Meet Layla!!

The first time we met sweet Layla

Her favorite place to sit when I have the windows and doors open. She can see inside the house and out in the backyard where the boys are playing.

I want to take a few moments to introduce the newest member of our family...her name is Layla. We have wanted a dog for quite some time but decided to pray and wait for the right one. Not sure if you saw my post a few weeks back about a missing dog that we found, well it was this girl. We found the owners and took her home. About a week and a half ago she came back to our fence when we were out back playing. We played with her for about an hour and then sadly took her home again. That night the boys asked why we couldn’t keep her. I had to explain how sad we would be if someone kept our dog if it got out. They were as sad as me but understood. That night when we were all laying in the boys beds talking we each took a turn and prayed for the right dog for our family. One of them began to pray for Layla. When we were done I told them if Layla returns again I will ask the owners if we can keep her. 10am that very next morning guess who came right up to our fence again when we went out to our backyard?!? Yes, it was sweet Layla. We played with her for a bit and then this time instead of walking her home (she lives 2 minutes if we walk) I loaded her and the boys up in the car. This was because I wanted her to stay in the car while I talked to the owner and if she said we could keep her we were headed straight to the pet store to get a name tag, food, and all other supplies. I knocked on the door and immediately introduced myself to the mom who answered because I had yet to meet her. I told her that we have been praying for a dog for quite some time and that the night before we specifically prayed for Layla. We fell in love with her from the first moment we met her. I asked this woman if we could keep Layla. I told her we have a wonderful fenced in backyard, that I have 3 energetic boys that she is clearly great around, and we would take great care of her. She looked at me both shocked and heartfelt and said she needed to think about it. Asked me to leave my information and she would call me if she decided to let us have Layla. I will tell you I teared up for sure when I was sharing with her that we prayed for Layla last night, not guilt tears, these were the tears that were happy tears to share how God works in our lives. I walked to my car to get Layla and right down my information. Mateo looked at me and said, “why does it look like you are crying?” I told him because I may have been sad to let Layla go. But it was the right thing to do. I returned to their front door with Layla and my information (ALL OF IT!! NAME, ADDRESS, & PHONE NUMBER). The woman came back out of her house and said (with tears in her eyes), “I think God wants you to have this dog.” She handed me some dog food and her food dishes that she had just cleaned for us. I cried and asked her if I could hug her. And then asked her maybe 5 times if she was sure. She said yes, she was sure. I returned back to the car with Layla and tears down my face this time. Mateo said, “Mom, why are you crying again and why do you still have Layla?” I explained that she felt God wanted us to keep her. To say that the boys and I were over the moon would be an understatement. 

She is a two year old boxer/pit mix. If ever we could find a dog that was the perfect fit for our family, she is it. She is loyal, loving, gentle, protective, and so many other great qualities. I wasn't sure how she would do so that first night I set up a crate in my room just until she was comfortable in our house and so I could make sure she was potty trained and wasn’t going to chew or destroy anything. We never used the crate. She was with me when I tucked the boys in and she made her spot right on the floor next to their beds. I put a blanket and pillow down for her and that has been her bedtime spot since we brought her home. She goes everywhere with us. She did great inside PetSmart. She did great when I took her to a friends backyard to socialize with their dogs. She has walked up to men and women alike and her tail wags the entire time. The boys left the gate open the other day and she could have ran, but she didn’t. I called her back into the yard, she came and we closed the gate. We love her, and I am sure you will too when you meet her. 

She loves to run around in the yard with Mateo.

This is where she sleeps for half the night. Then the rest of the night she is inside the bed near his feet. 

Jacoby put this on her back and said she picked that show. He was hoping to get to pick two shows in a row. LOL

Best friends already!

She was in the center of our family when the tornado came through.

She loves when the boys cover her and lay with her.

Guess what?!?

So after months of the house being in disarray the contractors, plumbers, and painters are finished. For those that saw my Facebook post a few weeks ago about needing a new washer, well I was still researching and just couldn’t decide yet. Then, a few days ago, mid cycle the washer starts beeping. It was filled with water and my load of clothes, oh and the door is locked. After many attempts at resetting the washer and trying to repeatedly press the drain/spin cycle I walked away. I ordered a new washer from Lowe’s and had it delivered today. Fun fact: you can pay them $30 to haul away the old washer. Oh, yeah the washer randomly clicked last night, unlocking the door. So, ummmmm I had nothing to put my soaking wet clothes into, except the kitchen trash can. Don’t worry folks, it’s clean. But just for added protection in case there was a hidden crack in it I put a new trash bag inside. I unloaded my sadly soaked clothes into it and placed it near the washer. I announced to the boys that my clothes were in the trash can, and there is a trash bag on the kitchen floor for them to use. Fast forward to this afternoon when the brand new washer was delivered. I bought necessary new hoses and had them on hand for the guys to hook everything up. I apologized to them for the water still inside the washer because I knew it made it that much heavier. Of course they said no worries and moved right along with the installation of the new one. The gentleman started the washer and told me that he was finished and I would be good to use the washer after that short cycle was complete. After the not so short cycle finished I opened the lid excited to rewash my soaking wet clothes that are sitting in my trash can and we’re held hostage by the old washer for more than 24 hours. Inside the new washer I find two bags that weren’t removed before he started the cycle. It was an honest mistake. But it’s my new washer. I am staying calm. The issue is that the bag that contained what looks like it could have been the manual had holes in it. So the shredded soaked papers are all inside the new washer. I have no idea what damage a large amount of paper could do. I honestly don’t want to find out. I have all new pipes. I have new flooring. I just want to wash clothes, not at a laundry mat, but in the comfort of my own home. I proceed with calling Lowe’s customer service. They have a “busier than expected” message that is on repeat. I wait 20 minutes before a person picks up the phone. I try to explain my situation 3 times. I was almost out of ways to explain it. The customer service rep after each explanation asked me, “so what are you missing?” Ahhhhhhhh I don’t know!! I explained it one more time from the beginning, and then she asks me to hold. After 5 minutes of holding I get disconnected and an automated voice asked me to complete a survey for the previous phone call. I always do surveys, but not today. I would hate to give feedback on all of this in the heat of the moment. I call Lowe’s customer service back again. This time it was 30 minutes before I was connected to a customer service rep. I immediately asked for a manager on duty and explained I was a bit frustrated for the previous situation plus and additional 30 minute wait. She was so polite. She said she would love to try and help me before having to get the manager. Well, she did wonderful. She asked all of the right questions and listened to my concerns. She confirmed my phone number just in case we got disconnected so she could call me right back. She called whomever she needed to. Came back on the line to tell me she was still working with her manager to resolve the issue. After the second hold she came back on and said someone will be to my house in the next 24 hours to assess the situation and handle it however I like. Y’all, I just want a brand new washer, that hasn’t washed a cycle of papers.  I know that Lowe’s will do what’s right and fix everything. But as people have been reminding me lately that I haven’t had the best of luck I am reminded that I do have so much more than that. I have my health. I have my boys with me daily (yay) and get the joy of watching them grow academically. We have this house, that is such a blessing even with everything that has happened. We have the best backyard where we spend so much of our time. Our insurance company has been amazing through it all, thank you USAA. Friends, don’t take for granted the small things. It can always be so much worse than what it really is. If you think you have a lot going on, send me a message we can share stories. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for news on my current house project. I am so excited to share! Stay safe. Stay home. Take care of your friends and family that don’t have anyone else. Even if you just check in on them or say hi through the fence, we really appreciate it all.