First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage...

Hi blog friends! It's been a while, but that's because there has been a LOT going on at the Stavenger household! Not only have we been acclimating to a new dog, but the same day we picked up Luna, we found out I am pregnant! Soooo, that's been interesting information to digest! Of course, we're THRILLED, though I'm not so sure about having a baby at Christmastime...I always felt bad for the kids with birthdays at Christmas. It's like, "Here's all your presents for the entire year!" Oh well. I'm not complaining. It's still a little hard to wrap my brain around the fact that we'll have a baby by the end of the year! One good year after another...

Welcome to another exciting journey!

We're a One-Dog Family!

Well, she is here! Thursday, we made the long trek to Moorhead to pick her up from her foster family. Luna did really well on the drive home and has made a quick adjustment to her new home. We've added a zip-line to the backyard so she can be outside for a while. Unfortunately, she likes to get herself tangled up in the trees, which defeats the purpose. Otherwise, she's become much calmer around the house, and has found her favorite place to lay...with her head between the couches. My favorite feature: her lack of odor! (With the exception of when she poops on the carpet) I have to say that Chris has done an amazing job stepping up to the responsibility of dog ownership- taking her on a morning walk, cleaning up her kennel after she eats (she's a MESSY eater!), and taking care of "accidents" (there's only been one).

Chris and I on our first walk with Luna.

Look at that smile!

Ready to leave for her new home!

Stopping for a potty break along the mighty (flooded) Mississippi.

Home, at last, on her pillow.

Dare I say...it's not as bad as I thought it would be?

Hello, International Friends!

I'm pretty good about keeping track of my stats on the blog...that is, I like to see how people are getting here and where they are coming from. I have a pretty loyal California/Minnesota following. But a couple weeks ago, I started seeing an unusual amount of International visits! In the last week alone, I've received visitors from Hungary, Spain, Germany, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands and the U.K.! I tried to figure out on my own what, all of a sudden, was atrracting so many visitors from across the world...and then I found the common thread...

they all love the Eagles' "Hotel California"!

Yes, the image that I used ended up on the first page of the google search for Hotel California. I have since removed it because I don't like the random riff-raff messing up my actual blog counts. But, it just goes to show that "Hotel California" is an international music sensation. I rest my case :)

Bob Loblaw...

Well, it's time to do one of those annoying compilation posts...word vomit, because I'm tired of thinking. Needless to say, I'm HIGHLY anticipating the completion of my course in two weeks. Being a student is OVERrated! After this, I'm done...and I can move on to greater things, like being the one to give out the homework again!

1. So, of course the big news at our casa is the addition of a canine friend. We're all systems go for arrival, as all the dog accessories strewn across our house testify. Chris let me pick out the collar for Luna...and it's pink! The line was drawn there, though, because my husband feels a pink leash would be emasculating. We also purchased this dog pillow, which will be doubling as a guest bed should any of you desire to visit. :)

2. Today was the first day I went jacket-less to work...it was a beautiful thing. I assume* spring is on its way since I saw 2 people taking down Christmas lights this week. (*cue snowstorm)

3. Because of both #1 and #2, we have been busily cleaning, purging junk and assembling items for a garage sale. This is loooooong overdue!

4. It's Tuesday, and that means my afternoon will consist of homework (big projects are always due on Wed), washing my hair (it's a process, people), and watching American Idol (Go Danny!).
We also got the second disc of "Arrested Development" in the mail today- loving it so far!

Geez...I'll never get on Bobby's "Friday Flava" list with lame posts like this.
More interesting posts to follow, I promise! : )

D-Day is Coming.

I'd keep a heads up for other biblical end-time prophecies, because I'm pretty sure the ball is rolling with this jaw-dropper: We're getting a dog. I know, I know...you thought it would never happen, especially after this post (by the way, check out the comment-a-palooza on that one!). However, the time feels right and the opportunity kinds of hit us out of the blue.

We weren't looking, and I can assure you, if Chris didn't want one so darn bad we wouldn't have a dog at all. But this one tugged a little at our heartstrings. She's a 3-4 year old Siberian Husky who has been tied to a tree her entire life (just imagine that, ALL YEAR LONG here in MN). When her owners moved, they left her tied to the tree. That's when the pound picked her up and a rescue agency placed her in a foster home...one of Chris' friends from High School. We saw pics on Facebook and, well, for a girl that doesn't think a lot of dogs are "cute", I thought she was pretty cute. We've been in the adoption process for about a week, and it looks like we'll be picking her up on Thursday!
(Luna at the pound)


Now, since the "dog" thing is really Chris' baby, he understands that he'll be the one sleeping downstairs to kennel train, picking up her poop, and waking up to walk her at whatever god-awful hour she arises. For now, I'm enjoying the last few days of laying on the floor without a nose in my face, or eating on the couch without simultaneously whiffing panting dog breath.

(sigh) It was bound to happen sometime.

Let's Start At The Very Beginning...

I hope you had a splendid Easter!
Ours was fantastic- we stayed in town for two reasons: One, we were dog-sitting (you'll hear much more about this later.), and Two, our church opened it's brand-new facility and- its kickin' cool. Think Duluth-scale Saddleback. Easter services were packed and high-energy. There were lots of reasons to celebrate- as they made clear, the LEAST of which was the new building, and the GREATEST of which is the risen Savior. Even today, I feel like singing and dancing!

(dance interlude)

Whew! And if that weren't enough, Heidi tuned me in to this gem: Nothin' like the Sound of Music to put you in a good mood. Oh, and if I were there, I would have been dancing right along with them. :)


Happy Monday-
Jesus is alive, today and every day! :)

How Deep The Father's Love For Us.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Not for the Kiddies!

That's right...the Easter Bunny donated his body to science.
Now we know where all those eggs were coming from.

You may want to skip this craft with your five year old.
Hoppy Easter!

Let's Settle This: Sherbet

This argument has actually gotten so intense that I've rolled down my window to survey people in other cars. What I've found is that there is a large population of people who have strayed from their grammatical common sense to perpetuate a gross mispronunciation of the word "Sherbet". Now, let's look at the word together, shall we? Sher-bet. I see one "r" in the middle of the word. Somehow, for some reason, some of you are sneaking in an extra "r" at the end...making it into "Sher-bert". But it isn't. You're like the people that say "warsh" instead of "wash" or "pop" instead of "soda" (okay...low blow to the Minnesotans. I take it back.) The point is, when did it become okay to throw extra "r"s around randomly?

Whart is your orpinion?

Let's Settle This: Toilet Paper

Every once in a while, I'll enter our bathroom and find our toilet paper hung backwards. While I appreciate the fact that my husband will take the initiative to put on a new roll, I usually end up turning the roll around. Why? Because there is a "right" way and a "wrong" way to hang toilet paper. Allow me to demonstrate:




Now, this is applicable to the guest bathroom and any bathroom I use. Chris, you can do whatever you want in the "man bathroom"...I'll never step foot in there, anyway.

Who Has Two Thumbs and a Birthday?

THIS GUY!

Happy Birthday, Chris...
May it be the best year yet! :)