Stuff.

Today was that day.

Lots of little things that I could explain to you through my tears and you'd probably give me a blank stare. Truly, it was a bunch of nothings that ended with an $800 MRI bill (on top of the $200 bill to pay someone to read the dumb MRI) and I just couldn't handle it anymore, so I grabbed Kota and headed for a walk around the block so Cody wouldn't see me lose it.

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We bought Kota a new leash a while back before a vacation. I'm ashamed to admit that he has survived three years of life with a rather pathetic looking leash that I believe might have come from the dollar spot at Target. Knowing it's seen better days, we upgraded to one of those retractable leashes to give him a little more freedom. {Plus it was purple and pretty!}

Now that he has experienced 16 feet of leash walking freedom, there is no going back. He struts his stuff and gives you the most pathetic "why are you treating me so undignified?" any time I try and cut him off on the length. It's hilarious.

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As I was praying {whining? complaining? lamenting? fill in your own blank} about all of the "stuff" I was bothered by today, I couldn't help but see myself in Dakota. God has more than given me 16 feet of freedom. It's just enough leash to think that I can make my own plan and take the lead... and I probably act a little undignified when I realize that's not what God's plan is.

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Growing.
Waiting.
Hoping.

It's not always the easiest. But it will be worth it.

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{end metaphor. only slightly exaggerating when I say our walk ended with us running for our lives from another dog. a *big* boxer was roaming free on the streets and took an interest in dakota. I wasn't sure if he was friendly and I was more afraid of how dakota would treat him. so I had to carry dakota for a good ways to get away from him. I thought we made the home stretch, put kota down and had him start jogging back to the house. the boxer took off running after us. I wanted to cry and wet my pants all at the same time, but I ran the fastest my short legs will ever run. the dog did catch up to us, rolled over dakota and then somehow disappeared. I'm going with - thanks God!}