keep myself occupied to stay awake. I didn't have time to take a nap, but I would've given so much for one...

Pastor Dean's sermon was about how God is the giver of all things new. He forgives our sins, makes the sun rise each new day, changes hearts and lives in ways that we never could imagine. Passages of scripture about "new" have been great encouragement to me when I have struggled in the past and/or am trying to make a change in my life. He can take any bad situation, any sin, any sinner, and make them new. One of my favorite verses on this is Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." 
Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 are about putting of the old self and on the new self that God made to be righteous. 
In the passage Pastor Dean used in Luke 5:36-39 and another I love in 2 Corinthians 5:17, old can't stay with the new. You must let go of what is holding you back and work in the life ahead!

This is a recurring theme in my life, especially lately with the studies I have been in! Personally (and usually with most people whether we admit it or not), I know the old that I need to get rid of. But we can't just get rid, we have to replace. New and good!

in Sunday School, our contemporary worship leader and his wife came as guest speakers. I have always loved them even before I really knew them. Last semester I got to work with Brooks in the media department as an internship in place of one of my classes. There are just some people that have that "something" about them that others admire. That's a gift from God. It is great to hear from people in all walks of life and how they have seen God at work and the advice they can give. Fellowship is one of the most powerful tools that we have!

My little kids are moving this week! I met the Mom and son on a dog walk in the old neighborhood the end of last summer, and I babysat them a time or two a month most of this year! It was really nice since they lived just down the road. I had never babysat before, but I apparently did well because they kept asking me to come back! Almost a year later, we have moved and now they are moving, too. The parents were taking an afternoon to get outside themselves, so I came and occupied the kids! David and Svea have grown up loving to be outdoors, which is something I admire about that family. It is hard to find people "not of this world" anymore. It was always good for me to get out and away from the rest of the world when I was with them, too. Today I took them some little things and some cake, then we went to the park to enjoy the beautiful day! We rode bikes, kind of (we walked a lot for the hills and roots), but David wanted to take his scooter. Svea and I didn't think that was a good idea, but he insisted and learned the hard way. Scooters are not made for trails.

Dad has been working almost nonstop on our dock for a week now. He is almost done, but it is another one of those projects that once he finally gets going, he doesn't stop. Bless his heart, he is such a hard worker, it just drags out. I am usually okay huger-wise eating dinner really late (a bad habit I've gotten into), but I have really felt the affects of this over time now. I eat later, have a really long day, do more stuff later, then get to bed later, and I just can't seem to get back on track. I have to.

**SOS my family needs sleep!

Today's holidays are National Give Something Away Day, National I Love Horses Day, and National Ice Cream Day! I didn't have anything to do with horses except drive past them on the road, but I did give my little babysitting kids a gift, card, and slice of cake! For the ice cream, here are just some pictures of the best ones...and some Breyer's that got me to win some for free from a Twitter contest!

Here we have Cold Stone Creamery (my mix from the beach with strawberry cake batter and triple berry yogurt with strawberry wafers, brownie, coconut), Breyer's, Kirk's (also from the beach, pistachio, coconut almond, blueberry pie, banana pudding), Halo Top (most of the flavors that I have tried are amazing), Bruster's (some of the best creative flavors and a good price!), Clumpies (local to Chattanooga, creative flavors!), Foote's Rest Sweet Shop (the one and only in downtown Frisco, Colorado, homemade daily!), and another not pictured is the Comfy Cow!

The Chloe Chronicles

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Our newest family member Chloe recently celebrated her birthday around Christmas time, December 3rd, and now we are celebrating her year anniversary of living with us! I never got around to sharing too much about her, but this seems like a fitting time! Sadly, because of school and being out of town, I missed a lot of her little puppy days, but Mom gained her new baby girl. Though I was far away, she kept me updated on all the funny stories! She grew so fast, and is bigger than I would have imagined. I must say, she is the most unique dog I have ever met.
A lot of these are my pictures, but some are from Mom while I was away.

This is the story of Chloe in her first year in the family!

The day Chloe came home just so happened to be one of the few days that I came home for the weekend during second semester last year. Dad had texted me during class that morning and asked if I wanted to come home to go ski the next day, so I decided it was God telling me to take a break from life where I was (second semester was especially hard to get through), so I threw a bag together and headed home after class. It was a late night, but I finally got to El Sazon to meet Mom and Dad to eat, as we had made that our tradition for nights I came home. When we got home, I heard a funny noise in the basement, walked in and...a puppy!? What?!

It was not planned for Chloe to join us and me come home the same day. Dad asked me to go skiing before he ever even got the idea to get her. It just worked out perfectly! Later in the morning, he saw a post on Facebook by our local animal shelter that they had a new litter of black lab puppies ready to be adopted. Knowing our other dog is getting old and that we were moving to the lake soon, he sent the link to Mom and asked her if she wanted one. He went to pick one up on his lunch break. Chloe chose him more than he chose her, and that was the beginning of her loving personality! They decided not to tell me and let it be a surprise when I got home!

Little did we know from this first night that her crying and need for attention would only increase, but I wanted so badly to spend time with her (and for her to stop crying!) that I spent the night downstairs with her. I let her out of the pen to sleep with me, which was cute and all, until she jumped off the couch, pooped on the floor, and later I stepped in it. As if getting maybe 3 hours of sleep wasn't enough! 

As you see, she did not like the sound of the vacuum, nor did she want me to leave. Neither did I.

Look at those puppy dog eyes! "Aren't I so cute? Love me!"

The Mom-Chloe bond begins!

She still likes to go for your face...

Frisco probably hates us now for this. Like people say stress takes years off your life, it's surprising Frisco is still alive! Poor thing is almost tortured by his new sister, and he seems so much older than even just a year ago!

The best/worst thing? Ya know how people joke about dogs chasing their tail? Chloe doesn't chase her tail, but she grabs onto Frisco's and pulls him across the yard! The fur on his tail is almost all gone now!

The bone may have looked big for her, but she devoured it quick enough.

Always wants something in her mouth...

This was the first picture Mom sent me when I realized how big she was getting so fast.

Cats and dogs may have funny stories about getting in fights, but there is nothing but love for the kitties from Chloe.

Getting this picture from Mom almost made me cry last year--I'm a daddy's girl, and I loved seeing him and Mom having a good time!

How this happened, we do not know, but it was one of the funniest things to ever see out our back door.

My shoes were also big toys for her, but she can destroy a shoe in a day. I was also mad that Mom gave her one of my prettiest pairs, but oh well.

Car ride and vet anxiety...it took Mom and me both holding and carrying her the whole way for her first trip! This was on my spring break, and we wondered how on earth they would do it when I wasn't there. She is not a one-man job!

Girl can eat. A lot.
And it is absolutely hilarious to watch her try to get on the deck through the railing! Then she gets stuck and can't wriggle herself back out!

She loves to help Mom with all her chores. She (and Frisco) do not always appreciate her help. Poor Frisco probably hates her. She never leaves him alone! They bark at each other for hours straight sometimes, and I tell Mom and Dad that the neighbors probably will be glad when we move. I've never seen him get so angry and growl like that until we got her! She loves to play, but he does not. Chloe does not understand that he doesn't like her in his business, nor does she understand when we yell at her. We have to pull them apart and put one of them in the kennel all the time.

Sun bathing?

Let's take a moment to see the struggle that led up to this cute picture at the end.

The end picture was my goal from the start, but I knew it would take a while to get there. Proof that photography is hard work.

In the chair, under the chair, next to the chair...everywhere!

I worked hard this spring and summer when I was home to get her used to walking on a leash, but it was way more difficult than you could imagine. It was more like she was walking me. Mom tried, too, and she would call and text me to tell me her stories. Sometimes our neighbors would watch for entertainment! It also cracked me up (and made me happy) that she would pull her so hard and fast that Mom would actually run across the yard!

She has been doing better, but you can never turn your back for long! Mom and I both get pummeled on a regular basis. As of the end of summer and into fall, she could go outside of the yard and through all of the neighborhood! 

This picture was much less of a struggle than the other one! Partially because the railing kept her from doing too much damage.

She got a little eye gunk for a while, so Mom and Dad had to give her drops...which you can imagine was entertaining as well. It took them both and all the strength they had. But how cute is that medicine bag from the vet?!

She was amused by my cutting open and gutting that orange thing.

Causing trouble...she will get into anything she can. She chewed up parts of the deck, steps, air conditioner, etc. Dad had to build several things to keep her out of or from destroying important things. Here is where she broke the hose reel and drug it across the yard.

One of her good walk days! Once she did take off after a squirrel, though, and I almost face-planted. I couldn't hold her back nor could I run fast enough to hold on, so I just dropped the leash and let her go, praying she would come back.

Doing a rep picture project for Serengetee in one of my new shirts, Phoebe and Chloe both decided they wanted to be in the pictures, too, so I featured them and the brand.

For Chloe's birthday (and Mom's aching arms) she purchased a ball-thrower! Look how much energy Chloe was putting into going after that thing. She is that enthusiastic about everything she does.

For Christmas she got a new bone! That didn't last long.

Phoebe was also interested.

But really, who needs to make purchases on dog toys when you have a runner in the family with tons of old shoes? I think she liked that better anyways. Shoes can be chewed through in a day or two. I'm not a total cheapskate, though. I also bought her and Frisco some new treats, shampoo, and itch spray!

Chloe also got to play in her first big snow this January! As if she needed anything else to entertain her...I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go out and play with the pups in the snow, so I put on some relaxed clothes before I took my shower (because I knew I was about to get dirty) and went out to play! During this time when there were several days and nights with temperatures in the single digits, we kept both dogs in pens in the basement at night. Poor things were all cramped up, but we didn't want them to freeze.

This is a rather scary sight to see coming at you! I made sure to brace myself for impact.

She may look and sound vicious, but it's all in love. She just doesn't understand how strong she is.

Along with being strong and loving, she is also very entertaining and photogenic!

She barks constantly, drives Frisco insane, wants to put everything in her mouth...but she has been a blessing to our family, and I can't wait to see how she loves the lake when we move this month!