Rudy, the Easter Dog

Who says dogs don't go to heaven? Mine will. He even attended church on Easter Sunday.

Yep, he was even a greeter. Not a bad deal. I think half of the congregation got licked, literally licked by Rudy.

Picture it. Candace in her best Easter frock. Ok, It was pants and a cardigan, but when you are working the preschool area on Easter you gotta be ready. Anyway, I am pulling into the church for the early service. My inlaws and sister-in-law were in town but stayed behind to bring the little ones for the later service. As I pulled in ready for a wonderful service, I get the phone call.

"Candace, this is Russ"

"Rudy is bleeding from a quite sensitive area"

The brakes go on and I go back home, change into jeans, long sleeve black t-shirt and tennis shoes to whisk Rudy to the ER.

Those are the kinds of things you wait until later to tell your husband about. Like later, after you get the ER bill...

I walked in (Rudy is wagging his tail the whole time) and told them it was en emergency. They looked at me as if to say, "Duh, these are all emergencies, that's why it's the Animal ER"... Of course the patient didn't look convincing so I got the good news that it would be 2-4 HOURS...

I wanted to remind them what I thought ER meant, with a big focus on the word EMERGENCY.

So, I did what any pet owner would do, I waited. I called our vet - of course they were in church, keeping the nursery as all good vets do.

Anyway, to make a very long story a little shorter. I started talking in the waiting room to everyone, trying to explain that we would have to have church in there. I talked to a woman about adoption, she had given up a child to adoption 25 years earlier and we had a wonderful, tearful talk. We all had a good time in that room, well, everyone except the animals, including a constipated cat...

Rudy actually got called back in about 30 minutes. I had to sit and listen to the vet (who couldn't keep a straight face) tell me what Rudy's problem was in "that sensitive area". I told him I was just glad that I didn't really know him because I was pretty much humiliated.

I didn't have time to go home and change, preschool nursery was calling! I rushed my extremely casual Easter frock and Rudy to church. I threw his leash to a youth kid and told him to have fun and that Rudy was friendly. He as a little shocked and I just hoped he wasn't allergic to dogs.

I made nursery time. Sweaty armpits and all. After all it was climbing into the high 80's and I looked like I was going to a camp out in TN in November.

So, that was the day Rudy went to church. I love my dog, but that was about too much for even me. Of course as I write this, he looks at me and all I can think of is how I am going to get him to church on a regular basis....

Santa Fe Soup!

You have to give this recipe a try!

It passed my inlaw test, so this one is a keeper!

http://www.mayfielddairy.com/recipes/recipes_soups.aspx

Bringing Shepherd Home!

Many have asked, so we have put this "Chip In" opportunity on the blog. To make it more fun, we are putting names in the hat of those that give and April 10, we will draw for a new IPOD! Have fun!

I am so mad at CRAIG DONNACHIE!

My brother in law - Craig Donnachie is such a meany!

He took my beloved sister and her babies to GERMANY!

Does anyone know how to say "You bring them back right now!" in German?

Craig works for the FBI and finally got the call to Germany, which he has wanted for some time. Whitney and girls are there, and having a great transition. The blessings include: automatic network of friends (Americans) in their same position (away from home) and a great church within walking distance.

Things that Candace is having a hard time dealing with:
No more 7am morning calls from sister
No more 7:30am calls from sister
No more 8:00am calls from sister
You see where I am going with this....

I miss being "in the know with them". I wish they lived next door to me. We have made our husbands promise (I am sure with their fingers crossed behind their backs) that when we all retire we will live next door to each other.

Only 35 years to go....

Friends for 20 years!

My friend, Michelle Holcombe, from good old college days came to visit me. She has not been able to take off for a while, she is in the middle of raising 3 kids, but now, they are a little older so she got to come hang with her possee!

We met in 1988. She was an ambitious Intramural Quarterback. I, the suspicious and somewhat jealous girl that was very intimidated by this girl that could seem to do everything I could, only better.

What would happen? Would they be friends? Would they be enemies? Would they ever get their bangs grown out? The answers to these questions are yes, no and NO (even 20 years later!)

We had a great time. We ate, shopped, relaxed, watched movies, played with Hadley, and had late night snacks. Not too many of those, though, your figure can handle that at 18, at 38 it's a little different! Baked Lays and Perrier don't compare to Donuts and Choc Milk!

We talked about everything from our families, our husbands, our pets and then we got to rewind. I reminded her, "Be kind if you rewind" as she knows who I had a crush on... that I don't want to remember! Why is her memory so good? Of course, I had a great time reminding her of a few beaus as well. It's nice to be with people that knew you "way back when". Before you were a "Mrs." and before you had a serious career. Way back when a hectic day meant choosing how to squeeze in time to go to Young Life and make the Intramural Championship Football Game. If you are wondering, I never did get to be quarterback!

Thanks for coming Michelle and thanks for wanting the best for me. You are a true friend!

My Shepherd

We got the call Monday that it is indeed time to go and get our boy!! May 1, we will leave to meet and adopt our baby Shepherd!

It's been a very long process for us and now it's all coming together. I was shocked when I got the call. It's always the thing that will happen one day - and then ONE DAY it does! We are so excited!

More information to come!

"The Look"

Sometimes you don't know whether to discipline or laugh.

This time, I chose to laugh. Then, I took it a step further and got her to do it again so I could take a picture. Bad Mommy!

My girl has learned a look(I am sure from Parent's Morning Out - surely not from me...) that cracks me up, although it is not nice. When she doesn't get her way, she looks over her glasses and put her hands on her hips and purses up her lips.

I have asked her to do it only when we are having fun. I am sure my 3 1/2 year old understands that, aren't you?

Now, before you judge me as a bad parent, just take a look at the picture. Is it not hilarious? Just don't show your own child, you don't want them doing this!