Pink Christmas Tree

Check out this beaut! I absolutely love my pink Christmas Tree. For some reason this year I felt like decorating. And, I even got some pink LED lights! This is out of character for me because I usually do not decorate at all - ask my mom as she always gets on my case about this. This year was a different story. Not pictured are my presents, some sparkly garland, a stocking and a table runner! This is a big deal for me.

I found some Christmas joy this year, for sure! I guess I found the joy because I realize I have a lot to be grateful for. Even though we had some heartache (losing Chance and Pepper) and disappointment over jobs and other things that have been frustrating (my accident; dad's stolen golf clubs) we still have each other! That is a big deal. Sometimes I get so caught up in having things go my way, I think God has a crazy way of getting my attention. Not that I'm saying He caused any of these terrible things to happen, but He did (or will) work them for good. I must believe there is a bigger picture. If I didn't believe this, what hope would there be? Even if God keeps us waiting for a long time to reveal his bigger picture, we have to believe there is a picture. After all, we do walk by faith and not by sight.

I had an epiphanous moment as I was writing this blog. As my mind was wondering to my sister and thinking about the pain she has endured over the last month, I started thinking about Chance, again. I know I have brought this up a few times in my blog, but it hit me square in the melon. I believe God speaks to me this way. When I hit and killed that small dog this past April, maybe somehow God was preparing me to comfort my sister when someone else hit and killed her own dog. Maybe He was using this bad, terrible, horrible thing to help me help my Kiki. If anything, I am forced to realize how precious everything is that I have.. Everything is a gift from God. Everything is precious. We are not promised anything, not even the very breath that we breathe. And if God takes away my breath (or from someone I love), I will be grateful that I have loved and loved and loved with all my breath and with all that is within me. And thinking about this gives me joy and peace this holiday season. So, I can be grateful for the little things -even a little thing like my pink Christmas tree. And also for my beautiful Luna Belle!

a sad, sad day

My sister lost her dog Chance today. My heart is breaking for her. I just cannot fathom why God allows certain things to happen like this to some and not to others. It is so unfair and so sad. I am remembering the time that I hit a small dog in Corpus and I cried myself to sleep for so many nights (and I did not even know the dog). I remember the situation so clearly when it happened and I found myself placing blame on myself, even though I knew it wasn't my fault. Even though I know He is in control, I felt so helpless and out of control. I felt this thing, this tragedy was going to break me and I could feel the pain and the sorrow pricking my heart. I can still feel it now, and it is the same feeling as I sit here and weep for my sister. I am reminded of the truth that God does understand pain and suffering as he once walked among us. He gave up his own son to die for us. I often wonder though how much suffering we can take as humans and how much is too much? Is it possible just to become impervious to pain? And if we could, would we want to? How many scars and wounds can one grieving, tortured soul endure?

I pray that God's peace would shine so radiantly in my Kiki's heart. I pray that he would hold her up and keep her going. That he would give her the strength to tarry on.

Chance and Harley

Oh how precious and fleeting life is. As I sit and think about her suffering and loss, I am reminded that the only thing that matters is Love. Love is what we are living for. (not jobs, money, a big house and a new car). It's the only thing that keeps us going. Nothing else matters. And no matter what happens, love always wins. Love always remains, even though God takes away from us those we love.

vacay!

New Mexico was so beautiful. I felt like a kid again watching the balloons lift off en masse. What a sight to behold! To sum it all up, I went to the balloon festival; white sands national monument, lots of parks and hiking; and soaking in the hot springs! Here are a few pictures of my trip. I will post more of the balloon festival later on! I will post more of the trip in general later on as well. :)

 

We hiked up to this spot!

Just call me Mary Katherine Gallagher!!

Micah showing his horns (unfortunately!!) 

On the road to the hot springs - it was a 5 mile hike!

There is an artsy feel to this photo - I like it!

Me wanting to take an artsy, pensive shot

Notice the footprints - Micah walking up to the top of the dune

Me trying to get a good shot even though the sun is blinding me and I'm not wearing makeup! 

I'm about to go sledding down this dune. 

Get your guns up in White Sands

Me sledding down the dune

This is not the beach - this is New Mexico!!

My first time sledding - it was a blast!!! 

Micah did pretty well - he was hanging on with one hand. haha!

The hot springs - 1.5 hours away from Albuquerque

The smallest tub - 1 out of 4 tubs! 

Don't make fun of my white legs!

The water was around 108 degrees! 

I'm thinking that I wish the naked people would leave the top tub so I can check it out!! 

We will miss our Pepper :(

All of the kids and our schnauzers - we are a Schnauzer family!

Pepper and his snow boots - it snowed on Christmas eve in 2006

Pepper Allen passed away yesterday, October 4, 2010, in Corpus Christ, TX.  He was a wonderful gift from God sent to our family 13 years ago (almost 14 ). We got pepper in Houston as we were all in town for the Shell Houston Open golf tournament. We saw someone selling mini-schnauzers in a parking lot. The family fell in love with him at first sight, except for me of course because I was a little stubborn and wanted a bigger dog. However, I soon fell in love with him too and he made me realize what a wonderful breed Schnauzers are. They are now my favorite type of dog! My sister has two (Chance and Harley) and I am the proud parent of Luna Belle.

Some of my most favorite memories of Pepper are when he used to pull scrunchies out of my hair, as well as my sister’s. I remember him getting on one of his barking binges (as Dad would put it) in the backyard. I also remember taking him and Harley with us one Thanksgiving to the farm and they both tried to recreate Homeward Bound as they ran away in the pasture. We could not find them for several hours and we were hysterical. Mom and Dad finally found them and they were both shaken up by something they encountered on their journey. We were so glad to have them back safe and sound.

Pepper was one of the best dogs we ever had. He never tried to escape from the backyard like Roxy or Buttercup (our dauchsaund we had before). He was overall a very independent dog and although he did not like to cuddle, he would occasionally surprise me by wanting to sleep with me and give me a small kiss on my face for taking him on a walk. This was by far one of his most treasured past times!

Pepper in 2006, Christmas Day

He was loved by all who had the chance to meet him; he will be dearly missed!

Hosanna

Hosanna - I think this is an old Greek word meaning God save us. It is also of a song I heard recently by an artist named Jason Morant. This song really, really moved me. When I heard it the first time I broke down crying and I also felt a peace that God is with me and He did save me, and that is something to be joyful about! Music is such an expression of the soul and of the spiritual world. Sometimes I think it's God's way of speaking to us and bringing us peace and comfort. For whenever there is peace and comfort there is God. And God is peace and love and comfort. And I savor these moments when I can bask in this truth and I soak it all in a warming ray of sunshine in my life.  This video is only an excerpt of the song. But as you can see it is really powerful combined with the movie clip of saving private ryan. It made me think of my PawPaw fighting in World War II, although I'm fairly sure he wasn't here at D-Day as portrayed in this clip. However, he sacrificed a great deal for this country and I'm sure he saw some miserable, life-changing things. I cannot even imagine having to experience  pain and suffering in this way.



Just in case you cannot understand the lyrics, here they are:

There was a man who smiled like the sunrise
His face I can’t forget
His love displayed was unlike any other
He humbly dressed just like a vagabond with
Discourse like a King
And when he talked the angels stopped to listen

Hosanna 
Filio David
Hosanna
In Altisimis

(Hosanna, Son of David, Hosanna in the Highest)

He often spoke about a Kingdom coming
His words I can’t forget
Where all who come may rest beneath His mercy
Where royalty is flowing through the veins of
Every citizen
And every soul is treasured like a promise 




When I watch this video and try to comprehend all the suffering that those brave men had to endure.. my heart just cannot bear it. And through it all God is still on his throne. He is still reaching out to us and comforting us in all of our brokenness and misery. He is still God. And to think I've only experienced a teeny fraction of what these men experienced and also what God experienced when he gave up his only son. 

Girls' Weekend at the Byrds

This weekend was EPIC and magical!! (those were our two words for the weekend) The girls got together at Amy and Josh's new house (Amy, Peggy, Melissa, Emma, and me) and had a fabulous female bonding experience!! The weekend kicked off with dinner (tortellini and spinach salad, and garlic bread) and a movie called Leap Year (a "must have" staple chick flick). I had already seen it, but Peggy and Melissa had not. The next day we were a little lazy and finally made our way out to the pool. It was a blazin hot day, but we had the pool all to ourselves!! Emma was fabulous as always in her adorable swim suit and matching hat and bag; Peggy was our DJ and kept us entertained with sing-a-long tunes; Melissa also kept us in stitches as she brought water toys and was just her funny, quick-witted self; Ames was busy chasing Emma around and being a good mommy; Josh was well-surrounded by smokin, hot females; and I was soakin in all of the good times and laughing out all my stresses of the week!

Josh and Emma 

After the pool, we went to see Eat, Pray, Love. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I had read the book about a year ago and it's a deeply insightful book. Movies are never as good as the books they are based on. However, this one was a movie I'd recommend to anyone. Better yet, read the book! Elizabeth Gilbert is a really wise woman who made a big impact during her world travels. 

We also had a great time at Trudy's and got seated right away, even though we had to park a mile away from the restaurant. I got to drive everyone around in my car and we rode with the top down after dinner. Poor Pegs and Ames got pretty beat up by the wind in the back seat (although Ames loved every minute of it and said that was exactly what she needed). Pegs on the other hand said she was hoping she could get a brush through her hair! 

I didn't want to leave because girl bonding time is truly a treasure. Even though we are all spread out and live pretty different lives, we still have so much in common and we still savor the moments that we can be together and just be goofy. Instead of making me sad that I was leaving and going back to my life in SA, it made me very grateful and appreciative of moments like these. Perhaps this is the only way we can really enjoy moments like these, if they are fleeting. After this weekend I truly feel lighter and happier and I thank God for bringing these awesome girls into my life - after all, life is more enjoyable and meaningful with friendship, love and laughter! 

Just us girls!

Emma and me

another shot of Emma and me

Pegs and Emma

headaches and heat

I've been fighting back a headache all day. This heat is the culprit, I think. Who would have guessed I would suffer migraines like my mom. Growing up I remember her taking naps with a cold washcloth on her head. "Mom has a headache so don't bother her," my dad would say. I never knew the pain that comes with headaches. And especially heat-related headaches - the ones I've been dealing with. It's the silent but deadly killer that starts out with a slight buzzing annoyance and then gets progressively worse. It's the type of pain that causes you to be nauseous and lose your appetite, and you find yourself squinting throughout the lifespan of the headache.

It's these dog days of summer I find myself tired, drained and unmotivated! I don't want to exercise or do anything but lie around the apartment and hang out with Luna. Just looking at her makes me smile, and smiling makes me feel better!

Just look at this precious face in the bluebonnets!

This picture was taken at Micah's lake house this past spring. I could hardly get her to sit still - she has way too much energy! 

This weekend I went to Corpus to spend a weekend with my family and we had a great time. Just when I think Luna can't be any funnier, she makes me laugh even harder. Todd was holding Roxy (our other white schnauzer) and saying "Oh, my sweet Roxy." He was cuddling her and Luna was having a fit! She was barking her head off. This wasn't your ordinary bark. It was a jealous bark where she would shake her head from right to left and act like it was causing her so much pain that she was not the center of attention. But you really had to be there! I can't adequately describe it.. Next time I will get it on camera! All I can say is that little girl keeps me in stitches!!! 

D.C. trip

I never got around to posting these pictures of my trip to D.C. So, here they are in all their glory!! But I had to post a picture of Luna as well. She just got a haircut yesterday and she just looks so darn cute!!! Most of these shots are taken around the area of Old Town Alexandria, which is basically a small community near D.C. These were taken around the 4th of July holiday. Micah and I had a lot of fun shopping, eating and goofing around! We watched the fire works and ate dinner at this amazing little place called Bilbo Baggins. If you are ever in Old Towne Alexandria, check out this place!!
The trip was a lot of fun, but it was hotter than Hades!! I actually passed out at one point in the trip from the all the heat! Good thing Micah was there to help me out. ;)
Another memorable moment was seeing the Holocaust museum. There are no words powerful enough to describe my feelings about it. This is also a "must see" attraction for tourists, and the best part about all those museums is that they are free!!! You can't beat that!!

Check out this video of my most beautiful creation! She is one funny dog! Her name is Luna Bella De La Joya Allen, but I like to call her Looney Tooney at times. Ever since I got her she loves to turn circles; even when she was a puppy. I believe God created her just for me. Here is a small synopsis of the story of how I got my Luna.

Let's backtrack to the time I was dating this guy. I thought he was a good guy. In the end he turned out to be "not so good, nor not so nice." This was one of those lessons I had to learn through pain and heartbreak. God was telling me all along that his guy was not the guy for me. At first everything was great with this guy. He was a firefighter in the Air Force. He was a gentleman.

Fast forward a few months and we started getting serious. I went on a road trip with him to meet his parents, and they were sweet and everything seemed to be happening so quick. I was starting to think I was in love with this guy. He knew all the right words to say and I fell for those words, those empty, meaningless words.

We hit a huge bump in our relationship when only after almost 4 months of dating, he got called to Iraq for 3 months. Well, we decided it would be a good test of our relationship and we were both comitted to making it work. We even talked about getting engaged when he got back.

After a few weeks I started noticing him changing. He sounded so cold on the phone and so distant. But when I asked him what was wrong, he wouldn't tell me and when he did say something it was always, "I'm fighting a war here, why would you ask me what's wrong?" It was harsh and condescending. I felt like I was losing him, fast. This when on a point where I just had to do something to find out what was wrong and do anything I could to save our relationship.

Before he left, his mom and I got along great and told me that if I ever needed anything to call her. She said she knew how hard it would be to be without him, but that everything would work out just fine. So, I took her up on her offer and I explained to her that I felt like I was losing him. I asked her what she thought I should do for him. Did she know if I did something wrong? He didn't act like he loved me anymore.. So, I was desperate.

I never got a response from her. Instead, I got a call from him. He yelled at me and asked me who I thought I was contacting HIS parents. "Don't you know their son is fighting a war in one of the most dangerous places in the world.?" Why would you dare worry them with our relationship." You crossed the line big time, Summer. I can never forgive you for this, EVER.

WOW - I had no words because I was so shocked that this guy I thought I loved would treat me like some kind of criminal. I was a bad person and I had committed an unforgivable sin because I contacted his mom(and all because she reached out to me first). Hmmm... what a bad, bad person I was. How could I be so selfish!

I never heard from him again, until I noticed (through facebook) he was in a relationship. Turns out he met a girl up there and they were going out the whole time he was over there. I know they are married now and have a child, but all I can say is "Thank you Lord," It could have been me. You give us your best at what we thought was better.

Well, I guess you're asking yourself how Luna fits into the story. Before this guy left for Iraq we talked about getting a dog together. Or, he said he wanted to get me a dog so I wouldn't meet anyone while he was gone. We decided to name this dog (I wanted a boy dog) Fuego. The reason is because Fuego means fire in Spanish and well, I love spanish and 2.) because he was a firefighter.

When I saw the dog that my cousin Robin found for me, he was a very skiddish dog. We didn't bond at all. He wouldn't even come to me. So, as hard as it was I walked away from this dog and thought that it wasn't meant to be. That same trip, my cousin Savannah found an ad in the paper advertising dogs for sale. She called the ad and it was right down the street from where I was staying with my grandma for the weekend. The lady who answered said she had 2 schnauzers, (the type of dog I was looking for) and to come and see if I liked them.

When I got there, this white female schnauzer came right up to me and put her paws all over my face and licked me. I knew she was the one for me! It was love at first sight!!! When I went to my car to get my checkbook, she even cried for me. It was like she was waiting for me too!!

Sometimes I look back on that moment and I cry and cry and cry because I'm so happy. I'm so happy that God gave me exactly what he knew I needed - exactly what was best for me. He saved me from a bad relationship; he didn't want me in that relationship and he didn't want me to have a boy dog named Fuego. I wanted a boy dog; He gave me a female.

She was the opposite of what I thought I wanted. But once I saw her and spent time with her, I knew that God wanted her for me and she was a perfect, perfect gift from heaven!!! She was an example of God's faithfulness, goodness and sovereignty. She has such a personality.

She likes to bark really loud; she is hyper and just as sweet as pie! Two peas in a pod we are!! Sometimes when I have bad days and cry, she crawls up on my chest and just rests her sweet little face on my neck. She really hates when I cry. It's awesome how she won't leave my side. In conclusion, wait for God's best. It is worth it!!!!

this past year

So here goes my fist posting - I hope I can do this. It's so much pressure!! Will my blog live up to all the other awesome, famous blogs before me??! (like my friend Gina's or Peggy's) Well, I will at least give it a go!

A year ago today I bought this car. I named her Sophia Solara. We haven't bonded as much as I would like. However, I splurged and got this convertible. I can't believe it's been a year. So much for me has changed. I'm in a much better position in my job and I'm also in a new apt. (which isn't entirely a shocker for you all who know me well know I move all the time - just call me a nomad)

I've been able to travel over this past year to some nice places, my favorite being Alaska!

There have been so many changes this past year! I have to say that 2010 has been a much better year for me than the 2 years prior. Those were some tough times... but God is still good. He is shaping me into the person he wants me to be. And I've learned so much..even though it has been painful. I know that through pain we learn so much more. Like Switchfoot says, "It's when you're breaking down with your insides coming out is when you find out what your heart is made of." Yeah, I would have much rather learned without having my heart ripped out over and over again..but would have I really learned?? That's the question.