Cuddlebug

The Story of Wilson (or at least part of it)

God knows exactly what we need when we need it, doesn't he?

A little dog Wilson came to our family at the perfect time. He is a miniature picture of God's love and blessing and faithfulness to our family.

Let me tell you why.

For awhile now (years), Tom and I have been praying about moving. We love our house, we really do, but just wish for more space and a few things to be rearranged. A bathroom for the girls and one for the boy. A master bedroom on the bottom floor instead of 5 feet from the kids' rooms. A playroom for the neverending lego creations that are scattered all over our front room! It's been a prayer and just that. We have never really found a house we liked enough to move and the doors have never really opened for us.

However, a few weeks back, we walked into a house for sale and that feeling of HOME rang through my bones. Before I even saw the upstairs (which was PERFECT!) I knew I loved it. It was exactly what we were looking for, oversized garage to boot.

I haven't been that excited in a long time. I could already see us living there. Should I say I got my hopes up too high? Probably, but it seemed that God had helped us find the desire of our heart. It was perfect. It was also in a neighborhood with bucoos of friends; that was a major bonus.

But as soon as the door opened, it closed again BAM. Ugh. It seems we went through this last summer too! Major frustration and D.I.S.S.A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T.

Now the dog part....

Lately, I have been praying a specific prayer that God would help us find a dog perfect for our family. It's hard to pick out a dog, ya know? But during the time I faced the fact that we would not be living in the house of my dreams, God pretty much delivered him to our doorstep. The dog of our dreams.

Our friends the Wilsons had next door neighbors who breed Boston Terriers. They were moving and had sold all but one puppy. No one wanted him because he has a hernia. Really, no one wanted him because he was meant for us. We wanted a dog that doesn't shed. Check. One that isn't too big or small. Check. One that is intelligent. Well, that remains to be seen. One that is friendly. CHECK. He is friendly to people and other animals. He is sweet, funny, polite and chews on things like crazy.

But we know, just KNOW he is meant to be part of our family.

Now a puppy is not a house. However, with this warm, gorgeous, furry and full of kisses little dog, God's timing said to me, "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." `

Doggone EXCITED!!!

The story will come later, but for now you MUST know that a dog came to us....
(this is the the moment that Ellie realized he was ours).
He is a Boston Terrier and his name is Wilson!

Good Dog

In memory of our buddy, I am republishing a post about our quirky Cosmo I wrote last October. On Tuesday, February 23rd, we had the Coz put to sleep. His health had been declining for some time and he was so pitiful by the end that even Luke could hardly stand it. I know it was the best thing to do, and I know that's part of having a pet, but for at least a couple of us in the family, losing him has been tougher than I imagined.

The kids knew that Cosmo was very sick so we told them on Tuesday morning that our doggie was going to a better place and to say goodbye to him. They obviously left the house with bit fat tears running down their faces. Luke went to school and told his teacher that Cosmo was going away to live with another family who would take better care of him. Sweet innocence. He didn't quite get it, though Tom explained later that Cosmo had died. Little Ellie did get it though, and when I saw her after school, she ran up to me and said, "mommy, is he gone?" It was so hard to tell that little face that Cosmo was indeed gone. Once I did, she cried and cried. And cried. And when we got home that evening, she ran through the house gathering up all of Cosmo's things saying, "I just can't picture our family without Cosmo! It's not right!" It was a rough night. She ended up sneaking his nasty sweater into her backpack this mornign and putting in her desk at school. Safe to say she takes after her mama in the emotional department. I was actually fine until I got home from work this afternoon. I walked in the door and naturally looked over to the chair Cosmo had taken to for the last year. That empty chair did it for me. It's so hard not to miss a little fuzzy, stinky creature that's been glued to my side for 13 years. He really was a good dog. So as not to be overdramatic, I will now leave you with this sweet post about our good, good buddy.

A few years back, before kids, I asked Tom for a dog.

I wanted a Yorkie, like the cute, little, sassy girl Yorkie I grew up with, Cinci.

Tom bought me a dog.

Sweetly, he hid the puppy in the laundry basket and asked me to grab him a towel. To my surprise, there the black dot of a Yorkie lay sleeping.

It was so cute until it grew into an enormous boy dog, at 15 pounds, much heftier than the average Yorkie.

To this day, we still wonder what those AKC papers are printed on.

Although Cosmo (named after Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld) wasn't what I was expecting AT ALL, He has turned out to be a pretty good old boy.

It didn't start off on the best paw.

He flunked puppy kindergarten because he hates other dogs.
He chewed my Brookside starter house into smitherines.
He acted as though he would rather jump in a volcano than interact with other animals.
He always walked around with an apologetic look in his eye.
He didn't really understand the idea of spunk.
He ate up one of Tom's baby pictures that was really special to me.

I wanted to strangle him at that point.

But things got better. He started becoming a good boy.

His timidity towards other dogs meant that going outside was only a place to do his business, never to dig holes or harrass kittys.

He got over his chewing stage and barked at all the appropriate times.

His big body meant a big bladder. No accidents or potty problems like those 5 pound Yorkies have. Though devastated when our first child was born, he grew to love the kids. They love him back.
He makes us laugh with his quirky ways.

He wears sweaters without complaint, even though Tom takes up for him and secretly peels off the sweater when I'm not looking.He is never the agressor, yet never rude. Just silently pleading to get him the heck out of dodge.
The boy would never run away. He stands outside the door desperately waiting to get back in.

And look, can you see that he still has that humble look of apology? Like, ahem, I'm so sorry to bother you here, but I'd like to come back into the house now. Thank you.

Quite like an old English fart, he is. We call him neurotic behind his back. But he really is a good boy.

In his old age, I am starting to notice his health going downhill. He can't see too well and pees in weird (though still acceptable) places.

Last week he peed in the garage. And even when he does something he shouldn't, he is still a good boy.
He peed in the shape of a heart. Good dog.

FAITHuary

That George Michael song keeps running through my head:
"Ya gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith, Ya gotta have Faith, Faith Faith!"

Man, I don't know what it is about this February that has changed it into my FAITHuary.
It seems to have been a rough month! Nothing MAJOR, you know... just seems like I'm putting one foot in front of the other right now.... one step at a time! Haven't felt like blogging, yet missing your blogs. Tired, busy, stressed, happy, full, blessed. I know, I am an enigma.

Despite my heart, (oh me of many emotions!) (I tell Tom I'm "emotionally sophisticated"),
it has been a month full of fun and activity!

For example...Superbowl party at Tiff's house with our friends... The Cunninghams and... The Nerones...
Lotsa ice around to play with. (Global warming... where art thou?)
Ellie received lots of Valentines! Luke has a "valentine" named Emma and Kami has a real one but she won't let me post pictures of that! (Emma's mommy is very sick in the hospital - please lift her up in prayer!)

Ellie's best bud Brooke!
Basketball and more basketball and more basketball
Luke's team at the YMCA
And of course ORU games galore! (the home games are over now, whew!)
a great game of hide-and-seek! I just love playing with my kids!

On a sad note, Cosmo has been sick. We thought he was better and he was, but the improvement was due to a steroid injection that made him seem better but he wasn't all along. The kids said bye to him this morning. It was an awfully sad moment... he is being put to sleep this afternoon. Just trying to keep it together! On another truly heartbreaking note, please remember to Pray for Kate.

I can hear the birds chirping outside... spring is coming. Cosmo will be relived of his pain soon. Basketball season will be over for another year and God himself has His Hand on our lives. I am so thankful for His presence and power in my life.

He will get me through this FAITHuary and help me MARCH on!!

Dog Days of Summer

A new dog park opened in our town and it has been a huge hit with everyone around here. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to enjoy the park because our dog Cosmo not only doesn't think he's a dog, but he loathes other dogs of any size. Going to the dog park would be tantamount to torture for him. Luckily, Nana and Papa have newly adopted two adorable Yorkies into our family, Rae Rae and Rocko. They brought the dogs out to Biscuit Acres and we all had a great time, dogs and people alike. Rocko is on Papa's lap and Rae Rae is Nana's dog.Kami, Ellie and a couple of their friends romped with the dogs for a long time, running around with bright eyes and wagging tails.
One hilarious aspect of being at Biscuit Acres is taking in all the dogs... their shapes, sizes, colors and personalities. Here is Jack, getting a handle on the situation... oh so cautiously. He looks a little concerned.And Pete, he's one happy-go-lucky guy. Couldn't miss him with his head sticking out the back of the truck.
This white dog was one of Ellie's favorites.Our own Rae Rae is enjoying some frisky exercise.Now that the Dog Days of Summer are nearly over, we'll have to see how it is over in Biscuit Acres during the Dog Days of Fall!

Why She is the Princess of Hearts (part two)

Sometimes, Ellie cries at things that others don't.

She often notices an emotion in someone else that no one else does.

Occasionally, at night, she'll tell me she can't sleep because "my heart is telling me something."

And when she's happy, well, she's very very happy. Everyone knows it.

She also recognizes that she's different than her family members and wonders why she is the way she is. Well, I for one, understand. I've shared with you my lifelong struggle with my emotions. Unfortunately (and fortunately) I get it.

So what I always tell her is that she has a big heart. It's so big, I explain, that it has a bigger chance of getting touched, feeling pain and experiencing joy than someone else might. It's why I call her the Princess of Hearts.

The Princess of Hearts touches my heart every week (read here for a previous mention), and I wanted to share her thoughts.

While eating at the kitchen counter, she was looking at a piece of mail that we had received from Compassion International. The pictures showed several children of varying ages who were obviously living in dire poverty. She studied the picture intently, asking questions and then growing quiet. Finally, with a sad look in her eyes, she started pointing to the children one by one, saying, "mom, it's so sad because THIS one, he could be a veterinarian. This tall boy might have been a basketball player. And she, mom, this little girl, she might have been able to be a doctor. But, they don't have a chance to do it!" I wish you could have seen the look in her eyes.

On another Princess of Hearts note, you can definitely see the adoration and happiness on her face as she "met" Nana and Papa's new dog, Rocco!!! It was true love at first sight!

So Doggone Fun

Our dog lover wanted a DOG birthday party...
And it just so happens that Disney's Beverly Hills Chihuahua was coming out close to her birthday. So, Sunday, I took a couple of her friends/cousins and their dogs (stuffed!) to the movie theater to see the show, which was darling. I know it got bad reviews, but that usually means it's good, huh? Well, the kids loved it and I laughed all the way through it. I am telling you, that usually does not happen. I am not a real big fan of talking animals, but I really enjoyed this one. Here are Ellie and her cousin Hallie at the theater. After the movie, we went back to the house where we had different stations:This is the dogeteria where there were dog bowls and "dogfood" (Cocoa Puffs, Scooby Snacks, Chex Mix, and Corn Pops) for the girls to snack on.Lindsey Loo, Ellie's friend since birth!!!The dogs also needed some primping, so we had a grooming station, where there were brushes, hair ribbons and perfume (for the dogs!) Here is Ellie's cousin Ana with her blue blue eyes and her dog Tiny. Kami made up a Dogstacle Course (her idea!) and led the girls through the outdoor challenges. They also made Doggie Bags for their treats and made diamond studded turquoise Doggie Tags at the Doggie Tag station (see above). Don't forget the Veterinarian and Dog Store... all in all it was a lot of fun! One final tidbit, I used evite to send out invitations (gasp! I usually create my own), but it was sooo easy and sooo freeing! I loved it.

Our Daughter... the Dog Handler?

Well, thanks to Cousin Kim, we found out about a class for "junior handlers." There is a whole different culture of people out there who breed dogs, train dogs, and show dogs (Ever seen Best in Show?) and we got our first official taste of it. I have to admit that the dogs are really cute and that Ellie is SO in her element, it's not even funny. But wow, that is a lot of time to spend with a dog on a dog and for a dog. I guess you dog lovers out there say, uhhh.. yeah, and we love every minute of it, so get over it! Ok, I will try, but the dog handlers are so serious and competive that they will hide their dog treats in get this... their mouths! See below as one handler slips a cookie in her cheek for later. Why, you ask? To save the time of digging in the pocket and to provide more instantaneous gratification for the dog who may in turn look perkier and win the coveted 1st prize! Obvious question: when will little rookie Ellie learn to perfect such a sacrificial and selfless dog handling skill? Answer: she popped the doggie doobie in her mouth immediately. Yuuuummmmmy! Here is another dog handling skill she learned: leading the dog.and here is cousin Ana leading her little dog, Hazel.
So now I come to my favorite part of dog handling: photography. I know these are not fabulous pictures by any stretch. HOWEVER, I was quite excited as I recognized EWWW, a flash in this circumstance (dark building, no natural light, funky and reflective dog eyes) would be disastrous. See below. BLECH. So I snapped my ISO all the way to 1600, put white balance on "tungsten" (what a weird word) and worked with my camera until my shutter speed was about 1/200. I have no idea if that is right or not, professionally speaking, but look at Ellie's dog Walker. Are his eyes not amazing? I got that because I did NOT have a flash on! Woo Hoo! I never thought it could be done in such poor lighting. (patting self on back) Overall, it was a fun experience for our little dog lover, and we will see where God leads her next.