On Thursday, the most beautiful day of last week, my friend, PM and I went for a drive, and we were going to also go for a hike, but the snow levels were lower than normal, so our hike was postponed.
Before we came to the lookout point where we ate our lunch, we drove through a darling town that I am definately going to revisit soon. It was healing being among the big trees, similar to the elevation I grew up in. We continued along our drive, enjoying the snow on the rocks in the river and the manmade waterfall.
Soon, we arrived at our lunch spot with a spectacular view of an amazing mountain I have never ever seen in my life: I could hardly believe it was so beautiful!!! We were just getting ready to eat our lunch when a lady pulled up to photograph the beautiful snow covered mountain.
I felt drawn to talk to her; and then I realized that she had a dog with her. Will you believe it?!! Another Pit, though this one was half Gordon Setter as well, with the name of Floyd. Who names a dog Floyd?, I wondered, but did not have to wait long to find out, as if his owner heard my unspoken question. She likes the band Pink Floyd, and since her dog has pinkish brown freckles on his ears, she named him Floyd.
She adopted him at an animal shelter as a baby: that was six years ago. Since that time, she has been through a lot. The hardest thing being the sudden death of her husband due to unexplained health problems two years ago. Speaking of Floyd, she said that "he has really stepped up to the plate and that he has been there every step of the way." I really admired this woman who was not originally from the area we were visiting but bought a "fixer upper" in the area with her husband before he passed away with the intent that they would live out their retired lives in relative peace, far away from the busy city. So now she lives with her dog, (as her two grown daughters continue to live in the city), driving around in search of fall foliage and beautiful scenery. How I desired to offer her the gospel in all of its fullness, yet hoped that the brief conversation we had would somehow plant a seed.
I came to admire the lady we met as we talked about her life and her dog, who reminded me so much of my Malden who passed away two and a half years ago. Also a silly mix with his very own pesonality, and wise beyond my comprehension, he would look at me and listen to conversations with the same intensity as Floyd did with our new friend.
Also on this trip, I came to realize how much my friend PM and I have in common: loving to visit new places, hike, be in nature (rivers and lakes, big trees) and how we don't have to wait for anyone: we can just go. Just like our new friend and Floyd.
May you all be blessed this week with joy, clarity and truth. Meet a new dog this week!
With sincere gratitude for the dogs that touch our lives,
Katie
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Jewel, the nice pit bull
Hello fellow dog lovers,
Well, I never thought I would say that I had met a nice pit bull: sorry to those of you who LOVE them! But this summer I did indeed meet a pit at the river who I really liked. She was nice to her "sisters"...three Jack Russells, nice to her Mom...a lady who obviously loved dogs, and she was nice to my family. Her name is Jewel, a blue nosed pit. And boy did she run the show: she loved to be splashed, loved to have sticks thrown in the water and loved to be loved!! Her sisters were hilarious: two of them pretty much steered clear of the water until their Mom washed them off before leaving, but the one loved the water and kept up just fine with the big dogs. Jewel made people laugh, she made friends, and she definately changed my belief system, which was that all pits are nasty. Definately a life lesson!
When I signed in this evening, I thought about how much I have been writing about dogs just to get myself to write again and realized that I have not been doing much of testifying of Jesus Christ and family. I want to say how precious my family is to me: they are truly my very best friends. I am always wanting to find my passion: something that I am really good at and something I can bless others with in a special way. Recently I felt very distinctly, "Make your family your passion!" So every event we do together: Pumpkin Farm, Apple orchards (kind of), Sunday church, dinner every night together, Birthday celebrations, learning new things, driving in the car, talking on the phone while Don is at work, I try to make every moment memorable to me: remembering every funny joke, every laugh, every new discovery, every plan for the future and taking lots of photos (Mom). EVERYDAY IS TRULY A MIRACLE!!!
Well, I never thought I would say that I had met a nice pit bull: sorry to those of you who LOVE them! But this summer I did indeed meet a pit at the river who I really liked. She was nice to her "sisters"...three Jack Russells, nice to her Mom...a lady who obviously loved dogs, and she was nice to my family. Her name is Jewel, a blue nosed pit. And boy did she run the show: she loved to be splashed, loved to have sticks thrown in the water and loved to be loved!! Her sisters were hilarious: two of them pretty much steered clear of the water until their Mom washed them off before leaving, but the one loved the water and kept up just fine with the big dogs. Jewel made people laugh, she made friends, and she definately changed my belief system, which was that all pits are nasty. Definately a life lesson!
When I signed in this evening, I thought about how much I have been writing about dogs just to get myself to write again and realized that I have not been doing much of testifying of Jesus Christ and family. I want to say how precious my family is to me: they are truly my very best friends. I am always wanting to find my passion: something that I am really good at and something I can bless others with in a special way. Recently I felt very distinctly, "Make your family your passion!" So every event we do together: Pumpkin Farm, Apple orchards (kind of), Sunday church, dinner every night together, Birthday celebrations, learning new things, driving in the car, talking on the phone while Don is at work, I try to make every moment memorable to me: remembering every funny joke, every laugh, every new discovery, every plan for the future and taking lots of photos (Mom). EVERYDAY IS TRULY A MIRACLE!!!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Lame...my favorite word. I have not written for almost a year: Tuesdays or Sundays will probably be my "new" days to write, for good reasons, also good reason why I have not written in SOOO long...E!!!!!!
So the other day as I was listening to KLOVE, I was so excited to hear that one of the DJs had posted EIGHT WAYS DOGS IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH. So here they are: 1. Lessen the side effects of chemotherapy (PROFOUND) 2. Help veterans with PTSD (and I would add, anyone with depression or related issues) 3. Strengthen babies' immune systems (now I have a really great excuse for always living with a dog!) 4. Relieve student stress (listen to this: "Harvard Medical School and Yale Law School even allow students to 'check out' resident 'therapy dogs' from libraries.") 5. Get people exercising (YEA!!!) 6. Help autistic kids 7. HEAL THE HEART (both the physical actual heart and our "inside" hearts) 8. Sniff out cancer (also profound)
So I found that report to be s reminder for me to re re begin my blog: DOG BLOG. I had received a couple of reminders over the summer: the Pit and Jack Russell River Dogs, the recent funny dogs at one of my favorite places on earth and my relatively recent dog loss. Mostly, my very first WATER LOVING DOG!!!
So the other day as I was listening to KLOVE, I was so excited to hear that one of the DJs had posted EIGHT WAYS DOGS IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH. So here they are: 1. Lessen the side effects of chemotherapy (PROFOUND) 2. Help veterans with PTSD (and I would add, anyone with depression or related issues) 3. Strengthen babies' immune systems (now I have a really great excuse for always living with a dog!) 4. Relieve student stress (listen to this: "Harvard Medical School and Yale Law School even allow students to 'check out' resident 'therapy dogs' from libraries.") 5. Get people exercising (YEA!!!) 6. Help autistic kids 7. HEAL THE HEART (both the physical actual heart and our "inside" hearts) 8. Sniff out cancer (also profound)
So I found that report to be s reminder for me to re re begin my blog: DOG BLOG. I had received a couple of reminders over the summer: the Pit and Jack Russell River Dogs, the recent funny dogs at one of my favorite places on earth and my relatively recent dog loss. Mostly, my very first WATER LOVING DOG!!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Dog Blog
Yeah, I am back!!! From where, who knows, but in the meantime, through inspiration from my sister, I am sub-titling this blog "The Dog Blog". Is it because I love dogs? YES Is it because I think everyone should have a dog? YES (well kind of) Is it because dogs help us have a better life? YES
So the other day, we were driving in the car, and M said, "Mom, I think Papa's Mom (who recently passed away) is getting licked by our dogs right now." He went on the explain that our dogs, Malden and Tino (AKA Morgan and Tito), who both passed away last year, are in Heaven with G.G. and were probably licking her at that moment. It was so profound: especially considering that we had two other children in the car and it was not just he and I.
I just spoke with one of our neighbors today, and she is the second neighbor who spent Thanksgiving with just her dogs as her husband was recently admitted to a care home. Our other neighbor's husband passed away a few months ago and she did not want to go anywhere for Thanksgiving and leave her dogs alone. Who could say the same for a cat?
Future dog blog posts: the ugliest dogs, dog show on TG day, Sept 11th dogs
With love to all, and may you be blessed with a dog in your life!! Katie
So the other day, we were driving in the car, and M said, "Mom, I think Papa's Mom (who recently passed away) is getting licked by our dogs right now." He went on the explain that our dogs, Malden and Tino (AKA Morgan and Tito), who both passed away last year, are in Heaven with G.G. and were probably licking her at that moment. It was so profound: especially considering that we had two other children in the car and it was not just he and I.
I just spoke with one of our neighbors today, and she is the second neighbor who spent Thanksgiving with just her dogs as her husband was recently admitted to a care home. Our other neighbor's husband passed away a few months ago and she did not want to go anywhere for Thanksgiving and leave her dogs alone. Who could say the same for a cat?
Future dog blog posts: the ugliest dogs, dog show on TG day, Sept 11th dogs
With love to all, and may you be blessed with a dog in your life!! Katie
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Rain Rain!!
In the words of Michelle and Amy, "Are you kidding me!!?" Seriously, it has been raining for DAYS. Finally, I am decided to stop fighting it and just accept buckets of rain, and today I even accomplished a project that I did not think I could do. But I thought, "if not me, then who?"
Last night, we had our first orientation for a new adoption agency: it went really well and I am excited for our next appointment. Also in the orientation was a really nice single lady: I will call her "T". Let's all pray for "T" that she will find the answers that she seeks and be able to have meaningful relationships in her life.
In 3 days, my Michelle will be leaving on her deployment for 6 months: everyone please pray for her and her family too. Pray that they will be blessed with peace, safety, wisdom and endurance. While Michelle is gone, she will also be taking classes, and working a fuller than usual schedule. And while she is gone, her husband will be "Mr Mom". I know that if we all pray and if we serve those around us in similar situations, somehow, this family's burdens can also be lighter.
Here is some great stuff from the January and February Ensign, "There are many vessels that are destroyed after they have been molded and shaped. Why? Because they are not contented with the shape the potter has given them, but straightway put themselves into a shape to please themselves; therefore they are beyond understanding what God designs, and they destroy themselves by the power of their own agency, for this is given to every man and woman, to do just as they please." "What do you say to our being one and clinging together? Would we not be a happy company? It is that alone that will make you truly happy; and to be perfectly limber in the hands of the potter like clay. What makes the clay snap? Because it wants its own way; and you cannot be happy unless you submit to the law of God, and to the principles of His govenment. When a person is miserable, wretched, and unhappy in himself, put in what circumstances you please, and he is wretched still. If a person is poor, and composes his mind and calmly submits to the providences of God, he will feel cheerful and happy in all circumstances, if he continues to keep the commandments of God." Jan 2011 Ensign p.61
"The authority who confirms you will say, "Receive the Holy Ghost," meaning the gift of the Holy Ghost. The light by which you now walk is the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is the light of the gospel - or, for some, the gospel in a new light. In either case, it enables you to see that which you could not see before. It now becomes your privilege to walk, as it were, by the light of day. The light is constant, and, in most instances, the path you are called to travel is clearly marked. When it is not, you are entitled to the visions, impressions, or prodding necessary to assure your arrival at the place of safety. The fact that every member of the Church is given the gift of the Holy Ghost is evidence that the Lord wants to reveal things to you and through you. Joseph Smith said, "No man can recieve the Holy Ghost without receivinig revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator." Feb 2011 Ensign p.31
"I also testify that He knows each of us perfectly and individually. He knows all that is lovable and BEAUTIFUL in us. The world teaches us to think we are unattractive, uacceptable, and unworthy of love if we don't meet the arbitrary standards it sets for us. Sometimes it's hard to turn away from such loud and convincing lies, but our Father in Heaven will always be there to remind us of our worth and of the value He sees in us. His standard, not the world's, is the true measure of our worth. The more we believe and accept the Lord's love, the more we will love and trust in Him. ...The Lord is the one who can heal all pain, and as we trust Him, He reminds us that we have everything to hope for." Feb 2011 Ensign p.35
I testify that these things are true!! Love, Katie
Last night, we had our first orientation for a new adoption agency: it went really well and I am excited for our next appointment. Also in the orientation was a really nice single lady: I will call her "T". Let's all pray for "T" that she will find the answers that she seeks and be able to have meaningful relationships in her life.
In 3 days, my Michelle will be leaving on her deployment for 6 months: everyone please pray for her and her family too. Pray that they will be blessed with peace, safety, wisdom and endurance. While Michelle is gone, she will also be taking classes, and working a fuller than usual schedule. And while she is gone, her husband will be "Mr Mom". I know that if we all pray and if we serve those around us in similar situations, somehow, this family's burdens can also be lighter.
Here is some great stuff from the January and February Ensign, "There are many vessels that are destroyed after they have been molded and shaped. Why? Because they are not contented with the shape the potter has given them, but straightway put themselves into a shape to please themselves; therefore they are beyond understanding what God designs, and they destroy themselves by the power of their own agency, for this is given to every man and woman, to do just as they please." "What do you say to our being one and clinging together? Would we not be a happy company? It is that alone that will make you truly happy; and to be perfectly limber in the hands of the potter like clay. What makes the clay snap? Because it wants its own way; and you cannot be happy unless you submit to the law of God, and to the principles of His govenment. When a person is miserable, wretched, and unhappy in himself, put in what circumstances you please, and he is wretched still. If a person is poor, and composes his mind and calmly submits to the providences of God, he will feel cheerful and happy in all circumstances, if he continues to keep the commandments of God." Jan 2011 Ensign p.61
"The authority who confirms you will say, "Receive the Holy Ghost," meaning the gift of the Holy Ghost. The light by which you now walk is the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is the light of the gospel - or, for some, the gospel in a new light. In either case, it enables you to see that which you could not see before. It now becomes your privilege to walk, as it were, by the light of day. The light is constant, and, in most instances, the path you are called to travel is clearly marked. When it is not, you are entitled to the visions, impressions, or prodding necessary to assure your arrival at the place of safety. The fact that every member of the Church is given the gift of the Holy Ghost is evidence that the Lord wants to reveal things to you and through you. Joseph Smith said, "No man can recieve the Holy Ghost without receivinig revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator." Feb 2011 Ensign p.31
"I also testify that He knows each of us perfectly and individually. He knows all that is lovable and BEAUTIFUL in us. The world teaches us to think we are unattractive, uacceptable, and unworthy of love if we don't meet the arbitrary standards it sets for us. Sometimes it's hard to turn away from such loud and convincing lies, but our Father in Heaven will always be there to remind us of our worth and of the value He sees in us. His standard, not the world's, is the true measure of our worth. The more we believe and accept the Lord's love, the more we will love and trust in Him. ...The Lord is the one who can heal all pain, and as we trust Him, He reminds us that we have everything to hope for." Feb 2011 Ensign p.35
I testify that these things are true!! Love, Katie
Friday, March 11, 2011
BOYS!!!
Yep, finally here I am. I have been thinking a lot about Michelle's upcoming deployment and wanted to catch up here.
About the title: "BOYS!!!" So a few months ago, a friend in our ward called to asked if we would like a "children's kitchen" for M and G. I was really excited because I have always wanted one for them. So we went to pick it up. I found the perfect spot for it in our kitchen, put the tea sets a pot and a cake pan in/on it. I was in another room later and came back to find the "Kid Kitchen" filled with weapons: lightsabers, toy pistols and swords. I brought the boys in and explained to them that the kitchen was not a weapons arsenal, that it was for play cooking. And for the most part in the following months it has ceased to be a weapons arsenal. But for a couple of weeks as I told our family and friends about what boys will turn a "Kid Kitchen" into, we got some good laughs. How I love my boys!!!
One day in the Ensign, I read an article about fulfilling our life's mission. From the June 2010 Ensign:
To recongnize our "mission in life" the following three elements regarding our own personal lives are helpful:
"1. A unique set of personal gifts
2. A unique set of personal challenges
3. Specefic needs in the world that the Lord wants me to respond to.
Simply put, we fulfill our mission whenever these three elements intersect and we CHOOSE to ACT." "When this choice to heed the Spirit and to ACT continues day after day, week after week, and year after year, it creates a larger pattern that we will later come to recognize as the mission the Lord had for us to fulfill."
Wow: that is powerful.
Welcome back me and welcome back everybody!!!
Love, Katie
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My Ockadoodle Car!
I was going to be boring and title this blog "December" since it is my FIRST DECEMBER ENTRY and I only blogged once in November...lame!! But I wanted to write two hilarious things about L and this blog title reminded me of one of them. We recently acquired an orange couch from my friend: thanks GB!! The couch came with an ottoman, and since bringing it home, I do not think it has been in the same spot for any more than 24 hours at a time!! It has been a space ship (Buzz Lightyear's vehicle), a table for tea parties and the best... the "ocadoodle car!" It actually means "Cockadoodle car, but L pronounces it without the "C." I really do not know where that name came from... kinda like when I was sitting on his "ockadoodle" months ago!!! The other funny thing: last week at church while all was quiet, L said loudly, "But I like to pick my nose!" There is a couple who has sat in front of us for years, Bob and Penny S who absolutely crack up at every funny thing L and R have said over the years during church. Watching them laugh is almost as funny as the actual reason for laughing.
Some super events transpired during my lack of writing: Don's parents came to visit for almost two weeks, and then in the first week of December, Don had his Birthday. So those are my topics for next blog!!
With Christmas joy and love to all of you, Katie
Some super events transpired during my lack of writing: Don's parents came to visit for almost two weeks, and then in the first week of December, Don had his Birthday. So those are my topics for next blog!!
With Christmas joy and love to all of you, Katie
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