Alzheimer's

Humans can be surprisingly sensitive.

Cathy got up this morning "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" ready to dig in and get some housework done. Dave called her and asked her to go online to get some info for him. When Cathy checked her inbox it was full of emails about her sister who isn't doing well, and she went back to bed!

Humans seem so tough to us dogs, sometimes,but it's fake. They are almost as sensitive as the rest of us. With lots of coaching from us four four-leggeds (plus Ruff, the cat) we got her back on track. She's grieving for her oldest sister who has beginning stage alzheimer's. What a horrible, horrible disease.

So, I'm busy praying for the whole family. Will you please join me?

Running Free

It's July already! I can tell by how hot it is when we get in the car. As my job dictates, I went with Dave and Cathy when they played golf last night. I love being able to run free and fast, just for the pure joy of it. Going to the hospital to visit sick people reminds me how lucky I am. I wish I could tell them I run for them too. There's so much going on in the world that sometimes we just have to get out there and run free. That's how God designed us. I don't see many humans do it though. Horses know how. Some of the most fun times I've had were with horses, back when Cathy and Dave still rode them. Even more fun was when they were loose in the pasture (the horses, not Cathy and Dave) and they would kick up their heels and I would chase them. I always got in trouble for that though, never could understand why...being free is a good thing! It gets your mind off of your problems. God even says we should do it as often as possible, but definitely one day a week! When I'm running I can feel Him running with me in my joy. That's when I can really WORSHIP Him. I think that's what Heaven is like, being able to run free with God. Aaahhhhhh.

Weddings and Things

I recently got to help out with a wedding! James and Angelica are a wonderful couple. I sat under James' chair during part of the service. Boy, was I surprised when they moved the chair!!!

So, what's the point? Simply that everything can change in a split second. One minute you're cruisin'-snoozin' through life, feeling totally contented; the next minute you're totally confused and running for cover!! It can happen to anybody, at anytime. One of our clergy friends had their roof blow off in a freak storm, water damage all over, and an estimate of $40k to fix it.

If you know me at all, you know I'm a bit of a worrier. I don't like surprises. But one thing I DO know is that God, and my friends, will get me through. When I'm off leash at church, (or when we worked at the thrift store in Oregon) sometimes I get separated from Cathy and I get a little panicky, but God reassures me to have faith, and some kind person always helps me find her again.

The key is the faith. That's the hard part for me. But, I'm slowly learning that stuff is always going to happen, and if I just take a deep breath and hang on, everything will be OK. I worry that someone will kidnap me away from Dave and Cathy. But if I don't walk away from them, it won't happen. Just like if we all don't walk away from God, we'll be fine,'cause He'll be right there with us, no matter what!
I mean, even if the "worst" happens and I get run over and killed, Jesus will come and find me and take me home. So, what is there to be afraid of, really?

Well, gotta go, so ciao for now!

Wow. I forgot to have Cathy write my sign-in info down and I got locked out of my account! Between us, we finally got it fixed. I'm back!!!!

I have mixed feelings about being back in California. It's warmer here, and it's comfortable...like an old blanket. But Cathy and Dave are both much busier, and with 4 of us dogs, well it's just more hectic. Ashley and Terra don't get along, Reuben likes to take charge when no humans are around...politics are everywhere!!!

It's fun to see old friends again, but I miss the new adventures we had in Oregon. And I miss the friends we made. It's a good thing we got the computer back up and running so we can all keep in touch.

I was at a wedding, Saturday, where a little boy came up and socked me in the face. I was so shocked I just stood there, backed against a pew, and looked at him... 'til Cathy whisked me up into her arms. It all happened so fast. I was so sad. Why did he do that? I forgive him, but it sure hurt my feelings and my jaw.

Well, back out into the yard for more sun and fun! Ciao for now!!!!!

Shots for Tots

I learned a lot today. Cathy and I helped out as Rotarians today with Shots for Tots. My main job was to help the little ones stay calm/distracted as they got their vaccinations and to help them calm down afterward. The nurses said my being there helped a great deal and they would like me to help at other locations. When Cathy and I would go to the big room and call for them, the people seemed to really like that I was there to lead the way, and to be with the children during the shots. Some of the children hugged me and, you know what(?), it didn't bother me a bit. I even stopped shaking when I was comforting them. They were way more scared than I was, and when they found out I had MY shot recently, they knew I understood what they were going through. This was the first time that (besides comforting Cathy) I really, truly, understood my role in interacting with people. I was so high afterward that I went out in the back yard and did my "happy dance"!!! I heard one of the nurses ask Cathy if I could come to a 4H Dog Project meeting and tell my story (with Cathy's help of course!). So, today was a really good day, and now I'm going to settle down for a nap!

Well, sure enough, you have to have open heart surgery sooner or later if you're gonna have Jesus in your heart. It just happened to Bishop Schofield for the SECOND time. I knew it, I knew it!!! And now they're talking about how he's in ICU. Does that mean he can see everybody from where he is? Hmmmm... Well, he must REALLY be full of joy now, and much more special than before, what with having opened up his heart to Jesus again like that. Kinda scary when you think about it. I mean, I know we're s'posed to be willing to die rather than deny, it just brings it closer to home for me. I thought getting a rabies shot was bad.

My Favorite Things

Not feeling so great after my rabies booster today. I'm amazed that humans don't have to get regular rabies shots too. But then, I guess I wouldn't want to get them in MY stomach either. I've sat in Cathy's lap when she was having her teeth drilled, and I'm glad I don't have to have that done. Talk about HUGE needles!!!

Aaahhhhhh... Dave started a fire in the wood-stove just now. I love that. It makes the whole house feel warm, even the floor. What else makes me feel that way? A real hug. Hanging out with a good friend. Hot water in my kibble on a cold day. Praise. Knowing I "get to go" along wherever my humans are going. Feeling welcomed in a new environment. A thorough grooming with a soft brush. Getting dried off with the towel after a bath. Snoozing in Dave's lap when he's reading a book. A good massage just behind the ears. Curling up behind Cathy's knees, under the covers, at bedtime. Good morning snuggles. Finding that spot where the sun streams in the window and taking a siesta. And most of all...spending time alone with God!!

Letting Go

I've been thinking about the past a lot lately. I've always felt that survival depends on learning as much as you can from the past so I don't keep making the same mistakes over and over again. But now I realize that if you hold on to the past, you have no room for the future. For someone who lives in the "now" this may seem strange, but I can't seem to get over some of my fears left over from living on my own. I was so small that big birds hunted me as well as coyotes, and people were mean to me. Every time I get in the car I have that old fear that I'm going to be dumped off somewhere and abandoned again. Everyone I meet is so nice to me now, and so polite, yet I can't get over my fear of what they might do to me. I've heard that humans deal with these same issues all of the time, but most of them don't seem to show it as readily as I do.

So, I've been going back and looking at my fears and their causes. When I talked to Jesus about it the other day, He showed me how to give my worries to Him and relax. Most of them aren't relevant anymore, but I've stuffed them so deep they're like extra weight I'm carrying around without realizing it. Habits are hard to break, but when I let go of my fears I feel like I can fly!! It's as if someone took the leash off of my heart!!

You know how, in drawings, Jesus is often holding a lamb in his arms? Well, we need to draw one with an Italian Greyhound in his arms! 'Cause I feel just like that lamb when I remember to give Him my worries. Try it! You'll see what I mean.

Cathy took me to the ocean one day, and as we were walking she said some things I've been thinking about.

As we watched the waves roll in she talked about rivers, and how they empty into the sea. She talked about how everything, including water, is made up of molecules, atoms and light particles, and probably even smaller "bits". The river carries the water to the sea, or a lake, where it evaporates and these tiny bits are in the air, and eventually come down again in rain, snow and fog. The water runs off the land or into the aquafers, makes it's way into rivers and the whole cycle has repeated since time began.

So, the bits in the water I drink, play in, get rained or snowed on by, have been around for a long time. In the waves that crash on the shore, or the rivers we wade in, even in the shower could be bits that Aristotle, Abraham Lincoln, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie or even Jesus might have touched or used. The snow around us on the ground might contain bits that have been everywhere in the world.

Taking it a step farther, Cathy says our bodies are mostly made up of water. So the "bits" that are in the water in my body have varied and long histories. I might have some in me that were in a dinosaur once...or a deer...a tree...a human...or a CAT!!! Oh my.

I sat there on the shore trying to imagine history from a "bit's" perspective, but I got distracted by a dive bombing seagull and chased him off down the beach. I think God is probably the only one who could comprehend it all anyway.

I don't mean to be heretical, but it IS a different way to define "living water", isn't it? LOL

An Attitude of Gratitude

Sometimes it's good to slow down and just lie in front of the fire place, while Dave and Cathy are reading. It's warm, I have a full tummy, there's water in the water dish and if I need to go out all I have to do is get up and look at the door. It's raining outside, but I'm in where it's dry and warm. God blesses me in so many ways. I live in a wonderful home with people who give me lots of love, hugs, scratches, toys and who will play with me if I show an inclination. Of course, I've trained them right from the beginning! Whenever Cathy or Dave does something for me I try to always give them a small lick on the hand or leg to say 'Thank you'. I know God brought us together when I was struggling to survive on my own, and I thank Him everyday.

I see so many beings rushing through life, always focusing on what they don't have. I feel lucky that I had the experience of being on my own for a while. It makes me focus on the many blessings I have. I find that this attitude of gratitude keeps me feeling happy. After all, being happy or unhappy is a moment by moment decision that each of us makes. Why so many humans choose to be unhappy, when they have so much to be thankful for, is truly a mystery to me.

Well, I'm going to stay in front of the fire until it's time to do some under cover work with the down comforter! Ciao for now!

The Soul's Need for Silence

Somewhere I heard that dogs can hear 25 times more acutely than humans. Have you ever noticed how noisy humans are? When they aren't talking they're listening to music, watching TV or videos, clattering in the kitchen, pounding in the garage, going to concerts or the movie theater, or setting off cannons and fireworks. Everybody complains about kids texting...well, at least it's quiet! No wonder we all go deaf after awhile.

It's frustrating for those of us who like to spend lots of time listening to nature while we commune with God. How do humans ever get quiet enough to hear Him? When we try to go for walks out in nature, we're almost always interrupted by ATV's, snowmobiles, jet skis, speed boats, helicopters and airplanes. It's enough to make me want to bite someone. When we find a great place there's usually a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. The deer and squirrels don't pay attention to them and, when I'm off leash, I don't either!

So, back to my question. How do humans find time, I mean hours a day time, to talk to God? Cathy and I go in the spare bedroom and light a candle, but it's not the same for me. I like being outside where I can open my soul, listen to God, and compare notes with the deer, squirrels, birds and rabbits,etc. We all have a purpose in the world and we teach each other what we know and what we're learning. Humans would be surprised if they knew.

Cathy says that's what Church is for, but they're always making noise in there! It's true that humans have to make noise to communicate, they've lost our abilities, but when do they stop and listen? I think everyone should shut off the noise for a good part of the day. If they can't get others to be quiet, they can at least try to stop talking so much and be quiet themselves. If they realized God is waiting in line for a chance to communicate with them, maybe they would make a greater effort...