Life Lately (In Pictures)

A few things here: bath time, packing for winter break, groomed puppies, Komets game, Christmas time, Cash's 3rd birthday and tobogganing with my dad.

A New Standard of Living

I found this quote browsing Tumblr over the weekend and it really stuck out to me. I've spent so much time striving for some idea of "perfection" that I have let it consume me and therefore have spent a lot of time being unhappy. I think it's definitely a big mistake I've made.

I've come to the novel conclusion that I will never be "perfect". I won't have the "perfect" friends and family. I won't have the "perfect" social life. My body and mind will never be "perfect". I'm not going to have the "perfect" apartment. My personality isn't going to be "perfect". I could go on. But you know what I've realized? All of these imperfections and things that have stressed me out and bummed me out for so long are mine and I should start being grateful for them. I should be happy that I have a few close friends who love me. I should be happy that, while they can bug me at times, I have such a great and caring family. I should be happy that I've been blessed with a working mind and a body that is free of anything really wrong. I should be happy that I have a roof over my head and that I can call it my home. I should be happy for so many things.

I really do need to start holding myself to a standard of grace. For one, it will keep me from being so hard on myself. I also think it will let me appreciate everything and everyone that I have in my life. Living a life of grace is more about enjoying things, seeing the beauty in life and being thankful for what you have. Life should be more about being generous and gracious and appreciative than obsessing over perfection.

So, here's to throwing the need for perfection out the window. Goodbye to being sad, frustrated, miserable and blinded by something that no one can really obtain. This is a new outlook for me and it will most definitely be for the better.

And They Call It Puppy Love...

Yesterday I became the proud owner/"mommy" of the cutest little six week old puppy. I am over the moon! I have wanted a puppy for as long as I can remember and never thought I would ever actually have the joy of calling one my own. But, now I do have a little girl that is all mine that I got to name and will get to care for and raise, little Gidget! I think it suits her perfectly; it's cutesy and spunky all rolled into one!

The way in which she came into my life happened so fast I'm still a little shocked that it really happened. Tuesday night, while I was working on my organizational skills, Joseph's sister in-law posted a link on my Facebook about a litter of puppies in Fort Wayne that were really cheap. Half joking I emailed the link to my mom who instantly fell in love and called the breeder Wednesday morning around 10. By the end of that conversation an appointment was set to meet the pups. Sometimes between 10am and 2pm it was decided that I should drive home to Fort Wayne to go meet the puppies with my mom. At 6:30 we were pulling up to the breeders home and by 6:35 I was in love with a little black and white baby girl. By 7pm, and $150 later, I was in the car headed back to my mom's with my very own puppy in tow!

 So far Gidget has turned out to be quite the eater. During her "lunch" today she just couldn't get enough!

I wasn't the only one to become a puppy parent. One of my younger brothers couldn't resist the lone male of the litter and left with his own little baby, Milo.

I know some people think it's silly and dumb to dress dogs up. But seriously, look at her in her itty bitty dress, and her teeny tiny bow and tell me that isn't adorable. I won't keep her in clothes all of the time, but I couldn't resist during our outing to the pet store today,

Cash was super excited to meet her. He kept telling us all how cute she is and even sat down and read her one of his little books about dogs.

Joseph is also in love. One look at her and his heart instantly melted. He already refers to her as his baby girl. It's so cute to watch him oogle over this little ball of fluff.

We were all a little worried about my mom's dog Rizzo. She's been our baby for 3 years now and she definitely makes sure everyone who comes along knows that she is the head little lady of the household. At first she was standoffish, but today she's really warmed up to the puppies. It's almost like she's acting as a makeshift mom. She's always checking on them and sniffing them and she won't go outside unless they are out in the yard with her.

 

I still can't believe my luck! I'm soaking it all up and enjoying watching all the cuteness that is my little Gidget! I can't wait to take her back home and get her settled into my apartment. Expect lots and lots of posts to come about training and raising this little ball of puppy love!

Just some cuteness for your Friday

It's no secret that I absolutely adore Joseph's nephew, Cash. He is the cutest little 2 year old! More times than not when Joseph and I go to his mom's for Sunday dinner I find myself spending more time hanging out and playing with Cash than I do interacting with the other adults.

He's just the cutest, sweetest little boy. Even in the "terrible 2's" he's not terrible, he's just a little (lot!) more full of energy. He calls me Miss Katie, shares his toys with me, sings me songs, shares his soggy ice cream cones, and loves when I pick him up for play-dates at the park. Basically we are two birds of a feather!