We Got A Puppy!

Well, okay, so I didn't get a puppy, but Samuel did, and I'm claiming part ownership (because he's just so stinking cute!). He's about ten weeks old, a Jack Russell terrier, and Sam named him Thor. (I think he did that because it's slightly ironic that he will never be big or intimidating.)

Isn't he precious? He came home on Thursday evening, so even now he's still in sensory overload. He was really scared at first, but he's finally gotten used to me, Sam, and Sam's roommate. He loves to be held and he loves to play.

He found his reflection in my bedroom mirror, and spent at least five minutes playing with it. Sam's roommate has a shih-tzu-type dog named Kojak, who has assumed a big brother role for Thor. It's absolutely precious. Anytime Thor starts whining for whatever reason, Kojak will run to the rescue. They love to play together, and I've never seen a dog show visible affection for another dog, but I can definitely see it when Kojak looks at Thor. That first night, when Thor looked at Kojak, he would stop shivering (you know how little dogs tend to shake when they're nervous).

I still hold to the theory that he's my and Sam's dog, because Sam's roommate will be moving out of town after graduation in May, and taking Kojak with him (and he knew Sam wanted a dog, so he got him a puppy). In any case, he's warmed up to me and has started to feel safe around me and Sam, which is a good thing.

Training will be a chore, though. Apparently Jack Russells train really well, but housebreaking him will be interesting for sure. He peed in my bedroom floor last night (and I wasn't even mad). The good thing is that he's still so tiny he can't make big messes yet. The first night Sam had him, he was sitting on Sam's shoulder (he likes to sit on shoulders/chests/necks) and he peed on Sam. I told him that meant Thor liked him.

He has me wrapped around his tiny little paw for sure. It was like love at first sight, and I was legitimately sad when Sam took him home last night. I won't say I cried, but I may have wanted to. I really want to go back and see him again but I guess there are other things I have to do too, like be a productive human being...

Love Always,

Kristin

I'm Back!

So my computer crashed at the end of February, and I haven't exactly had easy access to Internet (which is slightly problematic, since my job requires me to use the Internet on a regular basis).

That being said, I apologize for my surprise hiatus. Thanks for your patience, and although I don't have much time to post right now about everything that's been happening, I definitely will update you all very soon!

Love Always,

Kristin

How Wide, How High, How Long, How Deep

God is absolutely amazing. He is bigger than we can ever imagine, more loving than any human will ever be. I'm trying to get myself to the point where I accept God's immense love. I know it's there, I know it exists, but I have a hard time accepting it. Recently, I've been reminded of how great God's love is, how inherently big it is. It's humbling to think that Someone who created every single thing in the universe would take the time to care about me, and I am so incredibly thankful.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpasses all knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

(Emphasis my own.)

I just wanted to share this verse that I read yesterday, and the notes I wrote about it. I hope that it encourages someone. :)

Love Always,

Kristin

Be Still, And Know That I Am God

I'm a part of Chi Alpha, a really awesome campus ministry, that meets on Tuesday nights at a church here in Denton. During the worship part of the service tonight, those words just came to me, and stayed there.

Be still, and know that I am God.

I really needed to hear that from Him tonight. Life is consistently busy and consistently stressful, and I have a hard time letting things go. I know that I need to give things up to God and let Him take care of me, but being the planner that I am, that's been very difficult for me. As I was trying to worship tonight, the thoughts of everything I need to get done before spring break (which is next week for me) kept creeping into my mind. All of this work I have to get done, these midterms to study for, an apartment to clean, grocery shopping, all of these things refused to let me worship with a clear mind.

Be still, and know that I am God.

When He spoke those words to me, it gave me peace. Didn't necessarily stop the thoughts of all of my responsibilities from tiptoeing into the periphery of my thoughts, but it gave me peace. God reminded me tonight that no matter how high my ambitions or pile of tasks to accomplish, He is there guiding me through it all, and He will take care of me. Everything will work out according to His plan, and in His time. I tend to like to stress about things I really shouldn't, and God knows that. He knows that I need to be calmed and that I need to be told that I'm not alone in accomplishing all of the things I set out to accomplish. And wow, I'm so thankful for that.

If it's been a stressful day, week, month, year, whatever, just remember that you're not alone. God has everything under control and he won't let you drown.

Now, on that note, I'm off to study for my midterms!

Love Always,

Kristin