Hmmm. Well, it looks like I have not exactly blogged every day for the past few weeks...And there has been so much that has happened that I do not think there is anyway to catch up...

I have not been running for the past 2 weeks because I have a ridiculous shin splint that will not go away...I have heard those can turn into stress fractures if you keep pushing it...that is an idea I am NOT excited about...So, while I have not been running I have been playing tennis...but I have even stopped doing that this past week because it should not hurt just to exist and that is the way my shins have been feeling...

Our puppy, whom we named Whidbey, has been taking up a lot of my time. Even though it is not even close to being a parent I now understand why parents often do not get all of their to do lists taken care of...I am constantly having to look out for my adorable fluff ball as I am trying to potty train him, teach him what is OK to bark at, and teach him what is OK to chew on...Sigh...one day this will all be over and I won't even remember these days of cleaning up puppy pee frustration...All in all I am totally thankful for my little guy and am excited for the day when he "gets it."

Jon is working nights these next two weeks so we have time during the day to hang out. It is a nice change but a little hard on the mind as Jon says. He has started leaving the toilet seat up the past few days, which he has never done before, and tonight I fell in!! GROSS!

Jon and I went on a Deception Pass Boat tour today. I actually bought the tickets for over half off using Groupon a few months back and it was an awesome deal. We got to learn some history of the area and see some cool wildlife.

I ran out to get a pizza for dinner because the meat for the meat loaf just would not thaw out the way it needed to be in order for the meal to be done at a decent hour. All I can say is that while the sign SAYS hot and fresh NOW it has not been hot and fresh NOW the past few times I have been there to get a pizza...more like hot and fresh in TEN minutes...ha ha. Oh well. At least it is only 5 bucks!

As far as my Bible reading I have come to realize that I have some how matured over the last few years...it was probably my time in Seminary that did it...but I realized while reading in Isaiah this week that often times in the past I would just take any verse I read in the Bible and claim that verse for my life...now I realize that we must make sure we take all verses in context and realize that in some points God was talking to a specific people when he was promising things...I did realize for the first time in my Christian life, because I am very poor in OT knowledge, that God did say in Isaiah that the gentiles would also be saved. It is pretty amazing to see how the books of the Bible foretold the future. Reading about how God promised salvation not only to the Hebrews/Jews but to the gentiles in the OT really hit home with me. Gentile salvation was not a new concept in NT times...it was a concept from the beginning of time and I have lived in ignorance of this scripture my whole walk...

"REALLY?!" This is the term Jon picked up in boot camp and it has now become a part of our express yourself vocabulary.

It comes in pretty handy.

You are running 30 minutes late to pick up your spouse...."REALLY?!"

Interesting conversation with someone you do not agree with..."REALLY?!"

Puppy pees in house right after you have him outside..."REALLY?!"

Child acting REdonkulous in the store...and the mom responds..."REALLY?!"

It is the perfect all in one word statement that says it all...

Jon and I had an awesome 4th of July. We went to a new Church and loved the people there. We had great fellowship which we are SO thankful for!

Visiting said new Church brought us to a big 4th of July gathering at the pastor's house. We got to spend our first 4th of July in Washington with great company and an awesome view of the fireworks.

While at said Pastor's house we met a white little ball of fluff which Jon fell in love with straight away.

The next day we became the owners of said ball of fluff. 

Owning said ball of fluff is like having a baby...except when he potties...it is not in a diaper but in my house :( Work, work work does puppy take...but he is worth it. I can not believe I love this little puppy..I never thought I would be one of those people...

We named said ball of fluff Whidbey. He is a good addition to the family because he causes me to get up early and get outside. I have met a really awesome neighbor that I love because of him and we let our puppies play together...which makes for long puppy naps...which make me happy.

 Blue skies and Ferris Wheels....

                          

Jon and I played tennis again today. I am still hurting so I am not running for a few days to see if I can get my shin to heal up. I am very thankful for a husband who likes to do a lot of the things I like to do. We started playing tennis together when we first got married but have not played too much for various reasons in the past. He used to get so frustrated playing me and I don't like to play with people who get frustrated. I was always trying to help him learn how to play the game and while he was a good listener he still did not like losing..ha ha. So we ended up taking a break from playing for a while.  Then the other day when we walked on the court he was like a new man. His skill has grown so much. I think the break from playing has helped a lot and these days he has me running all over the court, which I really like! He is getting better at playing tennis day by day and one day I think he might just be able to beat me. :) He is so talented he even sweats in the shape of a heart:

After our early afternoon game we came back home to get ready for the day. Jon made an awesome lunch of shrimp, zucchini,onions, and mushrooms. It was really good! I found myself thankful for a day that Jon made lunch as it gave me a break.

We finished off our first night of Jon's 4 days off for 4th of July by venturing to the Drive-In Theater here on the Island.  

It was pretty awesome. We got to see two first run movies for $6.50 a person. They even had a free fireworks display before the movie played as they played the Star Spangled Banner.

 We saw Toy Story which was OK and we saw Eclipse...which was the real reason I wanted to go to the Drive In. :)

We lucked out and got to park in the front row. It was a really enjoyable way to watch movies actually and I am very thankful we went. Next time I will have to remember a blanket to snuggle under as I forgot the nights in Washington still get kind of chilly! Gone are the days of bench seats in cars so you can snuggle with your honey for warmth!