The Snowmen Have Arrived

My house has been invaded by little "snowmen". I love little stuffed snowmen and each year it seems a new one appears in the house. They are the closest I will get to real snowmen as it very seldom snows here in NE Tennessee. But I don't have to worry about them melting.

Today sure looked like winter but thankfully it wasn't very cold. Just misty rain all day and overcast. I think the sun is supposed to come out tomorrow.

I had a very special day today as I "met" a new member of my friend Susan's family. They have a new foster child and he was placed in their home when he was 24 hours old and they have had him about 10 days now. He is so adorable and so tiny. I held him for quite some time today - only weighs 6 lb. and I didn't want to let him go. Their two little girls just love him and he is in such a loving home. He is definitely a very special gift from God and I pray God will watch over him and keep him safe. And I am looking forward to spoiling him and his sisters - they are all so precious and I love being their "Aunt Deb".

"Lord, thank you for the new baby in Susan and Thom's life. He is such a precious gift from You. Give them wisdom and strength each day as they love and nurture this precious baby. Watch over him and his sisters and keep them safe. Guide Susan and Thom as they teach the children of Your precious love and how to walk with You. And Lord, thank You for the friendship Susan and I share - you have blessed our lives greatly and we love YOU!! Amen."

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE CHRISTMAS

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!" December is here and Christmas is on the way. We usually don't do any decorating but this year I just wanted to get some "yard art". So off to Wal-Mart we went and we now have one big spiral light tree and two little baby spiral light trees. And we put garland on our porch and hung some BIG ornaments on the porch. Then we are going to get some red bows to put on the porch. AND I have all my little "Snowmen" out in the house. I have several sitting around. And that is the extent of our Christmas decorations. We don't usually put up a tree inside and this year we are not exchanging gifts with each other so we are not going to do any more decorating.

I am kind of hoping we get a little snow this year. Not a lot but just a little. We haven't had snow in a couple years. I don't want any blizzards but snow can be so pretty. Sometimes I kind of miss it. And we definitely need some moisture in this area. If we don't get snow, we sure could use the rain.

The Christmas season brings out two emotions in me - the first is my dislike of crowds and people being rude when shopping. I dislike going to malls, stores, etc. during the Christmas season. People should be happy, kind, loving - but instead they are pushy, demanding, and hateful. Something is definitely wrong with that picture. So I try to stay away from any kind of shopping after Thanksgiving. All my shopping is done.

The second emotion is just the opposite - I LOVE CHRISTMAS because I LOVE to GIVE. I wish I could give something to everyone I know. I love showering my friends and family with gifts - gifts I have picked out or made JUST for them. I love seeing their faces or hearing their happiness when they open their gifts. That is the best gift for me!!!

I am praying that this will be a very happy Christmas for everyone I know. I know there are some who are going through tough times but Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. Jesus who is our Savior and who came here to be OUR GIFT for eternity - giving us the gift of salvation to be with Him forever. That is what Christmas is all about - HIS LOVE FOR US!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Well, today is my birthday. I am definitely much older now than when this picture was taken. But I remember that teddy bear!! Birthdays tend to make you look back on what you have done in your life, where you have been, and what you might still like to do. I know our family didn't have a lot of "extras" growing up, but I never felt like I was missing out on anything. I had the important things - parents who loved me, sisters and brothers who loved me (even though at times we fought like most kids do). I know there are things I have done in my life that I wish I hadn't done and things I wish I had. But that is all in the past and all the "bad things" have been forgiven. If I had to say what I would still like to do..... I don't know. I am satisfied with my life. I do wish I had family that lived closer. I really miss being with my family, especially on my birthday and holidays. But I have been blessed with so many other things. And I have Jesus in my life. He is the most important thing in my life. Without Him, I could not do anything. He is my everything. So, I will celebrate my birthday praising Him and loving Him. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

(Oh - I AM giving myself a birthday present on Friday. I will be getting my hair cut and colored and highlighted!!! Pictures will be coming soon!!)

WHAT A LIFE!!

Now this is the life - no worries, no cares (except don't forget to feed me!). This is Tiki and Fancy's favorite spot in the afternoon. The sun comes through the front door and they are always right there - lying in the sun, soaking up the rays and sleeping!! When they get a little too hot, they get up and mosey around the living room, maybe jump on the coach and sleep there for a while. Then back to the sunshine!! Wouldn't it be nice if that's all we had to worry about???

FALL BLESSINGS

I love fall. I love the beautiful color on the trees, the cool (not cold) crisp air, the blue, blue sky. All of this given to me by God. He can create a beautiful masterpiece!!

Fall makes me want to be outside more and more. It is not so hot that you feel you can't walk another step. The air is clean and fresh in the fall. Why is that? I don't know but I love it. I love sitting out on my back deck and listening to everything that is going on - birds still singing, dogs barking, even a mule braying. It just sounds so pleasant. And I could sit out there all day long - thanking the Lord for all his blessings and for loving me. And for giving me the beautiful world we live in. Too bad we tend to mess it up.

Besides the beautiful colors and country we live in, there are other blessings that come to mind at this time -

--His love for me and my salvation. The bestest ever blessing anyone could ever have.
--My family - which means so much to me and I love each and every one.
--My friends - who are always there for me, giving me comfort and support and listening when I need to talk.
--My job - I am so thankful for a wonderful job I really love.
--My "little girls" - Tiki and Fancy (and the ones I have lost - Thea & Spirit) - they have blessed my life in ways most people wouldn't understand.
--And last, but definitely not least, God's spiritual gift to me - my compassion, mercy and love for other people (not only family) which I hope I use for His Glory in the ways He wants me to.

These are not only Fall Blessings but they are LIFE BLESSINGS - the best kind!!

"Thank you Father for ALL the blessings you have given me, not only in the fall with the beautiful colors and countryside, but every day with all the "Life Blessings" you have given me. Help me to use these blessings every day for your glory and honor, I pray in Jesus' name. AMEN"

I LOVE MY FAMILY

FAMILY - My family means so much to me. To some people, family is just a bunch of people they are related to. To me - my family is so much more. Every member of my family is a vital part of the family - from the oldest member of the family to the youngest child. Each and every one is so important. And I love each and every one. I can stop and think about each family member and memories will come to mind about each and every one of them. Some family members I haven't seen in years but the memories are still there and I hope to make new memories with them some day soon.

I have started doing research on our family tree and it is so interesting to trace our family back - some as far back as 1400 and 1500s. But it is also sad because I know there are so many facts and stories that are lost because they were not shared and written down. Now they are gone forever. I hope to write down the stories I know so they will always be a part of our family.

I was looking at some pictures as I was thinking about my family and the above flower picture made me think of family. Each little "petal" is an individual part - unique in its own way. But put all the "petals" together and they make up the whole flower. Family is that way - each member is unique but put them all together and they make up our FAMILY. And just like the beautiful flower - so is our family - beautiful and loving!!

IT'S RAINING!!!

Yes - can you believe it??!! I woke up this morning to rain on the roof. And not just sprinkles but a nice soaking rain. It has been a VERY LONG TIME since we have had a nice rain. Thank you Lord for the rain You are sending us today! It may not last long, but it is a good rain and will help.

I was thinking this morning about the weather report last night. The weatherman said the rain probably would not come over the mountain range and would stay in North Carolina. What rain we would get would be in the form of small showers. That was his weather report. God's weather report was - RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. We may not get inches and inches but it is still rain and God is so good to send us some.

Today is Thursday and I have today and 3 more days before my vacation is over. It has been a relaxing vacation. I have not left the house in two days. I have spent time working on my geneology, on small tasks I wanted to get done, and spending time loving on my two "little girls". They have definitely enjoyed having their "mom" home all week. So with my relaxing vacation and the rain this morning, it has definitely been a good week.

Maybe it will rain a little more tomorrow???

INNOCENCE

INNOCENCE - this picture says it all. It is such a perfect picture of complete innocence, trust, and love. If we could only still have these in our lives today.

This is a picture of my friend Susan's little girl - Emmie - and her friend as they were walking hand-in-hand down a path. No cares, no worries - just good friends who care for each other in their innocent way. And we think - wish I could be that way. We think about all the things we have to do - go to work, pay bills, mow the lawn, get groceries, save for our children's college, save for a new car.... and the list goes on. What happened to that carefree, innocent life we had as kids?

Well, first off, we all grew up and now have responsibilities. And we tend to think of all the "earthly" responsibilities we have. And we worry about so many things.

But what if we all stop and put ourselves in Emmie's shoes - a child - walking with her friend. Now stop and realize that you are a child - a child of God. And He loves us more than we can ever know. Now stop and think about who is walking hand-in-hand beside you - Yes - that's right - JESUS. Jesus - who loves us more than we can ever imagine, who wants us to give Him all our cares and worries; to place all that in His hands - to GIVE IT ALL TO HIM AND TRUST HIM. That's what innocence is - Love and Trust.

I want to be "Emmie" - walking with the one who loves me most - JESUS - my friend, my savior, my Lord. I LOVE YOU JESUS!!

MY BABY SISTER IS 50 TODAY!!!

My baby sister Ann turned 50 today. Where have all the years gone? It seems like yesterday we were kids growing up in a small town in Kansas with no worries except what we were going to do for the day - play outside or play with our paper dolls inside. Ann and I were talking today and remembering all the fun things we used to do as kids - climbing trees, making tents in the back yard, playing with our toy horses in the yard, playing with our paper dolls and our Barbie dolls. And what imaginations we had - we could go for days playing the same thing. We may not have had a lot of material things, but we had each other and a loving family and we might not have known it then, but we were definitely blessed.

Now we are all grown up (well pretty much grown up!!). I wish I could have been with Ann today to celebrate her birthday. But I think she knows I was there with her in thought and spirit. I prayed for a beautiful birthday and I think my prayers were answered. I hope she realizes how much her family loves her and also that her family realizes how much she loves us!! Ann has been blessed with a wonderful husband, Al and a beautiful stepdaughter, Jessica, and her husband Murphy & his daughter Rio. And Ann's newest blessing and gift is Jess and Murphy's baby girl - Taryn. Family is such a beautiful and wonderful gift from God and such a gift is to be treasured always.

I truly miss not living close to my family. I miss that more than anything. But I know they are all always there for me and I hope they all know I am always there for them. But today on Ann's 50th birthday - I wish I could have been there to give a super big hug and spend the day celebrating. Instead - my prayers have been with my "baby sister" "Annie Pandannie" "Anna Banana" "Baby Ann". I love you baby sister and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

"Father, thank you for my sister Ann. Thank you for the wonderful childhood we had together and the love we have for one another. Thank you also for our family - our sisters and brother and all our family members who mean so much to us all. You have blessed this family with love and with your presence. Father, I ask that you continue to bless Ann and keep her healthy and safe and help her to feel Your presence always. In Jesus' Name. Amen"

WILL IT RAIN??!!

The clouds look like it might rain, don't they? They have been building up all evening. It has been rumbling and we have seen lightning all evening. Then the sun broke through. Then it started to cloud up again and it got dark. Now it is rumbling again - and getting louder. But still it has not rained. We need rain so badly. We are definitely in a drought - we get sporadic rain showers but nothing lasting. Everything is so dry - our grass is brown and "crunchy". Our hydrangeas wilt every day and our flowers will never be the same. And the temperatures - we have had over 34 days straight of 90+ degree heat. And this week it has hit 100 and 100+ for about 3-4 days in a row. That is extremely hot for this part of the country. So, yes, we tend to get excited when we see storm clouds rolling through. Please let it rain and give us some much needed rainfall. Maybe, just maybe, tonight will be the night we get some rain.

I'M SO PITIFUL!!!

Is this not the most pitiful look you have ever seen?? Poor little Tiki - she has a "lampshade" on her head. She looks like she is being severely punished for something.
Tiki had a small knot removed from her left leg Friday. She is usually a very good patient but this time before we even left the hospital, she had torn open the incision. So back she went for staples and then the dreaded "e-collar". The e-collar keeps the patient from reaching the surgery site with their mouth. Most dogs absolutely hate it. In fact ALL dogs absolutely hate it. And Tiki was no exception. She went to work with me today with the collar on. But I took it off before lunch and she was very good the rest of the day and even now - late evening - she has not bothered the site at all. I guess she knows what will happen if she does. And people say they are "dumb animals". I don't think so!!!

GOD'S LITTLE MIRACLE

Who would believe it? Most people would not or could not. But again - the Lord has given us another miracle with little Fancy. A month ago her blood test was very, very bad - all her liver values, her pancreas values and some kidney values were EXTREMELY elevated. We weaned her off her phenobarbital (seizure medication) and she has now been off for 3 weeks. She is on a liver supplement and on potassium bromide (a different type of seizure medication). We did another blood test yesterday to see if the liver values were a little better. And YES - God answered our prayers again. Not only were they better - they were all in the NORMAL range!!! The only thing still a little high were her pancreas values and they were improved!!! This little dog has been through one medical crisis after another - and she comes through fighting and doing better. And some people would say - she is only a dog but our 4-legged "girls" were and are our family. Losing two of them has been very difficult, but we are so thankful and blessed that Tiki is doing well and Fancy is definitely improving again. "Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers and once again showing us you are there for us always. Someday your answers may not be the ones we want to hear but today you have given us a blessing in Fancy's improved health. I love you Lord!!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THEA!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - MY SWEET LITTLE GIRL!! I STILL REALLY MISS YOUR SWEET LITTLE FACE - THE WAY YOU USED TO JUMP IN MY LAP AND STARE INTO MY FACE AS IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS REALLY ME!! I MISS THE WAY YOU WOULD PATIENTLY WAIT TILL I CRAWLED INTO BED AND THEN WOULD CURL UP NEXT TO MY SIDE TO SLEEP. I MISS THE WAY YOU WOULD JUMP UP AND BOUNCE OFF MY BACK SIDE WHEN IT WAS TIME TO EAT. I MISS THE CUTE WAY I COULD GET YOU TO WAVE BYE (OF COURSE A TREAT WAS USUALLY INVOLVED!) THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HAPPY MEMORIES OF YOU THAT I WANT TO REMEMBER TODAY. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 15 YEARS OLD. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO THINK YOU ARE IN HEAVEN, WITH MOM, TAKING A WALK IN PARADISE AND SLEEPING IN MOM'S LAP LATER. I MISS YOU THEA BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN MY HEART AND MEMORIES FOREVER. LOVE - "MOM"

GOD'S HEALING

It has been 7 weeks and each time I would try to write on my blog, I found I had no words and just could not do anything. I have been thinking about writing but no words would come and I just could not get past Thea's pictures. Then tonight I was talking with my best friend Susan and we were talking about trying to write on my blog and how I needed to be uplifted and joyful - and somehow this song came into the conversation. "Jerusalem" is one of my very favorite songs - it is right up there with "I Can Only Imagine". It makes me feel peaceful - knowing someday I will be there; it makes me feel excited -knowing I will be with Jesus forever and always; and I knew at that moment that I wanted to share this song with everyone. And I knew God was showing me that the healing will come and He will be there every step of the way.

There is still so much sorrow and pain thinking of Thea and not having her with me every day. But I am finding myself thinking more of the fun times and the sweet things she did and trying not to think of her last few weeks. She was a wonderful, loving gift from God and one I will never, ever forget cause she will always live on in my heart and my memories. I like to think that she is in heaven right now sitting on Mom's lap taking a nap. She and Mom both enjoyed that. And someday I will be there with them in heaven (the New Jerusalem) singing praises and loving Jesus every day!!!

"Thank you Lord for helping me through this sad time, for showing me again how much you care and helping me heal. You are so wonderful and I love you so much!!"

I MISS HER SO MUCH

It's been 2 weeks and I find myself tonight feeling so depressed and sad. Oh, how I miss Thea. I find myself needing to look at pictures of her and wishing she was still here by my side. I never knew I would miss a little dog so much. It hurts so much - I just want to try and escape the hurt. Terri took Thea's crate apart today and I found myself angry that she did that. I did not let Terri know that - it was something that needed to be done as it was not being used. But it was like losing another part of Thea - silly I know. I know, when I think about it, that it will eventually get better. But in my heart - I feel like a part of me is gone. I loved that little dog and I will always miss her. And I pray the hurt will someday ease up. But right now - it hurts so much.

CAN I GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN?

Two weeks ago my "little blessing" was given back to God. The last two weeks have been very hard - I miss her so very much. Yesterday was extremely sad as her cremated remains were delivered back to me and I put her in the urn I bought for her. Needless to say, I spent a long time crying. But through all this, I have had the Lord by my side and I know His strength is getting me through this.

But now, Lord, do I have to go through it all over again? I don't know if I can. On Monday, our "baby" - Fancy - who is 10 years old, wasn't feeling well. Took her to work and did bloodwork and it came back showing liver and pancreas problems. Did more bloodwork to pinpoint some areas and that came back showing some MAJOR liver problems. And I thought - here we go again. She has been on IV fluids all week and still was a little droopy. Today Dr. Baird came back from vacation and he did an ultrasound on her - said her gallbladder, small bowel, and bile ducts all looked enlarged which could be pancreatitis (which supported some of the bloodwork). Thought her liver looked ok but without doing a biopsy we wouldn't know for sure. So, we did the biopsy and sent it to the lab for pathology. He came out and told me the liver samples did not look real good - they were not the normal color of a healthy liver. Then he told me that he also looked at her spleen (since he hadn't looked at it earlier) and said there was something in her spleen - wasn't certain but it could be a mass. Not the words I wanted to hear. Can I take anymore? I really don't know. We have lost 2 of our "girls" in the last 6 months - will we lose a third? He put her back on IV fluids and she has to go back tomorrow for more fluids. She vomited last night and this morning, but so far tonight she has held her food down. She is droopy and we can tell by her eyes, she does not feel well.

I feel like I want to go into a deep hole and never come out. Why? Why is this happening all at once? I know I don't have the answers - only God does. I know I can say that He has blessed Terri and I with these little dogs and I REALLY thank Him for all He has done for Fancy. She truly should have died at least 5 times in the past. And He kept her here with us longer than we thought she would live. But why now? So soon after losing Thea. And she is acting just like Thea - not feeling well, abnormal blood results...... I am feeling quite apprehensive. I pray we will have her with us for a long time, but only God knows for sure.

"Lord, I don't know why this is happening again - to Fancy now. You have blessed us with our 4-legged family and we have loved them all so much. I thank you for all the years you have let them be with us and the joy they have given us. I ask that you heal Fancy and let her stay with us a while longer. But, if this is not your will, Lord, I pray you give me all I will need - Your love, Your strength, Your comfort, Your arms around me. Because, Lord, I know I will need all that and more if she does not pull out of this. Thank you Lord for loving ME. Amen.

A DAY OF ANSWERED PRAYERS

Today was and still is a day of pain and sorrow. It hurts so much losing Thea. It was a difficult day and I am not looking forward to going to bed. I have never slept without her beside me when I have been home. It will be a very sleepless night.

But I must share with everyone what God did for me through all of this. He is such a wonderful God and He loves us so. But He showed me today just how much He loves me and was there for me constantly.

First - I have prayed for weeks that He would show me without a doubt when it was time to let Thea go. I did not want to do anything prematurely but also did not want to wait too long and have her suffering. Yesterday's x-ray was definitely the answer to that prayer. Then last night - she could not get comfortable and I could tell she was starting to hurt. So I also knew then it was time. Then I was afraid she would not make it through the night and asked God to PLEASE let her make it through the night. I did not want her to die a painful death. He answered that prayer also as she made it through the night.

He also last night gave me the poem that was on last night's blog. It was exactly what I needed and how I know Thea felt. He also let me know that today was the day that I had to let her go. I was hoping to go through the weekend. I was to have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand today and was going to have the surgery and then decide what to do this weekend. I got home from work yesterday and the surgeon's office had a message to call them. They had to postpone my surgery at the last minute - all they would say was it wasn't Dr. Holbrook's fault. I wanted to tell them it was God's doing. He did not want me to wait the weekend on Thea.

And then finally, this morning - my friend Susan was going to meet me at the clinic and then drive me to the crematory. I told her I would be ok to drive but she said she would meet me there at 7:30. Around 7 am I was wishing I had asked her to pick me up at the house - I prayed and asked God to let her be close (she lives an hour away) so she could pick me up. I really didn't want to drive myself to the clinic. So I called Susan at 7 am and asked her where she was. SHE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY!!! God is so awesome and He cares so much for me. I burst into tears and knew at that moment He was with me and would always be with me.

I am glad I was with Thea to the end and I know it was the right thing to do and the right time. It still hurts so very much. The hardest thing was leaving her at the crematory. Tonight will be very hard and I know I have many painful and sad times ahead of me. But I also know she is free of pain and she loved me and I loved her so much.

"Thank you Lord for loving me and thank you for your gift of Thea for 15 years. She gave me so much love and also shared her love with others. I know she will be missed by so many people - family and friends. Thank you Lord for all the answered prayers in the last 24 hours. I know you are always there for me but You showed me in such a strong way today just how awesome and loving You are. Even in this sad time I see Your Hand in my life and I Praise Your Name!!!"

"THE LAST BATTLE" - OUR LAST NIGHT

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this - the last battle - can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
Don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer, so,
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me til the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
it is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close - we two - these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
-Author Unknown-

Tonight is my last night with Thea. Tomorrow morning I will take her to the clinic where Dr. Baird (who has been trying so hard to save her) will let her sleep and not let her suffer. We have been battling this "illness" for almost 2 months now. And we have eliminated it down to Myelogenous Leukemia. Her white blood count has continued to rise - today it was at 74,000 (the normal is 4,000 to 15,000). She is still anemic. And the last week she has developed a cough. But today was the definite sign from the Lord that the time has come. She had vomiting and diarrhea this morning (an inflammatory bowel episode probably). But she was groaning this morning with it which she has never done before. That bothered me greatly. But I wanted to get her lungs x-rayed today more than anything because of the cough which was getting worse. Tara and Cheryl (two of our technicians) came and took her for her x-ray. About 10 minutes later, I walked back to the treatment area to see if the x-rays were up and Tara would not look at me and said I needed to talk to Dr. Jones. (Not a good sign). That's when the "bomb fell." Thea has a very large mass in her chest. A mass that was not there two weeks ago (when we x-rayed her then). A mass that is pushing on her lungs and heart - a mass that will only get bigger very quickly. A mass that could (in the very near future) cause her to have trouble breathing and she could suffocate and die a very painful death. I won't let that happen. And it could happen in just a few days. I love her too much to let her die that way. So tomorrow morning around 8 am I will let her go back to God - who gave her to me and let me spend 15 terrific, loving years with her; who showed me how I could bring joy to others with her, and to bring such joy and love to me. Thea had three very good days this week and I am so thankful to God for those three days. Now it is time to show how much I truly love her and let her go before she starts to suffer.

I LOVE YOU THEA - YOU HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE "GOD'S LITTLE BLESSING" TO ME.

MY "LITTLEST" & "BIGGEST" BLESSING

How to begin tonight ---- sitting here watching Thea sleep on the chair. My sweet little Thea - who has been with me for 15 years, through so many things with me. And now, I feel so helpless not knowing what to do for her. She has been definitely diagnosed with kidney disease/failure in the early stages. And now she has also stopped eating her Z/D food which has helped her inflammatory bowel disease for almost a year. She has been eating (when she eats) K/D for her kidney problems. But now she has started having inflammatory bowel episodes about every other day (which means she has an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea for about 24 hrs.). All of that does not help her kidney problem. We started her on a new food tonight to hopefully help with the inflammatory bowel problem. She seemed to really like it and ate it down. I was so encouraged because she hadn't eaten since yesterday. Then about 30 minutes ago, I was cleaning up after her when she threw it all back up. She has been laying on the chair all night and has not been up at all except when I took her out to potty and then I physically got her up. I feel like we are caught between two rocks that are slowly coming together and squishing us.

One vet thinks she may have leukemia and the other one does not. Deep down I feel like she does not - that there is something else wrong. But we cannot figure out what the problem is. Her WBC keeps going up and up, she is still anemic, and she is now down to just under 8 lbs. I feel like I am watching her slip away from me. And tonight when I picked her up I saw where she has a HUGE red, bruise-like spot on her left chest/abdomen and leg. She had another one earlier this week on the right side. And we don't know why!!!

I have had many heartfelt talks with God and I know He is there for me and with me but I don't know what to do. I feel like I don't know what to pray for anymore. I love Thea so much and it hurts to think about not having her in my life. She has been my "baby" and my best friend for 15 years. But I know she can't be with me forever. It is just so hard not knowing what is wrong and how to help her. I know that I must keep praying and I WILL keep praying. And I know someday God will take her from me - but it hurts to think that "someday" may be sooner than I would like. I have a feeling down deep that I won't have her with me next year.

Thea has been my "little" blessing in such a "BIG" way and it will be so difficult when she is no longer in my life. I want her to be with me for as long as possible - and I know she is "just a dog" but she is God's gift to me and I thank Him for her. And I wonder if God is trying to tell me something because the following has been on my mind most of the day and if so, I just pray Lord that You will be with me daily as I deal with this. (And is it wrong, Lord, to ask that she stay with me for awhile longer?)

"The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed is the Name of the Lord."

OH HOW HE LOVES ME

What a beautiful day today was. I woke up to birds singing in the trees in our front yard - I saw two cardinals and a robin. There was a gentle breeze blowing and everything felt so fresh and new. Just like God's mercy and love.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

I am so humbled when I think about how much God loves me. And He shows that love to me in so many ways - especially (to me anyway) in the beauty of nature. I feel His presence more when I see and hear the birds, in the gentle breeze blowing on my face, in the vivid green of the trees all around. How He must love me to give all that to me. His mercy and love is new every morning and He is always, always there with me.

I felt Him today as I was watching Thea walking across the yard - very very wobbly. I found myself thinking what now - why is she doing this? Then I thought - ask God for his comfort and strength; and I felt that no matter what happens, He is there to see me through it. Thea is getting older and things just don't work like they used to. And I will be thanking God for every day I have with her. She goes to work with me every day, so I have her companionship with me all the time. So even in this time of concern, I can feel God blessing me.

I am so thankful for His love, His mercy, His comfort. He is my Lord, the King of Kings, and I love Him.

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:2-3

A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION

Today we made a very difficult decision. Sitting here writing this tonight - I start to cry again. It was a decision that was for the best but was still very hard to do.

We let Jenna go back to the Greyhound Rescue Group. She did nothing really wrong - she did not have an aggressive bone in her body. She is the sweetest, most loving dog I have seen in a long time. Unfortunately, she is also a very playful YOUNG dog and we have three SMALL, OLD dogs.

Jenna's favorite pasttime in the last couple weeks has been - "let's pounce on the dogs". The three IG's are afraid to go outside with her - they refuse to go out if she is out in the yard. And they all love to be outside when it is nice. If they did go out when she was out there, we would have to stand over the little ones to keep Jenna from jumping on them. Thea has already borne the brunt of one such "pounce" when her neck was cut. And now she is becoming more and more unsteady on her back legs and it doesn't take much to make her lose her balance. The last 3-4 days Fancy and Jenna have been out together (they seemed to get along better). But for the last 3-4 days, we have gone running to the back door because Fancy would be yelping and crying outside. We could not see what happened but Fancy was very scared and wanted inside.

So after discussing it this morning and realizing it was not fair to any of them, we decided to let Jenna go. We know she will find a new home really fast as she is such a sweet dog. And we are hoping she will have a BIGGER playmate that she can run and chase around the yard. And the little girls here can now go outside and get off the chair without being jumped on.

We both will miss her and we both have cried, but we also know it was the right thing to do for all the dogs and for us. We love you Jenna!!

WHAT A BLESSING!!

Wow!!! I got home from vacation last night. And I just need to say - THANK YOU LORD - WHAT A BLESSING YOU GAVE ME!! YOU ANSWERED PRAYERS WAY BEYOND MY ASKING AND ALL THE GLORY AND THE BEAUTY OF THE PICTURES, THE WEATHER AND THE WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIP BELONGS TO YOU!!!

The Shenandoah National Park is absolutely beautiful. We stayed at the Skyland Resort in the Park and had a fantastic view from our porch, deer grazing just beyond our porch, and a wonderful variety of weather which made our pictures so diverse. Even though the trees had no leaves yet and the shrubs and flowers had not bloomed, it was still beautiful. Only God could have made something that breathtaking. I prayed for the chance to get a few really good pictures, especially of some deer. And He blessed me with almost every picture unique in some way and over 20-30 pictures of deer, which were everywhere. I asked for relief from the pain in my foot so I could take some hikes and He answered with no pain in my foot for 2 days!! We took hikes and a tour in Luray Caverns and walked and walked. I asked for good weather so we could get some good pictures and He answered with 3 days of 3 different types of weather - which resulted in fantastic, unique pictures!! I asked to see Him in everything we saw and did and He went beyond anything I could have imagined. We saw him in the mountain panoramas; in the blue, blue sky; in the beautiful soft eyes of young does; in the clouds covering the valley; in the breathtaking beauty underground in Luray Caverns; in the friendly people we encountered; and in the fellowship Sandy and I shared. God was with us every moment of every day.

"Thank you Lord for blessing my vacation in the Shenandoah National Park. Thank you for revealing yourself to me in everything we saw and did. You are awesome and I love you Lord."

"THEA-STEIN"

And here she is - my own little "Frankenstein" - Thea-stein. Today she had her 3rd accupuncture treatment and she is showing definite improvement. Her head tilt is almost gone and she seems a little less painful. She can move her neck a little more freely now. Dr. Olson is pleased with her progress and her next appointment won't be for 3 weeks!!! Then after her accupuncture treatment, she is extremely tired and as you can see, she crashed in the back seat of my car and slept SOUNDLY all the way home.

I am very thankful she is feeling better and I pray she will continue to improve. Knowing she is feeling better makes it easier for me to leave her for a few days while I visit the Shenandoah National Park. I am excited about seeing some beautiful country and taking some beautiful pictures.

I'M ON VACATION!!!

Vacation - what a wonderful thing!!! My vacation started on Friday and I will be off all this week. It will be a time of relaxing, photography, and fellowship. My friend Sandy and I will be leaving on Wednesday morning and driving to Shenandoah National Park. We will be spending three days and two nights in a lodge on the Skyline Drive in the Park. It is supposed to have fabulous views and lots of hiking trails. I am looking forward to peace and quiet, and taking lots and lots of pictures. We will also be visiting a couple of the caverns that are there - Luray Caverns and Shenandoah Caverns. Then we will head back home on Friday and will probably stop and see other sights and spend the night somewhere along the route home. It will be a vacation with no set in stone plans and lots of time to do whatever we want. I know though that I will miss my "girls", especially Thea. She seems to be doing better with her treatment. But we spend so much time together (she goes to work with me every day and she follows me everywhere I go in the house) - that it will be hard not having her with me. But I know Terri will take good care of her. I am looking forward to this vacation - I know the Lord will bless our time together and bring us even closer to Him!! Lord, thank you for loving me and thank you for all the blessings you have given me. I pray you will watch over us and keep us safe while on vacation and that you will reveal yourself to us in everything we see and do. I pray everything we do while on vacation, that it will bring glory and honor to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

ALMOST THERE

Jenna had her second therapy dog visit today. Started out a little rough - I stepped on her toe going out the gate in the backyard. Then I took her to the clinic to have her toenails clipped and they quicked her and she yelped on every toe they clipped. Big baby. But then we arrived at the assisted living center. And she did very well. Started out pulling on the leash alot, but my friend and evaluator, Laurie, worked with us on that and very quickly Jenna was walking at my side very nicely. About halfway through the visit, Laurie asked me to walk Jenna down the hall, turn around, come back, stop, walk slow, walk fast and a few other things. I didn't realize at the time but she was giving her the therapy dog test. And she passed it. She just needs to go on one more visit and be evaluated with Laurie there and if she does ok, she will be certified!!! She really does like to be petted and to see everyone. But after about an hour, she was tired and ready to go home. As you can see by the picture, she slept the rest of the afternoon and evening. It's hard work being loved on and petted by so many people!!!

NEEDLES & MORE NEEDLES

Tuesday Thea had her first ACCUPUNCTURE treatment! We were shown to a separate room away from the exam rooms with a couch, a little "water fountain" and soft relaxing music. Dr. Olson explained what she was going to do and what she was hoping to accomplish. She examined Thea's neck and looked at her x-rays. Her goal and my goal is to get Thea off of her pain medication and the prednisone and to be able to curl up when she sleeps again. She started off with a needle in the top of her head. This was the "calming" needle. After about 60 seconds, Thea sat down and you could tell she was already more relaxed. She then put six needles in different spots on her neck and one in the middle of her back. Then we were left alone for 15 minutes to relax. Thea did very well and was not upset at all. When Dr. Olson came back and took the needles out, she told me that Thea might sleep most of the day and not eat her dinner. Which is just what happened.
She has her next appointment next Tuesday. I feel encouraged by this treatment. Both my vets feel it will help. I am hoping it will take away the pain that I know Thea has. I also feel blessed that the Lord has provided this opportunity for her. There are not many veterinarians that are able to do this and to have one right here close is definitely a blessing.
"Thank you Lord for providing this opportunity to help Thea. Each day I have with her is a blessing for me and I thank you for all you have given me through the gift of her."

SPRING - GOD'S GIFT

Spring is Here!!! It is still March but the trees and bushes are starting to bloom, the temperature is rising, birds are singing and I am thanking God for all the blessings He has given me. When I see the beauty of spring, I can't imagine how anyone could NOT believe in God. The beauty of the mountains here and the colors on the trees and bushes could only be there because God designed it and made it.
I find myself seeing everything in a new light during spring. I notice every little thing - the colors, the buds on trees, the birds singing and the many different types of birds, the bees are coming out now and even those pesky little ants are out again. The flowers will soon be coming up or will be planted, the azaleas will be blooming soon. Everything is just so beautiful in the spring. I have been taking my camera with me wherever I go so I can take that picture when I see it. But I have found some of the prettiest shots right in my own yard. The picture here is of the Bradford Pear tree in our front yard. It is full of white blooms now. Soon our yard will be full of color - pink and red azaleas, blue hydrangeas, purple clematis, and pink & white crapemyrtles. Only God could give us such beauty. And I thank Him for it and give Him all the glory and praise. "LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH, PRAISE THE LORD."

AND THE DAM BROKE

A while back I wrote how things in my life, especially my little "girls" were really taking their toll and I felt like I needed to let go but I could not. Well, today "the dam broke". I spent the entire drive to work crying and cried several times at work.
And you are thinking - what caused this? Well - I came extremely close today to losing Thea. I was getting ready to go to work and was going to take her with me as I always do. I was going to take a couple things to my car and then come back in and get her. She was sitting on the floor, Jenna was sleeping on her pillow and Tiki and Fancy were sleeping on the chair. I started outside and only got halfway to my car when I heard a dog scream. I put the things in my car and ran back to the house. When I got in the house Terri was up and we both looked around to see who was hurt. Jenna was standing up, Tiki and Thea were on the chair, and Fancy was on the couch. So we thought maybe Fancy got hurt. So we checked her over and she seemed fine. I went to get Thea and that's when I saw her neck. She had a gash on her neck about 1-1/2 inches long. It wasn't bleeding much but looked awful. The first thing I noticed was that it wasn't bleeding alot so it hadn't hit the jugular vein but it looked close. But I knew she was hurting. So I picked her up and we left for work. And that is when it broke loose - I cried and cried all the way to work.
After getting to work, she seemed ok but would not sit still - she kept pacing around my chair. When Dr. Jones arrived, she came over and looked at her neck and said - "Oh my!!! She needs stitches!!" I did not want to think it was that bad. She immediately took her to the treatment area and put her under anesthesia and put 4 stitches in her neck. While she was working on her - 3 people came out at different times to tell me what a lucky little girl she was. The cut was extremely close to her jugular vein and Dr. Jones was having a tough time sewing it cause she was so close to the vein. After the third person told me about it - I broke down again - realizing just how close I came to losing her. Then Dr. Jones came out and told me that if the cut had been even a millimeter deeper, it would have hit the vein and she probably would have bled to death. So - I guess you know what I did again - YEP - cried again.
Thea came out of the anesthesia quickly and was up and about in no time. She is doing ok tonight - I think she hurts a little. She is not crying but she is walking very gingerly. We are not sure exactly what happened - we were afraid it was a bite. But Dr. Jones said it was not a bite. We are thinking that either she bumped into Jenna on the floor or Jenna jumped up when I went out the door, and hit Thea with a toenail (which Dr. Jones said could have been the cause). Their skin is so thin it doesn't take much to tear. Whatever happened, we know it was an accident and Thea was again at the wrong place and wrong time. The poor little girl has had a rough week.
I am so thankful the Lord was watching over her today. I know someday I will lose her but I would not want it to be in an accident like this. Thank you Lord for keeping Thea safe today and watching over her. Thank you for being by my side as I dealt with this - I know you saw and felt every tear I cried. Please continue to give me strength and comfort. Amen.

MOM - I LOVE YOU

March 10 - 3 years ago today, Mom, you left this earthly life to go be with Jesus and "dance with the angels". And how you loved to dance. Today brings back lots of different memories and emotions. The first of which is sadness - as I remember the pain I felt when I learned you had left us. I can still feel that pain. I miss you so much. But I tell myself to think of the words to the Mercy Me song (Homesick) - You are in a much better place. I feel sad at times knowing I cannot talk to you here and now. I miss that. I miss sharing my life with you and laughing at the good times we always had when we all got together. Then I feel guilt - why didn't I go back to see you earlier. I was waiting for summer, but should I have gone sooner?

Then I prayed. And God showed me all the OTHER memories and emotions that came from this day 3 years ago. I remember all of us kids together for the funeral - all the memories we shared that week. I remember how we all dealt with and handled all the funeral arrangements and legal stuff. No fighting - no problems. We all knew what you would have wanted and everything went so smoothly. I remember sitting around the kitchen table (our favorite family spot) - going through pictures and laughing at some and quietly remembering others. But most of all, God showed me how much the family came together and the LOVE we showed to each other in so many ways. I especially remember Larry holding me in his arms while I cried at the funeral home. Sometimes the love was shown in a hug, a look, a quiet moment together, an evening reminiscing with everyone. But the most important thing is that we have grown even closer since then.

So even though we have lost you here on earth Mom, you brought us closer together more than ever before (and we were close before), and I KNOW that you are happier than we could ever imagine and I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN IN HEAVEN!!! I LOVE YOU MOM!!

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

Just one of those days - you know - the kind where you try to keep busy so you won't think about the things that are really on your mind. Then you get home and BAM - that's all you can think about. Feels like being on a rollercoaster - up, down and twisting around.

Yesterday, we put Thea on a stronger dose of prednisone and added another pain reliever. She seems to feel a little better but again tonight before it was time to give the evening medication, she couldn't even put weight on her left leg and her head was tilted over again. She is not crying like she did the other night, but I know it must hurt or she would be walking on the leg. And then yesterday, Fancy was not feeling well. Did more x-rays and she definitely has pneumonia and it looks worse than the x-rays on Friday. And again, this morning, she was breathing hard and would not eat all her breakfast. She is getting fluids but still is lethargic most of the time. At times I feel like I cannot handle another problem and especially any more problems with my "girls". I try to hold it all inside cause I know if I talk about it too much, I am afraid I will totally lose it. And maybe I should let go - maybe that would help. But so far, I have not let it get out.

I am still very thankful for each day I have with my little "blessings" and I know in my heart that God will be with me each day and help me through all the emotions and fears. "Thank you Lord for loving me so much."

I LOVE YOU THEA

Several days ago, I wrote about my "little blessing" - Thea - and how she was almost 15 and starting to have health issues. One of those problems - she has started to "lean" to the left with her head and neck. We first thought it was an inner ear infection. But it has started to get worse. Today we took an x-ray of her neck to see if there was anything noticeable. When my boss (and veterinarian) came out and said - "we have serious neck problems" - I knew he was not joking around. Two discs in her lower neck have no space between them - they are so close together, they look like they are fused together. Which means there is no cushion between those discs. He commented that it is no wonder she is in pain. Our options are: neck surgery (which is quite risky and would mean going to a vet school to have it done); checking into accupuncture to see if that would help at all (and that won't correct it, just help with the pain); or continue treating with prednisone (which also just helps the pain). The neck surgery is not really an option because of her age and the risk involved. So we will be checking into the accupuncture and we will be treating her with the prednisone. We will also have to try to keep her from jumping up and down off the couch and try to keep her from straining her neck.

Thea has been in my thoughts a lot lately. I have been thinking of her neck pain and I think in the back of my mind, I knew there was more to it than just an inner ear infection. And I have been asking myself - how much longer will she be with me? I pray that God will let her be with me for several more years, but I don't know if that will happen. And I know that when I do lose her, I will feel a sadness that will be hard to deal with, but God will be there always to help me through it all. Thea has been with me through so many things in my life. Good things (visiting and getting to know and love Jo) and sad things (Mom going into a nursing home and then passing away 4 years later). She has let me cry on her and would just lay her head on my arm while I cried.

I don't know how much longer Thea will be with me. I hope a long time. But I do know I will not let her suffer in pain. And I will love her and Thank the Lord for her every day that she is here with me. God has blessed my life with her and I love her very much. And I pray that when the time comes, the Lord will give me strength and courage to get through the pain and sadness.

"Lord, thank you so much for the gift of Thea that you gave me 14 years ago. Thank you for allowing her to be in my life and giving me her unconditional love. Her love has shown me just a glimpse of what YOUR love for me must be. Thank you for loving me and always being there with me. And I pray that when the time comes and I must let Thea go, that you will be beside me and hold me in your arms and give me your comfort. I love you Lord. Amen"

JENNA'S FIRST VISIT

Today was an eventful day for Jenna - seeing old friends, meeting new friends, and learning new things. It started out with seeing old friends at the monthly Greyhound Rescue "Meet and Greet" at PetsMart. This is where owners and their greyhounds they have adopted and greyhounds who are up for adoption get together and "meet and greet" people who want to know more about the greyhounds and possibly adopt one. Jenna saw several "friends" from last month's meet and greet. My friend Susan and her two little girls, Hazel and Emily, were also there to see Jenna. Everyone commented on how great Jenna looked - how she had put on weight and her haircoat was so soft and shiny. And of course, Jenna was loving all the attention and petting.

Then from there we went on Jenna's FIRST THERAPY DOG VISIT!!! We met the therapy dog group at an assisted living facility. Before going in to visit, the group evaluator/trainer helped me with a problem I was having with Jenna. She is very strong and pulls against her collar straining to go where SHE wants to go. So the trainer put a "gentle leader" collar on her and what a difference. Jenna didn't like it at first but she sure listened with it on. Then we went in to visit. And she did so well. I knew she would as she has such a sweet, laid-back disposition. She would go up to the residents and just stand there with her head in their lap. I think once we get the pulling on the collar worked out, she will be terrific as a therapy dog. Going on therapy dog visits is such a blessing for me - I feel I have something I can give to people who are missing their pets or just need a visit from someone.

And after the visit - well, let's just say Jenna was a little tired and slept all the way home in the back seat. What a trooper!!

GOD'S LITTLE BLESSING

God's Little Blessing - THEA - my sweet little Italian Greyhound, who has blessed my life in so many ways. Who knew when I first saw you 14 years ago, what a journey we would take together. Nothing earth shattering - just loving and blessed. It took me several years before I realized that you were a gift from God. I tried to make you a show dog - that didn't work since you hated the show ring. You were 8 years old before I realized what God had in store for the two of us. And it hit me what it was when I took you to see Mom at the nursing home she had just went into. You jumped into bed with her and sat next to her the whole visit. For the next 2 weeks while we were visiting Mom, every evening you sat next to her in her chair, sometimes just sleeping, sometimes watching everything that was going on. But always calm and loving. You made Mom fall in love with you - from that day on - you were her granddog. That's when I knew you were destined to be a Therapy Dog. You aced your training classes and your certification test. You were always so calm and gentle with the elderly at the assisted living centers. Then we moved up to visiting at the hospital. You always brought a smile to the faces of patients and their families. Now as you are getting older (15 in August) you are only visiting your favorite friend - Jo. Your hearing is almost gone and your vision is going also. But you still love to sit in Jo's lap. Because of you, I have also felt blessed when visiting patients and residents at nursing homes. To know that I have a gift from God that helps bring a little joy into someone's life is so precious. I only wish Mom could have seen you one more time before she left us to be with Jesus. It is getting hard watching you grow older - the health problems you are starting to have. But even with those, you still enjoy your visits to Jo.

You and your housemates (Fancy and Tiki) are the "inspirations" for this blog. You are blessings from God and even though you are just dogs - you have blessed my life. I know God gave you three to me - you are His gift to me and I thank Him for you. He has given me other blessings but you are my daily blessings and when I see you three and see the unconditional love you give me - it is a constant reminder of the love God has for me. I know God loves me and I know I am His child.

"Thank you Lord for your Love, for your son Jesus - who died for me. And thank you for my little "girls". I pray that everything I do with them is for your Glory. Thank you for our newest "girl" and I pray that I can continue bringing smiles to faces with her and I do this in your name. Amen"

FAMILY

Yesterday was my sister Carole's 60th birthday. How I wish I could have been there this weekend to help her celebrate her birthday. But I live 10 hours away from her and even farther away from the rest of my family. But even though I couldn't be there, she was in my thoughts most of the weekend. It is at times like this - birthdays, holidays, and special occasions, that makes me stop and think about how important FAMILY is. My family means everything to me. And not just my 4 sisters and my brother, but their spouses, children, and grandchildren, my Aunt Dixie and her family. I thank God for the closeness our family does have - even though we are spread out around the country. God has blessed me with a wonderful family. I know that if I ever needed them for anything, they would be there. And we are always there for each other in prayer. We may not be close physically, but we are spiritually very close.

"Father - thank you for my family, for keeping us safe, for watching over us. Thank you for your love, your grace, your mercy. I ask that you keep everyone in my family safe in your hands and let them feel your love and protection. I love you Lord and I Praise Your Name!"

SPECIAL BLESSINGS

I found myself today thinking of love and how blessed I am with family and friends who I know love me. And how much I love them. But today I was especially thinking of two friends and how much they mean to me and how much I love them.

I took Thea this afternoon to visit our friend Jo who is in a nursing home. I met Jo about 6 years ago when Thea and I started our Therapy Dog visits. She immediately took to Thea and our relationship grew from there. She is such a special lady and I always come away from visiting her knowing I have been blessed. Sometimes we talk a lot during our visits and sometimes, like today, we talk just a little and Jo spends most of the visit petting Thea (who is totally content to lay in her lap and relax). I don't visit her as often as I would like due to work and other commitments. But I realized today how much I love her and how she has blessed my life. And God has put us together and has blessed our friendship. She is a "Very Special Blessing" to me.

After my visit with Jo I arrived home and was reading my friend Susan's blog and I felt God reminding me of the VERY SPECIAL friendship Susan and I have. She is my sounding board, my "sister", and my best friend. I have seen her go through some very tough times in her life. She had three foster children taken from her when her husband (who was in the Service) was transferred to Connecticut. DSS would not let them take the children out of state and they were placed with another family. Susan was devastated. It was a very difficult time for her and also for me. I had come to love Elijah, Brianna and Zane. But I was also devastated because my friend was moving away and so very far away. I could no longer call her up and meet in 20 minutes for dinner. But the move did not weaken our friendship - but strengthened it. We were "sisters in Christ" and the Lord has greatly blessed our friendship. And now Susan and her husband have moved to North Carolina and she is only 1 hour away and we see each other frequently. We have been there for each other through many things - both good and sad. She is going through one of the tough times now. They are foster parents to two adorable little girls and are waiting to see if they will be able to adopt them. The court date is in March and we are all praying they will be able to adopt Hazel and Emily. Lord I pray you will bless Susan and Thom with the permanent addition of Hazel and Emily to their family.

So as I sit here tonight reflecting on these two friends - I realize that they are both "Special Little Blessings", except I feel they are BIG BLESSINGS to me. "Thank you Lord for Susan and Jo. Thank you for putting them in my life and I pray I will be as good a friend to them as they are to me."