Gotta Give the People What They Want!

 

Hello, Friends!

 

I have appreciated all of the comments that you have left on my posts recently.  One person said that she liked cards made with the funny Art Impressions stamps so you can guarantee that I'll be making another card to share with you soon featuring Art Impressions Stamps.  Why?  Because she took the time to post, so the least I can do is fulfill her request.

 

 

Another person posted that she liked seeing Frankfurter the Wiener Dog.  Actually, she wrote "FRANKFURTER THE WIENER DOG" if I remember correctly.

Well, you gotta give the people what they want, right?!

 

 

 

Here he is!

 

I had just taken this picture of Frank last week because he turned 14 years old on June 30th.  He knew he was the "Birthday Boy" that day and wagged his tail every time we called him by that name!

 

Frank is such a sweet boy.  He is smart (sometimes a little too smart).  It's amazing how much he knows and understands.  My example of that is always that he learned how to roll the window down in the car by accidentally stepping on the button a couple of times.  He quickly realized that's how you make the window come down and now he has rolled the window down on his own for about the last 13 years!

 

Frank is funny.  It's like he has a sense of humor at times.  He is sweet and caring and knows when you are upset and he doesn't like it.  If you're crying, he comes to lick away your tears.  He is cute.

 

Look at that face, again.  It's the sweetest, cutest wiener dog face I've ever seen and that's not because I'm prejudiced, either.  :)

 

He may have a "little old man face" now.  He may have bumps and scars from back surgeries in places he didn't used to.  (We both do.  Maybe it's genetic?)  He may walk slow like he can barely get going until it's bedtime and he knows I'm going to give him one last treat for the night.  Then he can gallop around the bed, up his doggie steps, jump on the bed and be ready to go in a second.  Literally, it probably takes 3 seconds but no more than that, I'm sure.

 

He is a great dog.  We've been together since he was 6 weeks old.  The only thing I wish is that we had another 14 years together.  Life with a wiener dog is fabulous, no matter what else is going on. 

 

And, if you think I love him a lot, you should see him with my parents! 

 

I will love you forever, Frankfurter!

 

 

P.S. Great idea asking for Frank!  I'll give in to that request anytime!

 



Happy Hallowiener!

 

How did I know what Frank

wanted to be for

Halloween this year?

 

 

When I asked him, he said,

"ARRRRRR!"



 

HAPPY

HALLO-WIENER!

 

Love,

Angela and the cutest little Pirate ever, Frankfurter

 

 

 Be sure to come back on Monday for a very special card.  It's already on my blog and ready to go!
 

Frankfurter the Wonderful Wiener Dog Pictures

Hi, Friends!

Thanks for letting me complain about my back.  The truth is, I can kind of deal with the pain if it stays in my back.  When it goes down both legs and into my feet, it wears me down fast!  Thankfully, today, the pain in my legs subsided a little bit.  At least it's not as bad as it has been for the past week or so.  Since you were nice and listened to me complain, I'd share what you all really want- Frankfurter pictures.  I know this because I get comments that say, "Your cards are nice, but I LOVE your dog!"

That doesn't hurt my feelings.  I agree 100%.  Cards are nice, but Frank is the best!

Frankfurter

June 2014

Frankfurter watching for his Grandpa to come home.

He's such a cutie with his 13 year old 

"Little Old Man" face and paws.

It's hard to stay awake at the end of the day.  

The End.

Night, night, Friends!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter, Friends!

Long time, no blog post!  The good news is Frank is doing great.  He has had surgery on his neck for a disc problem and another surgery on his leg for a torn acl.  He has recovered from both nicely.  In fact, it's getting hard to convince him he needs to rest and let us carry him everywhere because he's feeling so much better.

Unfortunately, my back is the reason I haven't been posting.  It hurts all the time and that stinks!  It is wearing me down.  I'm tired all the time from the pain and the pain medicine.  It's pathetic when you just don't have the energy to put a card on a blog, but that's where I've been.

Since it seems like this won't be changing anytime soon, I've decided to suck it up, buttercup and get back to making cards and sharing them which I love.  I have a stack to show you over the next weeks.

Most importantly, "Happy Easter."  No matter what other religion someone may follow, the leader will die.  When that person dies, they will not or did not come back to life.  The difference about Christianity is that my God died on the cross, but He Lives!  Three days later, he was resurrected, meaning he came back to life from the dead, alive and well!  Death did not keep him in the ground.  It did not stop him, control him, or defeat him.  Because He conquered death by coming back to life, those of us who follow him can conquer death and live with Him forever.  (not bouncing on clouds and playing harps, either).  If you think you're not good enough to go to Heaven, you're right.  (Shocked you, didn't I!  Close your mouth now and keep reading.)  None of us are good enough to go to Heaven based on what we've done, no matter how good we are.  We all still sin and do things that are wrong.  Jesus is perfect, though.  He never sinned, so he took the punishment for us, so that even though we aren't good enough, he cleans away the bad things we've done so we can spend eternity with Him forever.  Does that mean I can go rob a bank and punch someone in the mouth?  Of course not.  We don't want to sin so that God's grace has to increase.  However, we will sin and He will forgive us.  To go to Heaven, you just have to love God and follow him and his commands.  I'd be happy to talk about this more with you if you have questions.  Just email me and we'll go from there.  kebord2@gmail.com.  

There are an awful lot of people I know spending Easter in Heaven this year.  I know they're having a great time, cured from the pain and disease that destroyed their bodies.  That doesn't change the fact that I miss them so much.  Because Jesus is alive, I know that even though my friends died, they are alive and well and someday I will be reunited with them.  I can't wait to see Rich, Mariza, Chuck, Edie, JD and so many more.  It'll be one great reunion!  

You see, Christianity gives me hope.  Even though my back hurts it will be healed, either on earth or in heaven.  Christianity gives me joy.  Even though things aren't they way I want them right now, God has a plain I can put my trust in and so I can have joy in spite of my current circumstances.  Christianity gives me love.  Unmarried at 40 wasn't in the plan either.  Sometimes, I feel unloved because that relationship is missing.  I am not unloved.  I am loved so much that Jesus died and erased my sins so I could be with Him forever!  I have much to be thankful for this Easter.

I know my Redeemer lives!  

Who taught the sun 

Where to stand in the morning?

And who told the ocean

"You can only come this far"?

And who showed the moon

Where to hide till evening

Whose words alone can 

Catch a falling star?

The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak (that's me!)
And the same gentle hands
That hold me when I'm broken
They conquer death to 
Bring me victory

Now I know my redeemer lives
I know my redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my redeemer

He lives to take away my sins
And He lives forever, I proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
But now He's alive and
There's an empty grave!!!!

Nicolle C Mullen

See you back on Monday with a new card and a picture of Frank if he'll cooperate!

Oops! Frank is Improving!

It is 1:15 am on Monday morning and I just realized I never put a card on my blog.  I can live with that but I didn't want anyone to think it was because of Frank.  He came home Saturday afternoon.  The poor little guy looks like he's been in a knife fight and lost.  His chest is shaved with stitches.

His back half is shaved down his leg and has a bandage on it covering more stitches.  Frank was asleep when my parents cat saw him.  Frank runs at and scares the cat so they aren't best buddies.  However, the cat was genuinely worried about the dog and wondered what on earth had happened to him!  Then when we had to add the cone so Frank wouldn't lick in the night, the cat was even more perplexed.
  Frank doesn't seem to be in much pain.  His neck is doing great from the first surgery.  He can put a tiny bit of pressure on the leg that had surgery but he's very good about letting us carry him wherever he needs to go.  I can't carry him very much because of my back so this is falling on my parents.  Frank is very good about taking his medicine.  The only things he doesn't like are icing his knee so it doesn't swell and wearing the blus, soft cone.
  Since I'm trying to write this on my iPhone I'll close.  See you with a card and pictures of Frank soon!

  Happy Stamping!

 

Frankfurter Update

Hello, Friends!

Thank you for all of your emails with prayers of concern and support for Frankfurter.  After a lot of tests and opinions, we have determined that Frank tore his ACL in is back right leg.  This is not related at all to his earlier surgery for the disc pressing on his spinal column.  He is back at the "animal hospital" and will have surgery sometime on Friday morning to repair this torn ligament.  He should be able to come home Saturday morning.  Then, we don't want to have to go back there for a long time unless it's just to stop in and say, "hi!"

Prayers for Frank

Hello, Friends!

Frank is not doing as well as we had hoped.  We took him to his local vet who agreed that something is wrong.  He is not walking correctly or putting pressure on two of his feet now.  He is definitely worse than he was when he came home on Sunday.  My parents are taking him back where he had surgery where they will take him right in as an emergency.  This way they will start treating him immediately.  

It is snowing again here.  The weather isn't the greatest now and some of the roads my patents will be traveling on aren't very good when the weather is perfect!  

Please pray that the doctors will be able to find out and fix what is wrong with my sweet Frankfurter right away.  Please pray for safe travel for my parents as they are concerned for Frank.  I still can't go because of my back so please pray I can hold it together while I wait at home!  Thank you so much, friends.  

Angela and Frank 

Update on Frank

Hello, Friends!

I'm sorry I do not have a card for you.  I went to the doctor yesterday (Wednesday) and he had me do all kinds of movements so he could check my back.  What he forgot was that if I could do all those things easily and without pain, I wouldn't be there to see him.  So, I'm suffering for it today!  I'll have a card for you on Monday.

Frank went to the doctor today. (Thursday)  He will have an MRI early tomorrow afternoon.  If it shows his disc is pressing on his spinal cord again, he will have surgery then.  He will rest there Friday and Saturday and hopefully, will get to come home on Sunday.  They might want to keep him until Monday but I don't think my parents and I can wait that long.  :)

By the way, since living with my parents, Frank has totally become a Grandpa's boy.  He follows my dad around and wants to sit by him 95% of the time.  The other 5% is when my Mom or I have food.  Then, he wants us.  He's a character!    

Please keep our sweet wiener dog in your prayers!

MDS with Frankfurter!

Hello, Friends!

I haven't done anything with Frankfurter lately, and this is "Life with a Wiener Dog!"  So, I used Frank's picture in his hot dog costume to make this page in My Digital Studio.  Now before you get all impressed, a lot of the elements were already there.  I subtracted at least one that I didn't like and added the hexagons in the corner.  I was super happy with how it turned out.  Be prepared to see more pictures of Frank in these easy scrapbooking pages soon!

Happy Stamping and MDSing!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this scrapbook page:

My Digital Studio

Keep This Memory Downloadable Set

"Can you believe it?" Henry Says!



 

 

Hello, Friends!

 

Long time, no blog!  Wow!  Have things changed since I last posted in December.  I am no longer in Arizona!  No more dry, dusty, brown desert for me.  Frank and I are back in Central Illinois where it is green, green, GREEN!  I love seeing the grass, the trees, and the flowers blooming. 

 

Frank and I have both been through a lot during the past few months.  Most importantly, I thought we were going to loose my sweet Frankfurter.  He completely lost the ability to stand and walk one afternoon while we were still in Arizona back in January.  It was horrible!  My Dad and I rushed him to the vet who told us this was very bad.  Since we were still in the Phoenix area, we picked up my Mom at my house and rushed Frank to a neurologist.  Dr. Levine, one of my favorite people on earth, was able to determine that Frank had a disc that was leaking disc "stuff." It was pressing on Frank's spinal cord so he was no longer able to stand or walk.  Dr. Levine did surgery on Frank, cleaned out the "stuff" and Frank's spinal cord went from being flattened to being round immediately.  Within 48 hours, Frank had been seen, diagnosed, had surgery, was walking and home!  (The longest 48 hours of my life!)  He had to rest for 2 weeks and then was able to start getting back to his old self.   

 

 

Frank after surgery with his stitches.

 

 

Three and a half months later, Frank is great!  He can walk, stand, run, go up and down 3 doggie steps, (he can go up and down a whole flight, but he's not supposed to.) get excited and do a little jump, stand up and do "tall dog" and even lay on his back again and roll around- the last thing to come back.   

 

 

 

Frank after 2 weeks, on his way to get out his stitches.

 

 



 

All better, relaxing on the couch! 

 

 

Life has been hard not having my job in Chandler anymore and I am now looking for another ministry.  However,

Life with a Wiener Dog

is getting better for both of us.  Frank is all better and I'm excited to see what God has planned for us next!

 

For those of you that have faithfully checked my blog to see if I was back, I am!  This is the first card I've made since last July.  It features "Henry Says" from Stampin' Up and is announcing our blog's return.  Look for more cards, wiener dog stories, and updates about where I am and what I'm doing. 

 



Hellooooooo!



 

Hello, Friends!  Long time, no see!

 

(Frankfurter peeking over the arm of the couch from under his blanket.) 

 

 

It's been a long time since I've been able to update my blog with a lot going on!  Last spring (I know!  Spring!) I started having some stomach issues, getting sick and throwing up from time to time.  I just thought I had some bug, it would go away and I'd get better.  I was tired and didn't feel the greatest, but I was super busy at work and with lots of other things going on, I didn't pay too much attention to it.

 

By July, I couldn't ignore it anymore.  I felt awful!  I went to the doctor and found out that my thyroid levels weren't right.  I thought this explained my constant aches and exhaustion.  We adjusted my medication, and even though it takes time for it to balance again, I just kept getting sicker and sicker. 

 

By August, I couldn't work anymore.  I couldn't eat anything but a few graham crackers a day without getting sick.  I was so weak I could only stay in bed.  I fell when my legs gave out and I couldn't get my arms to move up fast enough to break my fall, giving myself my first big black eye.  I was no longer allowed to drive, after taking myself to the doctor's office when I couldn't find a ride.  Thankfully, my parents arrived on August 21st, and started taking me to different appointments to try and find out what was wrong.

 

My first test, an ultrasound, showed that I had gall stones, however, since I was so sick, the doctors didn't think that's all it could be.  They ran a series of other (expensive!) tests but nothing showed up, except the gall bladder.

 

Finally, on October 9th, I had my gall bladder removed.  Because I had been sick for so long, the symptoms didn't go away like people who have an attack and are okay in a week.  It took another month to finally start feeling better. 

 

In November, I was finally released to go back to work.  Unfortunately, after missing so much time, I had to resign.  This was very hard because I loved my job and the leaders and kids I worked with at church.  It also has caused some setbacks with my sleep and stomach being upset again.

 

As far as my health goes, my thyroid is back in balance.  I have regained most of my strength and just have problems with some nausea.  I have a "Super Power" nose and can smell EVERYTHING so I can't stand to eat in a restaurant yet, although I can eat take out food at home. 

 

My Mom had to go back to Illinois, but my Dad has stayed with me this entire time.  He was going to go back in November, but then he would have just flown back out at Christmas, so that seemed like a waste of money.  Thankfully, they were able to care for me when I was so sick and so weak. 

 

I wasn't able to stamp because it took too much concentration and energy.  However, after surgery, I learned how to knit.  I made a bunch of scarves and put them on etsy.  After all, one girl only needs so many scarves, even if I do get a new job back in the midwest!  My store is called "The Cozy Scarf"  and you can see by clicking on the picture below.  The picture is made with scarves I knitted!  (If you search for it on etsy.com, it's all one word, "thecozyscarf." I don't know why!  :) ) 

 

 

 

I had to learn to do something or I was going to lose my mind being at home all that time!  Here are three of my favorites! 

 

 

 

Now that I'm feeling better, I've been cleaning out and organizing to prepare to move.  Ironically, I still don't seem to have a lot of time for stamping.  I'm hoping to get a job back in the midwest closer to my family.  No more Arizona desert for me!  I've been applying for jobs, putting stuff on ebay, filling the recycling bin, and of course- spending time with Frankfurter!  He has been my faithful companion during all of this.

 

This certainly wasn't how I had expected to spend 2012 and I didn't expect it to end this way either.  But, with my complete trust in God, no matter what happens, Life with a Wiener Dog is still a great life!

 

Angela and Frank

 

 

It's hard work taking care of your Mommy when she doesn't feel good. 

 

 

 



Happy Birthday, Sweet Frankfurter!

Hello, Friends!

If you read my blog post from Friday, you know I was planning to have a peaceful, relaxing weekend with time for fun with Frank and stamping.

Unfortunately, it did not turn out that way. I've been sick with a stomach/aching all over/super tired bug. So instead of showering Frank with all his favorite things on his 11th birthday, Saturday, June 30th, we spent the day in bed. This was not all bad for Frank because he loves "go back to bed with your wiener dog day," but it wasn't how I had planned the time to go.

On Saturday night, when I was going back to bed, Frank was already there waiting for me. He looked so sweet that even though I felt awful, I had to snap some pictures. Here is my sweet puppy (with the little old man face) on his 11th birthday.

These pictures show Frank's sweet personality.

Frank loves his family and his family loves him very, very much!

No matter how hard a day is and what I've had to deal with, this wonderful wiener dog is always anxiously awaiting my return home.

Happy 11th Birthday, Frankfurter!

Of all the little wiener dogs in the whole world, God gave me the very best one.

I love you!

 

Extraordinary Pudding Night

Last night, some of you made some cards. 

Last night, some of you watched tv.

Last night, some of you went out to dinner.

Last night, some of us flicked pudding at children and adults like there was no tomorrow.

Wait. What?

That's right.  It's VBS (Vacation Bible School) at Chandler Christian Church.  We've been learning about how God can take something ordinary and make it extraordinary because He is an extraordinary God! 

So why am I covered in pudding?  

A few years ago, my good friend Chris Hedrick introduced "pudding night."

We fill a kids blue plastic swimming pool with pudding (vanilla, chocolate, and tapioca for some texture) and then let the kids and leaders flick pudding at each other with spoons.

Wait.  What?

That's right.  Flick Pudding.

Last year was my first time to partake in the pudding flicking fun.

I was dreading it to be honest but I soon found out that it is a lot of fun to flick pudding at people.

Wait.  What?

That's right.  My fifth and sixth graders and the awesome leaders I have flicked pudding at each other and had a blast.  This is how I looked at the end of the night.  I've showered and washed my hair, but I still am "pudding scented."  If it turns out to be a good moisturizer, I'll let you know.

What I do know is that those kids look forward to being a 5th grader at VBS just so they can join the pudding war.  I also know that after a certain amount of time, pudding becomes a solid.  Pudding becomes a very disgusting, but fun, solid. 

I also know that I'm blessed to get to be with 100 5th and 6th graders as their pastor, teacher, friend, and fellow pudding flicker.  My leaders are the best and I'm blessed to serve with them, be their friend, and also, a fellow pudding flicker. 

Thanks to my friend, Michelle, who took our picture.  She is way too clean, don't you think? 

  Happy Stamping, to you Stampers.

Happy TV Watching, to you TV Watchers.

Happy Going out to Dinner, to those of you who went out to dinner.

But most of all, HAPPY PUDDING FLICKING to the best Pudding Flickers in the World!

Pastor Angela loves you with all of her heart.  :)

PS  What did Frank think when I came home still covered in pudding?  First, he came to greet me like normal.  Then, he stepped back and looked at me like, "WHAT happened to YOU?"  Then, he barked at me.  It's bad, but funny, when your own dog barks at you!

 

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Frank will be waiting under the Christmas tree

in his new Christmas jammies

 for Santa Paws to come and bring treats and bones

to all the good little doggies in the world. 

Frank is definitely a good dog.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Angela and Frank

Happy...

To the wonderful people in our lives,

 we'd like to wish you a

Happy



Franksgiving!!!

Frank and I have so much to be thankful for this year!

Family, friends, a job where I get to work with wonderful people, a beautiful home, bones and treats are just a few of our many blessings.  We hope that you are blessed this Thanksgiving as much as we are! 

To God be the Glory!

Love, Angela and Frankfurter

The cutest "Turkey" ever!

Alive and Well...pretty much

I just wanted to let everyone know that Frank and I are alive and well...pretty much.

Frank is doing very well.  His hearing has improved a lot over the last few weeks.  He can hear me when I talk to him and will come from anywhere in the house when I call him.  He can hear some noises outside.  He doesn't bark at everything he used to hear, but it is much better than it was.  He's happy because I am so thankful when he does hear a noise that he gets to bark longer than usual!  (Frank doesn't stop barking if you tell him, "no."  He only stops when you tell him "good dog."  Apparently he prefers postive reinforcement since he's being a good dog and protecting me.)

Unfortunately, I haven't been as good as Frank.  I went on a wonderful vacation and had all of my cards made ahead of time and set to post, which they did.  However, I came home with the worst stomach flu I've ever had in my life!  It started on the plane on my way back to Arizona.  You know it's bad when the stewardess keeps checking in on you because you're throwing up and you're so sick you can't leave the bathroom!  I was sick for a week and then it took another week to regain my strength. 

About the time I recovered from the flu, I threw my back out.  I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the kitchen where I had medicine that would help with the pain and tight muscles.  The funny part of this is that Frank thought we were playing, since I get on my hands and knees to play with him.  I'm crawling through the house about to die and Frank is jumping, running, and barking, having a grand old time! 

So, I still don't have a new card to show you.  My back is better than when it went out, but I couldn't stand to make anything tonight.  Hopefully by the end of the week everything will be working right at the same time.  ;)

For those of you who can stand to sit and create...

Happy Stamping!

Happy...

HALLO-WIENER!

With Love from 

me and my Angel

Frank is Improving!

I am so happy to report that Frankfurter's hearing is getting better!  We put him on steroids last week to try and remove any inflamation from his ears.  This seemed to help.  He can definitely hear me when I am in the same room with him now.  He can also hear when I call him from another room.  This is a huge improvement from last week when he couldn't always hear me when we much closer.  He has also started to bark at noises outside.  Sometimes, I don't hear them, but by the way he barks, he definitely does!  I used to tell him to stop barking when he would hear those noises, but now, I'm sooo happy he gets to bark all he wants!  I'm not sure how long this will last, but I'm pretty sure it's going to go on for quite some time!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers, love, and tips for Frank and I.  I know he's my dog so I think he's wonderful, but he has such a fun personality with his own very clear likes and dislikes.  It absolutely broke my heart to find out he was hurt.  Thanks, again! 

With love,

Angela and Frank

My Sweet Frankfurter

Let me start by saying right off the bat that Frank is alright.  I know some of you will worry when you see this that Frank might have passed away, but he hasn't. 

I also know how many of you who follow my blog like my cards but love Frankfurter.  It's okay.  I love Frank way more than my cards, too. 

Frank had an ear infection in both of the ears when we went to the vet almost two weeks ago.  I put drops in his ears for a week to get rid of the infection, but noticed this weekend that he couldn't hear me when I talked to him or walked into a room.  I thought it was just the infection and his ears were plugged up or swollen so we went back to the doctor today.  The infection is gone, however there are side effects of using ear drops.  Of course they are rare, but do happen.  One of the side effects can be hearing loss, which can be temporary or permanent. 

Frank is definitely dealing with this side effect right now.  He hasn't lost his hearing completely.  He can hear you if you say his name loudly when you are right beside him.  We are praying that this will only be temporary and soon he will be back to barking at every little noise he hears!  His vet is wonderful and was very upset that this had happened.  I know she only did what she thought was best for him.  (Frank is quite a hit at the vet's office.  Everyone says, "HI, Frank!" when he comes in.) 

Right now, we're just waiting to see what happens.  Either way, he's still my sweet little wiener dog and nothing will ever change that!  He acts the same, he just can't hear.  His nose still works because he smelled the leftover pizza I heated up in the microwave last night! 

I know some people think it's crazy to pray for animals, so if you don't want to pray for Frank, feel free to pray for me!  I know we all did what we thought would help him, but I still feel awful that this has happened to him. 

Thank you to all of you who are Frank fans!

Angela