Trouble in the Wilderness

*** Cick here for info on "Tell me your Story"***
It's actually my backyard, but to alot of people, it is the wilderness. I will show you pictures of what me and the dogs saw on our trip into the wild.
You will be awed and amazed. If you stay awake.
These are the deer that come and look into our back windows at night,peering in at the t.v. screen. I am convinced they will stop doing that when the American Idol season is over.








Chopper and Lila love to walk around our loop with me even if it is muddy. Who am I kidding? Especially if it is muddy.



The next part of the trail is actually covered with water which makes muddy shoes for me, and muddy everything for the dogs.

I have been walking fairly consistently so I felt pretty good as I was cruising around my loop. I was walking quickly, arms pumping, singing Pink's "Trouble" with my ipod.
"And my fingers are bejeweled
With diamonds and gold
but that ain't gonna help me now
(chorus - sing it with me...)
I'm trouble-yeah
trouble now
I'm trouble y'all,
I disturb my own town
I'm trouble y'all,
I got trouble in my town"


I was feeling remarkably spunky.


I can't imagine what I sounded like, as I honestly can't carry a tune.
In fact, if hunters such as Rod had been with me, they would have been very thankful. I have no doubt that the sound of me warbling out those lyrics in my flat monotone would have stunned any forest creatures into immobility.
A priceless gift is what I have.


I was feeling so frisky, that I thought to myself, " I think maybe I could even run."
And by run, I actually mean a slow jog that no human being under the age of 87 would ever mistake for a run.
So, in a burst of enthusiasm, I began running.( Again, I use the term "running" loosely)


My dog Lila, rushed up to me and began leaping and barking and knocking into me. She had never seen me run before(come to think of it, no one has) and obviously thought this was great fun!

It was, until she began trying to body slam me with a joyful grin on her doggy face.

Nice.


I looked around for Chopper and finally located him peering fearfully from around a fir tree. He was terrified. "Why is she running? Is there a fire? Is the sky falling?"


Poor Chopper! But, I was able to call him out of the forest and back onto the trail using only my superior leadership skillz. He responded immediately to the calm focus of my voice, forgetting his overwhelming fears. (see picture below)

It is like I am the bullmastiff whisperer. I should write a book....

when I'm done walking. Maybe someday I'll be able to run with abandon and joy like Chopper here. Hopefully that mud puddle will dry up, too. :-)

Enjoy your day! And keep in mind the "Tell Me Your Story" Testimony Bloggy Carnival. Click the link to read more about it and join in. Thanks!

My Joy. It knows no bounds.

So. What can make me so happy, you ask?

Is it the snow that is falling and turning everything white again, even though it is SPRING and flowers should be blooming and I should be BBQing, not cooking navy bean soup with ham in an attempt to warm us up?

(This, my friends, is a fine example of a run on sentence.And I think I'll leave it be. I'm just that happy.)

No, it is not the snow.

Could it be because Lila is taking a doggy nap on the love seat, the same love seat that she is FORBIDDEN from ever sleeping, resting or snoozing on, let alone getting up on AT ALL? And she climbed up there when I went to go get the mail as if I wouldn't notice when I came back in. She is cat-like in her utter lack of guilt.

No, that is not why I am joyful, although taking the picture and showing Rod her complete lack of concern for punishment will be fun.

Wait...could it be? Could I be so happy because THE SANDALS HAVE ARRIVED? (Yes, I WAS shouting there.) It is like when you meet certain celebrities in real life you say, oh my goodness,they are better looking in person than they are on America's Next Top Model CNN.

This phenomenon is true of THE SANDALS. Exquisite. Even with my winter white feet and slightly hairy big toes. And the wart on my baby toe? It must go away before THE SANDALS can be worn. Don't my feet sound frightening? And yet THE SANDALS can overcome all the sins of the foot. They are that good.

But no, that is not the reason for my joy, although it does boost my happiness levels to near record highs.

Before you ask, it is not the full cup of Starbucks Sulawesi in my favorite mug. But it does seem to warm my very soul.

No, these are all good things and contribute to my total happiness. But they are not the source.

I picked up my prayer journal this afternoon and read these words written yesterday concerning a tough situation I am battling at the jail. The words I used were, "bad, hopeless, and useless."

Today, I discovered that God had a plan the entire time. What Satan had no doubt meant for destruction and discouragement, God has used for good and for His glory.

I got to watch. The timing was perfection. The orchestration was flawless. It is absolutely astonishing to see how He cares for us.

Now I have more uphill battles at the jail to face, as we all do in our everyday lives.

But I know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

I just forget sometimes.

God is good all the time. All the time, God is good. Yeah.

(if you are praying, please pray for Jail time Wedneday night and Thursday night bible study at the prison. Your prayers are SO appreciated by everyone involved.)

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

If you are singing along to that one, you and me can't be friends. Ever. I hate that song.
However....buckle in and get ready the crank up the cuteness meter, cuz here we go.
Christmas, kids and bullie puppies. Can anything possibly beat it? No. (I LOVE answering my own questions, don't I? Yes, apparently I do. I'm quirky and self absorbed like that)


Above we have my niece Chantry holding Dresden, Ginormous Puppy of the North. She has offered to take him off your hands, Adam and Tiffany, if you are unable to take him home next week. She was very adamant about letting you know. Just thought you should be aware.

Above is Rennick (please, Brenda, tell me if I misspelled her name). She is bonding here with Tyra, our biggest female with the most perfect face. In fact, she is probably the "Best Bull." (Just kidding, Brenda and everyone else who will argue endlessly about WHO is actually the Best Bull. It is obvious that CHOPPER is. This my MY BLOG and I get to pick. So there.


Did you ever see such a beautiful family portrait? No, me neither. (there I go again.) Brenda and the girls with Mistletoe,(aka Missile) their wonderful Christmas present for each other. May you have many, many happy Christmases together.

And below, are two pictures of Tyra, for the gentleman in Vernonia who just called and expressed interest in maybe coming to meet her. Here ya go, and we hope that your lives are back to normal soon after your flooding ordeals.



And the BEST BULL:



***Josiah Update*** (Sorry Ashley for the misinformation!!!)
The replacements will be arriving at Sharona and will be trained for a while, but it makes the light at the end of the tunnel a little bit brighter. This morning Josiah called to tell us he is receiving a medal (or nomination we're not sure) today for his part in the fire that took place a few days ago. We're so proud of you, Josiah!! Come home soon. Love you, Mom and Dad. And puppies.

Christmas, past and PRESENT

I remember when the kids were little and Christmas would make them literally tremble with anticipation of Christmas morning. They would wake us up before the sun even considered making it's daily appearance, shouting "Merry Christmas!!" so everyone in our neighboring states could hear.
Shopping for presents for them, and staying in a budget was always a challenge, but both Josiah and Amy were both always extraordinarily grateful for everything they got. And Rod and I used Christmas as a way to stock up on socks, underwear and pajamas for the kids. We just wrapped them up and put bows on them and the kids would "ooh" and "ahh" over them every time.
The last few years, the tables have turned a bit, and the kids, now adults, seem to take great joy in buying Rod and me presents. But I don't just "ohh" and "ahhh" over these gifts.
I cry.
I gush.
I bawl. (One year when Josiah was deployed I accidentally hung up on him as we were opening presents because I began crying as I read the what he'd had inscribed on the back of the iPod he sent me)
The kids grew up and get us things that are thoughtful and very meaningful. Last year Amy got Rod his bible to read through in a year, in the translation that she knew he wanted. (He is accomplishing that, by the way)
But it is a weird thing we parents go through when our kids grow up and start buying us stuff. Hey, we're supposed to help them out, buy them stuff, not the other way around. So we are a little uncomfortable when they get us gifts. Especially big gifts. Like this one that Josiah got us for Christmas this year.



Yeah, I know.
It's a 42 inch, HDTV. It barely fits in the room and we had to get rid of the entertainment center to fit it in there.
But I have to say, Dr. Phil even looks good on it.
We've all been enjoying it.
Here is Rod, trying to get comfortable with the fact that Siah spent too much $$$ on us for Christmas, when he should be saving for bills, a house blah blah blah. Football helps Rod get comfortable.




And, of course, the bullies enjoy the new TV. Here is Chops getting to know Martha Stewart's dogs. Chopper LOVES watching other dogs on television. Even cartoon dogs, I kid you not. He loves Scooby Doo.



So, our kids have surpassed us in generosity and thoughtfulness. It is still a weird feeling, but I'll go watch Dr Phil and try to get over it. (Thanks Josiah...Love you lots and miss you so much. Come home safe.Mama)

Snow quads....and puppies,of course. part 1

Snow is fun. Quad riding is a blast. Bullmastiffs are a neverending source of joy. Put them all together and what do you have?
A super way to start the day.
I'll put pictures of the puppies on next, but my camera battery needed to charge. I think it got too cold. Like me. I need a cup of coffee about now. Starbucks Christmas blend. Ahhhh.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...

caution: DO NOT READ if you have any qualms at all about animals giving birth AND ALL that entails!!!

The first surprise was when Lila had a ninth puppy, when we were only expecting eight. How many years of vet school, wasted, on reading that x-ray incorrectly, I wonder? (yes, I know I'm being way too harsh)

Technically, that wasn't the first surprise. The initial one happened after she had had her first puppy and then had been having hard contractions for over an hour. So , as per instructions, I called the vet. "Bring her on in" they said.

Easier said then done. She REALLY did NOT want to leave her whelping box and cozy blankets while she was in labor and take a drive. But we (and by we I mean me) wrapped her baby up in a warm towel and put a blanket in the back seat of the car and started driving.

We made it about 10 miles before the puppy came. After pulling over, helping clean her up (yay, another girl!) and placing her with her sister in the basket, we continued on our way to the vet.

When we got there, the vet assistants stormed out of the building to get the puppies and bring them in. I would bring Lila in. As I was getting her out of the car (which she REALLY didn't want to leave) I noticed that she was in fact having another puppy. I yelled to the assistants to bring me another towel.

As Lila and I stood in the gravel on the side of Hwy 26 with the rain pounding down on us, a puppy halfway out, and cars and trucks spraying us as they rushed by I contemplated my options. Who am I kidding, I didn't have any. I grabbed the blanket out of the back seat of the car and got a better grasp on the large puppy, still halfway in the birth canal. (Did I mention I have no animal science background?) Lila chose that moment to make a giant leap back INTO the car leaving me with the puppy (Hurray! a boy!!) but taking all the placenta, after birth and whatever else with her...where there IS NO LONGER ANY BLANKET.

The vet assistants and I just stood there for a second, staring at this seriously amazing disaster. There is Lila, on the far side of the back seat eating the placenta. This is just so wrong.

A little background. I currently drive a car my Dad left me when he went to be with the Lord. It is a champagne colored,plush interior, newer Mercury something or other. You know, the kind Grampa would drive on Sunday to go play golf at the club.

Now it looks like a couple violent crimes have been committed back there. I apologize ahead of time to anyone who has to ride with me anywhere. Sorry. Really sorry.

The vet came out to check Lila, gave her a shot to continue her contractions and sent us on our way.

Poor Lila. We never should have left home. I drove quickly with my eyes on the rear view mirror more often than not. (Sorry green Jeep Cherokee by the Oregon Candy Farm that I almost hit)

Got home, finally and went and opened Lila's door. She leaped out( can you even imagine leaping when you are in labor?) leaving a fourth puppy (panic beginning to set in, didn't check for gender) on seat, fully encased in membrane.

I rubbed the membrane off his/her tiny little face with the increasingly nasty blanket and turned around to call Lila so we(by "we" I definitely mean her) could "clean up" the back seat from the newest birth.

She was gone.

I knew immediately what she was thinking. "Fine. You take those puppies. I'll keep the rest. I'll just go find somewhere quiet and peaceful where I can be alone."

I rushed the basket of puppies into the house and ran back into the rain and began searching for Lila. I called Brenda first and asked her and the kids to pray for Lila to come home.

After 35 minutes, Buddy and I finally found her. Well, truthfully, she came back down the trail by herself.

When she came in the house, she went directly to her box and promptly had another puppy. Final count was four girls and five boys.

Oops! One last surprise. I counted wrong. Six boys and three girls. Porsche, Hummer, Chevy, Maserati, Jeep,Mercedes, Ford, Duramax, and Dodger. Lila has been with them, feeding, cleaning and cuddling nonstop.

It is just incredible thinking about how God created these dogs with the abilities to so naturally know how to care for their babies. I am amazed. And I am thankful that they are all healthy and Lila is doing so well too. Counting my blessings today. :-)