It's been quite some time since finding another thing to love about this move. Even if it's been over two years, it doesn't matter. As transplants, we'll likely always find something unique to love about this place.
Thing 31 isn't a place, or a thing, but people. This could be a first (but I'd have to do my due diligence and check). Last evening we had a dinner at school to celebrate the soccer team's season. Kid #1 played on the team, a stretch for this kid who doesn't care much for sports. As parents, it's always a joy to see your children extend themselves in new ways.
Lest you forget, (or don't know) our children attend a small classical Christian school in the area. The two coaches are parents of children on the team, and both men have a love of the game, a love for children and a love for Jesus, above all. When it came time for the head coach to speak, he said something "unconventional" in the sports realm- " I told your kids, on the first day of practice, that I didn't care if they won or lost a game; that our priority was to exemplify Jesus Christ while on that field." Wow. Not wow as in: "how could he not care about winning or losing?" but wow as in "if only there were more people in the world like THIS." The fact that my child was mentored by two men of such caliber, leaves me speechless. He proceeded to talk about each child and the character traits that stood out all season. Sure, he talked briefly about the team's stats, but truthfully, that wasn't what we wanted to hear. It was completely humbling to hear about kids aged 11-14 living out their faith on a soccer field. I love this. My heart loves this. More importantly, our God loves this.
There's too much that's wrong with the world these days. Last night, I was honored to witness something that's RIGHT with it.
Thing 31 that I love are the two great coaches that impacted my child's life for a season.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Lessons from a puppy
1) Always be excited when people come to your door- it makes them feel welcomed.
2) Never miss a meal, it keeps your blood sugar stable.
3) Sleep a lot, then sleep some more. One can never sleep too much.
4) Play with kids. They know how to enjoy life, and they don't take themselves too seriously.
5) Find one good toy, it will keep you occupied and prevent you from finding trouble.
6) Run through the sprinklers on a hot day. Because who doesn't love the feel of cool water?
7) Take long walks to enjoy nature and your surroundings. The birds, the wind through the trees, seeing your neighbors, it's all good!
8) Have a good relationship with your doctor. In fact, be excited to see him/her EVERY time, as treats will follow.
9) Be on your best behavior when in a restaurant. It will impress people.
10) Show unconditional love and expect nothing in return.
11) Linger by a roaring fire, and if led, nap there too.
12) Follow the trustworthy, but lead the blind.
13) Show those puppy dog eyes whenever it will prove beneficial. A little can go a long way here, folks.
2) Never miss a meal, it keeps your blood sugar stable.
3) Sleep a lot, then sleep some more. One can never sleep too much.
4) Play with kids. They know how to enjoy life, and they don't take themselves too seriously.
5) Find one good toy, it will keep you occupied and prevent you from finding trouble.
6) Run through the sprinklers on a hot day. Because who doesn't love the feel of cool water?
7) Take long walks to enjoy nature and your surroundings. The birds, the wind through the trees, seeing your neighbors, it's all good!
8) Have a good relationship with your doctor. In fact, be excited to see him/her EVERY time, as treats will follow.
9) Be on your best behavior when in a restaurant. It will impress people.
10) Show unconditional love and expect nothing in return.
11) Linger by a roaring fire, and if led, nap there too.
12) Follow the trustworthy, but lead the blind.
13) Show those puppy dog eyes whenever it will prove beneficial. A little can go a long way here, folks.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Crunch time
Ester is nearly 11 months old now. Where has the time gone?
Just last night at class, there was a brand new 8 week old flat-coated retriever (named Finnegan) present and I gave thought to kidnapping him because I truly miss the cuteness of that stage. Then I looked down at Ester and realized not only is she long past that age, but she's SO MUCH EASIER than an 8 week old puppy.
I never thought I'd get to say that. In the middle of the rough stage, it can seem so PERMANENT. Have you ever had a phase of life like that? Then one day, you're out from under it, without even realizing it, and that's the sadness of it, really- the casualness with which we lose perspective.
A 10 month old lab is not without work, lest you think she is! According to our coordinator, we have "a few things" to be working on in the next few months. This self- imposed guilt I feel over not training her properly is weighing heavily on me. Now it's up to me and some serious discipline to correct it, or else she may fail the program. The details of it don't matter, but I will say that this dog is SMART. She's one step ahead of me, smart. Unfortunately, that won't help her succeed if she doesn't obey the rules here in our house first. She and I each have our goals, and we're battling it out- so far it's Ester 10, Lori 1.
If she fails, I'll come to grips with it. My preference would be that she fails PRIOR to being assigned to her blind person. Months in the kennel means they won't be able to see her around furniture, a kitchen, or shoes, where these issues would pop up. This is my fear- that her weak spots only show up in "real life" once assigned.
For now, I'm working hard to re-train her and hoping it's enough to do the trick. This is where 1Timothy 6:18 comes in handy as I persevere:
" Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share"
Just last night at class, there was a brand new 8 week old flat-coated retriever (named Finnegan) present and I gave thought to kidnapping him because I truly miss the cuteness of that stage. Then I looked down at Ester and realized not only is she long past that age, but she's SO MUCH EASIER than an 8 week old puppy.
I never thought I'd get to say that. In the middle of the rough stage, it can seem so PERMANENT. Have you ever had a phase of life like that? Then one day, you're out from under it, without even realizing it, and that's the sadness of it, really- the casualness with which we lose perspective.
A 10 month old lab is not without work, lest you think she is! According to our coordinator, we have "a few things" to be working on in the next few months. This self- imposed guilt I feel over not training her properly is weighing heavily on me. Now it's up to me and some serious discipline to correct it, or else she may fail the program. The details of it don't matter, but I will say that this dog is SMART. She's one step ahead of me, smart. Unfortunately, that won't help her succeed if she doesn't obey the rules here in our house first. She and I each have our goals, and we're battling it out- so far it's Ester 10, Lori 1.
If she fails, I'll come to grips with it. My preference would be that she fails PRIOR to being assigned to her blind person. Months in the kennel means they won't be able to see her around furniture, a kitchen, or shoes, where these issues would pop up. This is my fear- that her weak spots only show up in "real life" once assigned.
For now, I'm working hard to re-train her and hoping it's enough to do the trick. This is where 1Timothy 6:18 comes in handy as I persevere:
" Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share"
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Capitol trip
Hubby had a convention last week in the DC area. That meant we got to tag along and crash in his hotel suite. It was hard to rough it like that, but I managed.
3 full days in the capitol proved to be plenty of time to whet our appetite for the city. Years ago we'd done the basic DC thing; Smithsonian, all the monuments etc. This time, we were looking for new adventures and sights. What we found, is that like many large cities around the world, discovering it is a bit like peeling back the layers of an onion. Your first trip might involve the typical stops. On your next visit you likely visit places that were harder to get to the first time around. Then on your third and subsequent trips, you really start finding the hidden gems. This trip was exactly that- finding the little gems no one ever tells you about. I'm here to make them known, so that you won't have to miss them the next time you're there. The best part? Many of the places we uncovered are FREE. Who knew you could traipse from place to place around the city without paying a dime for your entertainment?
The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery's American Presidents exhibit was amazing. We only happened upon it because we needed a pit stop, but boy was it a find. Cost? FREE.
All four of us read "Killing Lincoln" so we planned ahead and got tickets to Ford's theatre. There's a small surcharge for doing this on-line (well worth it in the middle of summer) but no cost for the tickets themselves. The museum and theatre do a fabulous job of bringing his story to life. Cost? $1.50 ticket
The Hope Diamond located in the Smithsonian- breathtaking. Cost? FREE.
My happy family on the mall, enjoying the ambience. Cost? FREE.
Our week wasn't all serious, however. With people milling around constantly at this time of year, it made sense to teach my kids the fine art of photo bombing. Major brownie points on this one. Our photos will never be the same. They make me so proud.
3 full days in the capitol proved to be plenty of time to whet our appetite for the city. Years ago we'd done the basic DC thing; Smithsonian, all the monuments etc. This time, we were looking for new adventures and sights. What we found, is that like many large cities around the world, discovering it is a bit like peeling back the layers of an onion. Your first trip might involve the typical stops. On your next visit you likely visit places that were harder to get to the first time around. Then on your third and subsequent trips, you really start finding the hidden gems. This trip was exactly that- finding the little gems no one ever tells you about. I'm here to make them known, so that you won't have to miss them the next time you're there. The best part? Many of the places we uncovered are FREE. Who knew you could traipse from place to place around the city without paying a dime for your entertainment?
The Smithsonian Portrait Gallery's American Presidents exhibit was amazing. We only happened upon it because we needed a pit stop, but boy was it a find. Cost? FREE.
All four of us read "Killing Lincoln" so we planned ahead and got tickets to Ford's theatre. There's a small surcharge for doing this on-line (well worth it in the middle of summer) but no cost for the tickets themselves. The museum and theatre do a fabulous job of bringing his story to life. Cost? $1.50 ticket
The Hope Diamond located in the Smithsonian- breathtaking. Cost? FREE.
My happy family on the mall, enjoying the ambience. Cost? FREE.
We also got to visit my 97 year old great aunt in Baltimore. She met the kids for the first time, and I hadn't seen her in over 20 years. What was the first thing she says to me? "You haven't changed one bit!" I love this woman.
We had tickets to the National Archives- Cost? FREE. Small charge for reserving our time slot, but you MUST do this in the summer. All those poor spontaneous people waiting in the heat for hours must have been miserable. While we waited, we discovered the Navy Memorial and Museum across the street. This wonderful globe was etched into the walkway right outside it. The kids are standing on their birthplaces. The museum, although little, provided a pit stop and a chance to browse through some exhibits. Cost? FREE.
If you loved the movie "National Treasure" then you must visit the National Archives. It will do wonders for your American patriotism. There's nothing like it in all the world.
Unfortunately, I didn't capture any photos of another favorite museum we visited- the National Museum of Health and Medicine. It's located at the Walter Reed Annex (a short ride on the Metro towards the outskirts of DC) and our reason for going was simple- the kids wanted to see the amputated leg of a soldier. Don't jump down my throat- even the man who donated his leg to the museum used to take friends to see said leg- and it's only the bone- nothing gross. In addition, the bullet that killed Lincoln is housed there. Cost? FREE.
The National Postal Museum....a fabulous hidden gem that goes unnoticed by many. It also happens to be a Smithsonian. Located in the basement of the old DC post office, and in typical Smithsonian fashion, they've done a lovely job of bringing to life, the historical aspects of our postal system. Many parts were interactive, making it extremely kid friendly. They have an international stamp collection to beat the band as well. Cost? FREE.
Of course, the Capitol itself is a predictable stop, but the kids requested a visit as we headed to the Metro. It allowed us to discuss politics, and soak in the atmosphere of it all. There's no nation like ours on earth. Here, in this great city, we are reminded of that.
Our week wasn't all serious, however. With people milling around constantly at this time of year, it made sense to teach my kids the fine art of photo bombing. Major brownie points on this one. Our photos will never be the same. They make me so proud.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Ester
Our "little" puppy is little no longer. She weighs in at 45 lbs and according to the Seeing Eye coordinator "needs to thin out" Whoops. First time puppy raiser mistake, my bad.
Ester is almost seven months now. Just like with parenthood, each phase is different and each stage comes with its own pros and cons. Yes, she's not as fierce with her teeth, or needing to pee every half hour. Take her for a walk however, and you discover her strong disposition to pull (a much needed attribute of a Seeing Eye dog) and her need to put every thing on the ground in her mouth. Exhausting.
We went to puppy club this week and she was "tested" in order to secure her vest. This vest is a big deal, as she wears it officially when we're out and about, in order to make her more visible as a future working dog. Truthfully, she failed the test. She was too concerned about playing with the dog next to her, or getting attention from the coordinator, that she wasn't obeying her commands. Still, she acquired the vest, if only out of sympathy. So not only do we have some commands to refine, but we also have to get her used to wearing the vest. God help me.
I'm hopeful for the next few months. We're nipping the counter surfing as best we can, and trying to keep papers off the table. That old excuse about "the dog ate my homework" could really be used by my kids. My vacuum cord has been eaten and replaced, Nelson's camera flash has been repaired and the walls are finally in the process of being patched. Yes, she is the cause of all three. Would I change any of it? Likely not. She is the love of our lives. It doesn't matter to her what our moods are, she is ALWAYS happy to see us. Things will get eaten and chewed, only to be replaced or repaired. Accidents will occur because someone left open a gate, or forgot to take her out. Big deal. She's going to change a life for a blind person. REALLY change it. When I think about how much she's changed OUR lives in just a few short months, I'm speechless at the potential she has to affect her person just by guiding them around.
You can't put a price on that.
Ester is almost seven months now. Just like with parenthood, each phase is different and each stage comes with its own pros and cons. Yes, she's not as fierce with her teeth, or needing to pee every half hour. Take her for a walk however, and you discover her strong disposition to pull (a much needed attribute of a Seeing Eye dog) and her need to put every thing on the ground in her mouth. Exhausting.
We went to puppy club this week and she was "tested" in order to secure her vest. This vest is a big deal, as she wears it officially when we're out and about, in order to make her more visible as a future working dog. Truthfully, she failed the test. She was too concerned about playing with the dog next to her, or getting attention from the coordinator, that she wasn't obeying her commands. Still, she acquired the vest, if only out of sympathy. So not only do we have some commands to refine, but we also have to get her used to wearing the vest. God help me.
I'm hopeful for the next few months. We're nipping the counter surfing as best we can, and trying to keep papers off the table. That old excuse about "the dog ate my homework" could really be used by my kids. My vacuum cord has been eaten and replaced, Nelson's camera flash has been repaired and the walls are finally in the process of being patched. Yes, she is the cause of all three. Would I change any of it? Likely not. She is the love of our lives. It doesn't matter to her what our moods are, she is ALWAYS happy to see us. Things will get eaten and chewed, only to be replaced or repaired. Accidents will occur because someone left open a gate, or forgot to take her out. Big deal. She's going to change a life for a blind person. REALLY change it. When I think about how much she's changed OUR lives in just a few short months, I'm speechless at the potential she has to affect her person just by guiding them around.
You can't put a price on that.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Happy Anniversary
16 years ago today, a dear friend of mine was getting married. We'd known each other since third grade- third grade! That's a long time to be friends (with some classic girl arguments thrown in over the years). She had asked me to be in the wedding and I happily did so, traveling from Maine to California to support her on her day.
When someone knows you for as long as we did, they understand who you are at the core. It was no surprise then, that she had hand picked a groomsman named Nelson to walk down the aisle with me- because she thought "we'd get along well." And the rest is history, as they say.
A few weeks of traveling back and forth from Maine to Toronto, sprinkled with long, long conversations on the phone (I can't tell you how many nights we stayed up late just talking about EVERYTHING) and we said enough of this baloney, and set a date.
Less than six months after we'd first met, we were getting hitched. I'd be lying if I said the first year was easy- it wasn't. Rarely is the first year of marriage. We had only been together a handful of times before we actually wed, so couple that with moving in together and figuring out all the newlywed "stuff" it made life very interesting.
By God's grace we have made it through 16 years together; some of the years have been harder than others, but many have produced memories and love deeper than anything I could have hoped for as a 26 year old.
Happy Anniversary honey- I love you more today than yesterday and not as much as I will tomorrow!
When someone knows you for as long as we did, they understand who you are at the core. It was no surprise then, that she had hand picked a groomsman named Nelson to walk down the aisle with me- because she thought "we'd get along well." And the rest is history, as they say.
A few weeks of traveling back and forth from Maine to Toronto, sprinkled with long, long conversations on the phone (I can't tell you how many nights we stayed up late just talking about EVERYTHING) and we said enough of this baloney, and set a date.
Less than six months after we'd first met, we were getting hitched. I'd be lying if I said the first year was easy- it wasn't. Rarely is the first year of marriage. We had only been together a handful of times before we actually wed, so couple that with moving in together and figuring out all the newlywed "stuff" it made life very interesting.
By God's grace we have made it through 16 years together; some of the years have been harder than others, but many have produced memories and love deeper than anything I could have hoped for as a 26 year old.
Happy Anniversary honey- I love you more today than yesterday and not as much as I will tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The good, the bad
Life never stops. Sometimes it pauses and slow downs, but it never stops.
My dryer broke. Caputz. 15 years old, and two capable men couldn't diagnose it.
If there's one thing I don't like, it's choosing a major appliance on the fly. There are so many things to consider about the appliance itself, never mind the limitations and potential of the laundry room space. Go ahead, accuse me of over thinking.
The roof vents need to be repaired. Which turns into replacing the roof because it's old and in need. Of course. House #4 and our number is up. Time to take one for the team.
One uncle is undergoing chemo for lymphoma, another uncle fell ill last week. He never recovered and the Lord called him home. This is where life hits you square in the eyes. Life does not last forever on earth. Heaven is reserved for those who know Jesus personally, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)
Life doesn't stop.
Our children are going to attend their first funeral. We go for the living. We go to celebrate a life well lived, and to rejoice that he is completely healed in heaven. Some parents might disagree with our decision to take the kids, choosing instead to shelter them from the harshness of life. The reality of THIS life however, is that it ends. For every single one of us. The next life, is eternal. How we choose to spend that next life is a decision we must make now. Eternity with Jesus, or eternity without Him?
Neither child will be prepared, one can never be. The goal is to focus on death being defeated at the cross. Jesus died so that we may live forever WITH HIM. For those in Christ, death on earth is just the beginning.
It makes the dryer and the roof seems inconsequential when compared to eternity.
If you died today, would you know where you're spending eternity?
Do you want to know that you know?
Email me at nogreaterlove@optimum.net if you have questions, and I'd be happy to help.
My dryer broke. Caputz. 15 years old, and two capable men couldn't diagnose it.
If there's one thing I don't like, it's choosing a major appliance on the fly. There are so many things to consider about the appliance itself, never mind the limitations and potential of the laundry room space. Go ahead, accuse me of over thinking.
The roof vents need to be repaired. Which turns into replacing the roof because it's old and in need. Of course. House #4 and our number is up. Time to take one for the team.
One uncle is undergoing chemo for lymphoma, another uncle fell ill last week. He never recovered and the Lord called him home. This is where life hits you square in the eyes. Life does not last forever on earth. Heaven is reserved for those who know Jesus personally, "He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26)
Life doesn't stop.
Our children are going to attend their first funeral. We go for the living. We go to celebrate a life well lived, and to rejoice that he is completely healed in heaven. Some parents might disagree with our decision to take the kids, choosing instead to shelter them from the harshness of life. The reality of THIS life however, is that it ends. For every single one of us. The next life, is eternal. How we choose to spend that next life is a decision we must make now. Eternity with Jesus, or eternity without Him?
Neither child will be prepared, one can never be. The goal is to focus on death being defeated at the cross. Jesus died so that we may live forever WITH HIM. For those in Christ, death on earth is just the beginning.
It makes the dryer and the roof seems inconsequential when compared to eternity.
If you died today, would you know where you're spending eternity?
Do you want to know that you know?
Email me at nogreaterlove@optimum.net if you have questions, and I'd be happy to help.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Answered prayer
I love answered prayer. Can I get an Amen?
It is my privilege to go before my God and lay my burdens at his feet. He WANTS this from me, and as I've been learning of late, suffering is merely a tool he uses to draw me to Him. When I view my struggles in this light, it changes my perspective.
Life is not without struggles. As a Christian, I would be naive to assume otherwise. Struggles WILL come, and I should prepare accordingly. Why then, do we act surprised when they come? We all do it- act shocked when something difficult comes down the pipes.
Back in the fall, I'd been having regular headaches. It finally became enough of an issue that I sought medical advice. First thing the Doctor did was prescribe an MRI. My thoughts went from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds flat. Imagine all the "what ifs" that run through one's mind. After scheduling the MRI, I had a few days to prepare mentally and spiritually. It's not my intention to bore you with the details of my worry and concern prior to and following the MRI. What I want to do is make sure you understand the absolute peace I had while in the machine. If you've never had the horror (and I do mean this truly) of being encapsulated in a large machine, having to remain perfectly still, while enduring LOUD banging noises for 40 minutes, you'll understand why being at peace was an answered prayer.
That's right. Peace. Friends and family were covering me in prayer, and had sent me valuable scripture to comfort me. I held onto those words of truth like a lifeline while in the machine. Only my thoughts and my God were present in those 40 minutes, without which, I would have not endured. In the change room afterwards, I broke down and cried; a huge weight lifted.
The true test of patience and trust came in waiting for the results. Prayer, prayer and more prayer, the only thing I could do and control.
Turns out, the results were "normal" except for a little shadow on my skull. The Doctor suggested I see a neurologist to better understand the results and to ask about the headaches. Deep down inside, I knew it would be fine. He had already demonstrated to me that this entire scenario was not about my headaches, but about being drawn to Him. Sure enough, the neurologist said nothing further was necessary.
The headaches by the way, simply went away shortly after the New Year. Coincidence?
In a separate issue, we've been praying for a church like the one we attended previously, for the last year and a half. In Canada, we were beyond blessed with a church that was vertical- meaning their priority was to lead people to an encounter with Jesus. All the horizontal "stuff" was secondary to that single purpose. That hasn't been the case in our church shopping here. So we pray, and pray some more for God to do a mighty work in this area. All we want is more of Him; not more programs or funnier sermons, or better choices of coffee. Him.
Out of the blue last week, we get a call from a Pastor (Matt) out of Philadelphia (part of the same church fellowship we attended in Canada) who had a visit with our former Pastor. This prompted his call. Pastor Matt couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it earlier, but wants to be praying with us, that God would call up other couples who are hungry for more of Him and want to see His church built in this area. Talk about being floored. God is at work, and doing something mighty, right here in our midst.
Being a part of, and witness to, answered prayer is more than it appears on the surface. Yes, I can tick off a box in my prayer journal. More importantly, is that I am renewed with a sense of faith, and hope in a perfect God who loves even ME. That he would concern himself with an MRI and our desire to plant a church, is proof that no detail or prayer is too small.
So here's to praying, and to seeing those prayers answered. If you need anything prayed for, it would be my privilege to do so. You can email me at nogreaterlove@optimum.net
It is my privilege to go before my God and lay my burdens at his feet. He WANTS this from me, and as I've been learning of late, suffering is merely a tool he uses to draw me to Him. When I view my struggles in this light, it changes my perspective.
Life is not without struggles. As a Christian, I would be naive to assume otherwise. Struggles WILL come, and I should prepare accordingly. Why then, do we act surprised when they come? We all do it- act shocked when something difficult comes down the pipes.
Back in the fall, I'd been having regular headaches. It finally became enough of an issue that I sought medical advice. First thing the Doctor did was prescribe an MRI. My thoughts went from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds flat. Imagine all the "what ifs" that run through one's mind. After scheduling the MRI, I had a few days to prepare mentally and spiritually. It's not my intention to bore you with the details of my worry and concern prior to and following the MRI. What I want to do is make sure you understand the absolute peace I had while in the machine. If you've never had the horror (and I do mean this truly) of being encapsulated in a large machine, having to remain perfectly still, while enduring LOUD banging noises for 40 minutes, you'll understand why being at peace was an answered prayer.
That's right. Peace. Friends and family were covering me in prayer, and had sent me valuable scripture to comfort me. I held onto those words of truth like a lifeline while in the machine. Only my thoughts and my God were present in those 40 minutes, without which, I would have not endured. In the change room afterwards, I broke down and cried; a huge weight lifted.
The true test of patience and trust came in waiting for the results. Prayer, prayer and more prayer, the only thing I could do and control.
Turns out, the results were "normal" except for a little shadow on my skull. The Doctor suggested I see a neurologist to better understand the results and to ask about the headaches. Deep down inside, I knew it would be fine. He had already demonstrated to me that this entire scenario was not about my headaches, but about being drawn to Him. Sure enough, the neurologist said nothing further was necessary.
The headaches by the way, simply went away shortly after the New Year. Coincidence?
In a separate issue, we've been praying for a church like the one we attended previously, for the last year and a half. In Canada, we were beyond blessed with a church that was vertical- meaning their priority was to lead people to an encounter with Jesus. All the horizontal "stuff" was secondary to that single purpose. That hasn't been the case in our church shopping here. So we pray, and pray some more for God to do a mighty work in this area. All we want is more of Him; not more programs or funnier sermons, or better choices of coffee. Him.
Out of the blue last week, we get a call from a Pastor (Matt) out of Philadelphia (part of the same church fellowship we attended in Canada) who had a visit with our former Pastor. This prompted his call. Pastor Matt couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it earlier, but wants to be praying with us, that God would call up other couples who are hungry for more of Him and want to see His church built in this area. Talk about being floored. God is at work, and doing something mighty, right here in our midst.
Being a part of, and witness to, answered prayer is more than it appears on the surface. Yes, I can tick off a box in my prayer journal. More importantly, is that I am renewed with a sense of faith, and hope in a perfect God who loves even ME. That he would concern himself with an MRI and our desire to plant a church, is proof that no detail or prayer is too small.
So here's to praying, and to seeing those prayers answered. If you need anything prayed for, it would be my privilege to do so. You can email me at nogreaterlove@optimum.net
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
No shortage of excitement
I should know better by now, not to expect things to go smoothly. We're never short on adventures or excitement in this house. No complaints, just the way my life is.
Ester has had three separate bouts of diarrhea in a ten day span. At first we chalked it up to her "being a lab" and eating all sorts of things from the yard (which I try to remove in earnest.) The second bout I did what I had to, with omitting food and dispensing Pepto like a pro. Things appeared to improve. Then, a day later it all started again.
Normally I'm all for supporting local business, but this is beginning to get out of hand. When the vet gets to know you on a first name basis, you're in trouble.
After talking the options over with the vet, we've opted to take her off the food trial she's been on, and put her on a prescription diet and see if that clears up the issue. Eventually the hope is that she'll be transitioned to a regular diet. It's up to me to oversee this entire process and watch for any changes.
A sick puppy can really heighten your sense of worry. Am I doing something wrong? Did I miss removing anything that she picked up outside? What will it take to get her better? Can I possibly stockpile enough paper towels and anti-bacterial wipes?
Yet worrying does nothing for the good of the situation. Ester has no idea that I worry. She's not worried about her ordeal. I need to take a cue from the dog herself and just be happy and go with the flow. Eat what's put in front of you, drink your water, play plenty, and rest when needed. The perfect prescription for an easy life.
Thanks Ester.
Ester has had three separate bouts of diarrhea in a ten day span. At first we chalked it up to her "being a lab" and eating all sorts of things from the yard (which I try to remove in earnest.) The second bout I did what I had to, with omitting food and dispensing Pepto like a pro. Things appeared to improve. Then, a day later it all started again.
Normally I'm all for supporting local business, but this is beginning to get out of hand. When the vet gets to know you on a first name basis, you're in trouble.
After talking the options over with the vet, we've opted to take her off the food trial she's been on, and put her on a prescription diet and see if that clears up the issue. Eventually the hope is that she'll be transitioned to a regular diet. It's up to me to oversee this entire process and watch for any changes.
A sick puppy can really heighten your sense of worry. Am I doing something wrong? Did I miss removing anything that she picked up outside? What will it take to get her better? Can I possibly stockpile enough paper towels and anti-bacterial wipes?
Yet worrying does nothing for the good of the situation. Ester has no idea that I worry. She's not worried about her ordeal. I need to take a cue from the dog herself and just be happy and go with the flow. Eat what's put in front of you, drink your water, play plenty, and rest when needed. The perfect prescription for an easy life.
Thanks Ester.
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