tonight I was reminded.

Tonight, God very clearly said, "Michele, do not get so caught up in your life that you miss MY story."

It is easy for me to get weighed down with all the details of this life I am living, figuring out the next steps, looking for the road ahead. I forget that I am ON the journey and God is showing me the Good Life...if only I would pause and remember...and then walk with Him.

Tonight, we remembered the Passion World Tour. Seeing the faces from all over the world...I was reminded, again, of what an incredible journey I have been a part of....and still continue to be. Why do I let my world get so small? Why do I assume I know what is best...that I have all of my best interests at heart? I need these reminders to ground me in Christ and His unfailing love, His unfailing strength, His unending mercy and grace, and His timeless truth and heart for His people.

Tonight, I was reminded. And that is a very good thing.

definitely time for a puppy pic update

I was just looking through the past few posts and realized I hadn't updated any puppy pics. I may be the only one that cares, but I do like to look back on my blog and reminisce! :O) Here ya go for your "awwwwinnnnngggg" enjoyment:

sleepy indigo

studs biting indi...playtime!


indi staying close to mom


the pup is getting bigger!


and likes to chew on Nic


and giraffe.


just a little puppy (and roomie!) fun!!!

THE END!

what a good night...

I got to meet Indigo...


and see my friends.

so, to be happy...

Gotta have a happy pic/post to follow up that last one. Apparently, my new puppy likes to snuggle. And Pelly, of course, lets her.

Introducing Indigo

Ignore my crazy hair...I've been up since 3 am and am working from home today. :O)

my puppy!

Pelly had her puppies overnight and I was able to be there thanks to videochat. This was after #8 was delivered (7 are alive and doing well!). Pelham heard me talking and started looking around. Man, I wish I was there...it's hard to know my friends are sharing in this time together and I'm not there. But, I'm thankful I can be there via the world wide interweb!!! I actually got to see several births...incredible!

it's cold.

It is 61 degrees today, yet it feels a lot colder...probably because it's windy. This weather is fine with me, but I am not sure I want it to get any colder. All of my winter clothes are still in Atlanta (minus the FEW sweaters I have purchased since I've been here), so I am anxious to get everything back so I can feel warm again!!!

I want to find my warm, snuggly clothes...I think they are packed in a tub somewhere in a closet in Atlanta. That will be a great day. The day I can wake up, put my warm, snuggly clothes on, get a hot cup of tea, and park it on the couch with my Schmoo and my new puppy and watch Saturday morning tv. (I won't get the pup until January, so it will be nice and cold by then...probably snowy, too.) Love it!

Did I mention I am getting a new puppy? Yippee! Pelly is pregnant and expected to pop those babies out around mid-November. SO, that means I can get my new pup (I have several names in mind, but won't share until I decide for sure...don't need the nicknames starting before then) around Christmastime. I CAN'T WAIT! Midi will be so excited! She is a different dog with Pelham around, so I think it will be good for her to have a puppy to befriend like she eventually did Pellers. Plus, the dog is going to be ridiculously cute!!!!

I mean...seriously?


Snuggle, snuggle.

something really cool.

In a couple of weeks, I will be back in Atlanta (yippee! I will get my dog back!) for work and play. It's great that I can visit Atlanta now for work...although a bit weird?!

Anyway, tangent. So, I will be back in Atlanta. While I'm there, I am going to be taking part in a 3 day Refugee Simulation through World Relief. Our Atlanta office has been running these for a few years and I've heard really great things about them. Basically, it allows the participant to step in the shoes (as much as can be possible) of a refugee resettling in the U.S. We will essentially be refugees for 3 days. We will be treated as refugees, eat as refugees, and live with refugee families. SIGN ME UP. I am not naive and know that I'm not going to be staying at the Hilton and getting room service, but I am very anxious to walk the path of another. After working with refugees in Nashville and being in Africa this past year, I know the situations and conditions that many face when relocating to our country. It will be good to see it again, though, and LEARN how we can make this process easier. How we can serve our brothers and sisters better...love them better...care for them better. Sometimes all it takes is someone saying, "I know how you feel. Let's figure this out."

So, I can't wait to figure it out.

Anyone in Atlanta wanna join in? It costs a little bit of money, but would be completely worth it. Just let me know.

as of november 3rd:

I will be the very proud renter of a 2 bedroom townhouse. And did I mention that I will be living on my very own?! Not with my parents? Yippeee! (Not that I don't love my parents, but seriously...it's been 3 months now.) I will have my bed, my dog (unless the roomies do something to her between now and Oct. 31), my dishes, my stuff. Oh yeah...my books, my desk, my towels, my pillows, my couch, my chairs, my tv, my movies.

I'm excited, can you tell? :O)

I'm going to be in Atlanta the first weekend in November for work and to pack up all the junk I own...not looking forward to the move, but I AM looking forward to GETTING moved. My goal is to be in my own bed Monday, November 3rd with the Midi Lou Schmoo Bear curled up in a ball at the opposite end ignoring me, as usual. Sounds like a perfect night!!!

So...that IS what's new with me. Oh, and I seem to be fighting some sort of bug...or just a really weird migraine. Not great timing, but I will have to press on. So...really, that's it.

back in the ATL

It's SO nice to be back in the Duke House. Sleeping in my own bed last night was potentially the best feeling ever...it made me realize that I hadn't had a good night's sleep in a while. I can't wait to get all of my stuff moved to Maryland so I can feel at "home" there. It's weird living somewhere, but not feeling like you actually live there. If that makes sense. :O)

Here is what is on the Biz schedule for the weekend:

Today:
- currently checking out game day on ESPN
- getting ready to go to the farmer's market with noellie and nic
- a long walk later this afternoon with aforementioned roomies
- watching the Gators at a TBD restaurant/bar (i will not be wearing jean shorts, but i cannot rule out the possibility that one of the others might...it IS Florida football)

Tomorrow:
- buckhead church for most of the morning
- probably another long walk with the roomies
- cooking out previously purchased food from the farmer's market
- massive rock band fest

So, as you can see...busy, fun weekend ahead...and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

job interview

So, I have a job interview tomorrow at 2:30 if you want to give a little shout-out to God for me. It's with a relief agency in Baltimore. More details to follow...if the interview goes well. :O)

I'm leaving for Nashville tomorrow night and will probably spend 2-3 days there and then head to Atlanta for a week or so. I'm really looking forward to getting back and spending some time with everyone. Clear your calendars! :O)

Hope to catch up with you (in person) soon!!!!