Last week Cherie and I drove out to Gothenburg, Nebraska to pick up a new family member. Her name is Yuki-chan.
Since Ed is learning Japanese, planning a Japanese garden, and generally familiarizing himself with that Asian culture we decided to go with an appropriate name. Yuki means snow in Japanese. It happens to be a name in Japanese, as well.
I wanted to add the “chan” at the end, which is some sort of diminutive qualification on a name. Ed vetoed this, saying it was some sort of cultural faux pas, but I like it. I win.
Her name is Yuki-chan.
She is a mostly white female purebred Rat Terrier. Her face is priceless. She has a doberman look with little brown spots above her eyes. Her eyes peer into yours with superior intelligence.
We are smitten.
Corwyn growled at her for a few days, but now she anticipates the chase games that occur several times a day. They are sisters, with Corwyn showing the ropes.
The trip to Nebraska was pretty uneventful. We saw Brian’s family, I felt sorrow in another way, and we rode a four wheeler through tall corn at night fast.
I’d say the trip was totally good.
Sorrow is just a fact of my life these days. I can distract myself from it with music or activity, TV, or reading—or studying, driving. In order to breathe I do distract myself. Heartache can be so tiresome.
Today Ed and Cherie are visiting our great State Fair. I wanted to go, but someone had to do puppy duty. Yuki is super smart, but she is still a pup. She needs supervision. I was the one to stay home from the fair. I look forward to the report tonight. I had a craving for deep fried pickles, but that will go unsatisfied. That is one of the things I usually get at the fair, along with a chocolate malt and mini donuts + all the milk you can drink…
Sometimes I get one of those expensive turkey legs. My mouth is watering right now.
Ahhhh. Fair time.
I am thrilled to report that I am not suffering from allergies (yet) this year. Usually my time at the fair is marked by hay-fever misery. I’m wondering why I’ve been given a reprieve. I’m thankful.
Classes started for me last week. I like them. Two good professors, two interesting subjects.
I was offered a long term teaching position, substituting for a second grade class. I paused only a moment before declining. I don’t want to work five days a week plus weekends at the hotel. I don’t want to go back to the admin of teaching.
Give me those days of variety, subbing K-12, all subjects!
My favorite teacher that I sub for already booked me for several days this year. This is promising.
I am breathing.
I have successfully pared down my life for now, with focus on my tasks at hand, my small circle, my immediate responsibility.
If you are reading this and feel I’m ignoring you somehow—perhaps you’ve called me and not heard back from me? Please don’t be offended. I have not been responding to anyone lately. I have had to pare down my entire life, and find new balance.
I can’t just quit (though that is extremely tempting.)
I’ve had to find a new footing, and my time is completely taken up with a very small circle of humans and obligations.
I have said this so many times on this blog: I’m changed. I’m different. I’m not the same person I was.
If you are going through crisis or life change I could only hope that my experience is helpful to you as an example, good or bad.
I’m being real.
The Lord gave me a person at the YMCA that I regularly swim with. She has opened up to me, and we have such similar stories. I have learned so much from her encouragement. We only chat at the Y, but those moments have been prayer-filled, helpful, and revealing.
I’m thankful for her.
With all my swimming and fasting I’ve lost 30 lbs and feel pretty good. I still get anxiety symptoms, but I think they are not as frequent. Your prayers are working.
I enjoy popping into my new church for Sunday Service. Ed and I, and sometimes Cherie, have found a new weekend pastime of having lunch at the Mall of America, strolling around among the foreigners visiting from the globe. We’ve been able to review several restaurants so far, ones we hadn’t ever been to before in the mall’s 25 years. We can offer recommendations if anyone is interested. We had excellent fudge at the Northwood’s Candy shop last Sunday. See you at the mall on Sunday.
My parents are doing well. Dad is back to driving after his stroke. He’s driving just locally, though.
I’m tackling the bad house problems that have plagued me over the summer.
Anyone want to come over and split wood for me? I need to fill up the woodshed before snow. God has someone in mind to help me, I think.
Let’s see who shows up.
It’s beautiful here at Corgi Hollows. I cannot describe the sun-filled fields of hay and corn, line and color that I get to feast my eyes on every day. Nights are crisp.
I am truly blessed. I cannot deny that, and my grief cannot erase that.
New beginnings. Heart flutters. Deep breath.
Yuki-chan, do you need to go out? Did you ring the door bell? Good girl!