The Napping House

There was a book my parents read to us when we were little called,The Napping House. "In the Napping House where everyone is sleeping..there is a.. (and this is where I add my story) dog laying on a girl, a girl laying on a bed, a boy laughing at the girl...in the napping house where everyone is trying to sleep." This happened today, Travis and I love our Sunday naps that last 2-3 hours. Tuffy kept looking at us from the floor holding his toy duck -Tuck- and wanting to be on the bed with us. When I give in, thats the key for him to jump up and lay right in the middle of Travis and I...our 85 pound lab. And he chooses to lay his head on me and sprawl out on me. My parents told me that their Dashound-Hans- used to sleep in the middle of them at the beginning of their marriage and that made me think...I bet that was alot easier to deal with a 15 pound dog doing that!

We are going to see the final Harry Potter tonight with the Watsons. No, we are not dressing up. Little late for that, not to mention weird. Cough Libby Francis.

Travis' ESPN: When is the TCU football stadium going to be done?

Tricia's Randomness: I love my jobs. Working with 5/6 graders and training to be a Dental Assistant in the best Orthodontics office ever. And I am getting braces...I will look 13 again.

Tuffy's Tales: Well, I went to Grandpas house to swim. I stuck two paws in and froze. I don't know if I can swim for a long time from my surgery. I might have Hydrophobia.

Joys and Pains of Learning: Heard that the first year of marriage is the muscle building year...definitely could see why. Building the foundation for years and years to come. My friend Alison Kelley told me, "God gave us two ears to listen, one mouth to speak.." Think and listen before you speak.

A Beautiful Refresher

Pictures: Travis and I's date when we went to paint and then of course Sweet Sammies after!
Me and my 3 best friends from high school, Meg, Libby, Maddie
Tuffy and his inflatable protector so he doesn't lick his scars.

We had a refresher this week from our drought. Rain. It was beautiful. Travis and I were sitting in our kitchen and I saw through the crack of the closed blinds a little of the sky and go, "Oh my gosh its cloudy!" And sure enough we got some rain and how amazing it was not to be in the 100's! Thank you Lord

Travis and I are having a relaxing weekend. We actually held out for one week to eat Sweet Sammies on Friday night. Saturday, we went over to our friends the Watsons to watch Harry Potter. Never watched the HP movies until we all decided to see them and they are ok. Probably wouldn't be a nerd and dress up for the movies, cough Libby Francis. :)

Travis went over to play video games with some of his guy friends last night. Manly. He won..what did he win? His answer: Pride.
My hero.

At church today we are starting to study Nehemiah. What I love about our pastor is that he dives into scripture giving us Godly qualities to pursue and challenge us with. For example, Nehemiah was very compassionate. The Lord searched for someone with a heart that is compassionate. Compassion is:
Asking someone "Really How Are You Doing!? Don't flippantly ask...truly ask how they are doing as a whole.."
Weeping about someones hardships or pain
Praying for others
Relating with others-humbling ourselves
Hopes for others

Do we have confidence in God's love and mercy?
Confidence in Gods Faithfulness?
In His Power?

Compassion risks it all for others..

Do you feel like you are a compassionate person?

Loved the sermon, as always convicting.

Travis ESPN:

Tricia's Randomness: I popped a bracket this week on a girls mouth as I was taking off her colored bands on her braces. I didn't tell her I did it, but I told the staff. I felt pretty bad cause it is just another couple of steps to take in order to put the bracket back on. Dr Kelleys response, " Tricia, sadly that won't be the last...you will have many more of those." What a great boss. I love where I work and what I am doing!

Tuffy Tales:Well Mom took me to the Vet again. As we pulled up to the clinic, I started howling cause I was so excited to see everyone...kept howling in the little building at everyone...got everyones attention and mom kept trying to shh me and put her hand over my mouth..kept howling...made sure everyone knew I was there. They thought I was a beagle by my bark. Oh and I think the said I might have torn my other leg and get surgery...again! NO! The squirrel population is going up and I am not there to take care of it because I am on a leash and restriction.

Joys and Pains of Learning: I just want to take this moment to tell you all how wonderful my husband is. I have been working 60-70 hour weeks because I am doing full time ortho and christ chapel hours. And Travis has never once complained or that he didn't want me to go hang out with kids on week nights, he even leaves the house when girls bible study comes over, he cooks dinner, cleans the house, the laundry and always asks me "what can I do to make it easier on you?" So selfless and I am so blessed. That is a joy in learning for sure, how to serve one another selflessly....hard but incredible.

Burns/Bowles Weekend

This weekend we have Travis' Cousin Brooke and her husband Doug Burns kids-Mary Beth and Austin staying with us! (I need to learn how to do apostrophes..who wants to correct and teach me?) The Burns lived in Costa Rica as missionaries for 4 years. It was such a blessing to have them close to me while I was in Costa Rica to go get filled up with family time and love. They are truly an amazing family. Yesterday, we went and saw Captain America, went to our favorite BBQ spot-Coopers- and then of course topped of our night with delicious Sweet Sammies. We walked into Sweet Sammies and were greated by the owners-Kelly and her husband Dan- and Austin asked us how we know them...uh its because we go there all the time..Regulars. Then we got them hooked on Lost and watched that till midnight.

Today we are planning on splitting up and MB and I going shopping and the boys something with sports and getting hurt or whatever.

Travis' ESPN: Every College Football Player reported to their camp on Wednesday. TCU ranked number 15 in the country, CU has the toughest schedule in the country, OSU could be the dark horse in the Big 12, shaping up to be a great football season.

Tricia's Randomness: Went to Tulsa/OKC last weekend for Libby and Ali's Nursing Graduation from OU and then Ali's bachelorette party at White Water Bay. So fun, I love my friends. Crazy story though. We were leaving White Water and heard screaming and turn around and a woman was having a massive seizure, eye rolled back, foam out of the mouth and then she hit her head so there was a pool of blood around her. Ok...so my fear is fainting. Even when people roll their eyes that makes me weak. So this was frightening in the least and shook all of us up for awhile. But on a happier note, Ali and Matthew are getting married the last weekend in August and they are just an amazing, Godly couple that we are so thrilled to walk alongside of them in marriage.

Tuffy Tales: Well, I am still on this leash thingy and don't like it. I made a new bestie last night, her smell was like fresh bones, they call Mary Beth.

Joys and Pains of Learning: We went on a unusual date on Wednesday. We went to this place called Painting with a Twist. You bring your own bottle of wine and go learn how to paint the "object" of the night. We painted a sunset and it was so fun for us to go do something different! This week take your hubby or wifey on a date and do something different!!