#lifewithLuger | Growing Up Fast

Life with Luger is awesome. Challenging. Frustrating. Beautiful. He knows how to push my buttons and pull my strings and then he wants to be close to you. Cuddle with you. Fall asleep near you. Love you!

It's hard not to compare him to Osa. Let's be honest, it's hard not calling him Osa. She was with us for so many years. I do it all the time ;) He has his own personality and I love him more every day. He is definitely all boy as I have heard so many mother's say who have boys. My mother said the other day, if my brother came first I may never have come to being. ;)

He is growing so fast. My parents had him last week while we were out of town and I couldn't believe how much he grew. We take him Friday to the vet and it will be interesting to see how much more he weighs from the last time, which was three weeks ago.

It's nice having a furry kid back in our house!

#lifewithLuger | Week 1

Well, we survived week one with Luger. It has been an adjustment for all of us. Sleep deprived. Running around making sure he does get into something he shouldn't. Or do something inside that should be done outside. Puppies cannot be trusted. 😜

Life for Luger has been turned upside down. He was one of ten puppies. For eight weeks he has been with his siblings and breeder. Then one day he was taken from his surroundings, all he knows. We are working through separation anxiety. He is very attached to me. My little shadow which is awesome because I love him already but he doesn't like the crate because he knows that we will be leaving him. So that is our challenge! Other than that, he is a good boy and we are happy to have him as part of our family. 

Two years?

Where has the time gone? Two years, how can that be?  

There still isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Sometimes it still doesn't feel real. The other day I was thinking about you and then reality hit me that I will never see you in the flesh again. You aren't just a phone call away. 

The legacy of your life lives on through the people that love you. You were a living testimony and I talk about you to people and I share your testimony.  

Tomorrow will be a day of mixed emotions. There will be sadness because we miss you so much. There is also rejoicing because two years ago you met Jesus. Face to face. What could be better than that? 

April 8 is a significant day in the Dake house. We are bringing our German shepherd puppy, Luger home after two years of Osa has being gone. We will be together getting to know our pup and reminiscing about you. There was never a dull moment with you. We are better people because of having you in our lives so there will be tears and laughter.

I miss you Doug! I am so lucky to have had you as my brother. You were simply the best! 

Photo credit: Digital Memories by Debbie Koehler

Prayers

Last night my 98 year old grandmother had a heart attack. When I scheduled a post for Ministry Toolkit yesterday I had no idea that my prayer last night would be to sincerely pray...Dear Lord, your will be done.

Some would say she has lived a long and happy life and I would agree but I'm selfish and I don't want God to take her just yet. I love this woman! She is a wonderful Christian lady who loves the Lord with all her heart. She has lived a very long life and probably out live the rest of us in terms of years on this earth.

I am grateful that we saw her at Christmas. As you get that old you fear the days are numbered. Today, as a granddaughter, I pray for healing and restoration of her weaken body but I will continue to pray that the Lord's will be done because He knows best.

UPDATE: Monday 3-3
Bernie's parents visited Grandma and they said she has been sitting up, had lunch, she alert and interactive. The doctor has described her as having a mild heart attack and will have a catheter placed tomorrow at 10am. Please be in prayer for this dear lady and our family.

Two years...

2014 was one of the hardest years I have experienced in my life. It was full of loss. Learning how to pick up the pieces and go on with life because life doesn't stop. The grieving process begins.

Two years ago on this day Osa crossed the rainbow bridge as they say. I like to think that she is in heaven. :) My heart was so broken but I knew that I did everything in my power to give her the best life she deserved. She lived a long life according to German Shepherd standards and she couldn't have been loved any more than she was. 

We miss her so much. We remember you everyday. We we always love you sweet girl!

grace upon grace

Photo credit: lauradake

Happy Birthday Doug!

Today is Doug's birthday. I imagine we would have had a huge celebration for the milestone of 45 years. Instead, my parents and I will have dinner together and probably share stories of this individual that infiltrated our hearts and lives forever. My words will be inadequate for the love that I feel for Doug but I will do my best.

Forty-Five years ago God blessed this family with Doug. Douglas Edward Hale III. Three years younger than me. I always felt the need to take care of him and speak for him as he was learning. As you grow up you learn understand that you can't do everything for them but you have to learn things on your own. 

One time, as part of a bible study group, I was asked to write down three characteristics of my immediate family. I wrote these words December 9, 2013. The three words I chose for my brother were...Brave, Funny, Determined.

He was BRAVE. He took cancer head on and knew that he need to rely on God's strength. Some days were harder than others. Some days he had questions and felt like he wasn't getting answers. God had answers and they weren't the answers I wanted to hear but God's plan is greater. I know without a doubt that Doug boldly approached the throne of God on April 8, 2014.

He was FUNNY. He made me laugh. He had a smirky smile that you couldn't help but laugh and smile yourself. I remember having laughing fits at the dinner table that would totally get us into trouble. I'm sure he always started it because he always was an instigator. I still look at his pictures and I still smile even though sometimes it is through tears because I miss him so much.

He was DETERMINED. He had opinions and he was determined for you to hear them. He knew how to do so many things. He was smart and knowledgeable. He knew what he wanted and nothing held him back from getting it. He was determined to win souls to Christ and cancer pushed him even more to get that message across. He was determined to be faithful to God through ANY circumstance.

There is a song entitled And Can It Be, every time I hear these words I can't contain the emotion. I always wonder what it was like when Doug approached the throne clothed in righteousness and with boldness to claim his crown. 

“No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.”

— Charles Wesley, 1738

I love you Doug! I miss you as much today as the day you left this earth. You will always be in my heart and your memory and testimony is etched deep in my brain. Thank you God for giving us this special gift in Doug! Our lives have been forever changed because we knew him.

Photo Credit: Family Photo taken by http://www.digitalmemoriesdk.com/

Roadtrip Landscapes

Here is some of the beauty I saw on our way to Ohio and during our vacation there.

Christmas 2015

Christmas brings families together. Christmas is always is about the gift of Jesus. The Son of God. Wrapped in flesh. The light of the world. Our Savior. This Christmas we wanted to celebrate family. From the seven month old infant of our great niece Emma, to my 98 year old grandmother, to all of those in between. We spent much needed time with Bernie's nieces and Emma, who is the center of attention when she is in the room.  

We saw Star Wars the Force Awakens. My niece Kim is the biggest fan and she waited to see it with us. She made sure everyone was decked out in Stars Wars gear. I will remember that for a long time.

Another great moment was meeting Emma. She's is beautiful. She growing so fast, so alert. I got to give her her bottle and I rocked her to sleep and loved every moment! 

. 

Spending time with my grandma was special. It was harder to say goodbye to her this time because she is 98 years old. Who knows when God will call her home but you have to take advantage of these moments. 

This Christmas was focused on family and making memories. No one can take those away. 

Quiet Moments

It's the weekend and the weather is going to be above average on this December day. The warmth in the air and the sunshine on my face does this body good.

This morning in the quietness, before I turn on the tv and get ready for my day, I am gazing at my decorated mantel and my tiny real life Christmas tree. There is something about Christmas, maybe more so than any other holiday, that makes you long to be with family.

As I look at my mantel, the stockings are hung with care. We have people and fur babies that are no longer with us. As I was getting the decorations out of their boxes I just couldn't bring myself to not hang those stockings that are engraved with Doug and Osa's names on them. They belong to us. Family. People we love. Loved ones we will never forget.

So as painful as that may be, it also brings to mind memories and the promise of Jesus. The hope in that baby born on Christmas Day. A gift for us from God the Father.  

Photo credit: laurajdake

Photo credit: laurajdake