She's only our second Labrador Retriever, so in no way can be called professional in regards to them. We have two kids, and trust me, we're not pros there either.
That being said, there are distinct breed characteristics that you will find in every Lab, and some of those are displayed more strongly in one dog than the other.
According to several sources, the Labrador Retriever is one the "easiest breeds to train" . Can you hear my laughter? Folks, there is NO dog that is EASY to train- they all require work, consistency, and hours of effort. At all times as a pet parent you must keep the end product you desire in view. If you want a happy, well behaved dog, then you have to ensure that through obedience training, and PRACTICE.
There's been no lack of training going on around here, but she possesses a certain stubbornness that is challenging. Easy breed, remember? Right...
Our memories have gone a bit soft since January. The kids keep mentioning how perfect Ester was, and I was quick to remind us all that she wasn't. After listing some of her foibles, she quickly fell from the pedestal. How easily we forget.
Cinnamon is four months old now, and proven over and over that she is a Lab. For entertainment purposes, I give you the following:
1) EVERY thing that is left on the floor, toy or otherwise, makes it into her mouth.
2) A water bowl is just a small swimming pool.
3) A meal is NEVER missed, and if it ever is, you KNOW something is wrong.
4) A gate is an invitation to jump.
5) You can never have too many friends; dogs or people.
6) Alarm clocks are antiquated. You will never sleep in again.
7) You can plan for every outcome and she will find the one you didn't.
8) When the doorbell rings, it must be for her.
9) Love is always better when it's given away.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Dear Children
Dear Children of Mine,
I love you dearly. Parents say this to their children all the time, but what does it really mean? In terms you can understand, let me explain.
IT DOESN'T MEAN I'M GOING TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU-
When your father or I ask you to do a job, we expect YOU to do it, and in a timely fashion. Letting the job wait until the end of the day in hopes we'll forget or do it ourselves, is not going to happen. Not only is our memory still sharp, but you are a bonafide member of this family, and that membership comes with it's own reward- contributing to the running of this household. No slackers allowed.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES-
You may be the only children for miles around that are helping with yard work, but that doesn't change our minds. Truthfully, it only solidifies what we're doing. We refuse to add to the generation of entitlement. Listen carefully- HARD WORK NEVER HURT ANYONE. Nothing good was ever achieved by being lazy, and the hours of lawn mowing, raking, weeding, and trimming will only serve you in the long run.
IT DOES MEAN A LIFE OF SACRIFICE-
The greatest example of love we have is found in Christ, and we aim to be His ambassadors in what we say and do. From helping others in our neighborhood, to raising a Seeing Eye puppy, or bringing meals to those in need, we look for ways to put others first as Christ did for us. This may mean stretching ourselves from time to time. It may mean missing out on a favorite activity. You can NEVER go wrong in loving someone this way.
IT MEANS GIVING YOU FREEDOM A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME-
When you can be trusted with a little, then you will be trusted with a lot. A simple principle. We parent inside the funnel, meaning, we give you a bit of leeway at a time, since too much too soon can be detrimental. It would be careless for us as parents to leave you for a weekend by yourselves (and against the law). An hour alone, however, is reasonable at this stage and allows you to grow into the freedom. If at any time that small bit of freedom is abused, we reign it back in, until we see the trust regained.
IT MIGHT MEAN GOING WITHOUT-
Certain items that are deemed "necessary" in our culture really aren't. We've been sold a bill of goods, and the payment will come due in the next generation of people who can't communicate face to face yet can text at the speed of lightning. Your youth should not be filled with all the latest gadgets. Instead, you should be reading, running around in our yard, playing with the puppy and hanging out with friends. All this technology only serves to keep us connected ALL THE TIME, which is far from beneficial.
And that my loves, is just a few examples of how we're trying our best to love you. God willing, one day you'll understand it all. For now, just know we love you.
XO
I love you dearly. Parents say this to their children all the time, but what does it really mean? In terms you can understand, let me explain.
IT DOESN'T MEAN I'M GOING TO DO THE WORK FOR YOU-
When your father or I ask you to do a job, we expect YOU to do it, and in a timely fashion. Letting the job wait until the end of the day in hopes we'll forget or do it ourselves, is not going to happen. Not only is our memory still sharp, but you are a bonafide member of this family, and that membership comes with it's own reward- contributing to the running of this household. No slackers allowed.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DO WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES-
You may be the only children for miles around that are helping with yard work, but that doesn't change our minds. Truthfully, it only solidifies what we're doing. We refuse to add to the generation of entitlement. Listen carefully- HARD WORK NEVER HURT ANYONE. Nothing good was ever achieved by being lazy, and the hours of lawn mowing, raking, weeding, and trimming will only serve you in the long run.
IT DOES MEAN A LIFE OF SACRIFICE-
The greatest example of love we have is found in Christ, and we aim to be His ambassadors in what we say and do. From helping others in our neighborhood, to raising a Seeing Eye puppy, or bringing meals to those in need, we look for ways to put others first as Christ did for us. This may mean stretching ourselves from time to time. It may mean missing out on a favorite activity. You can NEVER go wrong in loving someone this way.
IT MEANS GIVING YOU FREEDOM A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME-
When you can be trusted with a little, then you will be trusted with a lot. A simple principle. We parent inside the funnel, meaning, we give you a bit of leeway at a time, since too much too soon can be detrimental. It would be careless for us as parents to leave you for a weekend by yourselves (and against the law). An hour alone, however, is reasonable at this stage and allows you to grow into the freedom. If at any time that small bit of freedom is abused, we reign it back in, until we see the trust regained.
IT MIGHT MEAN GOING WITHOUT-
Certain items that are deemed "necessary" in our culture really aren't. We've been sold a bill of goods, and the payment will come due in the next generation of people who can't communicate face to face yet can text at the speed of lightning. Your youth should not be filled with all the latest gadgets. Instead, you should be reading, running around in our yard, playing with the puppy and hanging out with friends. All this technology only serves to keep us connected ALL THE TIME, which is far from beneficial.
And that my loves, is just a few examples of how we're trying our best to love you. God willing, one day you'll understand it all. For now, just know we love you.
XO
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The first 3 weeks
Summer has arrived in all it's glory- great weather, fireflies, late nights, BBQ's and walks around the neighborhood after dinner. Winter isn't so bad when you have weeks like this.
Then there's the early mornings. Normally, I'm a morning person. Rising before the rest of the family to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and do my devotions, is my favorite way to begin the day. Come summer however, I like to have a bit of a respite from the earliness.
Enter Cinnamon.
She doesn't know it's summer. Nor does she know she's supposed to let me sleep in. You can see my dilemma.
Just when my kids have reached the age when they sleep in, we go and get a puppy. Remind me again whose idea this was?
She's been a delightful little girl; mellow as they come, aside from a few times a day when she's playful. The crate is a lifesaver for those moments. Most of the day she's sleeping. Around here, that's known as recharging.
While most of the time she's angelic (see the picture above), she has earned the nickname "Jaws". It fits.
When she began sleeping on our bed night the third night (the softie? Not me.) I knew we'd regret it eventually. Fast forward three weeks, and we have us a BIG problem. Little miss doesn't want to be in her crate overnight and voices her opinion rather loudly.
The kids aren't about to transition her. Nelson isn't either. The lucky winner is me. Do you see how my summer is stacking up thus far?
Down to the basement we go where she can whine without fear of waking anyone else. Her incessant whining and barking lasted for 45 minutes straight. STRAIGHT. And just so you know, earplugs aren't worth a darn in this case. <sigh> I'm exhausted. Even better is that she's up and raring to go at 5:30 am. God love her.
Each night gets a little better, and each morning she's learning to wait a bit longer for me to rise and shine.
Until she decides sleeping in is a good thing, I'll be enjoying that early cup of coffee with her.
It doesn't hurt that she sleeps on my lap while I do that. Puppy love it is.
Then there's the early mornings. Normally, I'm a morning person. Rising before the rest of the family to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and do my devotions, is my favorite way to begin the day. Come summer however, I like to have a bit of a respite from the earliness.
Enter Cinnamon.
She doesn't know it's summer. Nor does she know she's supposed to let me sleep in. You can see my dilemma.
Just when my kids have reached the age when they sleep in, we go and get a puppy. Remind me again whose idea this was?
She's been a delightful little girl; mellow as they come, aside from a few times a day when she's playful. The crate is a lifesaver for those moments. Most of the day she's sleeping. Around here, that's known as recharging.
While most of the time she's angelic (see the picture above), she has earned the nickname "Jaws". It fits.
When she began sleeping on our bed night the third night (the softie? Not me.) I knew we'd regret it eventually. Fast forward three weeks, and we have us a BIG problem. Little miss doesn't want to be in her crate overnight and voices her opinion rather loudly.
The kids aren't about to transition her. Nelson isn't either. The lucky winner is me. Do you see how my summer is stacking up thus far?
Down to the basement we go where she can whine without fear of waking anyone else. Her incessant whining and barking lasted for 45 minutes straight. STRAIGHT. And just so you know, earplugs aren't worth a darn in this case. <sigh> I'm exhausted. Even better is that she's up and raring to go at 5:30 am. God love her.
Each night gets a little better, and each morning she's learning to wait a bit longer for me to rise and shine.
Until she decides sleeping in is a good thing, I'll be enjoying that early cup of coffee with her.
It doesn't hurt that she sleeps on my lap while I do that. Puppy love it is.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
The Bee
It's not a coincidence that a kid who LOVES Geography ends up at a school that participates in the National Geographic Geography Bee. We didn't know this at the time we picked the school.
That's purely a God thing.
As we headed down to D.C. the excitement in the car was palpable. Plenty of chatter, much quizzing, and of course, a few prayers thrown in too. It didn't hurt, that en route, we stopped to pick out the puppy that's soon to join our brood. If nothing else, this face distracted us from any stress we might have had:
That's purely a God thing.
As we headed down to D.C. the excitement in the car was palpable. Plenty of chatter, much quizzing, and of course, a few prayers thrown in too. It didn't hurt, that en route, we stopped to pick out the puppy that's soon to join our brood. If nothing else, this face distracted us from any stress we might have had:
And no, she's not named yet. A point of contention around here.
Our experience over the week was certainly unique. Charlie roomed with two other contestants, giving us a short glimpse of life in the future, when he's off to college. Audrey soaked up the extra attention from us both. He learned that being away from your parents might be kind of cool, but roommates present a different set of challenges all together. I'm sure you can relate.
As for the competition itself, he disappointed himself in that he made an error on one of the questions. In giving the country, not the name of the island, he missed the point. He composed himself well throughout, and it was obvious to me as his mother, that prayers were being answered for humility and good recall. Out of the eleven contestants in our room (there were 5 rooms in total), three scored perfectly and moved on to the finals. With ten spots available for the finals, nine of those spots were filled with kids who scored perfectly in the preliminaries. The competition was stiff.
Given the circumstances, I do think he did his best. There was no sense of what to expect, other than one would be competing against the best in each state. The types of questions were unlike any he'd had previously, adding an element of difficulty.
I'm so proud of him for his effort, but even more so for his character. Not once did I ever hear him say anything negative or condescending. It would be easy to get lost in the sorrow of losing, but he didn't. He was excited to see the others compete, and see if he knew the answers.
When all is said and done, Charlie walked away learning more about himself and how God answers prayers. He heard the winner talk about how much time he spends studying for this, and Charlie was frank in his response of "I'd have no life if I did that". I'm so thankful he has a sense of balance and priority at this age.
All in all, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all, and we are grateful to have been there.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Team Charlie
We're on our way down to Washington D.C. today.
My pom-poms and cheerleading voice are ready.
My prayers have been prayed.
My excitement, building.
It's time to fly, dear son.
Six weeks have flown by, and Charlie has impressed me, once again. Forget for a minute all the knowledge he's had to retain. The kid took 6 different sources and compiled information from each, into a notebook arranged alphabetically by nation. In total, he put 150 nations in his notebook. Can you name 150 of ANYTHING? Day by day he's poured over the book, studying everything he's written down. Combined with a nightly watching of "Jeopardy", he now believes he's sufficiently prepared.
It could be so easy to get wrapped up in the worldly trappings that accompany an event like this; success, pride, entitlement and money. From these eyes, thankfully, there is an entirely different perspective. This bee isn't really about the Bee. It rarely is.
You wonder, what is it about then?
Growing spiritually. We have not because we ask not. I'm not going to lie, I'd love to see my son win. It'd be a delightful moment for me as a mom. But that's not at all what I've prayed for him the last six weeks. God hasn't called me to pray for that. He HAS called me to pray for his humility, ease in recall of all the facts he's learned, and that He would be glorified throughout. Even better, is asking Charlie what he wants prayed. His answer? That the other contestants wouldn't be proud. He saw some aspects of character in the state competition that disgusted him, and it made an impression. We've had some tough conversations about what to expect from this event. Not all of it is pretty. Charlie knows he's called to act and speak differently as a representative of his Creator, and this family. Certainly it won't be easy for him, given that the level of competition will be high. His ability to pray won't be hindered at any moment; he knows from experience that our God is present and able to help in times of need.
Charlie himself has been praying that he does his best. I think that's all we can ask. No goals are set this time. Just the plan of going in and enjoying oneself. I'd liken it to running a marathon. Weeks of time and effort spent preparing, and you eventually make it to the starting line. The race is the easy part; the training is all behind you. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the crowds, and finish strong knowing you've put in the effort it takes to complete such a race. Charlie is about to learn that the outcome is really a small part of what's going to take place this week. God is going to use him in ways he can't expect. God is going to grow him in places he needs it. God is going to answer prayer.
The hardest part will be the waiting.
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." Eph 3:20
Go Lord!
My pom-poms and cheerleading voice are ready.
My prayers have been prayed.
My excitement, building.
It's time to fly, dear son.
Six weeks have flown by, and Charlie has impressed me, once again. Forget for a minute all the knowledge he's had to retain. The kid took 6 different sources and compiled information from each, into a notebook arranged alphabetically by nation. In total, he put 150 nations in his notebook. Can you name 150 of ANYTHING? Day by day he's poured over the book, studying everything he's written down. Combined with a nightly watching of "Jeopardy", he now believes he's sufficiently prepared.
It could be so easy to get wrapped up in the worldly trappings that accompany an event like this; success, pride, entitlement and money. From these eyes, thankfully, there is an entirely different perspective. This bee isn't really about the Bee. It rarely is.
You wonder, what is it about then?
Growing spiritually. We have not because we ask not. I'm not going to lie, I'd love to see my son win. It'd be a delightful moment for me as a mom. But that's not at all what I've prayed for him the last six weeks. God hasn't called me to pray for that. He HAS called me to pray for his humility, ease in recall of all the facts he's learned, and that He would be glorified throughout. Even better, is asking Charlie what he wants prayed. His answer? That the other contestants wouldn't be proud. He saw some aspects of character in the state competition that disgusted him, and it made an impression. We've had some tough conversations about what to expect from this event. Not all of it is pretty. Charlie knows he's called to act and speak differently as a representative of his Creator, and this family. Certainly it won't be easy for him, given that the level of competition will be high. His ability to pray won't be hindered at any moment; he knows from experience that our God is present and able to help in times of need.
Charlie himself has been praying that he does his best. I think that's all we can ask. No goals are set this time. Just the plan of going in and enjoying oneself. I'd liken it to running a marathon. Weeks of time and effort spent preparing, and you eventually make it to the starting line. The race is the easy part; the training is all behind you. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the crowds, and finish strong knowing you've put in the effort it takes to complete such a race. Charlie is about to learn that the outcome is really a small part of what's going to take place this week. God is going to use him in ways he can't expect. God is going to grow him in places he needs it. God is going to answer prayer.
The hardest part will be the waiting.
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." Eph 3:20
Go Lord!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
There she is!
We saw Ester today.
For the last time.
It was awful saying goodbye to her back in January. Today was a different sort of awful. More permanent.
Every one of my Seeing Eye friends who has done this, says seeing them in harness is indescribable. There's such a sense of pride in seeing the finished product. Truthfully, I went into it with mixed emotions, this being our first experience.
Her instructor brought her out in harness and I did a double take. Our goofy, sweet girl, was transformed into this beautiful, strong working dog. Right in full view. There is no proper way to be prepared for such a sight. EVER. The only response I could give was to let the tears flow. When I turned around to see Charlie, I'm fairly certain his eyes had watered too. My quiet reserved boy had been changed by her.
We followed her through town, jumping in and out of puddles on this rainy spring day. She never wavered, and the water didn't bother her. Afterwards, the instructor spoke to us about her and the challenges she faced. They expect her to be matched up with someone in the next month or two and will keep us apprised of her progress in that regard.
What a blessing to get closure. In life, things are rarely wrapped up neatly. This is one exception. We raised her, we loved her, and sent her off to do great things. Then, we have the privilege of seeing it all come full circle and witness her in harness.
Along the way, people have often told me "I don't know how you do it, it must be so difficult to give them back." Yes, yes it is. But the purpose is greater than the pain. It disappoints me greatly that so many would opt out of doing something great, all because it's "too difficult". Nothing great was ever achieved taking the easy route.
I'd rather do the hard right thing, than the easy wrong thing.
To Ester.
To loving others.
To doing the hard right thing.
Monday, April 7, 2014
He did it!
Every mother has a list of wishes for their child, from the minute they meet them face to face. In some long lost journal up on a shelf in Charlie's room, I wrote mine for him. Maybe I should glance at it before completing this post? Nah…
Charlie has always been the inquisitive type. Books and puzzles were attractive to him from an early age. Being a former teacher, I would not say no to buying a book for my children. When your kids grow up knowing books and learning are fun, it's amazing what they will do with it.
When we moved to Canada, he was three and a half. I distinctly remember him staring at the maps we used to drive across the country. They amazed him. And why wouldn't they? They were colorful, interesting and straight forward- and easy to understand at any age.
Much of his free time was spent in front of the large North American map that hung on the office wall. He'd either study it or bring blank paper and copy it free hand. Thus began his in depth love of all things geographical.
Fast forward eight years or so. He's a self taught kid who reads every non-fiction book he can get his hands on. Some kids play sports. My kid reads. Some kids read best selling fiction. My kid reads books about learning Russian and Science books. Some kids have no interest in learning new things. My kid can't get enough of new information. It's the way God made him.
Friday was his third time competing in the State Geography Bee. After two years of experience, his maturity and comfort level kicked in, unlike previous years. He'll tell you that he studied more than in other years, and more methodically. Obviously, it paid off.
He won the entire competition without missing a single question all day. Out of all the wishes I ever had for him as a infant, I'm fairly certain none of them involved winning a big competition. Plenty of life skills had to be practiced that day; patience, good sportsmanship, being cool under pressure, wisdom, being gracious to journalists, and relishing the moment. His composure through it all astounded me. Sometimes I wonder if we've done right by him when it comes to certain things (don't ALL parents have this worry?), and other times I know that he's got no excuse to not do it properly.
More important than the win, was the chance to see him shine. There are certain personality traits our children carry, that in the wrong light can be construed as negative. Yet, when circumstances arise that are out of our control, sometimes those "negative" traits become positive. Such was the case on Friday. It's a wonderful thing to watch your child bloom right in front of you. Seeing them in a new light, being humbled by the gifts God gave him/her, brings me to my knees in utter awe. Part of it is knowing I could NEVER do what he did. The other part is realizing that he is a unique individual, given a set of gifts and talents that God is showcasing in ways I never could have predicted.
Yes, Charlie won. But God gets all the credit.
Amen.
Charlie has always been the inquisitive type. Books and puzzles were attractive to him from an early age. Being a former teacher, I would not say no to buying a book for my children. When your kids grow up knowing books and learning are fun, it's amazing what they will do with it.
When we moved to Canada, he was three and a half. I distinctly remember him staring at the maps we used to drive across the country. They amazed him. And why wouldn't they? They were colorful, interesting and straight forward- and easy to understand at any age.
Much of his free time was spent in front of the large North American map that hung on the office wall. He'd either study it or bring blank paper and copy it free hand. Thus began his in depth love of all things geographical.
Fast forward eight years or so. He's a self taught kid who reads every non-fiction book he can get his hands on. Some kids play sports. My kid reads. Some kids read best selling fiction. My kid reads books about learning Russian and Science books. Some kids have no interest in learning new things. My kid can't get enough of new information. It's the way God made him.
Friday was his third time competing in the State Geography Bee. After two years of experience, his maturity and comfort level kicked in, unlike previous years. He'll tell you that he studied more than in other years, and more methodically. Obviously, it paid off.
He won the entire competition without missing a single question all day. Out of all the wishes I ever had for him as a infant, I'm fairly certain none of them involved winning a big competition. Plenty of life skills had to be practiced that day; patience, good sportsmanship, being cool under pressure, wisdom, being gracious to journalists, and relishing the moment. His composure through it all astounded me. Sometimes I wonder if we've done right by him when it comes to certain things (don't ALL parents have this worry?), and other times I know that he's got no excuse to not do it properly.
More important than the win, was the chance to see him shine. There are certain personality traits our children carry, that in the wrong light can be construed as negative. Yet, when circumstances arise that are out of our control, sometimes those "negative" traits become positive. Such was the case on Friday. It's a wonderful thing to watch your child bloom right in front of you. Seeing them in a new light, being humbled by the gifts God gave him/her, brings me to my knees in utter awe. Part of it is knowing I could NEVER do what he did. The other part is realizing that he is a unique individual, given a set of gifts and talents that God is showcasing in ways I never could have predicted.
Yes, Charlie won. But God gets all the credit.
Amen.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Thing 32
It's always a joy to find another thing to love about living here. We're still "newbies" in my book, having lived here just under three years. Making discoveries still happens fairly regularly, and I welcome them.
Thing 32 that I love about living here is that the Seeing Eye is only a stone's throw from us. It's a nationally known organization that exists to bring dignity and independence to the blind through the assignment of a Seeing Eye dog.
Yesterday, I began my stint as a volunteer at their headquarters. Once we let Ester go, the puppy fix was needed. By volunteering I could still be around pups and also learn a bit more about the running of the organization. My "job" is far from glamourous, but it does allow me to be in the kennels. Secretly I'm hoping to see our girl while she's there, but I think it might do me in, to be honest.
While waiting in the reception area yesterday I was able to chat with the receptionist, (who happens to be blind) about all things Seeing Eye. She was kind enough to let me pet her black lab "O'Hara" which was a special treat, trust me. This particular Monday happened to be the beginning of the new session, so students were checking in for their month long training.
When the first student came in with his wife, several of the instructors came to greet him, along with the head of the Seeing Eye with his dog "Vegas" in harness. For a few moments I was the fly on the wall, overhearing the conversation. The gentleman was coming in for his first dog. Between hearing that and watching Vegas in action, I was brought to tears. What a privilege to finally see it all in action, lived out right in front of me.
As a puppy raiser, there's a tendency to have tunnel vision and only focus on the training of the dog. Once they leave us, we're onto the next puppy or attempting to get back to normal. We're not privy to the ENTIRE process of getting that puppy into the hands of the blind person. All this time, talking and thinking about Ester becoming a Seeing Eye, it's been difficult to visualize the end product, not having seen it.
Sitting in that chair changed all that. Everything came together for me. These dogs change lives. How totally selfish I've been in wanting her to come back to us, when she can go out and conquer the world for someone. THAT'S what I want. We don't need her, but they do.
We're blessed to be involved with such an amazing organization. Thing 32, you might just be my favorite reason for moving here.
Thing 32 that I love about living here is that the Seeing Eye is only a stone's throw from us. It's a nationally known organization that exists to bring dignity and independence to the blind through the assignment of a Seeing Eye dog.
Yesterday, I began my stint as a volunteer at their headquarters. Once we let Ester go, the puppy fix was needed. By volunteering I could still be around pups and also learn a bit more about the running of the organization. My "job" is far from glamourous, but it does allow me to be in the kennels. Secretly I'm hoping to see our girl while she's there, but I think it might do me in, to be honest.
While waiting in the reception area yesterday I was able to chat with the receptionist, (who happens to be blind) about all things Seeing Eye. She was kind enough to let me pet her black lab "O'Hara" which was a special treat, trust me. This particular Monday happened to be the beginning of the new session, so students were checking in for their month long training.
When the first student came in with his wife, several of the instructors came to greet him, along with the head of the Seeing Eye with his dog "Vegas" in harness. For a few moments I was the fly on the wall, overhearing the conversation. The gentleman was coming in for his first dog. Between hearing that and watching Vegas in action, I was brought to tears. What a privilege to finally see it all in action, lived out right in front of me.
As a puppy raiser, there's a tendency to have tunnel vision and only focus on the training of the dog. Once they leave us, we're onto the next puppy or attempting to get back to normal. We're not privy to the ENTIRE process of getting that puppy into the hands of the blind person. All this time, talking and thinking about Ester becoming a Seeing Eye, it's been difficult to visualize the end product, not having seen it.
Sitting in that chair changed all that. Everything came together for me. These dogs change lives. How totally selfish I've been in wanting her to come back to us, when she can go out and conquer the world for someone. THAT'S what I want. We don't need her, but they do.
We're blessed to be involved with such an amazing organization. Thing 32, you might just be my favorite reason for moving here.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time passes
We're about six weeks into the absence of Ester.
I'd like to say we're used to it, and in a small way we are, but truthfully, we miss her.
We miss her dearly.
On these long cold nights with a fire going and us hanging out on the couch, there's no Ester to snuggle.
When the fire is raging and warming up the room, there's no Ester to rest in front of it and soak up it's heat.
When the cats are lounging around like they own the place (and they do), there's no Ester to torture them and take them down a notch.
When the snow just wouldn't stop coming, and coming, and coming- there was no bouncy, happy Ester to jump right into it with the kids.
When this mom, who spends the majority of her days alone talking to herself, there's no Ester to listen or offer up love.
How does one adjust to this missing piece? Is it possible we will never adjust completely? Part of me believes we won't ever be able to say we've recovered from her absence, and that's okay. I want to be affected in such a way that our response is to do it again, and again and again. Fostering a puppy for this cause has impacted me, and our family greatly.
Two letters have come in the mail from Ester, with the latest one giving us the details on who is training her, as well as preparing us for her future "town walk" where we will get to see her in harness. Can I be honest? The thought of her in harness makes my heart swell with such pride. But pride is the last thing I want to feel, instead I'm aiming to feel nothing but gratitude. Not just for the chance to love her and know her, but for the opportunity to affect a life in a way that is uncommon and unmeasurable. In a small way we are acting as ambassadors of Christ, in sacrificing our time, energy and hearts to love on a person we don't even know. What a mystery of love to do something so difficult, and yet desire to do it again and again. The capacity for love that Christ has given us is propelling us forward.
While we wait to hear how she does in her training, we have moved forward in our quest to have our own puppy to keep. When we began the entire process of fostering, we (actually only one of us) weren't sure a dog would be the right fit for us. Ester went and sold us.
In the meantime, we're teaching the cats to play fetch and walking them around the block. It's been an epic fail. You can't teach on old cat new tricks.
I'd like to say we're used to it, and in a small way we are, but truthfully, we miss her.
We miss her dearly.
On these long cold nights with a fire going and us hanging out on the couch, there's no Ester to snuggle.
When the fire is raging and warming up the room, there's no Ester to rest in front of it and soak up it's heat.
When the cats are lounging around like they own the place (and they do), there's no Ester to torture them and take them down a notch.
When the snow just wouldn't stop coming, and coming, and coming- there was no bouncy, happy Ester to jump right into it with the kids.
When this mom, who spends the majority of her days alone talking to herself, there's no Ester to listen or offer up love.
How does one adjust to this missing piece? Is it possible we will never adjust completely? Part of me believes we won't ever be able to say we've recovered from her absence, and that's okay. I want to be affected in such a way that our response is to do it again, and again and again. Fostering a puppy for this cause has impacted me, and our family greatly.
Two letters have come in the mail from Ester, with the latest one giving us the details on who is training her, as well as preparing us for her future "town walk" where we will get to see her in harness. Can I be honest? The thought of her in harness makes my heart swell with such pride. But pride is the last thing I want to feel, instead I'm aiming to feel nothing but gratitude. Not just for the chance to love her and know her, but for the opportunity to affect a life in a way that is uncommon and unmeasurable. In a small way we are acting as ambassadors of Christ, in sacrificing our time, energy and hearts to love on a person we don't even know. What a mystery of love to do something so difficult, and yet desire to do it again and again. The capacity for love that Christ has given us is propelling us forward.
While we wait to hear how she does in her training, we have moved forward in our quest to have our own puppy to keep. When we began the entire process of fostering, we (actually only one of us) weren't sure a dog would be the right fit for us. Ester went and sold us.
In the meantime, we're teaching the cats to play fetch and walking them around the block. It's been an epic fail. You can't teach on old cat new tricks.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Already?
Every time I'm out with Ester I am barraged with questions. It seems predictable that I answer the one about her age and then comment (lately, anyhow) that she'll be called up soon.
So while I've been SAYING it, and EXPECTING it, I've not really BELIEVED it. This is a problem.
Just today, in some back and forth emails with the coordinator about Ester's latest adventure (I'll spare you the details) she mentions that Ester's being called up this month. We as a family, need to decide on the specific date.
CRUSH. MY. HEART.
How do I go about looking at her sweet face and not break into tears? Who will greet me when I come home from running errands? Who will sleep in front of the fire and enjoy it's warmth?
How do I tell the kids? This will not be my finest moment as a Mom, I can guarantee it. No books, no manuals on how-to-break-the-news-to your-children. A box of kleenex and lots of hugs. I'm going to pray that does the trick. And a freezer full of ice cream never hurt either.
So while I've been SAYING it, and EXPECTING it, I've not really BELIEVED it. This is a problem.
Just today, in some back and forth emails with the coordinator about Ester's latest adventure (I'll spare you the details) she mentions that Ester's being called up this month. We as a family, need to decide on the specific date.
CRUSH. MY. HEART.
How do I go about looking at her sweet face and not break into tears? Who will greet me when I come home from running errands? Who will sleep in front of the fire and enjoy it's warmth?
How do I tell the kids? This will not be my finest moment as a Mom, I can guarantee it. No books, no manuals on how-to-break-the-news-to your-children. A box of kleenex and lots of hugs. I'm going to pray that does the trick. And a freezer full of ice cream never hurt either.
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