Max

Max was a happy puppy. His tail was always wagging. My dad joked that he had a "happy ending" because of his ever-wagging tail. Though considerably smaller than his brother, Riley, Max took charge as the alpha male. Despite that, he's always been eager to please. He is also a mama's boy. When mom has been away from home, he'd go on a hunger strike. When he comes in from outside, he searches the house until finding mom. He needs constant love. He loves riding in my dad's truck and seeing how many toys/"babies" he can fit in his mouth.

The last couple rough, Kansas winters have been hard on the little guy. Mom says he's stiff and moans in his sleep. She tries to keep him warm. This spring, he started getting a growth on his tummy area and didn't want to eat. Long story short, he was bleeding into his tummy. They removed a tumor, his spleen, and most of his liver. Our slightly over 50lb. dog had over 10% of his body removed that were two types of cancer. The liver tumor was slow-growing, but the other was fast.

Three months after surgery, the vet said he doesn't have much time left; 3-4 weeks at best. The cancer has consumed his liver. The tumors continue to grow. Despite the pain he's in, he's still active and loves to go exploring outside. He's on meds for pain. He's such a fighter, but time is fleeting.

I wish I could freeze time. The end is nearer than I can bear. #heartbreaking I wish there was something I could do to take away the pain. I pray again and again for Max; that the cancer will leave, that he won't be in pain, that he'll know how much we love him.

I'm reminded of all the things he's taught me: joy in the small things, greet everyone with a smile, let your friends and family know how happy you are to see them every day, and every day is good for a walk.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

I love butterflies, so we headed to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia. It was beautiful! It had lovely ponds, gardens, and fountains. It's also a popular wedding ceremony location. We saw set-up for wedding there. Talk about terrific wedding photos!
They had so many types of butterflies and beautiful exotic plants.. We even saw newly hatched butterflies.

Me:

They also had a vast array of orchids; my favorite flower. I enjoyed seeing them. In addition, they also had a feature of plants from dry areas, like cactus.

The fee to enter the botanical garden was $12, but they also had a military discount which was nice. They also had a really nice gift shop with items such as gardening-related tools, jewelry, and small gifts.

If you're in Richmond, this is a must-see! Here's their review page on Trip Advisor.

Virginia Beach

Last week, I went on a much needed vacation to Virginia. One of my very good friends lives there. Our first stop was Virginia Beach.
We got tickets to Cirque du Soleil, Kooza. I'd always wanted to go to a Cirque du Soleil show, but I thought I'd never be able to afford to see one, so I was really excited!!! The show was everything I'd hoped for and more! I laughed and smiled the whole time! I enjoyed the confetti cannon! I was sad when the show ended. The experience was almost magical. :)

We stayed at a place we found on AirBNB. It was two blocks away from the beach. It was a beautiful oasis. Check it out here. Christine and her sweet dog, Cash were great hosts! We had a private entrance, patio, and bathroom. We'll definitely be back for a longer stay next time!
In Virginia Beach, we ate at Abbey Road for lunch. The place was pet friendly and brought my friend's dog a water dish. I had fish tacos and they were really good!
We walked on the beach and boardwalk. We saw the ocean and I got my feet wet, literally. I love the ocean!

Unknowingly, our trip coincided with the Neptune Festival. We got to hear the Symphony by the Sea. Symphonicity performed right in front of the ocean. We walked to the beautiful sounds of it.
Neptune!!!

We had dinner at Cactus Jack's. The hostess was terrific. Our waiter was a lot of fun. While I didn't like my crab cake salad, my friend loved her brisket sandwich.
We shopped at Seaside Flags & Gifts. It was a fun, little shop. The sales girl was great and helpful. I got a super cute, bird ring holder and an iridescent, fish Christmas ornament.
That next morning, we got up early and headed to the beach.

I'll be back soon!

Burning House by Cam

I love the song, Burning House by Cam. There's something about Cam's warm, soulful voice that touches me. This song makes me want to cry. I love the acoustic guitar within it. In every video, she looks like she could cry while singing it. I could listen to her sing all day! Love her voice!
From watching her videos, I think her favorite color is yellow. :)


Here she shares the meaning behind the song:


What do you think? Do you love it too? I hope they make it into a music video!

Louie Giglio: Fruit Cake and Ice Cream

I enjoy watching Louie Giglo's sermons. I appreciate his realness! Here he shares the life-changing experience of a college student named, Ashley. It really impacted me and reminded me that our example, as Christians can change the world. Here's to being a "fruit cake."

What are your thoughts on this?