"Cause an affect"

This just goes to prove that you don’t know what affect you have on people around you….

Most of you already know that I have coffee every morning at Panera Bread. Overtime I’ve met several people during this time and a small group of us have become regulars who are there day in, day out sharing life and laughter. I call them my “Panera Peeps.”

Several months ago a couple of young women came in and sat amongst our little group. Well ok, they didn’t actually sit with us, but they sat at a table in our vicinity. They always greeted us but went to their table towards the back, opened their laptops and put in their earbuds and began studying. They didn’t come in every day but they were consistent in showing up several times a week. Our little group can get quite boisterous at times and I often wondered, even with earbuds in, if we disrupted their studies.

Overtime we saw the med students less and less. Eventually it just became hit and miss as to when they would pay a visit to Panera.

When I arrived at Panera none of my ususal ‘peeps’ were there so I just took a seat in one of the more comfortable chairs behind the fireplace and started to read my Bible. Not long after I’d started one of the med students showed up and sat down in the other chair behind the fire place. I said good morning to her and asked how her studies were going. We exchanged some additional idle chit chat and she opened her book for study and I went back to my iPad reading.

It wasn’t long after that she looked over and asked me, “Is it true that you come in here every day? How did you start that?” I told her how I’d gone to a place in Granger called Grains and Grinds for a long time every morning to do my reading and journaling but they eventually closed and I migrated over to Panera. I said after you consistently come in to a place for awhile you begin to meet people and conversations begin. Before I knew it there was a group of us that now come in and sit together nearly every day and just talk about life.

She went on to tell me how awesome she thought that was and what a huge blessing we were and are to her and the other med student that was coming in with her. She said their lives were virtually go to class and sleep. Med school virtually was their lives. She paused, but then went on to say what a blessing our little group had been to them. We brought some normalcy back into their lives that they couldn’t get anywhere else. Even thought they came in and had their earbuds in and were deep into study we gave them a sense of peace. She said they so looked forward to coming into Panera knowing they would see familiar faces and life going on as it should. She said we helped keep them going. They really appreciated us.

Who knew!

Just goes to show, we’re always “on” and you never know the impact you can make on someone elses life.

Always Yours

I was running on the treadmill this morning when this song came on my IPOD … . The chorus says "I am always, always, always yours"





We're currently in a series at GCC called "GLEE" and its about putting some joy back in your life. How many things distract me from joy. Traffic, selfishnesses, mood...the list goes on. Perhaps I should rephrase and say how many "stupid" things distract me from having joy in my life. God is always at my disposal. It doesnt matter what time of day, what time of year, or where I'm at, He is always, always, always mine. If He is always there, why do I let the walls of my distractions block me from seeing Him and experience the joy He has for me.

The Switchfoot song ended and "Break Your Heart" by Taio Cruz followed. The chorus of this song says "I'm only gonna break, break, break your heart" How ironic. Isn't that what I do to God every day, break his heart because I let the walls of my distractions separate me from the joy He wants me to experience.

I continued to run with the thoughts these two songs had generated in my head. It wasn't long before another new song by Tiesto that I'd recently added to my workout playlist came on, "Satisfaction" There are only three lines in this entire song. They are "Push me, and then just hurt me, til I get my satisfaction" Now, I know your thinkin' just what kind of music does he listen to! It's just club dance music...geesh! It was so funny to me how the words of the songs I was hearing seem to link together. Didn't we do just that to Jesus. We pushed Him (and quite honestly that's a sever understatement). We hurt Him. Not only physically but emotionally. Yes, He asked His Father why he had forsaken Him. Who wouldn't? I can't even imagine attempting to endure the abuse He had to take. But despite all the torture He was put through He achieved his satisfaction. He conquered death....conquered death for all of us!

My IPOD needed a charge so when I got to work this morning I put it in my docking station, IPOD player thingy. My thoughts from the music I heard were still swirling in my head. I decided to play the Switchfoot song one more time. I played it for joy. Joy that I get from knowing that Jesus is always, always, always ours. Yeah, there will continue to be times when I let my own distractions and destruction's steal my joy. But I know that tucked in the back of my mind is the reminder that Jesus is always there, at any hour, on any day in any season.

A Tribute to Pippi

Pippi. I never really liked that name but you had it when Lori rescued you from the Humane Society 14 years ago and you knew it. And actually it kind of fit you. I can't believe you're gone. How does one mourn over a dog without getting all weird about it. I wish I knew, I wish I knew. Even sitting here creating this blog I have to keep blinking to dismiss the tears welling up in my eyes.

Lori convinced me that having another daschund in the house would be a good thing, a good playmate for Barney. Who knew you'd be the dominnant one. We'd had Barney for several years but you barged in and took control. I wasn't long after that we lost Barney. Barney was my dog and I always maintaind that you drove him insane, but none the less, I grew to love you.

You never had the "tigger" like bounce that Barney had. Matter of fact, you were pretty clutzy. But you were resiliant. Stairs were not your friend. I was horrified the few times you rolled from the top step of our second floor, but in the same breath amazed at how you'd just get up shake yourself off and go about your business.

Some of your habits were just weird. Like the fact that you wouldn't go to the bathroom unless you went out the front door. We could sit on the patio in the back of the house for hours and you'd roam around but never relieve yourself. However, the minute we'd go inside, you'd run to the front door and want out so that you could take care of business.

As you aged your antics only got more strange (and annoying!) Somewhere along the way you developed this annoying lizard like tongue thing. For hours on end your tongue would just go in an out, in and out like a lizard. You weren't to quick with it though cuz there were a few times I could catch it. Gross I know, but it was an attempt to get you to QUIT!

In the last few months you'd lost your hearing and your sight but you kept going like the energizer bunny. It was incredible how your other senses seemed to take over to make up for what you couldn't do. On one side of the side walk was grass and the other were the stones in the flower bed. You'd strecth your paw out to feel which side you were on so you'd know which direction to go so that you could go to the bathroom. You'd often do that when you got back to the step to come in the house but there were a few times you didn't. Those weren't pretty cuz you'd end up missing the step and jacking your jaw on it. But it never seemed to affect you. You'd just get closer and try again.

In reality, it wasn’t funny but I’d be lying if I didn’t say it gave us a few chuckles. Now and then when you’d come in from in from outside you’d do so with great energy…..forgetting you couldn’t see so well. BAM! You’d plow right into the leg of the coffee table, then ricochet into the couch. Being completely turned around you’d charge directly into the wall. Eventually you’d get your bearings and find your way around, often after bouncing off a few other things. You were like a live pinball machine and you would have probably set a points record. We rearranged the furniture once…..’nuff said.

Your obsession with eating got really weird. I guess when your a dog eating and sleeping are 1 and 2 on your task list every day. How you knew it was close to time for you to be fed is beyond me. It would crack me up how you would go and stand in front of the laundry room door (where your food dish was) and stare into the laundry room for sometimes up to an hour before it was time before you to be fed and wouldnt budge. Generally we fed you after we ate but occasionaly we'd fill you dish before we ate. Seemed like every time we change it up on you, you'd go back and stand in front of the laundry room after we finished eating assuming that we were going to feed you AGAIN!

I hated to have to board you when we went out of town this past weekend. Getting boarded was never a good experience for you and as you aged it only seemed to be worse. When we picked you up Tuesday we could tell that you weren't feeling well but hoped it would pass. Wednesday you were so tired. Thursday......yeah Thursday was so sad.

Temperatures have turned cold and fall is quickly moving in. I lay in bed Thursday night and listened to the cold rain falling and I looked toward the end of the bed where you would always lay, all curled up, warm and cozy in your own little blanket. You never liked being cold. But you weren't there. I can hardly type right now......
I finally managed to drift off to sleep but it wasn't easy.

My sorrow lingered over into my waking this morning. As I sat drinking my coffee and watching the news my thoughts went to you. How I wanted to go to the front door and find you waiting there to come in from the rain. But I knew you wouldn't be there.

I miss you Pippi....14 years is a long time to spend with a dog. God I just don't know how to not be weird about this. Some will say 'he was just a dog,' move on. But you were family. It's just so hard and so sad. I pray that in time God will ease this anguish that continues to wash over me like a tide rolling in and out.

Chipmunk #2

Got home last night and Chipmunk #2 was out on the patio. He'd also reaped the benefits inside the trap but had escaped capture. I went out and after several stressful attemps (just ask my wife) got the trap reset and came back inside for
dinner.

It wasn't long before our little friend was scounging around the cage again.....



....then B O O M. The doors on the trap slammed shut. Not so crafty this time were you!

We tossed the cage in the trunk and drove to where we'd let his friend go the day before and released him

Heed this warning other chipmunks.....we will get you!

Captured at last

For days...no weeks this little 'houdini' has been eluding this trap and reaping the benefits of the goodies within.....NOT SO MUCH ANYMORE!



He was relocated to a wooded area a couple miles from our house last night. However, when we got home yet another of his entourage was on the back patio....we'll see how crafty #2 will be!

Dog Makeover

Pippi's pre and post makeover pix

Before....
















After....










Don't hate him because he's beautiful!

Geriatric Dog

Mon Aug 31, 10:54 pm ET
NEW YORK – A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years. The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.

Yikes....we have a wire hair dachshund thats 15 years old....does that mean he has another 6 to go!!!!

Keep bleeding love

Check out this incredible dance routine performed during weekend services at Granger Community Church this past weekend in our "MAKING LOVE LAST" Series....

Bleeding Love

You got sum splanin' to do

For those of you die hard Lucy fans like me....
check out my new desktop