My life 10/8/09

I haven't been here for a LONG time! I'm back now.

Lots of good stuff going on in life.

I can now install and fix chain link fence. It's amazing what you can learn to do online. =)

Play-N-Stay Pet Camp is thriving. We are still booked solid on weekends even though it is October already. =) Never been booked this solid this far into the year! It's amazing! I think we finally hit the "tipping point". =)

The Perky Puppy is getting ready to open again. It's gonna be smaller this year. We are returning to our "roots". In my mind, small is the new big...especially when it comes to the number of puppies we care for in a day vs. the number of puppies we sell in a day. I want to close the gap on taking care of 20+ and only selling a few. Soooo.....

I now have a LIVING ROOM. Yep...you heard me right. I no longer have to live in the confines of my bedroom and office. =) That's a good thing! It's been four years since I had a couch, a living room tv, a chair that wasn't an office chair, and a room that was semi-peaceful. =) LOVE IT!

The Lucky Puppy rescue is moving right along. We have placed SEVERAL dogs and still have several available. We, just tonight, got a stray that is ready to BURST with pups. She is lactating, swollen, looks like some sort of goat-cow mix, and her temp is within delivery range. Figuring we will have pups by noon tomorrow. Never seen a dog deliver pups, so this is all new territory. I feel a bit humbled that I have worked with dogs and puppies on all levels for almost five years but I have NEVER seen one born. I can tell you almost anything else about them, though. LOL

That leads me to The Soapy Puppy. I am now a part-time and sometimes full-time dog groomer. I groom all breeds. It's fun. It's challenging... I like good challenges. =)

I am heavily working on planting a new church. It's called Revolution Church (www.OhioValleyRevolution.com). I think God is gonna do something HUGE with us. =) We are breaking every mold imaginable for churchs. It won't be like any other church. It's gonna be AWESOME! God seems to be challenging me more currently than probably ever in my life. That means something big is coming and He is preparing me for it. I LOVE IT! The majority of our core team feels the same way. It's pretty awesome that God has united us on the endeavour. It may take a while for a few of us to wrap our minds around some things we discuss, but we always seem to fall out on the same side. It's definitely a God thing. =)

Hmmmmmmm....I got a new pair of coveralls. Is it sad that that is exciting news in my world?

I think that's about it...

Maybe I will do better at keeping up with my blog this year. =) I'll put it on my "to-do" list that's seven thousand miles long...

See ya soon!

Ness

Is the weather man ever right?!

So they were calling for one inch of snow this morning.....and we got about 3!!!...on top of the other several inches...which was on top of about an inch of ice. CRAZY!

I figured I needed to plow, but I couldn't the other day because everything was too heavy and I got stuck FAST. Well, I went at it with a new angle today and actually got the driveway plowed. I didn't get our parking area finished, but I got the main driving area completed and the steps cleaned off. I did, however, get stuck SEVERAL times. One time I even needed help getting the tractor out. I had to push it while Jessica drove it. =)

Now they're saying we could get a HUGE snow storm on Monday-Tuesday. Like...feet instead of inches.

Lets see what happens....

I'm not good at this...

So, it was October 9, 2008 when I blogged last. I'm OBVIOUSLY not good at this. =(

Life is busy and one of the first things that gets thrown out of my "to-do" list is blogging. The only problem is that it happens EVERY DAY.

Well, today I am blogging because the world around me is shut-down. There is about an inch of ice and approximately 4 inches of snow outside. This is came from Tuesday night until late Wednesday evening. I can honestly say, it is some of the most BEAUTIFUL weather that I have seen in YEARS. I remember, as a kid, when we had an ice storm like this and I couldn't walk outside. My dog couldn't even walk outside. All of the trees were in a case of ice and when you went outside all you heard was the ice on the trees creaking, cracking, and limbs falling. It LOOKED like a world of glass.

Well, that is, once again, what it looks like outside...so ALMOST everything is closed. Yesterday EVERYTHING was closed, but today there are still not a lot of people moving around. I love it when the whole community just stops. It gives everyone (except the county and state workers that plow the roads, tow trucks, and police) a much needed break without feeling like we're missing something.

I took the whole day to be a lazy bum yesterday....and it was WONDERFUL! The one thing I did try to do was plow the driveway. That didn't work because most of the ice came from freezing rain and turned over into big snowflakes as the day went on. When I went to plow, the snow was SOOOOO heavy that I didn't make it 5 feet before I was stuck. INSANE!

Now, today I am going to take the "easy day" to catch up on paperwork, house cleaning, and internet stuff (blogging, email, etc...). You know, all the stuff that an average day doesn't allow.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

CATALYST ROCKS!

Ok....all I can say is AMAZING and INCREDIBLE!!!!

We got to Atlanta last night (after sitting at the Pittsburgh airport for 3 hours IN THE PLANE waiting to depart because Atlanta's airport put a hold on all flights due to weather), caught a shuttle to the hotel and ordered Papa Johns AND Chinese for dinner because we couldn't decide which would taste better.

This morning we got up early and got the the arena. THIS EVENT IS AMAZING! From the parking lot we got a ride in a Hummer H2 stretch limo to the white carpet and registration area. Got into the event and it has been AMAZING. Started off with worship by Steve Fee...which ROCKED... and then had the first session with Andy Stanley. He is just awesome. I will give some more nuggets of his message later sometime. It was very much so a convicting message. Now we are listening to Lanny Donoho and Reggie Joiner....uhmmm....Lanny just carried in a pig....ok...so anyway...they are introducing Jim Collins. Gonna listen to him and will shout back later! Hope everyone is having as much fun as me!!!! =)

Speed...

Know what that is? Yep....my ticket...

Ok...so I went to Dover to church today. I left in plenty of time, picked up a sweet tea, set cruise control at 70mph and was on my way. I noticed a lot of State Troopers once I got on the interstate, so I decided to keep my speed under control. In fact, I text messaged a few good friends and told them there were a lot of cops out, one right after the other, and that it was a GREAT way to trap people on the holiday weekend. You know how it works, you pass the cop and then you know you're home free so you speed the rest of the way to wherever you're going?

Well....not this weekend. Literally, almost EVERY median had a trooper sitting in it. One friend messaged me back and said "hope you're not one of the trapped". I laughed and sent back, "haha...nada". Well about half way through the trip a good friend called me. I was chattin on the cell, following a truck down the interstate, and all of a sudden these two state troopers are walking out into the middle of I-77...literally in the MIDDLE...motioning all of the cars to get over. So...being the good citizens we are, we pull over. I happened to be second...immediately following that truck that I was following. I actually dropped my cell phone because I hit the brakes so fast. I went to grab it and snapped off my seatbelt to get it since my friend was still on it. Got over to the side of the road and was just re-snapping it when the trooper walked up to the first vehicle looking straight back at me. Well, the trooper came up to my window and informed me that "the plane" is out and clocked me at 80mph coming over the hill. I was like "I had cruise set at 70mph, sir". He informed me that they get the truck ahead of me at 79, me at 80, and the truck behind me at 82 and then told me a few more. I looked back and he had FIVE vehicles pulled over. He asked me for my license and registration and went on to the next vehicle. I got the paperwork and was texting friends to tell them I would be late because I just got pulled over and the other cop was in the middle of the road pulling over 4 more cars. Literally, within about 3 minutes, there were NINE of us pulled over! I watched the second cop almost get ran over twice because people didn't know what he was doing. He got one car over, the next car went by and he jumped in his cruiser to follow them and get them to stop. When he left, the first car got back on the road becuase they thought he was after the other car, not them. He then jumped out in traffic again and was within inches of the cars telling them to pull over, yelling at the top of his lungs at the car that had pulled away. I really thought he was gonna get run over at least twice. People didn't understand that he was pulling multiple cars over. It was INSANE. I've never seen anything like it.

So, the trooper came back up, I gave him the paperwork, he asked if I had been cited in the last year. Told him no. He said well there is bad news and good news. Bad is that you are getting a citation today for 80mph in a 65mph zone. Good news is that it was only $99 (the lowest fine) and that there were no points on my license for it because it's a first offense. Sooooo...he went back to the car, wrote the first guys ticket, let him go, and then came right past me to the next vehicle that had dealer plates and he was struggling to get all the right paperwork for the trooper. So I sat there, and sat there, and sat there. Finally he gave me my ticket, I signed, and he helped me back onto the interstate. He was a nice guy, but I wish I had never met him.

So, I missed the announcements and a video at church. I bet I was the only one that got a ticket on my way to church today!

I was headed on down the road, no tears, just pure anger because I KNEW cops were all over and I tried to figure out how I got the ticket. All I can figure is that I was on the phone and just went with the traffic with my foot on the gas even though I had cruise set. The guy ahead of me was going 79mph, so I was just following him not paying attention to anything other than what was happening on the road in front of me.

Expensive trip to church today....and a few lessons learned.

When a cop is setting in your lane on the side of the road, there's probably planes flying around checking speed. PAY ATTENTION TO YOURS!

Troopers DO pull over LINES of traffic if they feel like it. (I always thought if you were traveling with the traffic you wouldn't get busted....WRONG!!!)

Also, when you set cruise, keep your foot totally away from the gas pedal!

I'm still ticked that I ended up with a ticket when I KNEW cops were all over. Frustrates the daylights out of me. I just paid the New Philadelphia Municipal Court $99 in STUPID TAX.

DOH!

Mountains...

I am fascinated with Everest and K2 for some reason. There's just something AMAZING about something that high and big...and the challenges that they present. These pics are phenomenal! The last one is a pic of a K2 Base Camp. Those yellow and orange things ARE TENTS! When I first saw the pic, I thought they were painted rocks on a road. I was like "why would they paint rocks like that?" and then I got the pic in perspective. CRAZY! How often do we get things (challenges especially) out of perspective and don't recognize how big or small they really are? At first I thought those yellow things were REALLY big rocks that posed a hazard....then I realized that they were REALLY small tents that even smaller people sleep in. Just blows me away that oftentimes our view of the world is SOOO small compared to what it really is. These pics remind me how big the world is and how small "my" world really is. Kinda makes all of my problems fade away.

Then I think about the people that have conquered these mountains. Makes me realize that people conquer things bigger than I will ever face EVERY DAY. Once again....kinda makes my problems fade away. How about you?

long time no see...

Wow...I just realized how long it had been since I blogged. Crazy days...what can I say? =)

Well...life is good. Busy, but good.

I've been in touch with some old friends recently....realized how cool FaceBook really is. Found some people online that I haven't seen for 5+ years. =)

I've been cleaning out old files, creating a better work space, and reading a little here and there.

Getting ready to crack down and work hard on developing a small group leader training program and a better small group system for my church.

Been working on learning acoustic and bass guitar...not good on it yet, but learn a little here and there all the time.

Thats about it. Man, my life seems boring...but it never seems to stop. Not sure what that's all about...

Nite!

Wednesday

Short update on life...

Sunday at church we did the 3rd message of the OnePrayer series. The message was by Steven Furtick and it was titles "Make Us Audacious". A lot of stuff that Steven said resonated with me. He's close to my age and feels the same as I do on a LOT of stuff. He was called at a young age, and is crazy enough to do ANYTHING edgy to reach people for Jesus. If you ever get the chance to listen to him preach, take it. He's awesome!

Sunday evening we had a softball double header. We lost the first game by a mile because their infield was AMAZING. I don't think three of our people made it past first base. It was INSANE. We were winning the second game when a big ol' thunderstorm rolled in. So, we have to make it up.

Monday I worked at the grouphome (dayshift). It was the easiest shift I have ever worked there. Pretty cool. The kids were well behaved and there wasn't a whole lot to do. I'd take that shift anyday!

Tuesday, worked in the morning at The Perky Puppy and then worked afternoon shift at the group home. We went to a cookout and when we got back to the building, the kids were so tired that they started acting up.

Wednesday....mowed, mowed, mowed, weed-whacked, and mowed some more. While I was on the rider, I listened to several of the Starting Point messages by Andy Stanley. Man, HE JUST ROCKS! I wish I was closer to Atlanta cause as much as I love Real Life, THEY HAVE IT GOING ON AT NORTHPOINT COMMUNITY CHURCH! If we could build something remotely close to the ministry that they do there, this whole community would EAT IT UP! Amazing place and AMAZING people!

So after I was done mowing, I went to Wal-Mart since we didn't have our small group tonight. I debated LONG and HARD over Guitar Hero III and Rock Band for Wii. I decided to wait until I can justify spending the extra money on Rock Band. Sooooo....no new Wii games until I buy one of the two...probably Rock Band. =(

Tis the Season...

Ok...so today started bright and early again. I wasn't alone, though. I had Kirstin, Penny, and Jess to start the morning off with. I must say, we all make one heck of a team! We had several appointments and were overbooked on dogs, but together we did amazing things! It was GREAT! After breakfast was fed and appointments were taken care of, I sat down and started assignining rooms to dogs for the next several days. After about three hours of mulling over the appointment book and room charts, I realized that there was no good place to stop because we have so many booking over the next several weeks. I had to keep going so that our staff don't take more dogs than we can handle. It's an amazing feeling to have such a thriving business so quickly. God has definitely blessed us in ways I never would have imagined.

Ya know...it's kinda funny thinking about that. I never imagined in my life that at 23, 24, and 25 years old, I would be my own boss and own my own successful business, and never even fathomed that I would own two. When I was a kid my family always told me that since my second toe (if it was a hand it would be the index finger) was longer than my big toe, I would be my own boss one day. We always talked about it and joked about it, but I never imagined it would really happen. Some of those old tales are pretty crazy sometimes. God has blessed me sooooooo much and brought me soooooo far. It's pretty neat to look back at all of the things that happened to make me who I am today and to see all of the cool stuff that He's done in and with my life. I'm glad I'm only 25 and that I have many many years to go. I believe it can only get better. =)

It's gonna be a crazy few weeks so I'm gonna go watch a movie and enjoy my down-time. Have a great evening!!!!!!

Nutzzzz....

WHAT A DAY!!! It's been NUTTTZZZZ around here! This morning started off with a cold glass of Sweet Tea, me and about 20 dogs. I had the early shift at Play-N-Stay Pet Camp...alone...so I got the privilege of letting out all of the groups, feeding breakfast, taking and returning a BUNCH of phone calls, and handling a couple hours worth of appointments (check-in and check-out). I also figured payroll and cut paychecks, and did shot records on the new puppies for The Perky Puppy. By 2:00pm, I was STARVING so I got a quick lunch break. It was REALLY quick because The Perky Puppy was booming with phone calls and customers. I took some phone calls and helped some customers and took off to pick up two pups from the vets office that we just had neutered. Upon return... back to introduce the new dogs to their new play groups and feed dinner. What a wild day! Gotta love being in business!!!!!!!! =)

Now....it's almost 7pm and I'm gonna go chill for a bit before I have to go back to Play-N-Stay for the late evening and last night run. =)