Oprah once said, "Where there is no struggle, there is no strength." I found this quote while looking up quotes about struggling. Weird thing to look for? Sure. But, not so weird when you feel like you are struggling with something.
You see, I am a person with very few passions in life. I think that because I have few passions in life, I feel very strongly about them. One of those passions is animal welfare. If you are a regular around here (or know me in person) you know that the MilShelb (my miniature Dachshunds) are my life. Many would call them spoiled. I don't think they are. I really think that Jake and I work hard every day to give them the life that we feel they deserve. They have good, wholesome food to eat because we want them to be healthy and strong. They have regular visits to the vet because we believe in preventative medicines. (And, we both believe in the saying, "If you can't pay the vet, don't have a pet.") They sleep in the bed with us because they deserve to be in a soft warm bed at night. They are loved and adored beyond measure. They deserve it. Because they add more joy to our lives than we will ever be able to repay.
I realize that not many people take pet-ownership to the extreme that we do. That's ok. It's not necessary for you to bring your dog into your bed. It's certainly not necessary to buy expensive food (unless your dog has health problems like ours do). It's not even necessary to be so crazy about going to the vet that the vet tells you that you are overprotective. It IS necessary, however, to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and attention for your pet.
It breaks my heart to see animals who have been dumped at shelters. I am struggling with this. Not that it is anything new. Shelters have been around for a LONG time (sadly). They are becoming more and more over populated. The people who work at and volunteer for these shelters work hard. They know that there is a greater purpose to their work and their lives. They don't always "win the battle" so to speak, but they are out there fighting the "war" every single day.
The thing I am struggling with is I want to help. I want to do something... anything! I feel helpless. I would love to have another dog. Heck, I'd go and adopt 10 more right now if I were only following my heart. However, that is not a good idea for us. We cannot afford to have another dog and continue to provide the material things MilShelb are accustomed to, nor can we pretend that we will continue to be able to provide the attention and time that MilShelb currently get. (Which, I will admit, is not nearly as much as I would like since we both work full-time jobs.) Either way you slice it, MilShelb would get the short end of the stick and that's not right. They are always our top priority. They have to be. So, I am left with the desire to help and I don't know how or what to do.
This has really been weighing on my heart. It kills me that so many animals out there need homes. I am sure one day we will adopt another dog or 2, but now is not the time for that. I know there are other ways to help. I just need to figure out what is the right way for me to help. I have debated going to the shelter and helping on the weekends and in the summer. I am just not sure I can handle it. I have thought about collecting things that they need (like blankets, etc). I am doing some soul searching about this.
If anything awesome pops into your head about how I can help, please give me some ideas!
Until I figure this out, I will just say to everyone to please, please, please help stop the over population by spaying and neutering your pets! Please love your animals. Bring them in and make them a part of your home, life, and family. You cannot imagine how grateful they will be to you.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful to you all for reading this blog. I know at times it can be boring, repetitive, (did I say) boring.
I am thankful for Jake. He is the one who keeps me going. He reminds me where I've been, how far I've come, and keeps me headed in the right direction. He is awesome!
I am thankful for the MilShelb. What kind of MilShelb Mom would I be without being thankful for them? They are my pride and joy. I love those girls. I am thankful everyday for their tail wags, slobbery kisses, and happy greeting dances.
I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for the people who keep me grounded, happy, and feeling secure.
I am thankful for my coworkers and students. They make my days worth it. My job is by no means an easy one, but it is fun and rewarding. I love it. I am thankful for the people who help me to love my job.
Mostly, I am thankful for the many many blessings in my life. I am truly a blessed person and am so thankful for that.
I am thankful to you all for reading this blog. I know at times it can be boring, repetitive, (did I say) boring.
I am thankful for Jake. He is the one who keeps me going. He reminds me where I've been, how far I've come, and keeps me headed in the right direction. He is awesome!
I am thankful for the MilShelb. What kind of MilShelb Mom would I be without being thankful for them? They are my pride and joy. I love those girls. I am thankful everyday for their tail wags, slobbery kisses, and happy greeting dances.
I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for the people who keep me grounded, happy, and feeling secure.
I am thankful for my coworkers and students. They make my days worth it. My job is by no means an easy one, but it is fun and rewarding. I love it. I am thankful for the people who help me to love my job.
Mostly, I am thankful for the many many blessings in my life. I am truly a blessed person and am so thankful for that.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Weddings Do That...
I was in a wedding yesterday as a bridesmaid. Weddings always make me think about marriage (not such a crazy thing) and specifically my marriage. You know, I am one of those wives who sings her husband's praises pretty frequently- not that I think he is perfect, but that he is real. I was thinking on my way home last night about how lucky I am to have met and married Jake. I was thinking of how being married sort of provides this sense of confidence. (Or, at least, if you have a good marriage.) For example, I decided that I know three things for sure and because I know these things I can be confident in many things.
1. I know that Jake will always make sure there is a roof over my head and a place to call home.
2. I know that he will always be faithful to me.
3. I know that he will always be honest with me.
There are many things that Jake does that drive me nuts. (Just like there are millions of things I do that drive him nuts.) But, I know those three things without a doubt. Jake is not a "sugar-coater". He tells it like it is and I can always trust him to be completely honest. I may not always like what he has to say, but I can always respect the fact that he was honest with me about it. Jake and I had a rough start to our life together, but we have come a long way. We have worked hard and are continuing to work hard to truly live the life of our dreams. It is hard to believe that this time two years ago we didn't have jobs and we were truly struggling and now we have jobs, a house, and a pretty stable life. We have worked our rear ends off to get here, but we are so glad we are where we are. We aren't exactly where we want to be yet, but we are headed in the right direction every single day.
On our wedding day, I gave Jake a ring that was engraved on the inside. It says, "I choose you." I tell him that from time to time. I chose him a long time ago (5 and a half years ago) and I choose him every day. I truly love the man I married and I am so grateful to him for the life he has built with me. It is truly an awesome feeling to know without a doubt that your husband loves you no matter what.
1. I know that Jake will always make sure there is a roof over my head and a place to call home.
2. I know that he will always be faithful to me.
3. I know that he will always be honest with me.
There are many things that Jake does that drive me nuts. (Just like there are millions of things I do that drive him nuts.) But, I know those three things without a doubt. Jake is not a "sugar-coater". He tells it like it is and I can always trust him to be completely honest. I may not always like what he has to say, but I can always respect the fact that he was honest with me about it. Jake and I had a rough start to our life together, but we have come a long way. We have worked hard and are continuing to work hard to truly live the life of our dreams. It is hard to believe that this time two years ago we didn't have jobs and we were truly struggling and now we have jobs, a house, and a pretty stable life. We have worked our rear ends off to get here, but we are so glad we are where we are. We aren't exactly where we want to be yet, but we are headed in the right direction every single day.
On our wedding day, I gave Jake a ring that was engraved on the inside. It says, "I choose you." I tell him that from time to time. I chose him a long time ago (5 and a half years ago) and I choose him every day. I truly love the man I married and I am so grateful to him for the life he has built with me. It is truly an awesome feeling to know without a doubt that your husband loves you no matter what.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Thinking A Lot About This...
I'll admit it. I am one of those people who sits in front of the computer for long amounts of time looking at the dogs at the shelters who need homes. My heart breaks for them. It kills me to know that many of them will never leave the shelter. It breaks my heart to know that many of them ended up there due to no fault of their own, but due to complete and utter selfishness of the person they love. It brings me to tears many times because I just hate that so much for them.
I cross-post things trying to help. I even attempted to foster a dog once. I cannot foster animals. It broke my heart to give her up and it wrecked my house to have her there. Milly and Shelby do not take kindly to other dogs.
I want so badly to adopt a dog from a shelter. I want to add a dog to our family. This morning I did some research about how to best add another dog to your "pack" and based on what I read I am now even more convinced, sadly, that it would not be a wise decision. The websites I read recommended that if you have a female dog, it is best to add a male dog. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against other people owning male dogs, but every male dog I've ever had much to do with is a sprayer. I absolutely cannot stand that quality. It would make me upset and I have worked too hard to have a nice home to have a dog come along and pee all over the walls. Don't act shocked. It happens. You know it does. The websites also said that you should think twice if you have aggressive dogs. It is not that Milly and Shelby are aggressive in every sense of the word. They do well with other people and they like other dogs... as long as they do not feel that they are trespassing on their property. I guess it is not really that they are aggressive as that they are territorial. They know that this is their home and their yard and they do not appreciate other animals in or near it. The website also talked about how you might want to get a different sized dog as that can help with easing the tension some. However, it also said that you don't want to get a dog that is so much different in size that it may harm your current dog by playing too roughly or even by walking over it. Milly and Shelby are small. They don't weigh 40 pounds combined. So, there went that idea. Some websites advised against getting a puppy if your dog is territorial because your dog may hurt the puppy. It also talked about making sure you have enough space to be able to separate them and had some comments that made me think about what I would do if this didn't work out. I know in my heart I could not possibly take a dog back to a shelter. the very thought of it makes me sick. I know I could not ask Milly and Shelby to live in a house where they used to rule and now are miserable, either. I would be torn and I would be in a horrible position.
I hate that I have come to this conclusion, because I really do want another dog. I would love to have a bigger dog. I would love for our little family to have another furry friend to love. However, after reading all morning about this, I have decided that maybe what I want is not of concern. I have to remember that my job, first and foremost, is to make decisions with Milly and Shelby's best interest at heart and in mind. It is not really in their best interest to disrupt their household. It is not in their best interest to have their time with Jake and myself divided between them and another dog. It makes me sad, but for now I have decided we will continue to be a 4 member family.
I cross-post things trying to help. I even attempted to foster a dog once. I cannot foster animals. It broke my heart to give her up and it wrecked my house to have her there. Milly and Shelby do not take kindly to other dogs.
I want so badly to adopt a dog from a shelter. I want to add a dog to our family. This morning I did some research about how to best add another dog to your "pack" and based on what I read I am now even more convinced, sadly, that it would not be a wise decision. The websites I read recommended that if you have a female dog, it is best to add a male dog. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against other people owning male dogs, but every male dog I've ever had much to do with is a sprayer. I absolutely cannot stand that quality. It would make me upset and I have worked too hard to have a nice home to have a dog come along and pee all over the walls. Don't act shocked. It happens. You know it does. The websites also said that you should think twice if you have aggressive dogs. It is not that Milly and Shelby are aggressive in every sense of the word. They do well with other people and they like other dogs... as long as they do not feel that they are trespassing on their property. I guess it is not really that they are aggressive as that they are territorial. They know that this is their home and their yard and they do not appreciate other animals in or near it. The website also talked about how you might want to get a different sized dog as that can help with easing the tension some. However, it also said that you don't want to get a dog that is so much different in size that it may harm your current dog by playing too roughly or even by walking over it. Milly and Shelby are small. They don't weigh 40 pounds combined. So, there went that idea. Some websites advised against getting a puppy if your dog is territorial because your dog may hurt the puppy. It also talked about making sure you have enough space to be able to separate them and had some comments that made me think about what I would do if this didn't work out. I know in my heart I could not possibly take a dog back to a shelter. the very thought of it makes me sick. I know I could not ask Milly and Shelby to live in a house where they used to rule and now are miserable, either. I would be torn and I would be in a horrible position.
I hate that I have come to this conclusion, because I really do want another dog. I would love to have a bigger dog. I would love for our little family to have another furry friend to love. However, after reading all morning about this, I have decided that maybe what I want is not of concern. I have to remember that my job, first and foremost, is to make decisions with Milly and Shelby's best interest at heart and in mind. It is not really in their best interest to disrupt their household. It is not in their best interest to have their time with Jake and myself divided between them and another dog. It makes me sad, but for now I have decided we will continue to be a 4 member family.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
It Frustrates Me
I find all of these Dachshunds on websites that need to be adopted because their owners got rid of them. It frustrates me. It really does. First of all, people talk about how Dachshunds are hard dogs to handle. I'll give them that. Out of love for the breed, I'll say there are some things you should know about Dachshunds before adopting one:
1. They are stubborn. Really. They are very stubborn. (In fact, if your Dachshund isn't stubborn, there's something wrong with it.)
2. They know it all. (Obviously they don't talk. But, you can tell by the way they act that they honestly believe they know everything.)
3. They eat too much. They don't say no to food... so you have to say no to it for them. They need strict diets so that they are not overweight and putting strain on their backs. If you are a person who likes to show your dog love through food, you shouldn't have a Dachshund, otherwise you might literally love them to death.
4. They are DIFFICULT to housebreak. VERY difficult. In fact, some of them may very well never be house broken (or at least not fully house broken). If you value a spotless house, a Dachshund is not for you.
5. They need people. (Most dogs do.) If you are a person who is gone more than you are home, a Dachshund is not for you.
6. Many are spiteful. They don't get mad- they get even. If you do something to make them angry, it WILL come back to bite you. (This may just be my 2, but I have a feeling it's not.)
7. They need to be inside. They are not meant to be outside dogs and they will bark and bark and bark to let you know that. Put them in the house. Don't leave them out. They are small and do not do well with extreme (or even mild) heat or cold.
There are so many positive things about Dachshunds that outweigh the bad. But, if you aren't willing to deal with the bad, then the good will never outweigh it for you. Above all, you must remember that a dog, any dog, is a lifetime commitment. It is not something to be taken lightly. That decision impacts another living being's life. Keep that in mind when deciding on a dog.
When I got Milly and Shelby (my precious Dachshunds) I did not know anything about Dachshunds. I have learned a great deal in the past 4.5 years. Some of what I have learned is listed in #s 1-7 above. Some of what I have learned was hard and learned the hard way. It hurt. It made me mad. It made me want to jump up and down and scream and yell and cry... but it never made me love them less... and never made me want to give them up. The fact of the matter is that Milly and Shelby bring so much joy to my life that there is nothing I would not do to keep them. They have a forever home here with me and my husband. They are loved and cared for. We understand that things happen and we have learned to take some preventative measures when necessary (like picking up shoes so they don't end up with holes in them and closing doors so the carpet isn't ruined). It's really a small price to pay for the joy they add to our lives.
All I am asking is that before you pick a dog, do your research. Make the right choice for you. If you want a dog who is full of personality, love-of-life, tail wags, sloppy kisses, funny dances, and warning barks... a Dachshund is for you. They are truly awesome dogs... but they are NOT your "typical" dog by any means. Please make an informed and educated decision.
1. They are stubborn. Really. They are very stubborn. (In fact, if your Dachshund isn't stubborn, there's something wrong with it.)
2. They know it all. (Obviously they don't talk. But, you can tell by the way they act that they honestly believe they know everything.)
3. They eat too much. They don't say no to food... so you have to say no to it for them. They need strict diets so that they are not overweight and putting strain on their backs. If you are a person who likes to show your dog love through food, you shouldn't have a Dachshund, otherwise you might literally love them to death.
4. They are DIFFICULT to housebreak. VERY difficult. In fact, some of them may very well never be house broken (or at least not fully house broken). If you value a spotless house, a Dachshund is not for you.
5. They need people. (Most dogs do.) If you are a person who is gone more than you are home, a Dachshund is not for you.
6. Many are spiteful. They don't get mad- they get even. If you do something to make them angry, it WILL come back to bite you. (This may just be my 2, but I have a feeling it's not.)
7. They need to be inside. They are not meant to be outside dogs and they will bark and bark and bark to let you know that. Put them in the house. Don't leave them out. They are small and do not do well with extreme (or even mild) heat or cold.
There are so many positive things about Dachshunds that outweigh the bad. But, if you aren't willing to deal with the bad, then the good will never outweigh it for you. Above all, you must remember that a dog, any dog, is a lifetime commitment. It is not something to be taken lightly. That decision impacts another living being's life. Keep that in mind when deciding on a dog.
When I got Milly and Shelby (my precious Dachshunds) I did not know anything about Dachshunds. I have learned a great deal in the past 4.5 years. Some of what I have learned is listed in #s 1-7 above. Some of what I have learned was hard and learned the hard way. It hurt. It made me mad. It made me want to jump up and down and scream and yell and cry... but it never made me love them less... and never made me want to give them up. The fact of the matter is that Milly and Shelby bring so much joy to my life that there is nothing I would not do to keep them. They have a forever home here with me and my husband. They are loved and cared for. We understand that things happen and we have learned to take some preventative measures when necessary (like picking up shoes so they don't end up with holes in them and closing doors so the carpet isn't ruined). It's really a small price to pay for the joy they add to our lives.
All I am asking is that before you pick a dog, do your research. Make the right choice for you. If you want a dog who is full of personality, love-of-life, tail wags, sloppy kisses, funny dances, and warning barks... a Dachshund is for you. They are truly awesome dogs... but they are NOT your "typical" dog by any means. Please make an informed and educated decision.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
You
You keep me sane.
You make me laugh.
You make me smile.
You come to my rescue.
You know me.
You love me.
You are amazing.
You. Are. My. Life.
I love you.
You make me laugh.
You make me smile.
You come to my rescue.
You know me.
You love me.
You are amazing.
You. Are. My. Life.
I love you.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
I Rarely Admit This
And maybe that's part of the problem, but it's a hard thing to admit.
I rarely admit that I need other people. I try very hard to be independent (and am for the most part). I hate to admit that I can't do it all. I cannot be everything to everyone. I cannot be 10 different places at one time. I cannot be one person to someone and another person to someone else. It is so hard. Sometimes (ok, all the time) I bite off more than I can chew, so to speak.
My latest example: Here's is my life as it currently stands:
Sunday- church (not nearly often enough), laundry, cleaning, grading/school work/preparing for my class I'm taking
Monday- work, meeting, get ready for Tuesday, go home, make dinner (sometimes), watch tv, go to bed
Tuesday- work, class, go home, eat dinner Jake made, watch tv, go to bed
Wednesday- work, meeting, get ready for Thursday/plan for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Thursday- work, plan for next week, make copies for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Friday- work, finalize things for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, get a few things done around the house, to go bed
Saturday- spend entire day doing things around the house
Through all of this I am also being evaluated this year to hopefully get a continuing contract. It is exhausting. Utterly exhausting.
I rarely admit that I need other people. I try very hard to be independent (and am for the most part). I hate to admit that I can't do it all. I cannot be everything to everyone. I cannot be 10 different places at one time. I cannot be one person to someone and another person to someone else. It is so hard. Sometimes (ok, all the time) I bite off more than I can chew, so to speak.
My latest example: Here's is my life as it currently stands:
Sunday- church (not nearly often enough), laundry, cleaning, grading/school work/preparing for my class I'm taking
Monday- work, meeting, get ready for Tuesday, go home, make dinner (sometimes), watch tv, go to bed
Tuesday- work, class, go home, eat dinner Jake made, watch tv, go to bed
Wednesday- work, meeting, get ready for Thursday/plan for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Thursday- work, plan for next week, make copies for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Friday- work, finalize things for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, get a few things done around the house, to go bed
Saturday- spend entire day doing things around the house
Through all of this I am also being evaluated this year to hopefully get a continuing contract. It is exhausting. Utterly exhausting.
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