Sunday, May 29, 2005
Our daughter, Kelly and her fiance, Leonard just got married last Sunday. As a result, we have added to our menagerie significantly. While they are on their honeymoon, we have temporary custody of Bongo and Kiera, two blue merle Australian shepherd puppies and also Smokey, a pit bull/lab mix puppy.
At the same time, we have our two Old English Sheepdogs and our new housemate, Kenn, has got a five-year-old Australian shepherd (kind of tan/yellow in color). So, in all, we have 5 herding dogs and one retriever. It is hysterical to see them herding each other.
The retriever puppy holds his own very sweetly. He is a good sized puppy, and likes to take over at the food bowl among the other young ones. He is also (no surprise) the only one that will fetch a ball thrown for him. The others just look at you like, "Why did you just throw that ball?"
This could have been a nightmare, but has been a delightful experience with all of these good-tempered dogs! For the first time I understand how people can have so many animals. Not that I am thinking in that direction....
At the same time, we have our two Old English Sheepdogs and our new housemate, Kenn, has got a five-year-old Australian shepherd (kind of tan/yellow in color). So, in all, we have 5 herding dogs and one retriever. It is hysterical to see them herding each other.
The retriever puppy holds his own very sweetly. He is a good sized puppy, and likes to take over at the food bowl among the other young ones. He is also (no surprise) the only one that will fetch a ball thrown for him. The others just look at you like, "Why did you just throw that ball?"
This could have been a nightmare, but has been a delightful experience with all of these good-tempered dogs! For the first time I understand how people can have so many animals. Not that I am thinking in that direction....
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Tonight I heard two women talk about what it truly means to be “Jesus with skin on.” One person had been in a bad place, with her husband having just left her to pursue his sexual addiction (prostitutes, pornography) and the other person a Christian, committed to loving people unconditionally. They have worked together to overcome issues like abandonment, betrayal, hurt, etc. Their journey has been amazing and it was tremendous to hear the unadulterated version of it; the one with all the warts.
Love truly does mean not giving up on people when the going gets rough. It also works both ways.
What can you do today to show the love of Christ to someone?
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Love truly does mean not giving up on people when the going gets rough. It also works both ways.
What can you do today to show the love of Christ to someone?
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Dan has been encouraging me to write about our "Bailey's Thousand Island Ranch" menagerie. As you no doubt know, we have a couple of Old English Sheepdogs; Blueberry and Raspberry.
Their latest adventures involve a squirrel. A couple of weeks ago I noticed an unusual amount of barking going on and went out to find the dogs standing at the base of the tree, looking up and making quite a racket. I called them in, thinking that I was saving a squirrel from a heart attack, if not certain death.
A couple of days later, I went out to get the barking quieted down again, only to see the same squirrel in the same branch of the same tree. I called them in, which they looked annoyed about, and as soon as they were away from the base of the tree, the squirrel actually chattered. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I have heard squirrel chatter. What was puzzling was what exactly the squirrel was saying. Was he thanking me for getting them away or making fun of them for having to go inside??
Almost daily since I have been home, the dogs have treed this squirrel in the same spot. I have come to understand that they actually like each other, because the squirrel never hurries away when I "rescue" him.
This is a really good lesson about life. Most of us have the urge to "rescue" others from time to time, but the truth is that even if we really were able to do so, often people just don't want to be "rescued."
My squirrel certainly didn't...
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Their latest adventures involve a squirrel. A couple of weeks ago I noticed an unusual amount of barking going on and went out to find the dogs standing at the base of the tree, looking up and making quite a racket. I called them in, thinking that I was saving a squirrel from a heart attack, if not certain death.
A couple of days later, I went out to get the barking quieted down again, only to see the same squirrel in the same branch of the same tree. I called them in, which they looked annoyed about, and as soon as they were away from the base of the tree, the squirrel actually chattered. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I have heard squirrel chatter. What was puzzling was what exactly the squirrel was saying. Was he thanking me for getting them away or making fun of them for having to go inside??
Almost daily since I have been home, the dogs have treed this squirrel in the same spot. I have come to understand that they actually like each other, because the squirrel never hurries away when I "rescue" him.
This is a really good lesson about life. Most of us have the urge to "rescue" others from time to time, but the truth is that even if we really were able to do so, often people just don't want to be "rescued."
My squirrel certainly didn't...
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
Monday, May 02, 2005
Today was another "powdered sugar" day. Dan calls it that when there is a light dusting of snow on the ground, similar to a powdered sugar donut.
I have been looking for a position and hope to have found it with GMH Military Housing, Inc. at Fort Carson. I have done a bit of research and it seems like a good company with a track record of excellence in performance, which is very attractive to me. Just looking at the website, I see some places where my skills can be of use, and I am certainly hoping to have an opportunity to show some of my abilities there in the upcoming days.
To that end, I ran into a friend of mine, a former work colleague, who is currently working in a community support role also. In her position, she can offer many different classes to the residents at Fort Carson. I love the thought of being in a position to make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families, as I know she does.
Many people do not know or appreciate the sacrifice that soldiers and their families make; in wartime or out of it. There are the late nights, the "field" time, and long deployments creating all kinds of potentially difficult situations. It is hard on a marriage when a spouse doesn't know if their partner will be coming home at all, coming home wounded-physically or emotionally. It is hard on children when both parents cannot be available for parenting. I cannot even begin to recount or explain, nor do I even know the entire cost of soldiering to a military family. What I do know is that they deserve so much more than they receive from our society.
I am so looking forward to an opportunity to stand in the gap for military families; hopefully as a team member for GMH. An offer later in the week would be really welcomed.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
I have been looking for a position and hope to have found it with GMH Military Housing, Inc. at Fort Carson. I have done a bit of research and it seems like a good company with a track record of excellence in performance, which is very attractive to me. Just looking at the website, I see some places where my skills can be of use, and I am certainly hoping to have an opportunity to show some of my abilities there in the upcoming days.
To that end, I ran into a friend of mine, a former work colleague, who is currently working in a community support role also. In her position, she can offer many different classes to the residents at Fort Carson. I love the thought of being in a position to make a difference in the lives of soldiers and their families, as I know she does.
Many people do not know or appreciate the sacrifice that soldiers and their families make; in wartime or out of it. There are the late nights, the "field" time, and long deployments creating all kinds of potentially difficult situations. It is hard on a marriage when a spouse doesn't know if their partner will be coming home at all, coming home wounded-physically or emotionally. It is hard on children when both parents cannot be available for parenting. I cannot even begin to recount or explain, nor do I even know the entire cost of soldiering to a military family. What I do know is that they deserve so much more than they receive from our society.
I am so looking forward to an opportunity to stand in the gap for military families; hopefully as a team member for GMH. An offer later in the week would be really welcomed.
Walk in Compassion,
Marti
