Meet Ari

Remember how forever ago I told you about our sweet Hitch? If not, you can catch up here.

After Hitch died little Turk was quite the sad, clingy, pathetic pup. He refused to leave our side, and insisted on sitting in our laps at all times. This was endearing for a few days, maybe even a week. And then we started to realize how much Hitch entertained Turk. Even though Turk was a little rude dog at times, he really, really missed Hitch. So we started discussing getting a puppy. Chad was interested in getting a vizsla. They are Hungarian hunting dogs, and he had seen some on our trips to Hungary. We googled "vizsla breeders" and lo-and-behold there was a breeder in Odessa, TX, and she had a litter ready to go. Now yes, I did think this was quite fast after Hitch's death, but it all fell into place so perfectly. We drove to Odessa one Friday afternoon to "look at the puppies". And we fell in love with this gal... 

 Ari

The skies on our way to Odessa sure were gorgeous!

First photo! In the breeder's home.

Given that she's a Hungarian dog, we decided she needed a Hungarian name. This proved to be challenging as most names that Hungarians would choose for their pets have a billion consonants in them and would never be pronounced correctly.  Therefore, we went through our favorite names that we've encountered while in Hungry. And the name 'Ari' won!

On the car ride home. Notice the toys... we stopped at Target and I ran in to grab those toys. She whined for maybe 10 minutes and then slept the whole way to Lubbock. 

The next morning. Turk sure was excited to see her Friday night, but Saturday morning he was a bit confused as to why she was still in his house. 

Sweetest puppy dog ever!

This was taken on my birthday a few weeks after we got her.  She and Turk are BOTH cuddly dogs!

One of MANY walks/runs taken during her first few weeks with us. She had more energy that both of us combined. 

She grew so quickly... can't believe she a full grown Vizsla now!

She's not a fan of this coat.

I'm so glad we opted for a little vizsla girl. She is sweet, loving, eager to please us, SMART, and so much fun! She's brought much joy and laughter to our lives in the last 6 months! 

Two Years Ago Today...

Two years ago today I was in my surgery rotation for PA school. It was a Tuesday, and it was pretty cold outside.  As I drove (way to early) to work that morning a song played on the radio that I loved so much I memorized the words and then immediately scribbled them down. The song was "Hundred More Years" by Francesca Battistelli. Francesca was on the morning show and sang the song live, then they played it again shortly after.  The lyrics to the first verse and chorus are below:

"Diamond ring and twelve red roses
Everything she ever wanted
All those dreams and now they’re finally here
She’s so young and he’s so perfect
They waited for love and it was worth it
She wants to feel like this for a hundred years
All this life still yet to live and they can hardly wait

They can laugh they can cry
Their future looks so beautiful and bright
They can dance under the moonlight
Cause God is smiling down on them tonight
And she wants to stay right here
Make it last for a hundred more years."


I still love that song. I got out of my car in a wonderful mood as I thought of how that song described perfectly how I felt at the current stage of life Chad and I were in. We'd talked marriage. Ok, fine. I'd been ready to get married for a really long time by this point. But dear Chad was the wise one. He preferred we wait until I finished PA school. The holidays had come and gone, so I figured he'd propose on a weekend, or maybe Valentine's Day. Needless to say, I thought this was just a regular Tuesday!

Tuesday also happens to be the day that Chad (and now myself) help with a college Bible study. He had been attending this Bible study for several years, and brought me along after we started dating. The leaders of the study, Billy and Tammy, are special people that make every single person feel loved and welcome.

I finished the day at work, and my friend Natalie texted to say that she'd like to go to Bible study with me that evening. Now this was convenient because we lived next door to each other! I told her we could sit at the back of the room and slip out early since we had to be at our rotations early the next morning. She agreed, and then asked me to wear something cute with her. Good thing she said something or I would have been in scrubs that were two sizes too big.

We headed to Bible study, and she offered to drive. When we got there we ate dinner like usual. Then Billy, the leader of the study, asked me if I'd mind reading some scripture before we started. I happily agreed to do so! He then informed me that he had a special Bible that I could read it out of. Truthfully I was kind of offended, did he think I forgot to bring my Bible tonight?!  As everyone finished eating dinner and started moving over to the living room to start the bible study, Natalie suggested we sit on the couch. I told her that wasn't the back of the room and we'd have to stay until it was over if we sat square in the middle of everyone. She said that'd be fine. Billy prayed, and asked me to come read some scripture. His instructions were simple: read the highlighted text on the page that is bookmarked. He handed me the Bible, and ran his fingers across the bottom where my name was.  I glanced at it, and opened the Bible to the book marked page. On the bookmark was tied the most beautiful diamond ring.  I'm sure people thought I couldn't read, as I just stared at it. Chad got up and walked over. He took the ring off the bookmark and got on his knee, and asked me to marry him! I'm pretty sure I said "yes" at some point in time! ;)

The Bible with my new last name! 

Realizing there's a ring tied on that bookmark!

Chad helping me get the ring off the bookmark.

He pops the question!

I collapse and say "yes" all at once!

Obligatory hand-on-chest photo that must be taken after every proposal. 

the ring!

Chad reading the highlighted scripture. 

 Ephesians 5:25-33

Photo's with the ring and Bible taken by our engagement photographer, Erin Woolsey.

To sum it up, that day 2 years ago was the best Tuesday ever! Here's to many more years to come!

Hitch

A few posts ago I introduced the world to our "children", Hitch and Turk. Each summer my boss takes our office on a week long vacation. I had not been working for him long enough to go on the trip, so I stayed back and worked the hospitals and SNF while they were gone. Therefore, we celebrated the 4th of July in pieces. When I left for work early Wednesday morning Hitch was his normal, happy self.  I got home about 1:30 and Chad and I left for Snyder, where his family annually celebrates the 4th! Hitch acted fine as we left. We made it Snyder, enjoyed seeing family and drove home.

Hitch has always been terrified of loud noises. Thunder, fireworks, yelling, etc. When we got home about 12:30 am Hitch didn't greet us at the door like normal. Instead, he was found in a corner of the house looking so terrified that it broke my heart. He slowly raised his head to look at us but didn't get up. We thought perhaps he was simply scared of the fireworks that the neighborhood kids were shooting off behind our house. I carried him outside so he could go to the bathroom but he refused to move. We carried him to our room and put his food and water next to him and went to bed. I woke up at 5:30 am to head to the hospital, and found that Hitch was in the exact same position as 5 hours before. I woke Chad up when I left at 6:15. Poor Chad was immediately worried. He jumped out of bed, loved on Hitch and googled the number for our veterinarian. They opened at 8, so Chad got ready and took Hitch in. 

The vet decided to draw some blood and keep Hitch for observation. The lab work showed that Hitch was extremely anemic (hence the lack of energy).  We didn't hear much throughout the rest of the day, but thought of Hitch constantly. 

Thursday the vet called and told Chad that Hitch wasn't improving, but wasn't getting worse. He still refused to eat so they began to feed him with a syringe. 

Friday when Chad spoke with the vet he told us that Hitch was tolerating the syringe feeding well, but still wasn't moving much or eating on his own. 

Saturday after I worked we were going to drive to Sweetwater to see my sister, Robin, and her family. Before we left we stopped by the vet's office to see Hitch. We couldn't leave Turk home alone all day so we took him with us to see Hitch. This might have been one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever done. The vet reported to us that Hitch still wasn't improving like he was hoping. At this point the diagnosis was hemolytic anemia. The vet told us that in the past he had given dogs blood transfusions, but that each time the dog worsened after the transfusions. He was still hopeful that Hitch might pull through. 

Turk and Hitch had taken a trip to the groomer's just a few days prior to Hitch getting sick. Thankfully, I snapped a few photos of them. At the time I had no idea that these would be Hitch's last glamour shot. 

 I took up golf during the summer(that's another post), so Chad and I had been spending our evenings practicing our swings at the elementary school down the street from our house. We took Turk and Hitch, and made them fetch the balls. :-)

After Hitch's final trip to the groomers. Sweet dog.  

They carried Hitch into the exam room with his IV pole. Within 2 days he had lost about 8-10 pounds. He was still there, but didn't have the strength to lift his head. Turk was eager to see/lick/smell Hitch so we put Turk up on the table with Hitch. Little Turk just cuddled right up next to him and laid down.

After about 30 minutes we said our goodbyes, kissed Hitch a million times and carried Turk out of the room (he did NOT want to leave). The vet promised to call us Sunday morning to update us.

He called about 10 am and said that Hitch was doing better, he had eaten a very small amount on his own, and was raising his head and moving his legs when the vet checked on him. We were thrilled, and hoping this was the turning point and Hitch would be back home soon. 

Chad went to play basketball Sunday afternoon and on his way home the vet called again. This time he told us that Hitch had passed away at some point Sunday afternoon. We cried like babies. Oh, the heartache. Poor Hitch. 

We spent several nights in tears remembering funny Hitch stories and really missing him. Turk was especially clingy for several weeks. He wouldn't leave Chad's side and insisted on being in our laps every single time we sat down. To summarize this long post:

Dear Hitch, 

Thank you for being such a good, sweet dog. We miss you tremendously. I even miss how you used to trip me on the way to the door every morning, and how you insisted on inching your way into my lap. I miss your eagerness to greet me at the door, and how your jowls would get stuck on your teeth when you "smiled" at us. I miss waking up with you in the bed when it thundered. And most of all, I miss how much you loved all people and animals. We like to think that you're running around up in heaven with all your other dog friends, and that you'll be eager to greet  us when our time comes to meet Jesus. We love you sweet dog. 

Chad, Lauren & Turk

Transformations

The last few weeks Chad and I have been watching a show on HGTV called Property Brothers.  I have always enjoyed shows that involved a good before and after, but this show has really captured our attention.  The show involves a couple that is looking for a new home. The brothers, Jonathan and Scott, have the couple make a list of all the amenities that would be included in their "dream home".  Then, they show them their dream home.  And as you would expect, these homes are AMAZING.  The couple ooos and ahhs over the house with statements like "it's perfect" and "it's exactly what we wanted".  Next, in what is really a dream-killer, the brothers tell the couple the true price of their dream home. . . and it's never affordable.  As the couple stands there in disappointment the brothers explain to them that they can flip a home that is a little older and needs more work into their dream home.  The couple is NEVER enthused.  Usually they're quite rude to the brothers!  The next portion of the show involves Scott, the realtor brother, taking the couple to see older, more outdated homes that are in their price range.  While in the homes one of the brothers, Jonathan, who just so happens to be a contractor, scouts out options for knocking down walls, changing the kitchen, adding more storage and new flooring to make this seemingly hideous home into something unimaginably beautiful.  During the showing of these older homes, the couple always has a terrible, and I do mean terrible, attitude.  They do not believe that Jonathan will be able to transform this home into something they can live in, much less love like they loved the dream home they were just shown.  Eventually the couple has to make a decision, and they choose one of the older homes.  Jonathan shows them his vision for the home, and immediately the couple's attitude changes.  They all dive in head first to demolition and renovations.  By the end of the show, during the big reveal, the couple is always blown away by the transformation.  Jonathan has literally changed the house from the inside out.  Before, what they looked at in disgust, they now look at in awe.

I've been thinking this week about why certain TV shows hook me better than others, and I've decided that these shows have a huge hook-factor because of the before and after component.  Kind of like how my attitude and perspectives once were of this world, and after the transformation of Jesus they're set on eternal things.  I don't know if you've ever watched someone be truly changed from the inside out or not, but the difference is astounding.  Over spring break Chad and I will have the opportunity to lead a mission trip to Gyor, Hungary.  This will be Chad's third year to spend spring break in Hungary, and my second.  The people of Hungary have spent most of their lives under communism's reign.  Therefore most of the people are quiet, introverted, and incredibly difficult to get to know - especially on a religious level.  Our friends Larry & Melinda Ewing have dedicated their lives to bringing the Hungarian people the story of Jesus, and an eternal hope.  They have been in Gyor about 5 years and have seen roughly 25-35 people become active, evangelistic believers in Jesus Christ.  They'll tell you it's a slow and long process for Hungarians to commit to such a life change. Probably because they have little to no comprehension of a personal relationship with a Savior, and have a hard time making a decision because for so long they've been told what to do by the government.  But after they learn of Jesus and make the commitment to follow Him, the transformation between their old lives, ideas, beliefs for the future, and lack of hope as compared to the new life grounded in a perfect hope from above is phenomenal - and makes it worth the time spent.  Today I'm thankful that I was raised in the United States, where we're free to go to church, to own as many Bibles as we like, and to teach our children and friends about the love of God.  Thank you Jesus for transforming lives from the inside out, and making something astoundingly beautiful out of ashes.

Chad and I would covet and be oh so grateful for your prayers as we prepare to lead this small group of college and young professionals to Hungary for 10 days.  We will leave March 9 and return March 17.

This is the American students with the Hungarian high school students on the trip in 2010.

 The view in Budapest!

Our Precious "Children"

I figured we should introduce you to do our dear "children" that are of the canine species!

Chad's dog is Hitch.  Hitch is 6 years old, but acts as if he is a tiny puppy.  I've never seen more energy within any animal.  Hitch happily greets you at the door every single time you come home.  He wakens every morning with a HUGE amount of excitement to start the day.  At around 6:30 or 7 he starts circling our bed, whimpering at the window as birds chirp outside, and standing up on the bed while lying his head next to our heads and taking deep breaths (it's creepy).  When we finally do get up he sometimes gets carried away in his excitement and takes my legs out from under me during one of his many excited circles as I walk to let him out into the backyard.  Then, I'm not so happy and tell him (in my stern voice) to just, please, please, calm down.  (I'm not a morning person.)  All in all, Hitch is a delight of a dog to have.  He thinks he's a lap dog, and will try, with all his might, to inch up into your lap.  Sometimes now he just simply jumps up on the couch (only to be told, NO Hitch!)  His favorite things to do include: run, gaze out the backdoor, play keep away from Turk with the toys, cuddle, and wake me up by shaking his head incredibly hard.  We love you Hitch.  You're a good dog!

Hitch makes this face a lot.  It makes us laugh!

He was not supposed to be up there. . . but oh how he loved it!  Notice Turk's white spots and the tennis ball!

My dog is Turk.  Little Turk was most definitely a gift from God.  When I moved to Midland, the Lord graciously provided a family that had an extra bedroom I could live in.  After praying for a shelter over my head (that I could afford) for weeks, a friend of a friend told the Carters to email me.  The following weekend my Mom and I went to Midland to meet the Carters and look through some apartments in case it didn't work out.  All my life I've wanted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  Literally, as long as I can remember I've wanted "one of the dogs that always looks like a puppy".  When we got to the Carter's house, I met Jeff, Lisa and their three beautiful daughters Lexy, Sam, and Kenedi.  As they showed us around their beautiful home, they showed me the backyard.  There sat Turk looking up at us with those big brown eyes and that wagging tail that could melt any heart!  As strange as it sounds, God used this little dog to confirm to me that yes, this is the place He provided for me to live!  I lived with the Carter's for 15 months.  Towards the end of my stay with them, they asked me one evening if I would be interested in taking Turk with me to Lubbock when I moved at the end of the summer.  Well, that was a no brainer!  Yes!  I'd love to!  So Turky and I moved to Lubbock where he was affectionately spoiled by my roommate, Lauren, and I!  During his year with Lauren and I  he also provided many laughs and several much needed cuddle times during an overwhelming year of school for both of us.  Today Turk is (still) spoiled, and loved to pieces.  He is a calm, sweet little dog.  Turk is a CUDDLER.  He loves a good nap, and he can sleep just as long as I can (impressive).  He loves to play fetch (to the point of my arm hurting).  He is incredibly docile, you can hold him on his back, cut his nails, move his ears around, and he could care less.  He even let me listen to his heart and lungs a lot in school.  But, Turk is quite territorial.  After Chad and I got married, Turk was a rude little dog to Hitch.  He guarded the food and wouldn't let Hitch come near. . . we're still working on this!  Turky you're a good dog too!

He has a good heart and clear lungs. . . in case you're wondering. ;)

Chad snapped this picture this weekend. He is such a sweet dog!

Bath time isn't really Turk's favorite...but he'll let you bathe him as long as you'd like (especially when there's a bone in the mix)!

NO ONE can resist that little face!

Reception!

The great thing about our wedding was that the reception was just a few steps away from the ceremony! We hurried over to the reception and greeted everyone with a receiving line, which turned out to be a great way to speak with everyone that came!

The beginning of a nice long line of wonderful guests! 

Sweet friends, Jacob & Lauren Murphree!

 A dear friend from high school: Zach Gilbert! Thanks for coming Zach!

Raider Red workin' the crowd!

 

Such pretty flowers. 

After the receiving line, Red escorted us into our reception!

Feeding each other cake has got to be the most awkward thing ever!

 Toasts from our precious bridal party. Clay Hooten went first. It was amazing. 

Dr. Pepper & Diet Coke!

Then Brittnye! She walked through the MANY memories we've shared together. It was so special. She even put a copy of it in my purse along with sweet notes that I found when we got to Costa Rica. I definitely cried as I read them all. Thank you dear friend!

Then my dear little sister, Meghan. Oh how her speech had me tearing up. I love you dear Meg! You're the best little sister anyone could hope for!

We did all the "activities" that usually occur at a reception immediately so that people could leave if they needed to. Next was the bouquet toss. Sweet little Kenedi caught it!

And the garter throw! Chad's Grandfather is a hoot. He caught the garter and immediately put it on his head!

In between mingling with our guests we jumped in the photobooth for some fun! This is Kate...she is the most adorable child I know!

As I mentioned before, we had a tortilla toss as our send off. I can now tell you that tortillas hurt when they hit you!

Goodbye friends! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all of those who made the drive to our wedding! It meant so much to me!