Read Angie's Thoughts

 1. My Jesus - the longer I walk this road of faith, the more thankful I am for the hope and peace my salvation in Him gives me. 2. Living in a country where I am free to go worship at a church of my choosing with absolutely no fear of persecution  3. My dad - always there when the chips are down and loves all the llamas I watch as much as they love him 4. Dusty Grace - this ball-playing pup is truly a gentle soul when it comes to the llamas dressing her up or using her for a step stool or falling over on her. She really is Nana from Peter Pan 5. Katy Joy - misses me like crazy when I leave the house for even 30 seconds and gets so excited every day when the llamas come 6. Bruce Jenner - interestingly enough, he's become more affectionate and personable since getting Walter. He's such a big fella but has lots of love to give lately 7. Walter - This hairball of a kitten has brought so much laughter and fun to our llama herd  8. Fresh chicken eggs 9. Iced raspberry mochas 1...

This blog as been ruminating in my head for some time now. As someone who likes to have all my 'issues' figured out, resolved, and wrapped up with a pretty bow before putting them out there, this one has been a bit challenging. I've also realized that as I've delayed writing it, God has been putting more pieces together and that has been awesome to see. It's been 15 months since my book was published. Since I didn't know exactly what I was expecting when it finally came out, it's been hard to measure the 'after,' although I have noticed some interesting things. Friends and family who were so vocal in their support during the publishing process went radio silent once the book actually came out. Friends who were so excited to buy it and read it never said another word once they received their copy. Of course there have been good things too. Friends, and even family, have said they found the courage to tell their own stories after reading mine and passe...

Some people have asked how things are going being off my depression medication so I thought I would give a little update! I didn't realize just how emotional being off the medication would make me! I seriously think I cried more in those few weeks than I had in the past few years and although it was annoying at times, I figured it was something I could live with. What I hadn't counted on, however, was how incredibly irritable I was. The littlest thing would make me annoyed and I noticed it was affecting my time with my llamas, with my friends and family, and even my dogs. In all honesty, I didn't like who I was during those times. At all.  After praying about it and living with my irritable self for awhile, I decided to go back on the meds, but try half the dosage. I'm hoping that will help with the irritation but not mute the other emotions as much. So far, things have gone really well! The irritation is gone, I definitely feel more like myself, and I am enjoying life ...

A Christmas card. Or lack thereof, I guess. That's what had me wide awake and bawling at 1:02 in the morning. I was housesitting, and after falling asleep briefly when I first went to bed, I woke up not feeling well. I went in search of something to ease what ailed me and noticed a Christmas card on the fridge. It was one of those that people send out nowadays, with a collage of pictures and a short message wishing the reader a Merry Christmas, and was from mutual friends. Just a few days earlier, I saw the same card on another friend's fridge after she invited me over for lunch. When I saw the card on her fridge, I assumed it was from last year because I didn't get a new one this past Christmas and at first, I thought the same about the card I was looking at in the wee morning hours at my housesitting job. After closer examination, I noticed it looked different than the one that had hung on my fridge the past 12 months. So I took it off the fridge and looked to see if ther...

Mountains versus desert. Most of us have a preference. For me, it's definitely the mountains. I've lived near them my entire life. I see them every single day. Yes, the desert is nice to drive through occasionally, and there is definite beauty there, but I think I will always prefer the mountains. The same is true in my walk with God - I'll take all the mountain top moments and skip the desert (or wildness) experiences, please and thank you! Unfortunately, living the life of a Christ follower rarely pans out that way. The mountain top moments tend to be the exception rather than the norm. It makes sense, if I approach it rationally. We are living as foreigners in an incredibly sinful world full of evil and wickedness. This is not our home. It's a stop along the way and man, is it brutal some days. There are hard lessons to be learned here that will prepare us for eternity with God and while He is a very patient and loving teacher, I tend to be a difficult student. I don...

Depression. No, scrap that. Major depression. It's been over twelve years since I was given this diagnosis. After a very thorough exam, my amazing Christian doctor came to this conclusion, and I started meds right away. Once we got the dose right, I could definitely tell a difference. After living in such a dark place for so long, it was a blessing to have some relief and start to see the goodness in life again. That little tan pill was a lifesaver! Over the past several weeks, however, I have tapered myself off the meds. The decision to do so didn't come lightly. I had considered a few times before, but it seemed life would get crazy or sad or confusing and I would be glad I stayed on them. Recently, however, I started to wonder if some of the more 'positive' emotions of life were being muted. During the process of publishing my book this past year, I had a lot of people ask if I was excited. I mean, I was in awe that it was finally happening and amazed at how quick it...

Exactly 5 years ago this week, I started watching a 7 month old in my home. What I had believed was my dream job had fallen through and a friend who had been watching her was moving away. I called the mom and offered to watch her until, and I didn't say this to her, something better came along. God laughed, that little girl stole my heart, and my llama wrangling days began! Shortly after that little girl turned one, I added three more llamas from other family to the herd and though my days were busy and crazy, I loved every minute of them. Around that time, I got a phone call and a job offer that only a handful of months earlier would have sounded an awful lot like that better job I was waiting to come along. I had absolutely no regrets when I turned it down and I realized I was already had my dream job! A lot has changed over these past 5 years. My starter llama is now a big sister twice over and both new llamas have added much joy and laughter to my days. The job with the three l...