And she's off!

It's been a long week. 

This sweet, nearly perfect girl, returned to the Seeing Eye last week. 
It was dreadful putting her into the van.  Her send off included every favorite activity she'd come to love while under our roof.  It was my way of loving on her for the final moments.  Truthfully, I think she knew something was up, because she rarely got THAT spoiled in the span of a few hours.  Smart puppy.

Our house has been so much quieter without her.  Even Cinnamon has been mopey.  This girl left her mark.  No puppy was better behaved, more obedient, more loving or more loyal.  That's hard to find and even harder to lose.

But she's off to do great things, by God's grace.

Ophelia, you were loved, and you loved well.
Mommy misses you.

Ophelia

Two dogs are not twice the work of only one dog.

At least in the case of our two.  Cinnamon on her own, equals about 3 dogs, in terms of energy level.  Do you see where I'm going with this?

3 dogs (Cinnamon) + 1 puppy (Ophelia) = not 2 dogs.

Ophelia is nearly as perfect as they come.  Behaviorally, she doesn't act out.  When I tell her "no" she understands that it means to quit that behavior.  If she wants something from me, she knows to sit for it.  When we're working on commands, her eyes are ALWAYS on me, without me having had to train that into her.  Her energy level is extremely low.  If she's out back playing with the kids, after five minutes of running around she's at the door, ready to come back in.  On occasion she will bark, but I've not once heard her whine.

You have to know that she is the complete opposite of Cinnamon.  This is why she's pure joy to raise, and why I willingly endure the work of two dogs.  It's just one simple aspect of grace in my life.

The two of them get along, although big sister has her moments of snarkiness. I have learned what can set her off and do my best to avoid those situations.  Still, Ophelia is young and isn't always socially attuned to when it's best to stay clear of her.  Thankfully, I have several friends who have given me pointers on how best to deal with her when it happens.  My wrestling skills are being honed these days...

At nearly five months Ophelia is proving to be a delightful addition.  The Seeing Eye isn't breeding as many Golden Retrievers so the fact that we have one is a rarity.  She's my companion on errands most days (except for the grocery store- that's the one place she's not allowed).  At Target every week, she's become well known to one employee.  The first time Ophelia met her, she brought the lady to tears, as she recalled her own Golden.  The ease with which she travels along side of me is proof that she will make a great Seeing Eye dog.

There's plenty of work yet to be done.  In another few months, she'll take the test to be vested.  In the meantime, we're working diligently at home on basic commands to ensure that she passes.  Sit, down, rest, come are all practiced daily in an effort to see her succeed.

                                            Sitting like a lady at a basketball game

                                                   18 inches of snow dropped and she loved it.

                                                       The trio loves a fire on a cold day.

Thing 33

Four years ago we moved into our house.  Hurricane Irene wasn't far behind, making the welcome more exciting. It certainly provided an opportunity to meet our neighbors in an unexpected way.

This weekend, we had our first official block party.  After four years, it felt like the right time.  When we moved in, there were only three families with school aged children (including ours).  Now we have about 9 new families on the block with kids.  It's delightful. 

Block parties have all but disappeared in this era.  Being old school, it was on my list of things to do.  Between the young families, new folks on the block, and general comradery we have, it wasn't going to be tough to pull off.

It was a huge hit.  We had plenty of tasty dishes, an assortment of lawn games for young and old, tables and chairs provided for relaxing, and the volunteer firefighters brought the firetruck for the kids to see. 

This is my neighborhood.  I take seriously the task of knowing my neighbors.  Moving stinks.  Do it enough times and you learn how important that welcome to the block can be. A small gesture of flowers and a note can go a long way towards building a sense of friendship and community.  Don't underestimate the power of conversation and being neighborly.  My neighbors know I'd help them out in a pinch.  That doesn't happen by chance.  Be the kind of neighbor you want to have as a neighbor.  It really is that simple.

Trees don't grow fruit the first year they're planted.  Four years ago, we never could have imagined the neighborhood we now have.  A lot of watering, sunlight and care, has produced a fruitful tree.  Relationships take time and energy, and I'm so thankful we're seeing the payoff. 

Thing 33 I love about New Jersey is our wonderful block.  It's precisely the kind of place I wished for, and feel privileged to call home. 

Kitchen reno

Two weeks without our kitchen and powder room as of today. 

My people have been troopers thus far, for which I am ever so grateful.  It's far from pleasant being squeezed into one room where we have to relax, prepare and eat our meals.  There's not much wiggle room- and I used to think our family room was big. 

It dawned on me the other day that this process is amounting to much like training for a long race.  The first few miles (weeks) produce excitement, because your energy level is at it's highest and you have dreamy hopes of what you'll accomplishment.  Then come the middle miles.  Settling into one's pace happens here, and the mental toughness is drawn out, as the body is taxed.  Arriving at the halfway point can be a milestone mentally- if you know when that point is (in a renovation it's not so obvious).  The last few miles require the training one has done to be put into practice.  All those pace workouts, hill repeats and long runs, were in preparation for the last bit, when the body is most tired and ready to give up.  Here is when one hits the proverbial wall. 

So where are we in this run?  If I had to guess, somewhere still in the first third of the race.  We've settled into a routine; as much as we can given the circumstances.  We aren't complaining much.  It's still somewhat fun- I say that lightly of course.  Some aspects are enjoyable, and some are not.  Friends that came by in the beginning wouldn't notice much change at this juncture. 

The best part of this process is learning to be content, flexible and patient.  God is drawing this out in all of us. 

Our neighbors have even brought dinner or allowed us to cook at their place.  This is no small thing!  My love for my neighbors has only grown.  Four years ago when we moved in, I wouldn't have expected such a thing, but it's been delightful to watch our neighborhood grow and become a place of good old fashioned kindness.  We are blessed.

That day

That day arrived.  The one where you catch you breath after seeing the large white envelope in the mail.  Where your fingers can't move fast enough to open it, and your vision blurs instantly with the tears.  She's been matched.

Fourteen months in the kennel, three separate trainers, several sightings by me, and she's done with it all.  Off to live the life she was bred for, giving "independence and dignity" to the blind person she now calls her own.

Few people understand this feeling of loss, and pride simultaneously.  No one finds it easy to give them back, NO ONE.  It's why The Seeing Eye struggles to find families willing to raise their puppies.  There's a searing sense of emptiness for days, even weeks following their departure.  Why not just avoid it all together?  Why even raise a puppy if you'll not see them again?  Sacrifice, that's why.

This culture of ours has lost the art of sacrifice.  Webster's defines it as : "forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one thought to have a greater value or claim."  Raising Ester was a true lesson in sacrifice for our family.  Time, energy, resources, and emotion were invested into her daily.  Did the kids want to go out and play?  Absolutely, but Ester had to be exercised first.  Do we want to go away for the weekend?  Sure, but we had to find dog care for her or we couldn't go.  Ultimately, giving her back to The Seeing Eye meant relinquishing any hold we had on her as a family member.  Her purpose, her role in the future COULD NOT happen without our seeing her future blind person as more valuable than ANY desire we had to keep her.  This is the essence of sacrifice.  Whatever I desire surrounding that puppy, must be less than my desire to see her change a life.

 I'm saddened by the cultural shift in our thinking, as of late.  When raising these puppies, the first question is always- "how do you do it- the giving up?" Why must strangers see the parting as the pivotal moment we raisers have?  There are thousands of moments that define the relationship we build with our puppies.  Hours of training, and exposure, and of course, love, go into making them well rounded and adventurous. The shame is in wiping out all of those moments, for the one that is the hardest.  When we allow hard moments to keep us from doing good, and right for others, we have welcomed selfishness in it's place.

That's not the kind of place I want my home to be.  So we press on, loving that fact that we have successfully raised a working Seeing Eye dog. 

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

Things to know about Labs

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.






 

Thing 31

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.

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.

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"

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.

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.

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.