If one day, one does lose everything,  a dog will love one no less and will share whatever burdens one encounters.  What is so sad is that while dogs stick with us, we too many times find it inconvenient or physically impossible to stay with or keep our dog or other pets.  Natural disasters like Sandy and Katrina often force owners into abandoning their pets because they have no other choice even though many makeshift shelters do now accept pets during a national disaster as Katrina taught us all a lesson about the bond we have with our pets.  However, there are too many horror stories of people moving and leaving their animals locked in the house to starve to death or turning them loose confused and bereft with no one to care for them rather than try to contact an animal shelter to at least give their pets a chance.  As winter hits, the homeless  and their pets are in even greater jeopardy as shelters are often full and also usually do not allow pets. I would go down with the ship rather than leave my dog or dogs. Take a good look at the pictures below as they say it all:

Please pray for the homeless and homeless families as homelessness is rising among all economic levels in a country that has the resources to take care of our own. Pray also for homeless animals as winter approaches.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

When  we think of all the horror in the world and the troubles in our own country, especially now those affected by the devastating Sandy, we still have much for which to be grateful in our still wonderful country.

We are all in God’s hands. 

Let us count our blessings and be grateful. 

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24

There is a wonderful book that has helped me count my blessing called A Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

What an eye opener to realize the many gifts small and large we receive daily.  Written by a woman who as a young girl watched a delivery truck run over and kill her baby sister, the book chronicles an extended family’s wrenching heartbreak and decline into what appears to be never ending depression and loss of hope. However, hope is always there if one trusts in God.  We all experience loss and profound grief in our journey through this life which is only a preamble to our eternal life to come. 

I have seen all these patterns of sleeping in all my years with dogs and one husband (God rest his soul).  Too cute!

Make sure your sound is up!

http://www.wimp.com/sleepingdogs/

Two Horses
Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two
horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are walking by,
you will notice something quite amazing….

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him
put down, but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and
listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound,
you will see that it comes from the smaller
horse in the field.

 

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is,
so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends,
you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always
checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse
will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to
where the other horse is, trusting that he
will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back,
Making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind
to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw
us away just because we are not perfect or because we
have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives
To help us when we are in need..
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to
find their way….

Good friends are like that… You may not always
see them, but you know they are always there..
Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours,
and remember…
Be kinder than necessary-
Everyone you meet is fighting
Some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly…….

FOR WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT

Thank you to all our Veterans and Current Soldiers who are Heroes in every way!