Disappointment

The Silent Blog hits again...
I've been avoiding posting because truthfully, I have nothing uplifting for you.
I'm three days out of another, yes, another, rejection. I'm not sure if anyone ever said it gets easier, but if they
did, they're wrong.
I should take my own advice, remember what I said not so long ago? "Accepting a rejection is an act of obedience..."
Yeah. Shoot me now.
Sigh. And isn't it always the way, when you're drowning in self-pity and choking with doubt, your friends are having
sale parties..two friends sold books this week. I'm happy for them, but...you know?
Then I feel like a horrible person for feeling horrible.
And on it goes.
So that's my life at the moment.

On the upside, Noah is settling in so well and we're all having a good time with him, even Allie has decided that
he's here to stay. She won't bounce around and play with him the way he'd like her to, but there has been a teensy bit
of tail wagging going on lately. She is a great old dog and I'm releived she's come around so quickly. I think eventually she'll even enjoy him!! He loves being with her. At the moment they are both laying on the carpet by the front door. Of course my camera is all the way downstairs and if I move to get it, one or probably both will follow me.

Hope all is well with your lives wherever you are.
Sorry for the depression. I'll get over it.

Interview At Writers' Rest!

I had the privilege of interviewing author Nicole Seitz over on Writers' Rest.
I hope you'll check it out!

Getting It All Done

What was I thinking??? Sure, puppies are cute, but I'd honestly forgotten how much work they are.
And to add to the stress, Allie isn't enjoying having him around at all. I can't help but feel enormously sorry for her, but
I'm just hoping she'll get used to it eventually! I've sought the advice of some dog gurus and we're doing all we can to
make life as calm as possible and enjoyable for both dogs. Noah is a real cutie though and I am definitely having fun with
him. Puppy classes start next week, yippee!! It's like dealing with two children though, you have to devote equal time to them
as well as somehow find time to do all the other things in life that must get done.
Thankfully, once Noah is worn out he does crash, so I grab an hour here and there before I have to go take him outside again.
I wonder if we will ever reach the point where these two will live together in harmony. I'm not sure!
I wish I had taken that time-management course at the ACFW conference. I think I could have used it.
This is actually a time when I can say I'm glad I'm not published yet. I can't imagine being on deadline and dealing with everything
else going on right now! Still, I have to remember that I got myself into this. Life will be madness for a while, but it will get better.
Right?
I'm currently accepting donations of chocolate and Merlot, incase anyone missed my birthday and feels horribly guilty about it.

Our New Addition!

After months of waiting, Sunday evening finally rolled around, and we went to the airport to pick up our puppy!
Meet Noah (Bryning Gryfalcon).
He had a very long flight from the UK, but arrived none the worse for wear. It took a little coaxing to get him out
of the traveling kennel, but I was soon able to pick him up and hold him. His little heart was pounding! Then we put him
on the great big leash, that I'm sure he'll be grown into in no time, and he found some grass and I'm sure had a much
needed potty break as we waited for all the paperwork to be processed.
He was a bit nervous on the way home, but then we arrived at last. And then the fun began.
I wasn't sure what to expect with Allie. Noah is used to being around other dogs, but Allie isn't. So we're easing her in gradually.
Sunday and yesterday she seemed definitely put out, but Noah wanted to play with her. He's had to learn his boundaries and I'm happy to say that today they made good progress. I took Noah outside for a run and Allie actually joined us, so I took turns throwing a ball to both of them and Allie didn't fuss too much when Noah was racing around her like a mad thing! I think the dogs he's used to be around move a lot faster than she does. When she'd had enough she let him know, and he backed off.
It is wonderful having the crate for him, as he can go into his 'room' when he needs a rest, it gives Allie her space, and it also gives me a break! I'd forgotten how much work puppies are! I can't believe that Chris was only just around three when we got
Allie. I have NO idea how I did it!!
I'm looking forward to starting obedience with Noah and later on, agility. He's a smart boy and is very responsive, and he already knows 'sit'. At the moment he's a bit ADD but I'm sure once he's settled I will have his undivided attention!
Life just got a whole lot busier in the West household! Of course we had to bring Sarah home for Canadian Thanksgiving so that she can meet Noah. She said she was homesick and really missed us and wanted to come home, but we all know she just wants to see him!!
Okay, I better get some things done now while he's resting!

Be Still.

Ever wake up one day and feel like your brain is about to explode?
That's how I feel today. I'm exhausted. I'm trying to think of too many things at once,
I'm feeling stressed and emotionally frazzled.
And I'm ignoring God telling me to STOP. Great.
Well, at least I'm honest about it.
Will the world come to an end if I don't accomplish all the things on my to-do list?
Will the church I belong to grind to a halt and crumble before my eyes if I don't step in and do things other
people could and should be doing?
Will my house fall down if I don't clean the windows or wash the floor?
The answer to all the above is no.
Yet the guilt will probably kill me.
Fortunately I DO have someone to help me with the cleaning, so that's not really something I should stress over, except
she hasn't been in two weeks because we've been away and I feel like the place is a pig sty. It's usually not too hard for
me to resist cleaning, so that's why I think satan's messing with my mind.
Sigh.
Is it wrong to just take a break? To just be still?
When so many things are clamoring for my attention, I start to feel like it is. I feel like I'm juggling a stack of somebody's best china plates, and if I let them fall, they're going crash around me and cause a mess that I'm not going to want to clean up.
Yet if I don't take that time out, time to just sit and talk to God, and oh, here's a concept - LISTEN to Him - then what good will I be to anyone?
So, before I get bogged down again, before tomorrow when our puppy comes and life gets just a little more hectic, I'm going to try to carve out some time to be still. Unfortunately I don't have the beauty of the lake to sit in front of, but it's a hop to the beach. Or I could go and sit on the porch of our new house.
Regardless of where I go, I'm going to ask God to empty my mind and soul of all the junk that doesn't need to be there, and just focus on Him.
Will you pray for me? I need some peace today.
Bless you.