Animal Hoarders

Our friend Josh has been transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for further treatment on his noggin'. They still haven't decided if the tumor is cancer, but another round of MRI's today should help clear up the picture. Either way, they are receiving the best care possible.

In light of Josh and Amanda's journey to Maryland, we are pet-sitting their animals for the time being. Their cats are fine to stay at their house with a daily check-in, but we have moved their boxer-mix (Murphy) in with us for convenience reasons. Chris and I used to joke about being animal hoarders, but now realized that we are not, and could never be. All of the dogs are fairly well behaved for the most part, with the exception that they are all two years old and over 40 pounds. Two of them being male, it's a constant "marking" war in the backyard. Grace tends to keep to herself (with her bone of course). All of them needing to go to the bathroom in the morning, then herding back in the house for breakfast with muddy paws, puts me on the verge of an anxiety attack. But then I remember back to when Chris and I went to Gulf Shores with my family for spring break and boarded Grace. I would have rather gotten up at 5 am every morning to let her out, than be without her. So when we start to grumble, I try my hardest to put it all back in perspective.

In other news, most of our friends are all deployed now. If you'd like addresses to send care packages, please just let me know. The FOB one friend is stationed at had their dining facility and kitchen get bombed so he's happy with dried muffin mix for now. I know they all appreciate every little bit.

Chris is doing very well leading his platoon. We're both hoping for an XO or Specialty Platoon next! This is the last week Chris is home before he deploys to the field for six weeks. He'll go two straight weeks out there, then come back on weekends. Every time Chris leaves for the field, I seem to accumulate another dog to care for on my own :) I think this will be the longest stint we've gone sithout seeing each other since we've lived with each other.

Chris' school is going well, I have applied to UTEP for their Master's program. My work is going very well. I survived the end of the Federal fiscal year, but nothing seems to be slowing down yet! We will be buying tickets this week to head to Michigan for Thanksgiving. And to all family reading this, after this year, we're expecting family to come to us for a couple holidays.

Marathon training is underway and it is horrible....need to keep thinking positive. Chris received acceptance of his annulment case so now we just wait for the final decree. The sooner the better so we can get this Church wedding moving! Chris and I are debating volunteering at an animal shelter in town a couple days a month. We really like the work that the Humane Society does, and we'd get to play with the animals without the responsibility of caring for another one full-time : )

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." - St. Francis of Assisi