Dogs

I love my dog. I mean adore her. Her name is Annabelle and she's the cutest little thing. She has white fluffy hair and a black little nose. Dogs are amazing in my opinion. They love you no matter what. They can be more dependable than your closest friend and be there in times that you don't even realize that you need someone or something. They show unconditional love even when you don't show it in return. They're always happy to see you. It's nice to walk in the door and have her little tail going nuts. It makes me feel good to know that I was missed, even if it is just by my dog. However my dog is not just a dog. She's my little buddy. She makes me feel good even when I'm in the worst mood. Just seeing her and playing with makes everything else seem to fade away for that moment in time. Annabelle is like my little confidant who gives me the best advice by the wag of her tail. My dog is so important to me and his helping me in a way that no person could. Right now I'm going through a difficult time in my life...a divorce. For me no amount of talking makes me feel any better. That's where Annabelle comes into the picture. I got her a month after I left my husband. Words cannot describe how much she has helped through one of the most difficult times in my life. I would never have thought that a little white fluffy thing could dull the pain of what I thought was the end of my life. Not literally speaking but I was bad off. She has really helped getting me get back to the old Clare I used to be...before my husband. She brought back my laugh and smile even though I didn't think it was possible. I had my heart ripped out or so I thought...and this little puppy came into my life just in time to help me lick my wounds. I believe that God gave us dogs just for that reason -- to tell us what we need to hear by a wag of a tail or a lick to the cheek. They say what needs to be said without saying anything at all - I love you is what I hear when I look at my dog. What precious words those are but even more precious when they are felt by the heart -- even if it is by a dog.

Auntie Clare

Ashley, my best friend is pregnant. Wow. We've been best friends since we were in 6th grade so that makes us 12 and we are now 25. We've been friends over half our lifetime. I think that's pretty awesome. She's been married 2 years now and is pregnant with her first child. She's going to make an amazing mother. She's five months along and she says it about the size of a banana.

When she first told me I was in shock...I mean we talked about this when we were in middle school and now it's actually happening. It's crazy to be able to see someone go through all the different steps in life. She sent me a sonogram via phone and I couldn't believe it...there it was Ashley's little baby. We've always talked about what our children would call us and I've always been Auntie Clare. I can't wait to meet it. Yes, I say it because they do not want to know the sex of the baby. Well let me rephrase that, Jesse the husband, doesn't want to know. Ashley on the other hand would love to know but is making a compromise. Me personally I wouldn't compromise that because I'm a planner. I'd want the baby room all decked out in boy or girl and have all the little clothes ready for when we came home. I think there are enough surprises when you're having a baby.

She's due July 22nd and they are calling me as soon as they are going into labor so that way I can be there right when it's born. Did I mention they live in Houston? Yeah, I'll be flying in my car to get to that baby. I think it's going to be a little surreal and I can't wait.

My first memory as a child involved a tube of lipstick, a couch, and a cartoon show called Jem and the Holograms. Jems was my favorite cartoon show. The cartoon characters were barbie like rockstars. They would have crazy makeup for example a star outlining an eye or a lighting bolt streaking across their face. This intrigued me and I wanted to be just like them...and boy did I make a grand attempt.

I somehow got a hold of a tube of my mothers pink/red lipstick and began drawing all over my face...as well as the couch. So, then mom walks in whith her daughter and nice couch covered in lipstick -- uh oh not good. I remember being so proud of what I had done. I had become one of them, a true hologram, at three years old. My mom's initial reaction was to red my leg, but before she could my dad said, "Wait Carolyn this is a precious memory." So out came the camera and the star of the show - me - began to perform.

I remember the feelings of that day...a sense of true accomplishment at the mere age of three. Wow was I on a role. To this very day the memory always makes me smile and reminds me of what wonderful parents I have to have seen the fun in such a mess. Their little mess of a daughter had made a big mess of the couch and still got to put on her show. Now tell me those aren't some fun parents to have. We now have the pictures in every album of half of my face covered in pink with my little overalls on and one shoe missing. Oh what a great day became of what could have been such a disaster for little baby Clare. Thanks mom and dad :)