The similarities between a dog and Jesus...

Ya I know this sounds funny. This weekend I was at home and saw my 14 year old lab. She was so happy and yet I could tell how fragile her life was. I know some of you think I am crazy. Maybe I am.... a little. We got her on Valentine's day hence the name Valentine. I don't have a picture on here... which is awful. But I really got to thinking about the similarities between my dogs and Jesus. Of course there are many obvious differences, like they weren't born to a virgin or they aren't able to heal the sick and feed the hungry (although I could debate the healing... a hard day is always cured with one run with a dog!). But... They love unconditionally and do not care what you wear or what embarrassing thing you just did.

So I wanted to share this from "Marley and Me" in dedication to the life Val has given my family and whatever she has left to give we will always be thankful for the love, comfort, and protection she offered us...Just like Jesus.

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see."

Here is to Val and Holly and Gussy and Bagels (These are all from my child hood) and of course...

My Kenya

And my one and only Charley...

"THE" Dress

I am not sure how to emphasize the importance of "THE" Dress to you. I don't care if the food stinks, or if it rains on the big day, but I truely care about the dress. Not that I have to look perfect or even take your breath away, but I want to feel like the dress defines the day of the wedding and how I will be feeling on the inside, amazingly happy.

Sometimes I will turn on "Say Yes to the Dress" and I am horified by the way women expect the day to be the best day of their life. It is simply the day that marks the beginning of the rest of mine. I am not going to lie and say I am not excited about the wedding day, because I am. I am excited to look pretty and have my picture taken and to have everyone that I love in one place watching me as I commit my life to my one and only. In case you didn't know Jason is my one and only. To be honest I am MORE excited about what happens in the days, months, years after we say I DO.

We will watch eachother succeed and fail and be there to hold each others hands through it all. I am so excited to be a family, to watch eachother grow up and grow old. (I am not sure either of us will ever be grown up.) I am excited to go through all of the bad times and all of the good times, because I will be one to admit that I am not perfect and I will have my bad moments, but also know that Jason will be the source of many wonderful moments.

I am so excited to see Jason as I walk down the aisle. My Dad at my side and my Mom in tears, Jason will be the one that I am paying attention to. He will be the only one that I care if he thinks I am beautiful. Today was the day I got "THE" Dress. My Mom, bless her heart, did not know that she was recording videos instead of taking pictures the whole time. Below are "videos" of the dresses I did not get, it is hard to see me very much of the time but you will get the picture :) . You will have to come to the wedding if you want to see the dress I chose. All I can say is I LOVE it!! I think Jason will too!

This is the 2nd dress that I tried on. I ended up purchasing the 1st. It is very brief picture at the beginning of the video. If I was getting married on the beach I would have purchased this qown.

This was the 3rd. Very heavy but very beautiful. If I was getting married inside a church and it wasn't so heavy this would have been the one.

The 4th and last dress was my Mom's favorite. It was a very close second for me. I was not very comfortable in it and didnt feel the way I do in mine!

I hope after the wedding I will post some pictures of the one that I bought and love! I guess now it is time to go get Jason in a tux!