Beware the Ides of March

Tomorrow, the Ides, we will find out what gender Baby Cooper is. Can I just say this is CRAZINESS? I'm just beyond putting it all into words. I think it will be emotionally overwhelming because it will become more real. God has been faithful to us as a couple and to our families and I believe he will be nothing but that in the future of our lives and in the life of this child - no matter what it looks like.

Please pray that we get a good report on Baby Coop tomorrow. Our only preference is healthy and happy.

Stay tuned for the announcement!

Guest Blogger: Winnie Claire

Hey you guys, I'm grounded. Mom won't let me go outside for the time being. So I'm just sitting here moping on the couch next to Mom. She says I'm lucky she'll let me sit by her. I guess I was a bad girl. I'll let you decide.

According to Mom, it was a normal day. Rainy and cloudy, but normal. My super cool parents and my Pop (some people call him Phil) installed a new door for me with a doggy door in it. It's really nice, and I have enjoyed using it for the past week and a half. I can go in the back yard as I please, and Mom and Dad don't have to get up with me every time I want to go outside. We have all been really happy with it.

But today I went on an adventure, and our neighbor ratted me out. She sent Mom a text message saying I was out of the yard.

I admit I've been a digger in my past. My parents had hoped I was finished with this phase, but I dug out of my large fenced-in back yard and explored the neighborhood. Mom says I'm acting like a spoiled brat and not being thankful for what I have.

I've explored the neighborhood before, and it upsets my Dad. He is worried I will get hit by a car. Mom knows I'll come back, but she gets frustrated when I roam. I guess it's because I'm being disrespectful to them and bothering the neighbors.

The worst part about escaping today was that it has been raining all day. Mom and dad gave me a bath just two nights ago, which is not easy and takes two people, according to them. But I didn't consider that either. I dug out of the back yard, and I walked around for a bit. I didn't go far. In fact, I went right next door. My neighbor has a tiny teacup yorkie. Her name's Miley and she weighs 4 lbs. I hear her barking sometimes, so I wanted to see if she wanted to come outside to play.

I went next door and scratched on the front door for a while. I didn't realize my paws were dirty, and I got mud on the door. Then Miley's mom Christy opened the garage to leave me in there until Mom came home, but somehow I forced my way into her house. Miley is really small and was going crazy with me in there. Christi let me out and I roamed some more until Mom came home. When she drove up, I rounded the corner of the house. I was wet and smelly, and my paws were dirty. Mom was not happy. Mom has apologized to Christi and still feels badly, but Christi is nice and forgiving. She is a good neighbor to Mom.

So that's that. Do you think I was bad? I'm still technically a puppy. I'll be 2 years old in May.

I heard Mom tell Dad that she found an electric fence at Petsmart and wants to install it ASAP. I just heard it thunder, so I hope Mom doesn't stay mad at me for too long. I might need to wear one of her shirts again.

If you need me, I'll be inside for the time being. Feel free to ride through the cove so I can bark at you through the window.

Ready for my close-up

Even though I think it is inhumane to put clothes on a dog, I read that putting a tight tshirt on a dog will help it calm down during a storm. Not sure why. I can't stop laughing at this pic! And the shirt says "I heart Cozumel."

Baby poll

I added a poll to my blog (top right). You guessed it. Question: What is Baby Cooper's sex? Take a guess!

The poll will be up for another week and a half. We find out on March 15 what we are having!

Alive Alight Aware Awake

The title of this post belongs to a mentor of mine. It is his motto by which he lives his life.

Photo found here

My friend Nichole sent me a blog entry from A Holy Experience blog. She and I were sharing fears about the future and daily life (I'm a worrier). This article reminded me that God is faithful and that it is best for me, as His child, to be present in this moment where He is. Even people of other faiths or no faith can benefit from being present and aware and alive in each moment.

My favorite parts are:

"I miss living this moment because my head’s already moved into the next moment — the one that isn’t even here yet — and when I am not in this moment but trying to shove into a moment that doesn’t even exist — I miss out on living at all. I may bodily be in this space but I am not even alive.

When I am present to the Presence of God meeting us in this moment, I am not worrying, I am not regretting, I am not chaffing, griping, fuming, fretting.

Be all here: and be holy.

Be all here: and be happy.

Because the Presence of I AM always fills the present moment.

Be all here and be at peace… content… awake —- Alive. When I am mindful of this moment, the mind fills with God and the heart fills with peace and joy-thanks fills the prayers and isn’t the only way God can come to us is through the door of this moment? Here"

Wow, how refreshing! Important people to me have encouraged me to do this, and I pray I will learn. Knowing that God is always here during each now gives me faith to trust Him for the future as well. Let it be.

Full article here.

Funny little pup

In reference to my previous post, T-town is supposed to get another storm tonight. Joy. Winnie is doing well right now, but she's exhausted. Why? Because we hosted youth group over here tonight.

After the students leave, she typically goes straight to our bed and goes to sleep. When her friends come over, she likes it, but it exhausts her! Tonight she went to the guest bedroom (washing the sheets right now for company coming tomorrow), which is rare. I went to investigate and found this.

Preparing for the storm? Crawling to safety? Just needs a break?

She got under there for a little while.

Bad picture. But she looks happy.

And Kurt got under there with her for a minute, which was funny as well.


She is now sitting between Kurt and me on the couch. Sweet girl. We love our puppy.

Surviving the storm: Winnie style

On Thursday night, a storm apparently came through Tupelo, but the tornado sirens near us didn't go off. Or either we didn't hear them. Other people in our area said they didn't hear them either. Oh well. Not to worry. My mother-in-law was our personal tornado siren. She sent us texts and urged us -- nay, implored -- to get in the closet because we were under a weather attack.

Winnie had been in a panic all evening. Panting, shaking, sitting practically on top of Kurt and me for hours. She is so afraid of bad weather. So we finally got her into the closet. After we got in there, she was fine.

Sitting between us in my closet.

Well, the storm passed and Kurt got out of the closet, but Winnie felt so safe in there, she apparently didn't want to leave. And she was blocking my exit. So she and I sat in there for a little while longer.

Just hangin' in the closet.

I was finally able to move her over, stand up, and get out of the closet. However, she wasn't so sure about leaving. I left the room for a few minutes, and she didn't follow as she usually does. I went back to check on her, and I found her peeking out of the door. So precious.

Trying to decide whether to come out.

Winnie finally came out, and she slept at the foot of our bed all night. Bless her heart. She just doesn't like storms.