Where is Unity?

The word "unity" has been on my mind for a long time. When I say a long time, I mean about 6 years. It came about at a time of disunity not only in my extended family but in my home church. What I have come to learn in the past 6 years is where true unity exists. I'm not going to go all philosophical on you, because truthfully, I don't have it in me right now. I've learned that unity can be a feeling, not a reality. Where you think unity exists, actually it can be a facade. A relationship that you've nurtured, only to find you've been deceived, betrayed, and lied to. A family member who you've reached out to countless times who still treats you like a stranger. You believe people in church when they hug you and say they care. Well, at least you want to believe that. Until they don't care anymore. Or you don't care anymore because the "unity" is only good on Sundays. My unity? My relationship with God, even on a bad day is the best, most reliable, most significant, most rewarding relationship I have that cannot be broken. Cannot. My relationship with my husband, my best friend, my rock. Honest. Loving. Kind. A real friend. A real person. He has my back. We're unified. Nothing can get in between. My girls. We are three, all of us together, bound by love and an endless commitment to each other. Time may take them away, but we will always be unified. Forever. My parents. Unity. Maybe of the best kind, because without them, I wouldn't be here. Or, as I like to say, I'd be someone else. So it's no surprise to me that true unity exists where you most expect it--at home. Not at work,not at church, not on your team, not at school, not in your best friendship, but at home with your family, and most of all, with God. Wherever I go, I think of that word. Do I just feel disunity, or does it really exist? Am I doing anything to promote unity or am I part of the problem? Imagine if everyone thought that way. Maybe I wouldn't be as disappointed as I am right now, writing this, thinking of those who must pleasure in breaking others down and causing things to break. Not thinking of how they affect others. Maybe not caring. The ripple effect of disunity is farther than people can even imagine. But the ripple effect of unity. Now there's something unbreakable. You'd think we'd all strive for that. But we don't. And I wish I knew why we let the enemy take it from us without a fight. Sorry for the dark words today, but that's exactly what disunity does. It rips into your soul and breaks your heart. And it allows evil to prevail if you let it. Truly, that is the goal of our enemy, to use others to break us down until we give up. I'm not giving up, but I may be looking to change where I've been searching for unity from now on. I guess I'll be home for awhile. Peace to you.

Life in "My" World

What is going on out here in the neighborwoods? That's what I've been asking myself since the start of "spring". It seems like a squirrel population explosion has occurred, the chipmunks act like pets, birds are making friends with the bees, and I'm braking each morning for turkeys, rabbits, deer, birds, and cats. I've been "attacked" by luggage-carrying spiders,garter snakes (mini-pythons if you ask me!), little sneaky, beady-eyed lizards, giant ants, june bugs that arrived in may, and lots of bees. Last night as I was enjoying my line-dried bedsheets, I felt a little unfamiliar tickling on my leg (do not go there!). A flinging of the sheets revealed a spider or some other crumpled up critter had been making itself at home on my side of the bed. Really?? Why is it always the one who hates the critters that gets them all up in her bloomers?? Don't get me started about the ant hill incident of 1982. None of us has time for that. Anyway, I love country living, but I am being invaded for sure. Yesterday I had 3 giant flies in the house, none of which I could swat. I am no Mr. Miyagi with a fly swatter, let me tell you. I hurt my shoulder swinging my swatter in the laundry room. I finally just shut the door and let the fly do the laundry. The other two flies got locked in between the screen and the window and I found them dead this morning. Victory! Now it's on to the chipmunks, who I'm sure are mocking me and poor Angel, who strangles herself trying to get to them before they run away. So much for being human and being bigger than everything. So much for critters "being more afraid of us than we are of them". Hmph! Tell that to the bats, raccoons, and entire family of robins now watching tv in my bed!!

Attack Dog

I have returned! Well, I never left. Anyway, I've been a bit occupied these days, trying to get yard work done (boring), end of the school stuff done (likewise), and trying to dig out my summer clothes (hysterical..it's freezing today). Anyway, lots of boring stuff going on. What is not boring, however, is our sweet, adorable, psycho dog, Angel. I love her dearly, really I do, it's just this issue of her hating strangers that I can't seem to handle. Yesterday my friend Tracy approached my car as I was sitting there with Angel, waiting for Rena. You would have thought I had a band of wild dogs in my car. The poor girl (Tracy) appeared to have had a mild heart attack as she witnessed little fluffykins trying to rip her head off. I was apologetic, of course, and Tracy assured me she understood, but I am wondering if A will ever get over this! When we took Angel on, we knew it would be a challenge. She had not been properly socialized as a puppy, and we believe some man abused her at some point. She's been in 2 shelters and one home with no real stability for any length of time. Well, as bad as I feel for her and as much as I want to help her get over this, she's making me want to drink! Large amounts! It's so stressful! I know it's not about me, but oh, boy. She's still growling at my parents and worst of all, she growls at Steve. No biting, no aggression, just all fear-based reactions. It's sad, really. She's so stinking cute and cuddly and sweet. Really, she is. It's just that no one will probably ever see it but us. We will be going into hiding sometime soon with our wild and crazy people hating dog. Actually, our vet advised us to keep exposing her to people in hopes that she will soon get over it. She may not. Did I need this stress? No. But Angel needed us, and we needed her. What I got was a bodyguard for life, I think! I'm thinking of starting a new blog that showcases my adventures with Angel so that you don't have to put up with too many dog stories here and hopefully I will link up with some dog owners who can help me out. I'll let you know if that happens and you can choose to follow or not. So, I have a crazy dog and a boring life. And you're sitting there reading about it. Hmmmm....Have a good day anyway, my friend!