Life can be an amazing thing! We can choose to find the ugliness in everything, or we can choose to seek out those moments that are undeniably good. Life with Libby continues to be entertaining. While she has certainly brought a sense of love and excitement to our house, she also brought a level of craziness that I wasn’t quite expecting. Overwhelming is definitely a word that one could use to describe the past few days, but that doesn’t just fit life with Libby. Overwhelming also describes my love for the people God has placed around me. I have been blessed by awesome friends, wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ, and absolutely amazing military spouses at each and every duty station that we have lived. Each person has impacted my life in ways that I will never be able to truly explain.

Yesterday was a prime example of the awesomeness that fills my life when you look at the people around myself, and my family. After spending the morning doing all of those daily mamma duties (throw in a little extra clean-up from the Libby saga), an unbelievable sweet, caring, and giving friend arrived at our sweet little abode. She came with snacks, movies, and art activities for the girls. Seriously, God has provided her with such an amazing talent. Her heart is full of love, and it is evident in all she does. The minute she knows life is even the slightest bit chaotic, she is there, ready and willing to help out in any way possible. She came in the house with her own sweet kiddo, hugged the girls, met the dog, and sent me off for some quiet time. It was wonderful!!! I didn’t go to the spa. I didn’t go get a hair cut (come to think of it, that would have been a good idea too). I ran errands, alone… without the chaos that those extra hands can sometimes provide. To be honest, it was wonderful, but also a bit weird. Hahaha! I mean, they are with me everywhere I go. I ran to the office, to pay for the blinds I couldn’t replace myself… and then I went to the pet store. At the pet store I met up with yet another wonderful person! I’ve known this man most of my life. I grew up going to church with his family back home in Jacksonville. He is an awesome teacher, a wonderful friend, and my own personal dog whisperer. We spent a long time talking about Libby and what I needed to try to do for her. The type of attention a dog with anxiety needs is going to require work. After spending some time talking, I knew it was going to require a lot of effort on my part, but I was up for the challenge. We got to hang out a little longer reminiscing about family. It is nice to have someone who knows everyone you grew up with, who knows your family so well… especially when all of your family is on the opposite side of the country. It makes those little things a  little easier.

After I got home, I spent the afternoon working with Libby, playing with the girls, and visiting with my neighbor. I got Libby a new crate. I purchased one of those metal crates, that way she can see what is around her and maybe not freak out as bad. As soon as I set it up, she climbed in and lay down. I was ecstatic. The other crate… she wanted nothing, I repeat NOTHING, to do with that thing. We trained with treats throughout the afternoon. We took her for a walk, we played outside. It was awesome. We had plans last night to go to a friends from church for Friday night family time. So, I’m not going to lie. I was a little hesitant to leave the house, but I figured hey… we have to try this sometime. Honestly, I knew we just needed to bite the bullet, and give it a try. Being around our amazing church family was just what my soul needed. It felt good to be with them, to sing with them, to edify one another… it is amazing what time like that can do for someone… for me.

Alas, the night was drawing to an end. The anxious feeling that had left when I arrived, was back. I just didn’t want to go home to total destruction. I loaded the girls in the van, applied some Valor (my go to when I need a little assistance in the calming department), and we were off. When I pulled up, my friend was outside heading to her own house. She said that she had just done a walk by, and that she could hear Libby barking, but that she wasn’t loose in the house. I could have done back flips… if I actually knew how to do them. Woohoo!!! I was so excited! I just wanted to get in the house, let her out of the crate, love on her, and relax.  I walk in and I can see that somehow she has unlatched the bottom tray from the crate and it is about three feet in front of her crate. Hahahahaha… that is what I get for relaxing. When I get closer to her crate, I see the damage that has been done. The walls are still intact, she is still in her crate, the little bed mat that she has… she peed on it, but the carpet… You know how she shredded my blinds? This wasn’t as bad as far as how large her destruction path was the first time around… but still.

Ummmmm!!!!! WHAT?!? What the heck am I supposed to do with holes in the carpet??? I’m not sure my neighbor had the chance to sit on her couch before my text hit her phone. Something that I ABSOLUTELY love about military spouses… they are there in a heartbeat… they drop what they are doing, and they are there to help you out. Why? They have been there. The situation may not be exactly the same, but they know what it is like when things go wrong, you’re out numbered, and you just need someone else to be there. We are family and we rely on each other when times are crazy. I got the dog outside… peeing on the carpet the whole way out… Hahahaha!! I mean, at least they were clean earlier in the day. Seriously, how do you not laugh at the insanity? Ok, so I may have cried last night, but come on… it has been a crazy week and the dog is an expert at destruction. The girls went outside and played with Libby, while I briefly melted down and tried to figure out what to do. My neighbor… she was here in minutes!! Seriously, love her!! Beverage in hand, and a “lets tackle this attitude”, she came over… no questions asked, no thoughts otherwise. I wish I could put hearts on my blog (if there is a way… I haven’t figured that out yet), because again… my heart totally overwhelmed by the people around me!! We got the girls changed and in bed… the youngest monkey may have needed more convincing than the two older girls, but it finally happened. The girls were in bed and we got to work. Honestly, she took over and it was appreciated… and totally needed. I kind of just sat there dumbfounded. It can be nice to have someone sit there with you in the midst of chaos. After some brainstorming we got to work. I think the final product looks much better. Don’t you?

I feel like I have been learning lots of lessons in life lately. I really should have started this blog when we lived in our money pit in Louisiana…. termites, plumbing issues, friends falling through ceilings, tearing out a brick fireplace, termite swarms, ceilings that fell in kids rooms… but most importantly, the time with our family there!!! All of our friends there know exactly how crazy life was for the Robinson clan. But, living there was where I learned that it was ok to ask for help. I hated asking for help… I don’t like to look needy, I don’t like the feeling of having to rely on others… I should be able to do it all…!! God has a way of humbling us, doesn’t he? I would have cracked in Louisiana if it weren’t for the amazing family we had there. I love them and miss them dearly!! I’m reminded that just because we are in a new place, new home, new everything… I still need to ask for help when it is needed. I can’t do it alone.