A Balanced Love

Puppy Love

Chances are if you know me, you know that I love the pekingese breed. I grew up with them and haven’t been able to move on. I’m addicted to something about their big eyes and smooshed faces. This is my baby, Jasper:

I just love him to pieces!

A few months ago a friend of the family sent me a message saying that she was involved with Potomac Valley Pekingese Rescue who rescue and adopt within North Carolina, Virginia, DC, and Maryland, and wanted to know if I would be interested in also helping out. I “friended” them on facebook and began reading their blog. I would read all the horror stories about these fur babies who were abandoned, neglected, and abused. I would get sad and Marc would tell me to stop reading the stories, but I just couldn’t do that. I felt like I couldn’t help though since we travel so much.

I immediately thought of my mom who loves pekes just as much as I do. I started showing her the different pups that were available for adoption. She thought about it, and thought about it some more. And then one night they posted that they needed a foster home for a little black peke they were saving from the Virginia Beach Animal Control. His name was Midnight and apparently he had a bit of “attitude.” This was the first picture we saw of him:

He grumbled a bit when he first got to mom’s house. Yes, he did have a little bit of an attitude, but after what he had gone through in such a short time you really couldn’t blame him. Midnight’s owner died, and a friend of the owner took him in. That friend’s pit bull then attacked Midnight. Somehow, it ended up being him at Animal Control for about 2 weeks before he was released to rescue. I’ve been into Animal Control before and I promise you if I had to stay there for longer than about 10 minutes I would leave with some serious attitude. It didn’t take long for him to warm up though. This is him about a week after being at mom’s house:

Look at that grin! I love how his straight, little teeth stick out when he’s really happy. 

We renamed him Ringo. Well, actually we tried several names and this was the one he responded to. We all quickly fell in love with him and mom couldn’t bear to let him go. Mom became what is lovingly referred to as a foster failure. 

A note about fostering these babies: when you have them, you don’t pay for anything! The rescue society covers all their medical expenses until they are adopted. You are responsible for feeding them, taking them to the vet, and loving them. Mostly, loving them. Does that sound so hard to do?

One week when I was away I received an email from Linda with the PVPC saying they needed a foster home for this little girl:

When I saw how terrified she looked there was zero chance I was going to say no. She was so scared at the shelter that they could not put her out on the floor and would only release her to a rescue society. Her previous owners surrendered her to the shelter without so much as leaving her name. We think she was used for breeding and when they were done with that they just dumped her. It’s also pretty obvious that she was abused at some stage with how scared she can be of men. That being said, she has come so far. Her personality comes out a little more each day as she learns that she is safe and she can trust. Yes, she is still scared of strangers but that is improving. She has learned to trust Marc and now loves him. Here she is now:

She loves to play and will take out all the toys in the basket before she decides which one she wants. She prances around, literally, she does not run or walk, she prances. She also lets me cradle her like a baby and has snuggled her way into my heart. Fostering her has made my life better and I feel so much pride when I see her progress. 

I know that this breed may not be the breed for everyone and that’s okay, I just urge you to check out rescues before you go buy a puppy. Financially you will save hundreds of dollars doing this, but more importantly there are so many great dogs that deserve a second chance to be loved. It’s not their fault they got stuck with crappy owners the first time around, but it’s completely in our control to show them that humans can be kind and loving. And whatever love you give them, they will return ten-fold. If you are interested in either fostering or adopting from this wonderful organization please visit potomacpekes.org. 

A Balancing Act

I originally wanted to title this blog “A Balancing Act” because that’s what I feel like life is. Unfortunately that title was already taken, along with several other variations of it. Then I realized I want this blog to be about all the things I love, all the difference aspects of my life, and figuring out how to balance it all…while maintaining some sort of sanity!

When I first started traveling I had a bit of a difficult time adjusting to life on the road. I missed my family and friends, my fur babies, my independence. It took me awhile to find my groove in this new lifestyle. Making new friends isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it was totally necessary if I was going to make it work. Eventually things started falling into place. I met girls that I really get along with. I realized it’s okay if I don’t walk all four days of golf. It’s also okay if there’s a week I just need to be home. I started to enjoy it. But as with all things, there were still some growing pains to work through.

How do you completely change your life and not change? How do you figure out what your purpose is when it was always your job and you no longer have that? How do you balance your old friendships with your new ones? How do you reconcile what you thought your life was going to be and what it is? It’s been a learning experience. I’ve depended greatly on the understanding of those around me when I’ve been less than stellar at balancing it all. I’ve gotten better at it. 

What I can say is this, there’s no way not to change at least a little bit, and I think that’s okay. I want to grow as a person, and every new experience I have gives me that opportunity. To me, it is a much greater shame to be stagnant and stubborn in your ways. At my very core I know I’m still the same person with the same values, just a newer (or would older be more appropriate?) version. I can’t wait to see what changes and growth I experience when Little Leishy arrives this January :)  

A Fresh Perspective

When I first started blogging a little less than a year ago I had quit my job, gotten married, and started traveling. I went through a bit of an…adjustment period. I intended to blog about all things, but I had gained weight and was feeling quite depressed about it. Slowly but surely the blog turned into a fitness one. I had a great community on tumblr who supported me and taught me. I slowly but surely lost 15 pounds. My confidence came back and I was happier. It was then that I began to feel ready to grow our little family. Then, Marc and I were blessed with our little bun in the oven. Working out six days a week wasn’t so important anymore. Dieting was out the window. I stopped blogging because I didn’t want to bother all my fitness blogger friends with my “real life” stuff. 

However, I’ve missed it! I want to talk about everything that is going on in my life, in my head. It is such an exciting time and I’m just busting thoughts. So I’ve decided to start this blog and to keep my old one for fitness purposes. Hopefully, you’ll bear with me :)