Dogs and Parks

Looking at this picture, you would think that it was the end of a perfect day, just relaxing on the couch, my 153 lbs Great Dane resting so sweetly in my lap. However, it was quite the opposite. 

I took Samson to the dog park near our place Wednesday afternoon like I've done several times before, just to get out and socialize with the other dogs. He seems to like it, as he's learning to play with other dogs quite smaller than him. So, he was playing with his friends for a good twenty minutes, and then all of the sudden I hear these loud growls and a squeal from another dog. I turned around to see Samson biting this other dog!! I was frantic and immediately ran over there with about 8 or 9 other people to get the dogs lose, and I tied Samson up. I couldn't believe that had just happened?!? Samson is NOT an aggressive dog. I wouldn't have him if he was like that; he could take ME down. So, as my head was spinning, I ran over to see the other dog, Buddy, and assess the damage, and it was bad. Samson had left 2 large puncture wounds in Buddy's neck, and they were both bleeding pretty bad. Buddy's owner took him to the emergency vet clinic, and after he left, I just stood there shell-shocked. I started crying, and the other pet owners tried to console me. "It is a dog-park," they said, "it happens every now and then, don't worry about it." They actually told me that Buddy tried to hump Samson and that that may have been what set him off. I was a relieved to hear that, but still so frazzled that Samson bit that other dog!

I had offered to pay the vet bill, which fortunately, isn't going to be but about $150 thanks to a vet friend who stapled Buddy up almost for free. I just don't want people thinking that Samson is a bad dog, because he's NOT! So...I say all this to explain the real emotions that are behind this sweet little picture. I think Samson knew that I was not happy with him after we got home from the park, and for the first time since we've had him, he got his entire body up on the couch with me and put his head in my lap.....after that it was kind of hard to be mad at him anymore! Fortunately, the other dog is doing fine, although with a few extra staples,  and was already back at the dog park the day after the incident. 

Hopefully we won't run into another problem with humping dogs! 

The New Addition: Samson!

                                             Before our walk in Auburn.
     He's got such a sweet face!

This is the newest addition to the Brown house/apartment in Birmingham. You might say he looks kind of like a small horse, but he's not! His name is Samson, and he is a 2 yr old Great Dane that we adopted from one of my Interior Design professor from Auburn. Her and her husband found this sweet dog at his previous owner's house, emaciated, and malnourished because he was not being fed anymore. How sad! 

We are picking up Samson this Sunday on my birthday, wa-hoo! I'm so excited! I've been getting the apartment "dog-ified" as Sam likes to call it, making sure that Samson won't knock off any vases or crystal sitting out in our place.  

I almost don't know what to think, i've never gotten my/our own dog before! I know that a Great Dane is kind of a big one to start off with, but I love big dogs. He's already 160 lbs and should fill out a little bit more, but hopefully he won't get much better. I took him for a walk yesterday when I passed through Auburn, and he did amazing! It was almost effortless to walk him on a leash, and when other dogs barked at him, he didn't make a sound!! 

So, with all this said, I think Samson is going to be a great addition to our lives, and can't wait to get him to B'ham! 

Lessons

So....God just really taught me some good lessons tonight. 

Lesson #1: Go to my small group even when I don't want to. Like tonight. I was really feeling down about Sam being away, and I was getting really creative about why I shouldn't go...and then at the last minute Sam called a friend of ours and got them to pick me up. So I guess that meant I was going.... 

Even though I was the only one there without a hubby present, it was still such a blessing to be around a such a godly group of women and men. I mean, I feel so much more refreshed now and just comforted from knowing that I there are people out there investing in my life and that I can do the same in theirs. 

I feel like the table has turned again in a way. For a little while there, ever since I graduated from college, I've been thinking, wow, I'm kind of getting old...because all the kids that I saw in elementary school are know somehow in college?? But, I'm the youngest one in my small group, and Sam and I have been married a really short amount of time compared to the average 2-5 years of couples in the small group (not to mention that 4 of them are pregnant). But, I'm glad that we can learn from them. I've been praying for something like that for a very long time. 

Lesson #2: Still Expect Blessings in tough situations. I love how the earlier part of my day was a little drab, and after visiting with other people tonight, God used that to really lift my heart. 

Lesson #3: If at all possible, go to bed early whenever you can:) 

That's all the lessons I have for today!

-wb 

Out with the boys, and on to the Men!

So between continually setting up this apartment, looking for a job, a car, keeping up with my husband, and free lancing to help pay some bills, blogging has been a low priority on the list. Which is unfortunate, because I do like to get my thoughts out there somehow.

Lately I've been thinking about about a friend of mine whose going through a really tough time. Boy trouble, however crazy that might sound...haha. But this particular story is one that hits home for me. I've been through the same heartache that she is right in the middle of, and it, quite frankly, sucks. A break up, the kind that knocks you off your feet, and leaves your head spinning...thinking, as your mouth can't quite close, "what the heck just happened?" And then reality sets in, and you find your world a little upside down.  Wow, I know that feeling. And I hate that a close friend is going through a time like that, and I can't even physically be there to give her a hug...( I did send her a "phone hug" if that counts, but i'm pretty skeptical about that.) 

While we were talking about the "situation" last night, I was taken back to those same thoughts I had, that she voiced. The biggest one being, "Why does God let stuff like this happen?" Especially when we think we are trusting Him to lead us. I think that was one of the toughest things for me work through. I know my friend will have many of those days ahead. 

But as a hard as it was to go through a trial like that, I wouldn't have changed it for anything. I am better for it. And I believe that God doesn't just let anyone go through hard times. I believe He lets those He wants to use most go through times of heartache, sorrow, and pain.......to really know what its like to set up house in the valley of the shadow. Why? I might not know the full reason until I see Him. But I do know that because of what I went through, I was able to encourage my friend that she is not alone, and that although it is hard now, God's promises remain, and He will set her back on higher ground. Because He has done that for me...time and time again. I would never have imagined two and half years ago that I would be married to Sam Brown right now. But praise God that He had those plans for me, because they were a whole lot better than what I was thinking....I look forward to seeing what the Lord has down the road for her. Like me, I hope she'll realize that the Lord never wastes our pain, and holds us even tighter during those times. 

As for the boy, I like her Mom's advice, "You're done with the boys, now on to the men!"  

 

Dreams do come true...

Yes...dreams do come true. For me, my wedding day was one of them. I think back on that day, two and half weeks ago already, and even though it flew by in some ways, in other ways time stood still, and it was perfect. I don't mean that everything went perfect, I just mean that everything was perfect, in the way it all came together. I can remember feeling so vividly the presence of the Lord just hovering over me, us, the entire day.....and I'm so thankful to see how God has blessed us and gone before us. 

I haven't blogged in a while, because we've been busy relaxing in Jamaica (honeymoon), Christmas-ing in Dothan, and then trying to put our apartment together in B'ham all over the last week and half (and we are nowhere near done...does anyone like to paint?). 

All the while, I'm trying to adjust to this thing called "married life," and being a wife. The general consensus right now is that I love it, and it's so much better than being engaged. I love being able to sit across from Sam and just stare at him sometimes, and think "he's my HUSBAND." Husband, that word stands with so much meaning, so much responsibility, which he seems to so naturally fall in to. And every time I see that big gold ring on his left hand, I smile...yeah I smile really big. I'm still trying to see myself as a wife, I know I am one now, it just might take a little more "sinking-in." 

I look forward to where our first year together will take us, and my prayer is that we'll be faithful to go where God leads, and to trust when times are hard, and patient when we don't understand each other, and more loving each new day. 

To my wonderful new husband: thank you in more than I can express, for liking me, loving me, sticking it out with me, and then marrying me. You are wonderful in more ways than you know. 

je t'aime plus que hier, mais moin que demain. -whit

24 days......wow.

I counted today....24 days! TWENTY FOUR days until we do this wedding thing.....and I'm wondering, where has the time gone? I remember Sam taking me on that afternoon run in June when he proposed, wearing that silly fanny pack, like it was last week. Here we are, only three weeks away... and I catch myself having minor freakout moments as the reality of the fact that our lives are about to really change sets in all over again.
It's such a crazy feeling...this anticipation, nervousness, and excitement all at the same time. I hope that's how I'm suppose to feel....

Some thoughts on the obvious: Physical struggles
Disclaimer: caution...there are real personal thoughts here...but I felt like they needed to be expressed, especially after we've made our fair share of mistakes.

I have never before experienced so vividly what Paul describes in 1 Peter 2:11: "Beloved I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul." (emphasis mine) That "wage war against your soul" part is as real as the computer I'm typing on, and as frustrating as...you name it (something really frustrating). My mom has been so faithful to remind me, challenge me, that there are two kinds of pain: the pain of regret, and the pain of discipline. They are both painful, but the later pain is far less painful than the first in my book.

Only by the grace of our loving God have we made it this far in our fight for purity, and faithfully Sam and I are seeking to make it to the finish line, the alter on the Wedding Day, as living sacrifices pleasing to Him. But there's that third pain i'm dealing with: the one of waiting is still there...so much that our hearts hurt for each other. I am so thankful for a godly fiance who doesn't give in to my lame pity parties when I'm sad he'll only kiss me on the cheek. My Dad reminded me how much courage that takes, and that he's in that very special 1/10 of 1% of men: meaning very few EVER set those kind of limits. How foolish I was to complain. But being that silly, somewhat immature girl that I can be sometimes....I did, until Sam took me aside recently and said, "Stop having a pity party when everything is going great. That's ridiculous, Whit." How very smart he is.

Ironically, before I was given a good "talking to," I had been picking fights with him like crazy. I don't know if this is due to some "kind" of tension, stress, or if they are really legit... but I have really been quick to get angry...and I'm not usually like this. I've realized my focus was a little off, and that most times I'm not wanting to fight, I just want to be passionate. I feel crazy saying this...but it's true. I'm trusting that our day is soon....


God...please give us strength, give us patience. Help us long for you as we long to be with each other.
Thank you for Sam's wisdom.

-W

My Nashville Weekend

It was such a beautiful weekend. My parents and younger brother came up to visit for the weekend, and we had a great time getting to visit with each other. I also had some much needed time with my Dad. We really haven't been able to just "hang out" in awhile because I've been in Nashville for the past two months. But, since we are both pretty early risers, we got up and ate some breakfast and then I took him around Nashville in search of an REI store. After that, we drove around for an hour trying to find a Petsmart that actually had some pets, i.e. dogs, but to no avail. I guess my dog hunt will just have to continue, and hopefully one day, Sam and I will find a great pet, that we both like that's not 170 ibs, like my neighbor's dog, Dozer. I love Dozer, minus the slobber. 

Anyway, hanging out with my Dad was so much fun. I'm constantly reminded of how blessed I am to have parents like I do, and a Dad who actually wants to be a Dad, and enjoys spending time with me. I humbled how much it parallels to how God wants to be that constant Father to all of us. Yet, for some reason, sometimes it's hard to let Him...

It was so beautiful today too. We got up and walked to Starbucks and took our little dog, Sadie, who's a 3lb miniature Malti-poo, with us. She's adorable and somewhat resembles a caterpillar when she walks at human pace because her little legs are so small!  

I have only one more week up in Nashville before my internship is over! I can't believe how fast it's gone by....I look forward to being home and diving into all this wedding stuff, and seeing Sam....yeah, I told him earlier that this whole "talking on the phone thing" is getting old. He quickly reminded me that our parents didn't even have cell phones, and that we will survive. 

Oh...Sam. 

-W