Embrace the Camera: Making a Memory

For those of you who missed it yesterday, we're playing along with the Embrace the Camera Challenge I heard about on Ashley Ann's blog.

Today's theme was making a memory.  Since memory-making isn't something we really do on weeknights (NO, this is not some kind of double-entendre) we had to get a little creative.  Lucky for me, Tim's good at thinking outside the box.  

Remember his faceless self-portrait from the last photo challenge I did?

Here you have it.  Making a memory Taylor-style.  On a weeknight, nonetheless!

Get it?  Making a memory?

Real Life with the Taylors: Trimming the Fluff-buckets

Tico may not have many redeeming qualities, but there are a few things I appreciate about him.

1) He is small.
2) He is easy to bathe
3) He doesn't need haircuts

Jynx and Toby, on the other hand, need regular grooming.  And they need it much more regularly than we provide it.  Especially The Jynxer.

Her very curly, very thick fur is easily matted, a problem that is only exacerbated by her rugged adventures in our yard.

Yesterday, we decided it was time to do something about it.

An hour and a half later the three of us emerged from the bathroom with this mess to clean up.  Since this is Real Life with the Taylors, I need to mention that 1.5 hours is definitely record time for grooming Jynx.  I think it beat our prior PR by a good half-hour.  When we first started cutting thier hair ourselves, it would take multiple sessions with her.  

I should probably confess that in order to achieve this PR, there may have been some "juicing."  She was itching so much, we thought she might benefit from some Benadryl. (PLEASE NOTE: I have no idea if this is actually safe to do.  I have a vague recollection of a vet recommending it at one time, but you should ALWAYS consult a veterinary professional before giving your pets medication.  Sapphire, please feel free to chime in on this).

Last night we were at our friends', and their 4 year old is going to be Turtle Man for Halloween.  He had a 4 ft stuffed alligator that he was "wrestling" as Turtle Man.  I said it reminded me of our escapades with Jynx that afternoon.  The under-carriage is definitely the hardest part to get, and always the most matted.  But we got ALL the matting.  And there was no blood.

Also, no dogs were harmed in this process.  Jynx is feeling so much better now that all of the yucky matting is gone, and she is doing considerably less scratching.

Isn't she cute?

Also, Ashley Ann brought to my attention an Embrace the Camera challenge for this week. So I figured we could play along.  Obviously I don't have kids to take pictures with, but it feels like Tim and I hardly ever have pictures together, so this week I will feature our faces.

Today's theme: Smiles



That's all for today, folks.  I will leave you with one more picture of cuteness:

Sven: A Facial Hair Update

Last night I re-posted a picture of my lil' brudder the day before my sister's wedding.  I have been wondering what the current state of his face is, so I asked him for a selfie.  We'll get to that in a moment, but first... let's take a brief look at Sven Through the Ages.

Here is Sven (and Tim) in September 2011.  His hair is a little wet, which adds to the length, but check out those curly side burns!

Real Life with the Taylors: Overwhelmed

I have had people tell me that I am a calm, laid-back person.  I laugh.

If I ever seem to have it all together, please know that this is not the case...ever.  I can just present well.  When everyone else is losing their minds and things are getting chaotic, I can usually keep it together and be some kind of a calming influence.  But you have no idea what is going on inside my head.

If you think I am relaxed and laid-back... rub my shoulders sometime.  No, seriously... I would love that.  I may not always display tension, but I internalize it in a major kind of way.  I have knots in my shoulders like rocks.  I clench my jaw and have to sleep with a mouth guard, and chew gum during the day.  I take acid-reducers.  I'm 28, and I'm on acid reducers.

What I'm getting at is this:  Every single day I am overwhelmed.  Completely and totally overwhelmed. Usually I can still function, but sometimes I just shut down.  

I get overwhelmed by housework, very very easily (as you have seen from the pictures of my house!).  But I know that this is just because I have the blessing of a house and lots of things that enrich my life.

Planning and cooking meals gets overwhelming.  But it is a blessing to do it, and I enjoy it.

Dogburts... totally overwhelming.  Their training and behavior is more than I can take on.  But it's also overwhelming how much they love me.

Work...overwhelming.  Coworkers...definitely overwhelming.  Why do people think I can always solve their problem and expect me to do so?  More importantly, why do I have an overwhelming sense of duty to oblige, thus perpetuating the cycle?  But my coworkers have been an incredible blessing to me as well.

It is overwhelming to have family spread all over the country, and to want so badly to be close to them and spend time with them an support them, but know that you can't be in 5 places at once.  But it is overwhelming to realize how much I am loved and supported, even though they are far away.  I know that my family is one of God's love-letters to me.  Thank you, Lord!

And then there are friends.  I am overwhelmed with friends.  This might sound snobby to say but... I have more friends than I know what to do with!  I am so thankful for each and every one of them, and I just wish that I had time to spend with them individually, as well as have time for myself and for Tim.  And my family.  And my dogs.  There are just not enough hours in a day.  But really what overwhelms me about my friends is that they give me so much, and enrich my life in so many ways, and support me so much... I can never come close to repaying them.  I am so overwhelmed by how they have blessed me... I can't come anywhere close to returning that blessing.

So I guess what I'm saying is, I am totally overwhelmed every day by the blessings that God has given my.  My prayer each night is that He will help me take care of them and cherish them to the fullest extent possible.

Today in Sunday school we were sharing our favorite Bible verses.  One of my 7th graders shared this:

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?"

Isaiah 40:12

If God can mark off the heavens with the breadth of his hand, I think He can help me manage my blessings.  Just as He shows me His love by showering me with blessings, I trust that He will also help me to enjoy them all.

If there is one thing I should be overwhelmed with, it is His love for me.

Real Life with the Taylors: Mud and The Crud

We're keeping tonight's episode of Real Life with the Taylors short and sweet, because we're working hard to get ready for a marriage conference at church this weekend.  Also, I've got The Crud and I'm not feeling terribly inspired.

First up, this is our side entryway.  This picture does not do justice to the mud and dirt that is constantly (CONSTANTLY) on the steps, landing, and mat. A week ago I had this swept and mopped and looking good.  I don't know why I even bother.  The stairs that go off to the left down to the basement have multiple spider webs that I can't seem to bother with vacuuming.

Real Life with the Taylors: Home Remedies

A few weeks after Tim and I "officially" started dating, I went home with him to meet his family who (if I haven't already said this a million times) are WONDERFUL.  They were at a very unique stage in life...Tim's dad was recovering from a bone-marrow transplant.  Praise the Lord, it has now been 10 years since he was diagnosed with leukemia and he is cancer free!

Real Life with the Taylors: Kitchen Mess & Brownies

First Real Life Moment:  I was going to write this last night, but life got in the way so I didn't.

On today's episode, we will talk about the never-ending train-wreck that is my kitchen.