Bailey Belle

I haven't posted in a while, even now, I am in the midst of midterms in each and every single class of mine but I yearn for venting, & I resort to public venting,

awesome.

1. Almost 2 weeks ago my roommates and I found a dog on our porch, shivering in the cold, hungry and with a gaping wound located on the neck of this poor golden pooch. A leash was hanging off of her that had been obviously chewed through to escape, no tags were attached to her worn collar. She was also missing about half of her tail that may have been bitten off in a dog fight or worse (this was healed but not a favorable fashion for lab-looking puppies). We immediately led the puppy inside, searched the fridge for dog-approved lunch meat and called the vet. Realizing it was a mere 7 am, most vet offices did not open until later and we were left to entertain this dog without any good idea of where she had come from. After a few hours we got to take the dog into the vet, where she seemed extremely nervous and achey. The doctor ran multiple tests and revealed the results soon after:

Heart worms: Negative
Fleas: Negative
Mange: Positive ...aside from her neck wound.

So, they allowed us to look under a microscope to recognize her (for now) mild case of mange defined as Dermidex. We were informed that we would be spending hundreds of dollars to keep and treat this skin condition. With the price of the tests, treatment and medication we spend over $250 in the first vet visit alone.

Bailey came home in a cone. Did I mention that in the duration of this long waiting/testing process we named this puppy Bailey? Yes, Bailey Belle. And have you ever heard that once you name something you get attached? Well, this is true.

In the morning we had waken up to a cone covered in blood from the wound that had previously been scraped and cleaned and coned. We were forced to remove the cone to clean both the wound and the cone. Attempting to putting this cone back on was a living nightmare. This poor puppy didn't know or trust us as we put gloves on and tried to hold her down and rub medication into parts of her body that ached the most: her neck. We soon realized that this would not be allowed by her and gave up.

The following night went much differently than the first. Having bought puppy food, a big doggy bed, an A&M blanket, a "comfort collar" and many toys we had pretty much accepted Bailey into the family and wanted to make her as comfortable as possible, given the situation. We had already starting opening our hearts to this poor puppy and were broken hearted to hear her scratching the entire night. We were terrified to see Bailey in the morning after a long night of scratching at her wound...again, feeling guilty that we didn't try harder to put the cone back on in fear of her biting someone.

At this point we feel helpless. We say a prayer and begin searching for no-kill shelters that could take her and be able to afford better treatments that would heal this horribly itchy condition better than a few "starving" college student could. We call one and got no answer. We then come across a place located on a ranch in a nearby town called "God's Little Angels" that take in rescue dogs, treat them and then find then loving homes. We call at 6 am and finally get a response. We tell this woman that the situation and how much we already love Bailey but cannot afford the long-term treatments she will need. This woman tell us that since she has mange she will not be able to keep her but that if we would keep her she will pay ALL of our vet bills for anything she needs for however long it takes to treat her conditions. We graciously accept and promise to bring Bailey by to meet her as soon as her treatments start to pay off.

The next day we go to the specified vet and get Bailey vaccinated and schedule her first treatment. She looked a lot better.

Now, knowing little to nothing about our sweet, sometimes overly protective Bailey, we started from scratch. After only a few short weeks, Bailey seems like a new dog. She is no longer timid or hungry. She is spoiled with toys, many of which she has already ripped to pieces. Bailey is potty trained, sitting and is working on more tricks. She is scheduled to continue treatments every other week and has been doing great!

The Lord answers prayers and brings that make you joyful to you when you are in need. Bailey brings joy.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8

Boldness

So, I quit my job.

I also started a new job as a tutor for elementary aged students through the university and have absolutely fallen in love with it!

I have also been confronted lately that I left an amazing job as a Christian Adventure camp counselor in hopes of becoming this big bold woman in my normal day life. I have not exceeded that goal but I am also thinking that God isn't even close to finished with me yet. Lately when I go to Breakaway, which is a HUGE ministry here in College Station, Texas and all over the nation, I feel as though the Lord laid that message on the speakers heart for me specifically. It hasn't felt as though I have been being called out in a bad way, just encouraged by his words as though God was speaking to me through opportunities as those. I have also been led to join an organization here called Aggie Sisters for Christ, it is a group of women that get together weekly to dig into the word and to hold each other accountable and be encouraged in this walk of faith called life.

God has also been laying heavy on my heart the calling to go back to Camp Eagle to work this summer. Please be praying that he can provide for the things that may become barriers in the journey toward that.

I also apologize for being so lazy on this blog. I actually have to blog for a class now and it has been strange and foreign to try and balance the two. Thanks for sticking with me.

Take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
James 3:4

Offer of Remembrance

May your blessings be celebrated.
May your issues be confronted with patience and humility.
And may your cheerfulness always outweigh your sorrow.

Newbie

Although my blog has seemed to slow down my life most definitely has not.

 I am once again a working woman. It's been a journey these two weeks back but now I am basically sitting on the sidelines now due to a cold from a freezing, wet trip to Trinity, Texas. I was welcomed to the Aggie family along with 120+ others from various other schools at Howdy Camp 2011. It was a weekend full of tradition, laughs and yells. I couldn't have asked for a better group to spend it with and am so thankful for the opportunity to be reminded that I am not alone in this transitioning process. It's going to be one hell of a ride. I can hardly wait!

This new life is beginning to feel real.

But forget all that--it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. 
For I am about to do something new. 
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19

New Year

I have much to share concerning Christmas break and life as of late.

I will continue this blog, promising to be better at keeping up with it in 2011.

Right now? Surviving a ear infection and looking forward to looking back on this blog on the eve of 2012, remembering all the great parts of the year.

Happy new year, I hope you take the time to make a resolution and make it come true.

Christmas Eves Eve

This Christmas season I hope that I am not much obsessing over the microscopic details of things needing to be done, rather, I hope to enjoy the people, the moments and to cherish the memories we will make this holiday season.

I hope this for you too.

Thank you Jesus for giving us a grand reason to celebrate!

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest upon His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Dreams of the Night

I have been having terrible dream as of late and it worried me a bit so I decided to try and put them into the context of my life and then see what the biblical foundation of dreams were.

I actually had two nightmares last night.

Reality:

Yesterday was a little rough. My boyfriend is leaving the country for 10 days so we celebrated our Christmas last night because we wouldn't get to be together on the actual day. And while the presents were fun, thoughtful and entertaining, the elephant of leaving was still in the room. I was worried about him flying and going to an unsafe dictated country.

Dream #1:

My boyfriend, Alberto and I headed into HEB to pick up a few items (that I did not actually know of). While we were in the store I decided I was uninterested in walking all the way to back of the store and then wait in the super long lines so we decided to split up and that I would look at girly things close to the front of the store to then wait in the line until he came so that we would be closer to getting out. 

So, I was wrapping up my glance shopping in the hair-care section when I hear a gun shot. I immediately hit the floor and squiggle to the end of the aisle in an attempt to locate the gunman. I immediately spot him heading my way so I climb on the bottom, which happened to have sleeping bags on it. Hair care and sleeping bags? I hurriedly unzipped one that was laid out as an example and pushed myself into it. A few other people tried to do the same. We all pretended to be asleep. Why would people be asleep in a grocery store? The gunman headed around the corner onto the sleepy aisle. I had my eyes closed but I remember the feeling and vision I had of that gun pointing right at me as though my eyes had been wide open. He points the gun at me for about three solid seconds before he get startled at the sight of my sleeping face, says something I do not understand and then walks away. 

I realize as he walks away and from having the eyes wide open image rather than the quiet of my sleeping mind, the gunman is my boyfriend's father.

Reality:

Alberto's father is an EXTREMELY nice man. He says hello to me and jokes with his kids. He seems to be a great provider and strength for his family. He is a student, a Christian and lives nowhere near the HEB I imagined us to be in within the duration of this dream. 

Dream #1 cont'd: 

He walks away and I am suddenly thankful and believe that I am close enough to the door that I could make a run for it when he was far enough away. Because even though I had known this person, he aimed a gun at me. He had shot someone already and seemed to be on a mission. Doesn't he worry that since I am in here his own son is as well?  I am confused and frightened. 

I lay there a while longer until I hear a gunshot on the far left side of the store toward the back. I would be out of sight if I ran to the opposite front exit. I decided to do it. I squirmed out of my sleeping bag and sprinted as fast as I could toward the exit. Why didn't I care for those next to me? Why didn't I invite them? Was I in shock? Or am I being selfish? I make it almost all the way to the door when I realize I left my satchel (Indiana Jones has one) lying next to my previously occupied sleeping bag. I turn back thinking I could call Alberto to tell him to run for it as well, hoping he was close enough to the other side of the store to head safely to that exit. I need the phone in my purse, my reason for heading back.

I grad the purse and still have enough belief that the gunman has not yet moved that I don't hesitate at all to run back toward that exit. I hit the door and I felt that cold rush hit my skin. I did not feel better. I began going through scenarios of where Alberto was and if he was safe. Had he hidden or was he confronted? I decided against calling because if he was hidden his ringing phone may give him up. I felt completely helpless. 

Suddenly I wondered why nobody exited with me. I felt alone and worried that I was alone. I immediately had the thought there is another gunman outside guarding the exit. 

 I spotted him.

Then I woke up.

End of dream. 

The Bible speaks of dreams in Isaiah 29:8 when it says, "A hungry person dreams of eating but wakes up still hungry. A thirsty person dreams of drinking but is still faint from thirst when morning comes. So it will be with your enemies, with those who attack Mount Zion." You may dream of eating or drinking, but when you awake you are still empty. It may have appeared real, but it was not.

something else to consider here is that dreams are not necessarily supposed to mean anything.

Consider Ecclesiastes 5:7

"For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God."

This verse tells us that a multitude of dreams can be worth absolutely nothing. We are not to trust in them, however real they seem; we are rather to fear God.