Nothing Stays the Same

After your first love is gone you find yourself feeling a little jaded. I guess Emma felt the same way about her new duck. At first we thought she couldn't tell the difference. She carried it everywhere with her. She'd bring it up on the couch or bed to cuddle with while she slept and always took it out of her toy bin first thing in the morning. But recently we started seeing a change in her. It began with tearing of the tags. Next thing I knew I found the new duck decapitated... da, da, daa. 

Poor Mr. Duck #2

Same God

Since Miguel and I re-located, we've been looking for a new home church. We've visited a lot of different styles of churches down here. This has definitely been a long time process. It's been enjoyable though. We've met some really great people and learned more about each other as a couple. Each church we've visited has been very different from the other.

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Interior
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The very first church we visited was the beautiful Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist.  The reason we really chose to visit this church was because it is just so beautiful. The intricate design and smack-you-in-the-face beauty really made me think of God. The service wasn't the best fit for us, however. We got there too close to the start of the ceremony and had to sit in the very back where it was a little hard to hear. Also, the family sitting directly in front of us had three small boys who they let roam free during the whole service. The children would go under the pews and start kicking the top of them, play with their toy trucks and cars by rolling them loudly over the wooden pews, and 'whisper' very audibly to each other. As far as the actual service, we couldn't hear very well and didn't really know all the ceremony that goes along with a catholic service. We enjoyed the beauty of the building, which also helped me imagine the presence of God, but it just isn't the right fit for us as a couple.

Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist Exterior
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The church we've visited the most is a PCA church really close to our house, Grace of the Islands. We stopped by there because 1) I grew up in a PCA church and 2) it's literally right there. Things that I love about Grace: soooooo many people recognized that we were visitors and came to speak to us, greet us, and learn about us. We met our friends Margaret and Curtis there. Curtis is a pastor there, in fact. This is the church where we met people to start the young married bible study. The music is all from hymnals and it's a little old school. We, mostly I, have had some fundamental differences with the church, but it's been really great to us and we're thankful it's there. We will definitely visit it again sometime in the future.

Lucas Theater
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Finally, today, we checked out Late Church which is a part of Savannah Christian. They meet in the Lucas theater down town. It's a really cool place to have a church service. I loved looking around. It draws a really young, hip crowd. We really enjoyed the pastor and the music really moved us. Although, the crazy lights and rocking out was a bit much. But all in all it was much more fitting for us. The video posted below is a spoof done by North Pointe church back home in Atlanta but it's similar to the kind of feel of Late Church. We are definitely going back again. However, it was interesting that no one spoke to us while we were there. It was very social feeling, everyone was talking to each other, but they must have all been friends. Miguel said I was being too critical but I just kept comparing it to Grace where so many people made us feel welcome. But in defense of Late Church, it's a lot bigger than Grace so maybe it's harder to notice new people?

It's just interesting that there are so many different types of church but we all worship the same God.

Southern Comfort

And the cliche picture to take: a rusty, old truck. 

Miguel and I had a low-key Saturday. I slept in, spent an hour and a half at the park with the dog, and did some grocery shopping while Miguel watched lectures for grad school. Then later in the afternoon Miguel, Emma and I went for a run on a really pretty trail that's close by. On our way back home we stopped by one of the local marinas and took some pictures as we watched the sun go down. I'm starting to really grow a spot in my heart for the low country! Enjoy what we captured.

Miguel took this picture. I love it. There seems to be a graveyard of sorts for old boats. 

Retired boat in the boat graveyard

 

Watching the sun drop below the horizon

Brighter Day

As I previously mentioned I have begun eating gluten and dairy free. This has been very difficult for me, but, some products like the Udi's brand bread, have really helped. Publix only carries a few loafs at a time. When they're out, I'm out of luck until the following Tuesday when the delivery truck brings a new shipment. So today I took Emma to the dog park and then after I went to Brighter Day Natural Food Market which I knew carried Udi's.

Brighter Day
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Ohhh em gee! I have found a new love! Brighter Day has sooo many gluten free and dairy free options. They're a little expensive but so worth it. Brighter Day is in a really fun location right next to Forsyth Park. It has hundreds of healthy food options, a juice bar, deli, and cafe. It's like a miniature, family-owned Whole Foods. Yay! I got rice pasta, grass fed beef (expensive yikes!), Udi's breakfast muffins, organic bacon, two loafs of Udi's wheat bread, Udi's rolls, goats cheese, gluten free pizza crust, dairy free mozzarella cheese, sweet potato patties, organic dog biscuits, and some organic pasta sauce. I am set for a while, but will definitely be going back soon!

Images and website for Brighter Day

A Charmed Life...

When I was a little girl my family gave me a charm bracelet. I've collected charms for all the special moments in my life, places I've been, and things I've accomplished. I love looking back at my bracelet and remembering all these things. It's quite a collection and all that silver adds up. However, the real value is in all the special memories I've shared with the people I love most in the world.

I'm running out of room to add more! I think I'm going to transfer them to a necklace soon

I love the memories, but it's so clinky now I can hardly wear it any where. It jingles whenever I move and all the little charms catch on clothes.

Below I've tried to capture and label as many as I could. I left a lot out. Fun for me to document! And some of the dates are probably wrong...

A) Trunk from camp 1999
B) Seattle Space Needle 2010
C) Berry College 2005
D) Ballet Recital 1998
E) Peter Pan Play 1998
F) Valentines Day from my parents 1996
G) Wesleyan School Crest 2005
H) Laptop Computer to represent my first job
J) Volleyball 2001

A) Moose from Jacksonhole Wyoming 2002
B) Bone for my dog Luke 2006
C) Diploma for Graduating high school 2005
D) Lighthouse to represent Hilton Head Islands where my family took trips every summer

A) Coca-Cola factory, a date with Miguel 2008
B) GSU charm for graduating college 2010
C) Sailboat from our honeymoon in St. Thomas 2010
D) Canadian Maple Leaf, Victoria, BC 2004
E) Graduating middle school from PCS 2001
F) Tinkerbell Charm from my sister's trip to Disney World 2006

A) Effile tower, Paris trip 2005
B) Pointe shoes 2000
C) Spring Break trip 2006
E) Disney world trip with Miguel 2009
F) Middle school basketball 1999

A) Golden Birthday 2004
B) "Best Christmas Pageant Ever" Play 1999
C) Charleston, SC 2004
D) Thirteenth Birthday, 1999
E) Wedding, 2010

Meth Lab

A law enforcement officer was approached by several people lately wanting to know how to identify a meth lab. 

Here is a picture of four labs. I think it's pretty obvious which one is the Meth Lab. I hope this helps. 

Let me know if can be of any further service in this matter.

My mom sent me this in an e-mail. Thought it was funny. 

BAD dog!

It's amazing how quickly Emma can destroy things! I turned around for a few minutes and this is what happened....

my slippers are completely ruined. I get it. They have the same effect as many of her toys, and they were even on the floor. But what I don't get is why it took her five months for her to decide that, today, they would make a good toy. Funny how she ripped the sole out separately. There was a lot more fluff she tore out too, but I already threw it away. We knew things like this would probably happen when we got a lab... she's just been so good about not tearing up items that aren't toys, it came as a surprise to discover my slippers in her mouth. I'm bummed.

Dirty and Happy About It

I had lunch with a friend yesterday at one of my favorite spots, Zunzi's. It's down town near the dog park so Emma came along too so we could hop over to the park after lunch. I was really excited when we got there because there were actually a lot of dogs there. One of our recent trips to the park turned out to be very disappointing when Emma was the only dog there. Yesterday, we went during the same part of the day as before, but there was a much better turn out. I guess it must have been better weather yesterday.

Some of Emma's regular friends were there as well as some new faces. I met a woman and her dog, Maggie, who she had rescued from Adopt-A-Golden Atlanta. I thought that was pretty cool since my mom is a placement specialist with them and I did some volunteering with them as well. It was good to see someone benefit from AAG and see the dog so happy too. Some of the new dogs we hadn't met before played really well with Emma. They liked to run and chase to play which is how Emma prefers to play.

This little gal was new. We hadn't met her before. Her scrunched up nose made it harder for her to breathe, so she didn't really enjoy the running games as much as the other dogs and decided to park under my feet (I had been sitting on the bench) to get some rest. 

Emma got absolutely gross. Dog slobber + rolling in dirt make for a very dirty dog. But Emma was in heavenly bliss. She needs a bath something terrible. I attempted to give her one yesterday when we got home, but for some reason (probably some very obvious reason with a very simple solution) I couldn't get the car wash hose to work. But by the time we got home she was pretty dry so I brushed her off as best as I could. Maybe we'll try again later today or when Miguel gets home later tonight.

Emma was too distracted to pose for a picture... so ended up only getting half of her messiness captured.

The best thing, for me, about the dog park is how worn out Emma gets. She usually sleeps for a good couple of hours straight when we get home. Emma finally has a new dog bed since she destroyed her last one - which was too small for her anyways. We got her one that she fits on now. However, I think she is so used to being too big for her bed that she insists on still hanging off of it. We want to get her a proper dog bed that is a little bigger anyways. I wonder how she'll take to that? 

She actually can fit on there...

Sunday Funday

Mom and Dad took me to Fort Pulaski yesterday.  Oh boy! It was soo much fun! I tried to show mom and dad where the deer where last time I was there. I pulled very hard to try to get there fast, just in case they might run off. We didn't get there fast enough. They must have seen us coming and left right before we got there. 

Come on, Mom! Thissssss way!

The Old North Pier is where I get to go run without a leash!

Freedom!

I tried to show Mom and Dad the water too. They didn't seem interested in getting in with me, so I didn't swim either.

Ohhhh, I want that stick!!!!

I got the stick! I'm such a good retriever!

Look what I can do! Do I get a treat now?

Mom ran around with me for a little bit. I have so, so, so much fun at the beach. I love running around.

But my free running around got spoiled when this kid and his family showed up. I was really disappointed. They came and started playing right in front of me and didn't leave. Boo. 

Once the family made it clear that they had no intentions of leaving any time soon we all decided to leave. That was fine with me. There were loads of other dogs at the fort yesterday, so I was easily distracted. I guess it's busier on the weekends.

Come on, Dad!  I see another dog!

After we left the fort we spent the day watching football playoffs and then Mom and Dad had some friends over for dinner. I was really excited to meet new friends, but I was still worn out from my day playing at the fort so I slept most of the time they were over. Yay for a good Sunday. Can't wait to do more of my favorite things this week!

Ouch!

Ouch!!! Mom!!! Why are you letting these people do this to me?!?

I took Emma to the vet to start her on her flea and heart worm medicines. While we there I also had them clip her nails. Emma was really squirmy. She did not like having her 'nails did'.  On the very last nail she was so wiggly that the vet tech cut a little too much nail and Emma started bleeding pretty bad. She didn't seem to notice though. She was way more concerned with trying to wag her way up into the vet tech's lap and give her face kisses. Glad it didn't seem to faze her too much! 

Now, does anyone have any suggestions (besides a bark collar) on how to stop a puppy who barks at everything including the wind?