Video! (puppies!)

Time with family

As some of you know David and I ventured to Dallas, Texas to attend David's grandfather's funeral. When David first discovered his grandfather, his namesake, was sick he was completely devastated. It was so hard for him to be away from his family. He was able to fly out for five days to go spend with his grandmother, who requested him to be there. The funeral was a celebration of the rich life of David's grandfather. He left a legacy not only in his professional life but also in his personal life, being praised by his sons as "never saying a cross word to mother," was grieved by his own foxhole mate from World War II. There were tears of joy on everyone's face, all recalling their own personal memories of David Senior. Although everyone missed him dearly there was a smile on everyone's face, because no one felt untouched by his life, everyone felt loved by David Senior. David cherished his memories with his grandfather, recounting how he used to take him to classic car shows when he was young and how proud he was of his grandfather, who would win every car show with his magnificent recreation. Although the circumstances weren't the best it was still refreshing to be around family. I was able to go there for three days and spend time with David's family. Even though it was short it gave me a small boost. Everyone was loving and somehow the hugs of family members mean more. We all celebrated the life of David Ralph Senior and cannot wait to spend eternity with him.

TV show "Cougar town" is based out of Sarasota!

Remember growing up in Arkansas people? Or in a small, relatively unknown state? Remember growing up and watching movie after movie based out of L.A. or New York? Most of us probably know the layout of Central Park better than we do our own local parks! I always wanted to watch a movie and shout- "Hey I eat at that restaurant!" or "I live right above that store." But for the first time I've experienced the euphoria of seeing the town I live in on TV, thanks to a new show called "Cougar town" with Courteney Cox. As the title suggests, mamma Cox is on the prowl for younger men, has a body of a 16 year old and is totally sleezy. Not that this is the best image for our sweet beach town but its still pretty cool! OH- and I'm getting cable this Friday so I'll be connected to the world again soon! Here's a funny article from our local Sarasota Herald Tribune about our new reputation.


"Forget the reputation as a home for retirees and senior citizens; the Sarasota area is about to be known as “Cougar Town.”ABC'S "Cougar Town"
That’s the title of a new ABC comedy series that begins Wednesday night and could put the area on the map, literally.
The title sequence zooms in from the outline of Florida to show Sarasota with a “Welcome to Cougar Town” sign just about where Venice might be on the map.
In the mind of co-creator Kevin Biegel, a 1994 Riverview High School graduate, Cougar Town is “in some mythical area beneath Sarasota, maybe even beneath Venice, a heretofore undiscovered town. It’s maybe what Sarasota was in the mid-1970s and then kind of translated 20 miles south.”
The title is a reference to “cougars,” the 40-something women who date much younger men, similar to older men who date younger women.
Biegel says the title is possibly the “dumbest you could give” to the show. “We totally realized that the title is super insane, but the second you hear it, you’ll remember it. Then you’ll watch it and see it’s not what you think it is.”

Biegel had his hometown in mind while dreaming up the show with “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence. They are the executive producers of “Cougar Town,” which stars Courteney Cox as Jules, a divorced real estate agent who is ready after many years to jump back into the dating scene. But she finds herself attracted to and attractive to guys who were her age when she last hit the bars, long before her now-teenage son was born.
The show is less about the dating scene than Cox’s character coming to terms with how she has changed. The opening sequence shows her squeezing excess skin in a way most actresses would never expose themselves on screen.
“That’s 100 percent her,” Biegel said. “She was so excited to do that. I thought she was being sarcastic, but she was adamant that that be the first thing you see in the show.”
The 33-year-old Biegel, who previously was a writer for “Scrubs” and “South Park,” said he wanted something different for the setting of the new show.
“I’d never seen a show in this part of Florida. Everyone’s in New York or Los Angeles. I think there’s a lot of fun to be had in that area and with those characters.”
But is Sarasota a hotbed of cougars?
“With such a high divorce rate, I know lots of people who were married to doctors and lawyers and start dating younger,” said Biegel, who celebrated his first wedding anniversary two weeks ago.
Early reviews for the show have ranged from positive to mixed. Some call it bawdy or filthy, but it made the best shows list in The Washington Post, which described it as “ferociously smart,” and it is No. 8 on the top 10 list of USA Today, which called the show “surprisingly agreeable.”

The only Cowboys fan in Florida

OK so we're probably not the only ones but you sure would think so by the amount of Giants (puke) and Eagles (barf) fans here in Florida!! Mostly because a lot of New Yorkers have drifted down here for the warm weather. You would have laughed to see David and I in our Cowboys jerseys at Beef O Brady's surrounded by a sea of blue Giants jerseys. So, needless to say, unless we take our own posse we're watching the games at our fellow fan's house Tim and Lauren. David and I have been Cowboys fans our whole lives. We were both born in Dallas (ok David was born in Ft Worth but basically Dallas) and have followed them ever since. My twin brother always kept my updated on the latest stats and players. And for any of you that knew me when I was a young tomboy, my dream in life at 7 was to be the first woman in the NFL...yeah not going to happen. But watching the Cowboys always gives me a peice of home everytime I watch. I never truely felt that way about the Razorbacks because, lets all face it, its hard to watch a team that consistently loses miserably. I still got the Hog love in my heart but ouch, its embarassing to watch. Anways, have you seen the new Cowboys stadium???? Its insane!! Watching it last Sunday I was in awe. I think the cheapest seat is about $150 and that in the boonies! It pained me to see the Cowboys lose by ONE point to the Giants in their first game in their new stadium. I could just see the dissapointment on the fans faces. I knew David's Nana was weeping silently. (OH- sidenote- David's Nana is the biggest Cowboys fan I've ever met, her whole house is decked out Cowboy style and she's not missed a game since the franchise started). So if your a Cowboys fan give me a hoot and hollar and lets hope they go far this year!!!

If I was rich, this is what I'd buy

Patagonia Women's Katalla boot
Patagonia Side wall snowboarding jacket
1965 Mustang
Craftsman style home
Just to name a few :)

kickin it old school- no cable!

OK, to my like 4 blog followers I haven't been able to post any new blogs because David and I don't have cable or internet at the home! aaahhh yes, I know, its terrible! I feel I've gone back to the dark ages, pumping water from a well, gathering crops for dinner, I have no link to the outside world at home! Ok, so its not actually that bad but I seriously feel way behind on things. When I get to work and chat with some of my coworkers I feel like I did growing up when my family never had cable! We seriously didn't get cable until I was in 10th grade. Imagine growing up without cable (Marietta, you can haha)! Pretending in middle school that I knew what MTV was, what pop up videos were, 90210, even Saved by the Bell! Granted, I did make up for lost cable-time at my best friend Shelby's house...but still I felt like a little prarie girl not having cable. I remember being embarassed when my friends came over to watch tv and I was trying to divert their attention to my swimming pool so they wouldn't find out that I was a dorky little missionary kid. OK enough of the reminicing but we're going to try and get it soon. We had to switch companies because we moved on the other side of town that has a different cable service. Mostly I miss David and I's Sunday ritual which is to watch all awesome shows on National Geographic. Thats always when the best shows were on...I missed the last part of Shark Week on Discovery, Atlanta Housewives (yes I know its rotten but they are hilarious!), Megan wants a Millionaire (don't tell me you don't watch it) and a recorded show called Raising the Bar that I've been waiting for the season to come out forever- all washed away, unseen. But on a positive note I have read like a book a week since not having cable. I've read The Other Boleyn Girl, Katherine, A Thousand Splendid Suns and Paul Revere...all in a month without cable. I've enjoyed sitting on the couch on a Saturday afternoon imaging what the costumes looked like in 14th century England, what the East coast harbor smelled like in early America, what the difference was between the Pashtu and Herati dialect in Afghanistan sounds like...Its truely been refreshing. So as an observer on the "other side" so to speak I encourage you to turn off the telly, if only for one full day, and enjoy a long awaited good read :)

had to laugh

So David and I recently moved to a new house which we are really enjoying. Although the house is older, A/C a little figety we like having the privacy of a home. We've both always lived in townhouses or apartments so its been so fun cranking the tv up louder and letting our dogs bark a little longer because hey- we're in a house! Anyways, one drawback to our house is that while we have a great yard- its not fenced in on all sides. Plus, our neighbors next to us don't have their yard gated either.We back up to an elementary school so the back is gated but open on the other two sides. Luckily we live on a lazy little culdasac (sp?) so we thought it would be fine to forgo a fenced yard. Let me say something first about our pit bull Roman. If you've ever owned any breed with pitbull in them you know that they have the sweetest disposition, and most loyal character. Roman melts our hearts daily. But that being said- you also know that any dog with pit in them also has a TON of energy. Hence the backyard for him to romp and play and spend all his energy. But not in the way that he chooses. The past few weeks we've been letting the dogs outside in the backyard without leashes as long as one of us is supervising them. But recently Roman has gotten this new itch or shall I say, primal instinct, to run like a wild stallion around our house and neighborhood. We did not know this about him until the other day...David was telling me how he was taking the dogs outside on Sunday while he was in the backyard watching them. He tells me all of the sudden Roman's terrier craziness kicks on. And he said Roman ran around our house in circles twice and then disappeared into our neighbor's (unfenced) yard. David, thinking, "it probably doesn't look good to have a wild looking pit bull running in our neighbor's yard where they have kids and a few cats." Even though we know the worse Roman could do is shower the kids with licks and kisses....but other people don't know that. So David runs after him, a glass of water in his hand, into the yard after Roman. Roman thinks this is a game because David is running after him trying to grab him. So Roman is ducking and weaving, happily escaping his master in this fun game of tag. So David lunges after Roman, full force to catch him but slips and falls into our neighbor's tall grass, throwing the glass in the air and hitting face first into the ground. Roman still escapes...and runs back to our yard. As David gets up he looks over and sees our neighbors through the back window- the whole family- sitting down at a peaceful dinner all looking at him like he's psycho, chasing his wild pitbull . David said he mouthed "I'm sorry" and smiled sheepishly while creeping back into our yard. Needless to say we've learned our lesson- we're going to either fence in the yard or get electric collers. Even though it makes me sad to do it, its obvious that Roman can't handle the wide open spaces!

these are a few of my favorite things....

Like the song goes from my mother's favorite movie, Sound of Music- when those darn dogs bite and freaking bee's sting, when I'm feeling sad from a long week, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad:
1. That God is available
2. My husband laughs at my jokes
3. My cat Patches loves me more than anyone (though sometimes that can be annoying)
4. Hot fresh coffee in the morning with a bit of hazelnut creamer
5. Rain in the afternoon to cool down a hot Florida summer
6. Summit's smile
7. Old friends
8. Inside jokes
9. The sand at Siesta Key that never gets hot and feels like snow at night
10. Thinking of my loving, hilarious family living in one house
11. Obama is president :)
12. Mango sorbet
13. Two happy dogs that slobber me with kisses when I get home from work
14. Outback's 8 ounce prime rib seasoned and seared, cooked mid rare
15. Being an Arkansan at heart
16. God is there

When it rains it pours

I'm sorry if all of my recent blog posts are depressing...ok maybe not all of them are but I have to be honest about this time in my life. I am exhausted emotionally. Its been a whirlwind of a month. So much has happened and I feel like I can't even keep up. I feel that if I can get out an ounce of what I'm feeling, even into the void, then thats one less ounce weighing on my heart. You know when your chest feels heavy? Like you feel you could cry for a week straight and it would keep coming? That's how I feel, weary, angry, confused and blaaaaaah. First, last week at work the family that I had to call DCF on informed me that my services would no longer be needed because their child had died. My heart stopped when I heard her voicemail. A mother and child that I had met with since I first started working with Healthy Families. A child we struggled so hard to keep him healthy, to inform the family of various safety risks in the home. I had seen him weekly since his birth. As far as we know the child died of SIDS, unexplained at this point. He was a sweet child with a beautiful smile. And I can't get that smile out of my head. I struggled with comforting the mother, telling her she did all she could. Trying to find words that I didn't have. Today I am attending the child's funeral with the family and my heart feels like it weighs a ton. Also, my former coworkers I had known since I've lived in Florida, a married couple with a 2 year old are now going through a custody battle and divorce. My friend informed me that her husband had been abusing her for the past year and she has just mustered the courage to leave. But the law is not on her side, even though she's the victim. She was accused of leaving with the child abruptly, which can be grounds for temporary custody for the father. Even though the reason she left abruptly was because she feared for her and her child's safety!You don't leave a burning building slowly!! My heart aches for her and her child. I could see the weariness in her eyes from all the hearings and court appearances she's had to endure. He's relentless in breaking her down mentally, sending her nasty emails and discouraging her every step. I couldn't believe the guy sitting in front of me in the court room, an intelligent, seemingly caring friend of mine, abused his wife secretly. I felt disgusted. I was called as a witness to testify about his drug use, which I had seen both at work and at their home. The lawyers attempted to chastise my story, to try to find any loopholes. But I told the truth, nothing less and nothing more. So my story was concise, no matter how condesending the lawyers were. They were malicious in their pursuit to discount my testimony for my abused friend. I cannot understand why any lawyer would prosecute an abused wife. Times like that I know why God says- "Vengence is mine," because he is the only one who can serve an accurate punishment for people like that. My husband's grandfather is also not doing well. His health is failing quickly. We want David to go visit his namesake but don't have the money to fly him back. I can see David is trying to put on a happy face for me, but he's struggling himself. We both are just trying to survive this week. I feel the statement is true though, that "when we are weak, He is strong." To me that means we just give it all up to Him. We give our thoughts, actions, everything to God to guide. Like letting a friend carry you on their back when you can't take another step. I keep wondering if I can do this job or not. If I have the guts, or backbone or whatever it takes for this profession. I'm struggling just to keep from crying at work. But I take God's guidance each day. And at this point I'm totally ok with releasing control.

I found my style: East meets West!

Since I'm fairly new to this married lifestyle and living in a home for more than six months like college I've been trying to find out my design style for our home. I strongly believe that the home should reflect both couple's style. I know everyone has their preference (or perhaps they have none) on the styling of their houses. I just don't think its fair for a man to live in a shabby chic pink doll house and then have the basement to himself. (On a side note we've been watching this show called "Man Cave" where men have taken over the basement or backyard and turned it into a men's only area complete with a full bar or pirate style theme because their wives have decorated the rest of the house, haha) Plus, not like many women's husband's, mine actually has a pretty strong opinion of what style he would like our home to be. David likes the more contemporary, architectural simplicity. And any of you who know me know that aint my style baby! But he also has pictures and souviners from his travels to Europe. So its more like East meets West! Mine is a mixture of many things. I was an International Relations major in college so you have to know that I'd have a global or exotic style. My dad is also a missions pastor and travels all around the world and will bring back little trinkets from where he's visited, so, nonetheless my house has a mixture of everything...which I love. But then my house started looking a little junky, a little too eclectic and borderline eccentric! So I've starting honing in my style and found a cool book on Amazon called Exotic Style (suprise) and have found its tips very helpful. From colors, to patterns, to placement of worldly treasures, its beginning to put my house together into one thought. I have to say, I'm so glad to have finally found a style for both David and I!

Is positive news an oxymoron?

David and I constantly talk about news & politics...mostly about our distain for how popular media portrays those subjects. We laugh about how when you watch the news there's 3 negative news peices for every 1 positive news peice. I know the world isn't perfect, that there is suffering everywhere. But there is also good everywhere! There are wonderful things going on in the world daily, real people improving our world in various ways. So David then found several news sites to read on positive news:
www.happynews.com/
www.positivenews.org.uk/
Not that we are burying our heads in the sand, ignoring the problems of the world, but wouldn't we be more positive people ourselves if we weren't constantly barraged by negative news and advertisements? In Sao Paulo they have actually banned public advertisements because they think it not only makes their city ugly with all the banners and posters, but also because it bombards people with constant negative messages! Way to go Brazil!

Ouch this hurts...

This has been a really difficult week for me this past week. Working with struggling families has been more challenging than I expected...not that I expected it would be easy, but I can't deny that its effected me. I've worked with struggling teenagers before at Piney Ridge, a rehabilitation center for teenage sex offenders, but never with mothers and their child. At Piney Ridge the kids were separated either from the perpetrators or their victims, a "controlled environment" if you will. We could control the messages going into the teenagers heads by constantly encouraging them, cutting out tv and radio. They all had therapists and nurses caring for their every need. As a youth care worker you were there as a teacher's aide, a watchman for any fights, and mainly- a motivator. It was such an awesome atmostphere most of the time. But now I go into the "lions den" so to speak. To the heart of the family- the home. Nothing is hidden, nothing can be candy coated. I see the environment as it truely is. Some families struggle on just getting by each day with a meal on the table, but some families live off the beach! There's so much diversity in this job. I've met people from all walks of life. All with one goal- to fall in love with their child, for guidance on how to be the best parent possible. I'm always so impressed that these families have reached out and asked for help, do you know how hard that is?? I know I struggle with asking someone for help, even family. But I can't say seeing and experiencing all this doesn't hurt. Some nights I just come home and cry. There are some days I think I'm just not cut out for this type of job. It has brought me to the Lord, forced me to lay at His feet and ask for His wisdom. This past year I've gone back and forth from extreme highs and lows. And His love is enduring and faithful. Though that sounds cliche what it means to me is that his voice is there if I only slow down to listen. Turn off the tv, my phone, the computer, all distractions and just listen to the still small voice. I look to my Father as a friend, a friend who listens and cares. But I ask for help now, to my friends, to pray for me at this job. For His wisdom to guide me.

Its a small world after all.....

No I'm not going to Disney World, even though its only 2 hours away and I've neeever been (hint hint husband...). But I wanted to share a weird story. So David and I have started attending a new church in Bradenton. We actually found it by googling "non demoninational churches" in the area! So the first time we went there we were blown away, by the music, lights, and all the people with smiles on their faces. We've been going there for about 6 months now. If you want to read more about it here's the website http://www.baysidecommunity.org/
Our pastor is on vacation so we've been having different speakers come every week for about a month. So this last week after some rocking worship we look up and see a portly, but friendly looking fellow on stage. And he starts telling us he's Randy (our pastor's) brother. Randy is originally from Louisiana. And he says he's from Arkansas! I of course give a hoot and holler and yell "Go Hogs" while everyone in front of me turns around and looks at me like I'm crazy...Not many Arkansans here in Florida. Anyways, so he does an amazing job, we're all rolling with laughter and I'm proud, once again, to be an Arkansan. Then later David and I look him up, Pastor Rick Bezet, and randomly enough he helped start a church David and I used to attend in college called Keypoint! Weeeird. I think somehow or another all Arkansans know each other or at least have something in common. He also helped start a church in Conway called New Life Church. And then it turns out my parents know him and his church. So yep, its always a small world after all if your from Arkansas!!!

I need your prayers

I can't go into much detail due to lagality issues but last week my supervisor and I decided to make a call to the Department of Children and Families on one of my families. The child had a health risk due to the mothers lack of understanding on feeding her infant. I know in my heart it was the right choice because I want this child to be healthy, mom was even told he was at risk for failure to thrive b. His pediatrician. My heart aches for this child and his young mother. And I can't help but feel guilty, worried she will feel betrayed. Calls to DCF aren't always what the media dramatizes it to be, it can usually be a good thing. But the process is still unfolding, we'll see what happens. I just need your prayers to remain strong, trust God, and not let myself get sucked into this. Pray His will be done. Thanks

Puppy update

I think its been awhile since I've posted an update about my two puppies (now both 6 months old) Lily and Roman! They are so sweet and I am so glad that we got the both of them. Even though some days they are completely exhausting I couldn't do without either one of them. Lily is extrememly independent and thinks she is the head of the household. One of the funniest things she does is grunt like a little piglet when she's on the trail of another animal outside. Her favorite past times are: sniffing through the grass outside for cat poop, running after the laser pointer full speed into the door, playing in the mud (especially right after I bathe her), and squeeze under the beds upstairs in hopes of snagging a kitty hiding underneath. Roman is our resident "love pig". Even though he's an American pit bull terrier he has the heart of a little bunny. He especially loves David. When we're watching tv in the living room he'll set his face on David's lap and just stare up at him lovingly. His favorite past times are: chasing his favorite red ball in the park and hope to catch it in the air before its second bounce, chew on Lily, chew on his cage, chew on socks, chew the plaster off our walls, watch tv (especially Family Guy) and lick everyone he meets. Here are some pictures of what they look like now!

Feliz Navidad in July!

We recently attended a Christmas in July Mexican themed pool party this weekend!! All I can say is F-U-N!

Amazing song!!

If your in the mood for a power booster song I reccommend Hillsong's "You'll Come". We sang it at church on Sunday and I felt like shouting out the lyrics. Please go check it out at itunes!

Verse 1
I have decided I have resolved
To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer shall not be moved
I'll wait upon you Lord

Pre Chorus
As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
As certain as the dawn appears

Chorus
You'll come let your glory fall
As you respond to us
Spirit reign flood our hearts
With holy fire again

Verse 2
We are not shaken we are not moved
We wait upon you Lord
Our Mighty deliverer my triumph and truth
I'll wait upon you Lord

Bridge
Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

Product plug: FURMINATOR

I have to plug this product, I just bought it yesterday and used it on Lily and Patches and it was amazing! This product is freaking fantastic. Its a pet brush with some special type of sharp blades that takes away the undercoat. It almost looked like I was shaving my animals. It works really well with long & short haired animals. Patches has white fur and its always everywhere! When I even pet her there's fur all over my hands and clothes. Lily is a corgi, which is basically a sheep dog. There are layers of fur on my tile floor all the time! If you have a pet I highly reccomend it. Its about $34 bucks and its a rather small brush but I assure you, as soon as you brush them once you see why. Seriously, you should go get one. And if you take delight in immediate results its also an enjoyable hobby! I haven't taken pictures of all the fur we got from Lily and Patches yet but here's some pictures of other examples. Its hilarious!

Guest room!

I finally got my guest bedroom decorated, after living here nearly a year and a half. I wanted to have it finished when my family came to visit. Its typical ecclectic Katy randomness but just wanted to share! Feel free to come stay in it whenever you want! Mi casa es su casa!

Our master bedroom

Just wanted to post a picture of our new bedroom furniture just in case you haven't seen it! :)