The Dog Park

Our little puppy has a LOT of energy!  Needless to say, this was not such a great combination with the rough winter that we had here in Nebraska.  About February, I found the local dog park.  Lucy was instantly in love.  When we got her from the Humane Society, we were told she was "under socialized."  She did great with people, but was pretty timid around dogs.  The dog park changed this for good!  Even though it was freezing cold for us--we stuck it out for Lucy once or twice per week.  She has made great friends there, and has burned MANY a calorie!

Now that it's spring (at least it seems to be), we have enjoyed the dog park that much more.  It's amazing to me that I can take her there for only half an hour or so, and come home with a dog that is so exhausted she instantly falls asleep--now THAT is great!  So, for you dog owners--check one out--they're good for you and your dog :)

Crazy....x2

So last year about this time, Keith and I decided to run the Dam to Dam.  It is a race that is held in Iowa every year, one that his brother and sister in law run all the time.  So, we jumped on the bandwagon--without really knowing what we were getting into.  We printed off a training schedule-afterall 20K (12.6 miles) is MUCH further than we had ever run before.  When race day came, we were ready--or so we thought.  It was a blast to run, but even more fun to be over and say that we had done it.  A few months after the race, still with some aches and pains, I vowed to never run that far again.....whoops!

So, I signed up to run the Dam to Dam again--yes, I am crazy.  It'll be June 5, and I am pumped, but have yet to start training :)  Today is pretty much the first day :)  Wish me luck!

Some recent (and not so recent) menu items!

I've been told by a few of you that you love the food recipes I put on here--so, I will continue.  I've gotten pretty behind, so excuse the pumpking-fall-thanksgiving recipes, but...tuck them away for a while and pull them out when the time arrives.  I really enjoyed making all of these things--including my first cheesecake--which was SUPER complicated, if you ask me :)  But...worth it I guess :)

This is a copykat recipe for the Boston Market Sweet Potatoes--delicious!  They were such a hit, I made them for both Thanksgivings--check out the recipe here:  
http://www.copykat.com/2009/05/12/boston-market-sweet-potato-casserole/

These muffins were great--Pumpkin Cranberry Pecan--all of the tastes of fall that I LOVE.  They were really easy, too, which is an added bonus :)

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/pumpkin-cranberry-muffins/b7fceeac-afe3-480d-8e73-2d8d4f70348b

How cute are these??  Well, they were super cute, let me tell ya!  And...the nephews loved baking AND eating them.  

http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=40040

This cranberry salad was a huge hit LAST year at THanksgiving, and again this year.  It's tart, but has enough sweetness to fall in love with it!

This is the ridiculous cheesecake--it was good, but a LOT of work--next time, I'll probably just hit up the cheesecake factory :)
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=45899

Honey Mustard Chicken Pasta--an all time favorite of Keith and Mine from when we first got married.  Like most couples, I cooked WAY too much pasta :)  But this one did spice it up a bit :)
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Honey-Mustard-Chicken-Pasta?refurl=&_mid=379800&_rid=379800.1258074603.11420

One of Keith's favorites-smores dip.  Great appetizer or even a fun group dessert.
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=37951

If you love pizza rolls, you will LOVE these.  Same thing, just has a homemade touch and the pizza dough makes it taste SO much better.  We have tried pepperoni and sausage-both area great!
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=12341

Cheesy broccoli, carrot and chicken casserole--I added chicken, but without it, it could be a side dish.  It was pretty good.
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=41895

Our (not so new) Addition

Most of you are on Facebook, so you already know this, but I figured I should blog about her anyway.  Lucy is our new dog!  We got her in November, and she has been GREAT!  Now that  the weather is nicer, we hope to get her outside more as she is VERY energetic.  It was been fun watching Keith teach her tricks, and because she's a border collie, she is VERY smart.  She can sit, shake, go down, and roll over.  She also kennel trained herself :)  What can I say--we love her!  Enjoy the pics :)

Additional Prayer Requests and Praises!

The Smiths have gone through a rough couple of weeks (see previous post).  While all of the stuff with Keith was going on, we were also dealing with some family issues.  Keith's dad, Gary had a stroke on Saturday, the 13th.  It was a "mild stroke" but still very scary.  He has made huge strides from the initial injury, and is home now hopefully "taking it easy." That next week was when Keith got his news (the 17th).  Just one day later, his nephew Braydon had his (hopefully) last surgery from his AVM discovery just over one year ago.  After the stroke, and then Keith's bad news, we were SO happy that Braydon's surgery went great!  Thanks for the prayers!  He was in the hospital just a few days, and is home now taking a week off school to recooperate before returning to life as a "normal" (whatever that is) almost 9 year old boy :)

We are so thankful that God has been watching over our family.  While things may seem like they are crazy and stressful, He provides moments of peace and acceptance with the current circumstances.  We would just ask for your continued prayers for us!  Specifically--a quick and speedy recovery for Braydon--his year has been plagued with infections and complications--pray that this surgery would go complication free!!  Also pray for Gary, Keith's dad, that he would continue to heed the doctor's advice for a full recovery.  Pray that God would work through us, his family that loves him, to help him change his lifestyle in order to prevent any future problems.  Lastly, keep Keith and I in your prayers.  Hearing "no" is a hard thing--pray that we would remember that it was God's voice saying no, and that he has our best interests in mind!  Thanks friends!!

A Test of Patience

Ya know, as I reflect on the last 6-8 months of our life, I have realized that God is teaching me a lesson I should have already learned.  You would think that a one year deployment would teach one patience, but not me :)  As many of you know, God's vision for Keith's life has seemed to change--In August he began pursuing a career in law enforcement.  He took a few tests, has heard from a few places, etc.  The ball really began rolling in January--there were three agencies that were interested in him, and the interviews began.  Since then, one agency has still been in hot pursuit-even going as far as requiring him to take a polygraph test (that was an experience) and having a "hiring interview."  Said interview was last Tuesday.  Keith had learned from another friend that was just hired by this agency that the hiring interview was the last step in the process before a conditional offer.  We were ECSTATIC--it has been 7 months--much longer than we had anticipated, and yet, part of me was weary from all of the waiting!  Because I am so confident in my husband's interviewing skills, and that he would just be great for ANY agency, I thought for sure he was a shoo-in.  Well, the interview came and went on Tuesday--he thought it went well, so that seemed to just boost my confidence.  The next day (his birthday mind you)--he gets the call--you were NOT selected, but you are first on the waiting list.  What--first on the waiting list.  I know he was devastated, as was I--how could this happen??  Well, let me tell you how.  While I was SO confident in my husband's skills and sell-ability to a police agency, I forgot to take into account God's plan.

We still don't know how God is going to work through this, but one week later, we can confidently say that it was His will that prevented Keith from getting that job.  Again, what it was, who knows, but because Keith was so VERY qualified for the job, and did not get it, this makes me know all the more that it was God's hand (rather abruptly) shutting that door.  So...what does this mean for us?  MORE WAITING!!  Yes, another test of patience.  Keith's first choice to work for is still unsure whether they will be hiring for August or not--we are hoping and praying that they will because he is #4 on their list--a VERY good place to be.  Will you pray with us for that?  That their budget would be such, and their need as well, that they would be able to hire in August.  More importantly, that Keith would be hired, if that is God's will.  Thanks!  We appreciate it :)