Do as you're told or bad things will happen

All I can say is hahahaha. :) So, background... Memphis is allergic to grass. Which is funny in itself, but seriously, so I give him Benadryl daily. It has helped tremendously. Except on his back left foot. Apparently it itches a lot because he just won't stop chewing on that one foot. In one spot. Well, we all know what happens when you do that.

He has a "hot spot". A raw spot between two toes. Unfortunately, the problem then becomes, no matter how much medicine I give him, it will keep itching. As long as he chews, it will itch.

I told him not to chew. I told him bad things would happen. Some kids have to learn the hard way...

Memorial Photos

As offered, AND requested!! (Thanks Nicole!)

Start your day off right!

So last night when I checked the mail, my trusty T-Mobile bill was waiting for me. Usually I never open them, just pay them online, but this time I decided that since we had made a couple of changes, I'd check. $148!!! What the heck?!?!?!

So then begins the mad scramble through tons of tiny font pages to find where those charges are coming from. I find them, on Brandon's line, in the amount of $15.98. Title? "Premium Charges". What does that even mean?? Because of the late hour I had to wait til this morning to call. I make the call and ask for a representative trying to stay calm so I don't take my frustration out on the other end.

A guy picks up almost immediately. Star #1. I explain my issue and he says, I know that is annoying. Lets have a look. Don't worry. Star #2. He says, well it looks like it was downloads, 3rd party and in house. I say, But my husband is gone, I have his phone.... He says well let me see what I can't find. Give me just a second. Then he says, Oh, it looks like they charged him twice for his game. I'll credit that right back. Star #3. "And 3rd party is like when you're watching tv and they want you to text an astrologer to learn your fake future." he says. I laugh, automatic Star #4. I said, Can we just turn that off? Cause it was so unintentional. He says absolutely, I think I can even credit some of the charges back. Ok, all done. What else can I help you with today? STAR #5

I have never been so pleased. I am reminded why I love T-Mobile. I am reminded why I keep my cell phone with them and how great they are. And what could have set my day off very poorly instead brought a smile to my face and a spring in my step. Go T-Mobile. :)

Love, Death, and Moving on...

I have a sincere love for photography and photo editing. Love. In my spare time, and I have lots of spare time, I have been really working hard at getting some serious editing and creating done because soon enough I won't have much spare time left. I decided that for memorial day I would work on some memorial pieces. So far I'm pretty pleased with how they are turning out. Maybe when they are done, I'll put some on here. Maybe. haha.

It's sad really. The whole time I edit them I cry. These men, these men who called my husband friend are left to be photos on someone's computer. They are a name on a rock. These men who were someone's brother, son, husband, father, friend. We give lip service and say they will never be forgotten, and to some that is true. But eventually and over time, they will be forgotten. Eventually there will be no one left to visit the stone that adorns their resting bodies. And that is sad. I've had the pleasure of meeting several beautiful women via facebook who unfortunately carry a title I pray to God I never have to carry. widow. These women are amazing in not only their strength but also their ability to move on and make something good come from their loss.

I heard it said once that love holds the greatest risk in our lives. I believe that. Because to love someone is to give them complete control over yourself. They have the control to break your heart, to make you infinitely happy, to give up on you, and to force you to keep fighting. But I can promise you, that in the end, it is always worth it. Love is the strongest thing there is. The Lord Himself says so, so I believe it.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Jumbled Thoughts :)

Is there no bright spots left in the world? Sometimes I feel that way. Today is one of those days.
Often I just feel like no matter how much effort you put into something that it is inevitably going to fail. No I'm not saying give up on everything, just saying it's annoying.
What am I going to do for the rest of the day? Who knows. Nothing productive, I can tell you that! I think I'll probably take a nap. I never allow myself naps because I feel they waste the day, but its kinda overcast and there is nothing good on tv so why the heck not??
I've been spending a lot of time lately trying to figure out the rest of our life and let me tell you, it is no easy! Worrying about jobs and cars and housing and money etc... It just keeps piling up! And the babies, oh the babies. They have become accustomed to a certain way of life. haha, They certainly love their treats. :)
I miss being a child wishing to be a grown up, the worries were much smaller. Now I'm a grown up wishing to be a child. Ironic, huh.
So this jumble fest is over. Maybe the next one will make more sense. :)

Forever.

Wow. So for starters, it's been a really long time since I've posted. I know. Shame. lol. But moving right along...

I think that the problem with marriages today, the reason why they fail is because people believe that they say I Do once and then that's that. But the truth is, being married, making it successful is all about saying I Do not just that first day but everyday.

It's a conscious decision that you make every single day that this relationship is what you are committing to. That you will follow the person you love anywhere. That you want what is best for them more than you want anything for yourself.

That's when you know. That's when your marriage will work. Not the first day of I Do, but every I Do after that.

Chin Up

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

So I'm spending time with my Bible tonight. And with my Lord and Savior. It's funny, when my dad first said to Brandon, "Watch Heather, she'll slip" I was offended. Now I look at myself and say, "How could he be so right?" And I am frustrated with myself over it. How do I keep letting Him down? I'm doing nothing majorly wrong, but I'm still not living in Him. Sure, I'm a Christian, but I need to be growing. Mom has always said that bad things happen to both good and bad people, but God blesses those who live in Him.

Now I find myself needing those blessings. That's not the reason I am seeking Him tonight, my reasoning is much simpler, much more embarrassing, and much more selfish. I need Him. I need guidance. I need someone to hold my hand and help me hold my head up high.

I wish I could be there for Brandon. I wish I could hold his hand and sit beside him and tell him everything will be ok. I wish he could hold my hand and tell me everything will be ok. But we can't do those things. Not now. So I have to trust the Lord to hold Brandon's hand and ease his discomfort. I pray every night for God to hold Brandon near His heart. Tonight, I pray extra hard. Life isn't easy and we have to do things we don't like, but in the end, we never have to do them alone.

So beginning tomorrow I go back to something I don't want to do. I go back to work where I am underappreciated and walked on and expected to forgive and act as if nothing ever happened. And because options are so very limited, this is exactly what I will do. And I will hold my head up high. I will ask for more hours that I do not want and work any I get with a smile on my face. I will apply for extra jobs if need be and do it all with grace. I will graduate on May 6th and pursue the future even more. And all along, I will have a husband who loves me, a God who helps me, a best friend who holds me, and a family who protects me. How can I complain when there are bigger worries than just being jilted by work?

Brandon needs me, my family needs me, my darling kitty needs me, and my friend needs me. I am all of these things to all of these people and therefore I can still walk into work everyday with my chin up and my thick skin on.

Love to all. <3>