because who doesn't love puppies?

if you know me, then you probably know about the dog fiasco my family has had in the last six months. it's really too sad to talk about. anyway, a few weeks ago my parents invited me along to meet the puppies from the breeder they were buying from (she is very nice, you can check her out, here ) and i got to take some pictures of some very cute puppies, and a horse. :)

10 years of forgiveness

Every year on May 28th, I have to wake up and ask for the grace to forgive, and the strength to get through the day.
On May 28th, 2004 I became a rape victim. Today, May 28th, 2014, I am a survivor.

I don't know that I have every publicly written about this chapter of my life, but today I was inspired. I woke up to the news that one of my fellow survivors, Maya Angelou, had passed away. What a legacy she leaves us, what a hope her life has given so many people. She exemplified a life lived with forgiveness. She showed all of us how to turn adversity and tragedy into something extraordinarily beautiful.

Every year on this day I think of the other victims, and pray that they learn to forgive, and to live as survivors instead of victims.

You can't forgive without loving. And I don't mean sentimentality. I don't mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, 'I forgive. I'm finished with it.'

-Maya Angelou

disappointment

when i started my weight loss journey almost a year ago i started having trouble keeping my blood sugar HIGH enough. great news for an insulin dependent diabetic! i was so excited when i got to go off my insulin pump. i was convinced that god had healed me. out of all my other health issues, for some reason, being diabetic was the hardest for me. it's just the constant checking blood sugar and needed to know what my body is doing. i just want to be able to live without being attached to something or needing shots. i had begged and pleaded with the lord to be healed, and i thought that this weight loss was the answer.
well, despite all my hard work, 80 pounds later, i'm going back on the pump. i've worked so hard, and i'm so discouraged. i don't know why i have a mental block when it comes to being diabetic. i know that plenty of people live with it everyday, but i really, truly, hate it.
can i just tell you the things i have heard? "if you'd just lose more weight.." "just go to the gym more..." seriously??!!
i'm so frustrated and stressed out. i'm disappointed that after all my hard work, i'm back at square one.