postheadericon HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! We in this country have so much for which to be thankful even in the bad times we are having.  I am grateful that we finally sold our farm to my niece and her husband who will run a boarding kennel.  I am grateful that after ten years of retirement, I am back in Columbus Public Schools as a substitute principal.  I really have missed children so this is a great way to be involved yet not have to work every day. I am grateful for my husband, the long suffering guy being married to me.  I am grateful for my wonderful Cavaliers, my crossbred Snoop ( no I did not name him), and my cat Emma who is finally a house cat because Snoop decided it was not worth doing a job on Emma.  The two of them now sleep back to back on our bed.

I am grateful for our lovely new home as we are so very happy here.  Most of all I am grateful for my faith and the knowledge that God does provide.  I pray that He is watching over all of our fellow Americans who are losing their jobs and their homes, going to soup kitchens and food pantries for the first time, and trying to survive in our present rotten economy.  We can only pray for those less fortunate, give generously when we can, and ask God to protect and bless these United States of America as we do all we can to turn this economy around so that everyone can have a job, health care, and a place to call home. 

Anti breeding legislation is coming to a head in Ohio, but more on that tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  Kiss your Cavaliers!!!  Meredith

postheadericon CATCHING UP 11/13/2008

I keep meaning to update this blog more frequently, but have been so busy with so much going on in our lives.  First of all yard work, yard work, yard work–both here and on our farm.  I go into a planting frenzy every spring and fall; since this was our first fall at our wonderful new home, I have gone crazy extending flower beds, planting probably much too many bulbs, spruce trees, Washington Hawthorn seedlings from our farm to line our property, split perennials from the farm, and my precious daylilies which have followed me from house to house for almost forty years.  Four weeks of yard work from morning until night does wonders for one’s hands–NOT!!!  Al is thanking my upcoming judging assignment this weekend for forcing me to stop the yard work and get my hands and nails done so I look more “lady like,”  a state to which I have never really aspired. 

Our lovely Ch. Rattlebridge Delta Dawn has her first litter of three boys and a girl which are really darling.  The rest of our dogs are doing great at our new home although I am sure they must miss all the acres that they had to run at the farm.  We do field trips to the farm often for them to run and play. 

I do wish the farm would sell, but the market in our former county is so horrible that we can only hope with the election over that things might pick up.  Please pray for our new President and Vice President that God guides them to bring our country back not only economically but internationally also.  We all have to suck it up and do our best to give back to our country which is the best place to live in the world.

I love the following little story and thought others might enjoy reading it.  “Puppy Size” follows:

This little story has been reprinted many times.  Author seems to be unknown. This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you’ll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)! It is called

“Puppy Size”

Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. “We’ve been back to this

animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we

started all of this,” the mother told the volunteer.

“What is it she keeps asking for?”, the volunteer asked.

“‘Puppy size!'” replied the mother.

“Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she’s looking for.”

“I know… we have seen most of them”, the mom said in frustration.

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

“Well, did you find one?” asked her mom. “No, not this time,” Danielle

said with sadness in her voice. “Can we come back on the weekend?”

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

“You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there’s always

a supply,” the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. “Don’t

worry, I’ll find one this weekend,” she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.

They both felt she was being too particular. “It’s this weekend or we’re

not looking any more,” Dad finally said in frustration.

“We don’t want to hear anything more about ‘puppy size’, either,” Mom

added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.

By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section

that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the

first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the

animals during times when visitors weren’t permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a

closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, “Sorry, but you’re not the one.”

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.

The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the

dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

“Mom, that’s it! I found the right puppy! He’s the one! I know it!” She

screamed with joy. “It’s the puppy size!”

“But it’s the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last

few weeks,” Mom said.

“No…not size… The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed”, she

said.

“Don’t you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me

love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger

the sigh!”

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn’t know whether

to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little

of both.

“Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from

work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right

puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms”, she said.

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, “Mom, he loves

me. I heard the sighs of his heart!”

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you

sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress

of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air

on a hot day. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at

what you hear. ‘Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the

moments that take our breath away.

Until next time . . .      Meredith