Some Random Favorite Things...Sleeping Pets, Snow and Sermons

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Life continues in the Dalrymple household and we are doing really well.  It seems that Tom and I are both facing furlough with the implementation of sequestration.  Honestly we both have a real peace about it.  I think the way DoD is talking about dealing with it is fair -- one furlough day a week for 22 weeks.  I think it would be WAY too painful to face 22 straight days of furlough.  I've been joking with Tom that we need to consider diversifying with both of us working for the federal government, could get painful.

I think the thing we are most concerned about is how this will impact us getting a loan to build the new house.  Stay tune on that.  We are still awaiting approved plans from Pima County so we haven't been able to go to the bank yet.  The hold up is some additional civil engineering reviews we needed to get done because we are considered a hillside development.

All the fuzzy kids are doing well.  Having a puppy in the house has been an adjustment but has been lots of fun.  Smokey and Bear seem to be tolerating Colt.  Colt likes to torture Smokey the most.  I think if Smokey would decide to just play with him it would be okay.  The picture below is a very rare moment.  We've had Smokey for almost 10 years and I've never heard him hiss as much as I have in the last two months.
Sharing a very rare moment together
In the two months we've had Colt I think he's quadrupled in size.
He sticks his tongue out a lot when he sleeps
Getting mouthy with Dad
We won't be doing it much longer (cause it's starting to warm up) but Colt has been hanging out in the garage during the day.  He's generally very good but this particular day he had a party with a roll of paper towel that had fallen off a shelf.  No way to blame this one on the cats!
Party Time -- Colt's version of confetti
On his way to the Vet -- Colt has one more round of puppy shots
When I love Colt the most (smile!)
Compared to winter in Germany it has been a very mild/warm winter but thankfully there have been some cold days.  Cold weather is good for my soul.  Throw some snow in there and some opportunities to wear some of my sweaters and I'm a VERY happy girl.
Beautiful snow a couple weeks ago
Wish I could have stayed home and enjoyed it but it was a work day
Colt LOVED the snow too.  He runs in it using his nose like a snow plow.  I hated bringing him in.

While I'm enjoying Colt I'm still loving my Bear and Smokey.  Every morning when we are getting ready for work Bear manages to drape himself or curl up on the bed in new and interesting ways.  I joke with Tom that Bear is such an inspiration.  I want to be just like him when I grow up.

One abused cat!  You'd think his life was soooooooo exhausting.
In February two of my sister-in-laws came down from Phoenix.  I learned late last year that they are both huge Dwight Yoakam fans and have seen him in concert several times.  So when I saw that Dwight was coming to town I asked if they wanted to come down for the concert.  I probably knew two Dwight songs before the concert but I have to admit it was a great concert.  It was rockin' the whole way through.  I'd definitely go see him again.  We had such a great time.  The day after the concert we drove down to Tubac, which is about 40 miles from the Mexican border, for their annual Festival of the Arts.  It was a fantastic festival.  I think it's going to become one of my annual events.  
Other stuff I'm enjoying right now are my new subscription to More magazine.  My mom Pam gets the magazine and I've read a couple when I've been home visiting.  If you're looking for a substantive, fun women's magazine than I would highly recommend it.  I also can't stop listening to the Newsboys album 'God's Not Dead.'  It came out a couple years ago.  Highly recommend it!

A couple months ago Skip Heitzig was a guest teacher at our church.  He is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Albuquerque.  Last year he did a 22-week series with his church on marriage.  It is called 'Keep Calm and Marry On.'  I went on their website and downloaded all of the sermons.  I've listened to about 14 of the messages.  The series is wonderful and I highly recommend it for any of you married guys and gals out there.  You can download messages straight from their website.  Here is the link. 

So there's a random update from us.  Here's to March and Springtime.  There's been a lot of moisture this winter so I'm hoping for a great showing by the wildflowers.  I picked up the latest Arizona Highways magazine.  The cover story is 'Where to see...Wildflowers.'  The photos below are not my own (I gave credit if I knew who took them) but hopefully I'll get some great ones this year.
Joanne West Photography
Photo by Rebecca Allen, Peridot Mesa

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