I took Gabs to the lake today to work on her fetch-while-swimming techniques. She was a little timid at first but it didn't take long before she was swimming out after them. She even started to dive her head under the water! She'll be a dock-jumping, stick-fetching superstar in no time! :)
(Please ignore my annoying voice, I was trying to be encouraging....pressing mute is another good option....)
After working in a restaurant since I was 15 years old, I am delighted to say that my last day at Mongolian Grill, as well as my last day serving tables EVER, came and went last Friday. I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it feels to say that! A chapter of my life has officially ended and I'm about to start a new one as a PA student, but during this short intermission between chapters, I am taking advantage of every moment. Carpe diem! Seize the day!
Before I share what I did on my first day of freedom, I have to tell you about a childhood dream of mine. It stems from my love of the water and the many weekends spent at our family's lake cottage up north. Our neighbors up there used to have a very enthusiastic springer spaniel that was absolutely crazy about fetching sticks off the dock....so naturally, I was crazy about him. Since then, I have always wanted a dog that loves the water just as much as I do and would leap off the dock to fetch his or her prized stick. Well, after a lifetime of dogs that don't like to swim, I finally have Gabbie....and she loves the water! So on my first day of freedom, I took her to my grandparent's pond for a swim. It was her first time swimming in anything other than the swamp behind my parents house so she's got some learning to do, but someday I'm determined that she'll look like this! (minus the boy-dog parts)
My second day of freedom was just as much fun. I played tennis with my amazing dad for two hours, followed by a trip to the lake with Gabbie for some more swimming and then finished up with an awesome home-cooked dinner. Yummm.
On my third day of freedom (don't you just want to end this by singing: "my true love gave to me..!"), my parents and I spent the morning kayaking through the lakes and channels near our house. The water was perfectly calm and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was perfect.
Today was one of those great days at work that I will always remember.
As soon as I got there, I didn't even have to go inside! I was pleasantly surprised to find all of my residents sitting outside on the patio, taking delight in this glorious day. So.....I joined them! I sat down in the sun with my guitar and played a few songs for my biggest fans, and then when my playlist ran out, I enjoyed nearly two hours of conversation with the people I have grown to love so dearly. I can't think of any job more wonderful than that.
Last week was a busy week. I made a lot of phone calls and a lot of plans to meet up with my future classmates and look for houses in Marietta. So after a long, exhausting weekend of house-hunting, I found my dream house......but I don't know if I can make it mine or not yet. To this date, the owner has not allowed pets in the house, but he said that he would consider it and I'm praying that he comes around, otherwise, I'm still homeless.
So here she is! 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, washer/dryer, a DISHWASHER!, and a yard for Miss Gabbie. I have always been a huge fan of older homes, and this one is perfect!
Oh, and to make it even more perfect, one of my future roommates who is currently going to school in California is really good friends with someone that Amy knows from Saline! Her parents are even in Amy's parent's small-group at church! It's a small world and God is good!
This passage has come up three times in the last three days. God must be trying to tell me something important....
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour fourth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
Nothing special today. I was just reminded of one of my favorite songs of all time by Ben Harper and I've been listening to it on repeat....so I thought I'd share! Enjoy! :)
Not talkin' 'bout a year
No not three or four
I don't want that kind of forever
In my life anymore
Forever always seems
to be around when it begins
but forever never seems
to be around when it ends
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do From you
People spend so much time
Every single day
Runnin' 'round all over town
Givin' their forever away
But no not me
I won't let my forever roam
and now I hope I can find
my forever a home
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do
From you
Like a handless clock with numbers
An infinite of time
No not the forever found
Only in the mind
Forever always seems
to be around when things begin
but forever never seems
to be around when things end
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do
From you
Oh I almost forgot! I do have something exciting to share....AMY, ALISON, AND I ARE GOING TO DC TOMORROW TO SEE ANNA!! Whoot whoot! I can't wait!! :)
My good friend Jesse Norris came to visit me this weekend and he introduced me to my new addiction: http://www.stumbleupon.com. It's seriously the most fun way to waste time! Just enter your interests and start stumbling upon random websites to suit your likings! For example, I like food, humor, and exotic animals....so these are a few things that I have stumbled upon today:
yummy in my tummy!
another mouth-watering treat: chocolate peanut butter torte
:)
this reminded me of 4th grade and it made me happy
