Sunday, February 24, 2013

this is really happening - wrigley part 1

As you read part one about Wrigley's story keep in mind that we had no intentions of getting a dog.

Two hard working athletic trainers, early in our careers, we don't have a lot of extra time. Last winter and spring when we'd have a little time to drive around Lynchburg, we'd hit a couple of shopping errand with visiting pet shops to see the animals. There are three pet shops: Petopia, Pet & Aquatic Warehouse and PetSmart. Our favorite was Pet & Aquatic Warehouse on Wards Rd because they have a huge selection of saltwater and freshwater fish, plus lots of puppies, bunnies, and kittens! Our rule is that we won't ever ask to hold a puppy, which we never did!

After a few trips over several months, we'd narrowed down what type of dog that would fit us as our first dog... some sort of poodle mix that was smaller and hypoallergenic, but we were not getting a dog anytime soon.

In April, our friends asked us to babysit their 11-week-old cockapoo puppy! Since Ryan was working, I ended up hanging out with about 7 pounds of cute, fluffy, floppy, bundle of joy for the day while Ryan stayed with her overnight. They have a crazy story about getting their puppy, involving craigslist and a scary area of Lynchburg... the bottom line is craigslist for cute puppies..? What a great way to save money (compared to $500-600 at a pet store or $800-1500 from a breeder). Still, with NO plans of getting a puppy for at least a couple of years, I began inquiring on craigslist for cute puppies.

On a Thursday, while eating lunch, I saw an ad for an "adorable puppy" with a picture of a puppy who could barely stand. There was a picture of it's mom (black & tan cocker spaniel) and it's dad, (a white medium sized poodle). Within minutes, and I mean minutes, I had texted Ryan... "Guess what I found on craigslist, what do I do...?" and had replied to the email, "Will you take $200? Male or female? When can I pick him/her up?" Ryan was by his phone and responded, "Why not? Let's go for it." Wait what? This morning we had no plans of getting a puppy. By 3:00, I had a email confirming... the puppy was ours. W H A T ? 


As a side hiccup, that I don't want to forget, at 3:30 or so, I called the lady to set up a time to pick up the puppy. When she answered, she told me, "Sorry, there's someone on the way to get her right now, I'm taking the ad down because I'm getting so many inquires and she's already taken." I got really sad and couldn't find the ad on craigslist anymore. I thought what she'd said was true.

About 10 minutes later, she called me to apologize. When I called, she didn't know who I was, so she thought I was someone else inquiring. Since I was the first to respond to the ad, (I literally must have seen the ad seconds after she posted it), the puppy was mine! "And when are you going to come pick her up?" 

....I texted Ryan... the puppy is ours, we need to go get puppy supplies tonight and pick her up at 8:00 tomorrow morning. This is really happening.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

second best quesadilla he's ever had

I don't know what #1 is.... but this is the second best quesadilla Ryan's ever had. I loved it too!!

Ingredients for GREEK QUESADILLAS:

flour tortillas
fresh spinach, finely chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
2 red peppers, roasted and chopped
black olives
feta cheese
mozzarella cheese
parmesan cheese
oregano


Butter 1 tortilla, place in sauce pan, buttered side down. Load with thin layer of mozzarella cheese, spinach, black olives, roasted red peppers, feta, onions (not too much), and sprinkle oregano and parmesan cheese. (Ryan doesn't like feta, so I wanted the flavor without the texture. By only putting a little feta and adding parmesean there was more cheese flavors without him even realizing there was feta! Success!) Top with a good layer mozzarella cheese. Melty mozzarella is necessary to hold the quesadilla together. Finish with a buttered tortilla on top. Turn on medium heat. Flip over when cheese is melted on the bottom layer and getting soft near the top tortilla. It's done with you lift up one tortilla and the bottom lifts up too (hince the good layer of melty cheese).


Instructions to successfully roasting red peppers. It worked again, and I'm glad I documented my success the first time because I couldn't remember how I did it!

Improvements for next time:
1. This also worked with one tortilla, layer ingredients on half, fold over. I think I was able to put more topping on because it was easier to flip in the pan.
2. Don't drop the feta cheese ALL over the stove, counter, floor, kitchen rug.


Friday, February 15, 2013

thursday thanks on friday

Trying to get back into wrigley and company... even though there's no real news lately.

Here we go. Lots to be thankful for this week:

community bible study

love

my valentine

practices outside

exam in class feels like a day off from teaching

dad's quick visit

injured athletes getting better

indoor plant growing new leaves

cooking with my valentine

creative homemade cards

waking up without an alarm... at 7:30am not feeling tired (this IS not me but I'll take it)

packages in the mail

sweet valentine notes


Thursday, February 14, 2013

we love because he first loved us

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's day doesn't have to be about having a significant other. Growing up, my mom always put together a red spread for each of us to show her love. A red shirt, or socks, or candy. Yes, a hallmark style example of showing love, but from a better more heart-felt family, caring, motherly love. Which is MUCH better. Valentine's day is an excuse to tell those we care about, that we love them. And it's not cheesy. Yes, valentine's day can turn into being cheesy fairly easily, but it doesn't have to.

"...For love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7-9)

Love  comes  from  God.
God  is  love.  

How remarkable?

If we think we know what love means... that feeling we get... those thoughts we have... it stems from the one who created love Himself. There's no way around it. God shows us perfect love, just and merciful love. He created it, and it's beautiful.

It's everlasting.

It's unconditional.

Express the love you feel. For without God, we wouldn't know what real love is.


"We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19)