They say when it's your's everything is different...

Let me just start off by saying that I do not like throw-up poop, snot or anything else in that family of crap. No, I do not have children but I do have a puppy that I adore. Well, he just had his sweet surgery which in Ryan's words "took his manhood and will now want to decorate and bake cookies with me" (direct quote). So, sweet little Scout has had a sad, hard past few days. He also had a baby tooth pulled that was not going to fall out so precious has just been put through the ringer! Well, the afternoon after his surgery he threw up 6 times and I didn't even flinch. I just cleaned it up immediately sprayed the carpet and cleaned up his dirty little face. Since we have had him he has had a cold that came with a cough and sneezy nose. He snotted on me yesterday morning- all over my arm. It didn't bother me at all I just wiped it away and gave him his medicine.

I think I am doing pretty good at this point... but today all of this changed. I took Scout out for his nightly walk- Ryan and I do a morning walk with him together and I take him a few times the rest of the day on my own- I love our walks, we go get the mail, see our neighbors and the weather has been super nice the past few days so we just play outside. Well, my little man decided that he was going to eat anything he could find. First it was a piece of bark he ripped from a tree, then it was the grass and then... my breaking point.

He decided to hop over to the biggest pile of poop he could find left by what looked to me like the jolly green giant. I pull his leash and shout no but it's too late. The jolly green giant's poop is in my dog's mouth. I grab him pry open his sweet little mouth and the poop falls out- great! it's over. No, no- Scout still had a chunk that I notice he is still chewing... People! Seriously??

I stick my hand in his mouth and the poop is almost to his throat. I grab it out and look at my now poop covered hand and totally start gagging. It was so gross. I threw the poop and ran up the stairs as fast as possible.

Ok, so yes I took care of it and have never touched a dogs poop in my life but I gotta say- it was disgusting!

A late Valentine's Day note!

I have never been a big advocate of V-day. I think it is kind of a waste of money and I don't like how forced it all seemes. Chocolate and flowers are great things to have but they mean more to me when I get them for no reason. I also dont like how v-day is a reminder to singles that they do not have someone to send them flowers. Why does this need to be a yearly reminder? I don't like how restaurants are so crowded and that the menus are usually extra pricey b/c they know we will all just pay anything for love.

I know all of this sounds very cynical and you are probably thinking that it is easy for me to say all of this because clearly I was not alone on Valentines Day. Yes, I have had someone on the majority of my Valentine's Days and regardless of that my Dad always makes me feel special- even when I am 4 hours away he makes sure I get my box of chocolates and a sweet note with it! I am a very blessed girl and have phenomenal men in my life. Even so... I am not a huge fan.

The thing that I do adore about Valentine's Day is all the love that gets passed around. I love getting cards from family and friends, text messages and calls. I love "Love." I do like seeing the couples out and about, holding hands and hugging without the normal "PDA rules." It is like the one day I dont want to throw-up when I see other couples kissing.

I guess the main thing that bothers me about the day is that I think everday should be Valentine's Day for couples. I know I am somewhat of a hopeless romantic, but why should a girl only be treated like this on February 14th? Thank goodness Ryan is also a hopeless romantic and does a great job making me feel special throughout the entire year.

With all that said, this year we were somewhat low-key for V-day. We went to brunch on Sunday morning because on our way to church we realized how very late we were- since we have moved we are not just right around the corner and the traffic was ridiculous! Anyway, the Blue Mesa has an amazing brunch that we love so we had it and it hit the spot! We orginally had plans to go walk around at a local winery and smush grapes but with the crazy snow weather lately it was just too cold! We decided to just rent a movie and lay around all day- this was just what we needed! We cuddled up with the fire place blazing and just relaxed. Ryan had made reservations for dinner so around 6 we finally took showers and got all dressed up. It was such a fun night and the dinner was fantastic! We ate at the Mercury Chophouse- I have to say I love that place! It was our first time there and we loved it. My one complaint is that although we did not have to deal with crowds or waiting- Mercury Chophouse valets your car and does not overbook- we still had to sit pretty close to the other people dining there. We got lucky though b/c a cute couple was next to us and gave us secrets on what to order.

Ryan also gave me some beautiful white roses, gerber daisies and hidrangeas to put around the house (they were not in one arrangement, clearly that would be a horrid mix) and I love all of them :)

We even gave Scout a little V-day bone.

So, this was our Valentine's Day 2010 celebration. Thanks to everyone that helped me feel the love :) I hope all of you were surrounded by great friends, family or significant others but most importantly, I hope you know that you are loved!!

Change...

The Jasper Family!


Scout!!


I have always had a hard time with change.
I don't like when people move away, when it's time to move on or when one chapter of life closes. It's not the unknown that I hate but the feeling of loosing what I already have. Because of this I hold on tightly to my family and friends. In some ways this is a positive thing, in other ways it holds me back from new friendships simply because of the time I put into the ones I have. This is something that I have realized in the last year as I put a few relationships to rest and moved on. I have realized that there truly are different people who carry you through the seasons of life. Friendships change and grow and sometimes that growth is apart. This doesn't mean they aren't your friends, just maybe not what they were. This also doesn't mean that the closeness will never be again- just not right now. I am thankful for the friends who are still here and feel blessed for the time I have had with others who are no longer around. When life changes, people change with it and this isn't a bad thing. It is inevitable.

In the past 6 years change has been a huge factor in my life all starting with moving to Huntsville to attend Sam Houston State University. I can remember the excitement and terror that went through my heart during that time. I was scared about leaving my family, friends and just being on my own. Little did I know that I would finally discover my purpose and who I was during this amazing chapter. I met some of the most amazing, influential people during this time as well. I found a few friends for life, my husband and myself.

When college ended I was not happy. I had very hard time moving back home and readjusting to the life I had loved so much before. Everything was so different and yet the same. Thank goodness for my friends and family during that time! Ryan moved to Fort Worth and we became a long distance couple. This change was so hard. However we became stronger than ever during this time- it was obvious that we were meant to make it through this transition and after 10 months of this he proposed...

I was offered a position at the American Heart Association and after spending 6 years at TWFG I walked away knowing there was something else out there for me. This decision has been one that made me so nervous but has turned out to be so positive! I absolutely love what I do! I got to live with one of my best friends in the world for the transition to Fort Worth. Raven and I had a blast during our 6 months of being roomies. She helped me plan the wedding, keep my sanity and was there for me in a way no one else ever has.

Then the wedding came and my life changed more in 30 minutes then it had in 24 years! Marriage has been amazing. We moved across the street from Raven and were surrounded by our friends for our 1st year. I wouldn't take this time back for anything- we were feet away from some of the funniest, greatest people that we would have never met if it hadn't been for Carroll Park. Our house had no washer or dryer hook-ups or a dish washer. The bathroom was tiny and didnt have a counter, the kitchen had only 1 counter, a miniture stove and miniture fridge and barely fit our table and chairs. I loved that house. We spent the year laughing, having a blast and loving marriage. Yes, there were hard times but in the vast scheme of things our year was so easy!

Now recently we have moved not far but away from everyone into a much larger apartment in a great area of Fort Worth. I work from home for the American Heart Association and we recently welcomed a rescue dog into our life. Moving here has been fantastic but also an adjustment- I can't walk across the street to see my girls when I am bored and it has been a little lonely so far. I am not one who is bothered by being alone- I actually love doing things on my own but sometimes it gets hard with ryan working nights and it just being me every night but Sundays and Mondays. Scout (our dog) has been such a blessing and couldn't have come at a better time. I know we rescued him but I feel like he rescues me so much everyday. He is such a blast and loves us no matter what :) I have been struggling with lonliness alot since moving to Fort Worth, I know it's probably weird for a married girl with great friends to say that but I think alot of times when you get married your friends keep their distance somewhat. I think it is totally subconscious and I understand it- marriage changes things and it's easy to think a married person is never alone. It can also be lonely not to have friends who are going through the same things you are because they are single. Don't get me wrong- my single friends are by far some of the best I have! However, you always need others around you that can relate and we have been lacking this in Fort Worth. We have some really great friends from college and friends from back home that are married and are amazing. Sometimes though I just miss double dates and having someone to just hang-out with that understands! We do have a church but unfortunately with Ryan's work schedule it has been so difficult to join a small group or really do anything that is outside of Sunday mornings.

God provides though and I was reminded of this yesterday on Valentine's Day. Our apartment complex has a "Care Team" that just so happens to be a sweet couple that came by to welcome us. Mandy and Ben plan events at our apartment complex and basically create community. I just had to laugh when they left because it was like God was saying just wait for my timing, I haven't forgotten about you and I can handle this. Well of course you can God- just let me step aside :)

Change is funny, it creeps up on you and turns your life upside down. Sometimes it's welcomed and sometimes it's dreaded. I think the best thing about it is that it's out of my control and I just have to go with the flow. I have made it through 5 moves so far and each chapter has brought me to the next bigger and better thing.

I can't wait to see what changes are next!

I know I haven’t given an update on my Grandmother in a while- she has been moved to a long term care facility and will stay there until April. April 1st is the end of the road for her hospital time as this is when her insurance runs out. I can’t believe she has been in the hospital for almost 5 months…I just received a call from my mom letting me know that my Grandmother’s trach has been capped. Meaning she is breathing through her nose only. My Mom spoke to her this morning on the phone and it is still like speaking to a small child so she is having a very hard time. They gave her a swallowing test and she passed with flying colors. So they will now start her on soft foods and than in a week or 2 if all goes well, she will have the trach removed completely! She has started receiving memory therapy this week as well. She could not remember how many brothers and sisters she has, how many children, where she was born and how many dogs she owned. This made my Grandmother very upset and she has been crying a lot. She is still having problems walking and standing but the mere fact that she is able to take any steps and to speak words at all are miracles in themselves!

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers, we hope that she will continue to progress.

It definitely makes my job even more meaningful everyday knowing that my work with the American Heart Association is helping her to survive.

Puppies and paint colors!

Well we are finally all moved in! It has been a whirlwind of a week and I still have quite a few boxes to unpack! I will say that I LOVE living here already! The kitchen is great, we actually have a dining room and all of the extra space is wonderful! I love our community as well and we are just enjoying the much needed change!

I also have a very exciting announcment! Ryan and I adopted a puppy!! His name is Scout and he is such a great dog! He is a Bichan-Poodle mix aka a Poochan. He is 8 months old and couldn't be cuter or more fun! It is so nice to have him around when Ryan is at work at night. We go for walks pretty much every night and Ryan also takes him in the morning. He is the sweetest thing. We adopted him from the SPCA and I have to say that I am shocked at how well behaved he is. He was a stray and I honestly can not imagine the type of person that would let this precious little dog out of their sight! I will be uploading pictures soon! Life has been a little crazy with the move and we just got internet today!

We are also looking at paint colors for our new place! We are for sure going to be painting an accent wall in the dining room a deep red to match all of my dishes and We are thinking a caramel color for our bedroom- our bed is expresso leather and the linens are a golden brown. I want the guest room which is also doubling as my office to be black and white with the guest bathroom matching it.

Another update is that I am going to be officially home-based for my job! I am very excited about this!! I will be getting a business phone line installed along with a fax machine. I feel so blessed to have this job and to be able to work from home- it is totally what I need right now and love my job!

Please continue to pray for Ryan- he is still on a new job search! His job now is still not the best fit so we are hoping for something new soon!!

OK, pics coming soon of all of our changes!! I am off to play with Scout :)