It's been a long, long week. First we go and visit this man that has very gentle hands and he pets me and stretches out my legs and then WHAM he moves my back or my neck and I feel a pop or a snap and it's like "what just happened here?" I turn around real quick to see who got me and there is this real kind and gentle man just smiling at me. Mom says he's suppose to be making my back feel better and you know, I guess in the long run he does, but boy its quite an experience.
And then when mom laid down on his table - well I just didn't trust that so I went and sat right close to her head and stuck my nose in her ear to let her know that I was there just in case he tried anything funny with her. But she seem to know what was coming and didn't seem to mind all the snapping and cracking. I wish someone had warned me. I'll be watching out for this guy next time.
Then came the snow and it was so much fun and we got to have fishheads to eat and snow to run and roll in. Too bad mom has to shovel it.
We've been learning all sorts of new things. We know how to make a circle around mom to keep people away so they won't knock her over. Mom's been teaching us in different ways that makes us need to think more often. It's good to make us think - otherwise we have a tendancy to get lazy and take things for granted.
But because of the snow we didn't get to go to church on Wednesday. That was a bummer. We like going being with our church family and though we don't always understand what Pastor Patti has to say she seems to make other people happy. We like it best whem mom and I get to play guitar and help people howl along.
That's why tomorrow is important. Once a week we get all spiffied up and go to church and listen to lots of words and get up and sit down and sometimes give people something to eat. But the most important thing we do is make people smile - especially the kids. People bend over and ask to pet us and the kids come up and wrap their arms around us and tickle our tummy (which feels so good) but all the while they are smiling and that's the important thing because then they are thinking about good things and thinking about the One who made those good things and thanking God for those good things even if its just the wag of a puppy's tail and the slurp of a puppy's tongue.
So I get sleep while I can while everybody else is yakking and listening cause when we're on the move - then it's my time to work and it's time to praise the Lord. See you around the kennel.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
From Whence Comes Joy
As I watch Rev Keo thoroughly enjoy her fish head out in the snow, I realize how little it takes to bring her joy. Sometimes it is just a matter of me picking up the leash and saying "lrt's go."
We, humans are such demanding creatures. We want and we want and we want.
Having lived with a chronic illness for over ten years now, my definition of joy has changed over the years. Some mornings it is simply that I hurt less than I did the day before. But because my life has been aranged by necissity to focus on more basic things at times, I find joy in seemingly small things (at least to other people). Being able to fill up the dogs wate bowl without spilling it all over the floor. Still being able to play a fairly intricate series of chord changes on the guitar.
But I guess my greatest joy still comes from the communication I have with Cherokee, Ruach and Arkeo especially when I am trying to teach them something and the lightbulb goes on and it just clicks. And then we dance and run around and act like fools and pretend that we have found the great treasure - for in reality, insn't new knowledge the greatest treasure and joy and joy of all. And then they wag their tails and I would, too. And we rejoice that we all are wonderfully made creatures of God.
They don't know why I want them to do the silly tricks I make them do, but they know it makes me happy and so that satisfies them. And from this comes our joy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the way of the rest of the world. See you around the kennel.
We, humans are such demanding creatures. We want and we want and we want.
Having lived with a chronic illness for over ten years now, my definition of joy has changed over the years. Some mornings it is simply that I hurt less than I did the day before. But because my life has been aranged by necissity to focus on more basic things at times, I find joy in seemingly small things (at least to other people). Being able to fill up the dogs wate bowl without spilling it all over the floor. Still being able to play a fairly intricate series of chord changes on the guitar.
But I guess my greatest joy still comes from the communication I have with Cherokee, Ruach and Arkeo especially when I am trying to teach them something and the lightbulb goes on and it just clicks. And then we dance and run around and act like fools and pretend that we have found the great treasure - for in reality, insn't new knowledge the greatest treasure and joy and joy of all. And then they wag their tails and I would, too. And we rejoice that we all are wonderfully made creatures of God.
They don't know why I want them to do the silly tricks I make them do, but they know it makes me happy and so that satisfies them. And from this comes our joy. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this were the way of the rest of the world. See you around the kennel.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Unexpected gift!
Pure joy. Snow is coming. That means we get to have fishheads!. Mom only lets us have those when it snows and they can stay frozen outside. For some strange reason she doesn't like finding them around the house and under the bed half eaten. Friday come quickly. See you around the kennel.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Double Duty
Life has sure been stressful around here the past couple of days. Wednesday night mom woke up in the middle of the night with an awful apin in her stomach. This had happened the night before but milk from the kitchen had made everything okay and we had gone back to bed. Wednesday, Mom made it to the hallway and dropped like a dumbbell from a recall screaming in pain. Ru and I shot off the bed surrounding her not knowing what we should do. Finally we just each lay down on either side of her until she decided to get up.
After about as much time as it takes to get to the kennel and then go there again, mom finally got up but she diddn't seem to be feeling good. She went back to bed but was real restless. Ru and I took up our posts at the foot and the head of the bed and kept an eye on her all night.
In the morning, mom didn't get up when we nudged her. She kept saying she would, then she would moan and go deeper under the covers. Ru and I took turns staying with her. Finally she got up and fed us but she was walking all stiff and hunched over. She called Aunt Nonie who came over and they talked about going to the hospital where I would have gone too, but that's a scary place for mom. Mom insisted she had to go to work.
Either Ru or I stayed with her the whole rest of the day at work until Aunt Tamra persuaded her to go home early. After we ate she just laid in her chair and we lay on either side of her making sure the other was awake if one of us had to go outside. Friday she seemed to feel better but she still didn't get out of her pajamas all day. That's not like her. Ru and I stayed close. Following her around the house. Today was better. We went up to the kennel, but neither one of us wanted to let her out of our sight.
Ru taught me what I need to know as a Service Dog as far as taking care of mom and it was sure good to have her around during this crisis. It was much more than a pup of my age has been trained to experience. It's been really hard work just making sure that everything is safe. I don't know what was attacking mom, but whatever it was I knew I couldn't do anything about it but I could keep her company and provide her warmth and comfort.
Isn't that the way it happens a lot with people we call friends. We can't go after the thing that is attacking them, whether it is a disease, or financial problems or emotional or relational problems. We can't fix that which is actually causing the pain. But we can stay close, gather around them, with more than one if necessary and give them comfort and keep them warm with our kind words and pleasent thoughts. We can nudge them into taking better care of themselves and try to point them in a healthy direction, but the best thing we can do is surround them with our love and care, keep our eyes on them and make sure all our four feet are on the ground, even if their two feet aren't. This is the life of a Service Dog. This is the life of a good friend.
Time to get back to work. Enough rambling for now. See you around the kennel.
After about as much time as it takes to get to the kennel and then go there again, mom finally got up but she diddn't seem to be feeling good. She went back to bed but was real restless. Ru and I took up our posts at the foot and the head of the bed and kept an eye on her all night.
In the morning, mom didn't get up when we nudged her. She kept saying she would, then she would moan and go deeper under the covers. Ru and I took turns staying with her. Finally she got up and fed us but she was walking all stiff and hunched over. She called Aunt Nonie who came over and they talked about going to the hospital where I would have gone too, but that's a scary place for mom. Mom insisted she had to go to work.
Either Ru or I stayed with her the whole rest of the day at work until Aunt Tamra persuaded her to go home early. After we ate she just laid in her chair and we lay on either side of her making sure the other was awake if one of us had to go outside. Friday she seemed to feel better but she still didn't get out of her pajamas all day. That's not like her. Ru and I stayed close. Following her around the house. Today was better. We went up to the kennel, but neither one of us wanted to let her out of our sight.
Ru taught me what I need to know as a Service Dog as far as taking care of mom and it was sure good to have her around during this crisis. It was much more than a pup of my age has been trained to experience. It's been really hard work just making sure that everything is safe. I don't know what was attacking mom, but whatever it was I knew I couldn't do anything about it but I could keep her company and provide her warmth and comfort.
Isn't that the way it happens a lot with people we call friends. We can't go after the thing that is attacking them, whether it is a disease, or financial problems or emotional or relational problems. We can't fix that which is actually causing the pain. But we can stay close, gather around them, with more than one if necessary and give them comfort and keep them warm with our kind words and pleasent thoughts. We can nudge them into taking better care of themselves and try to point them in a healthy direction, but the best thing we can do is surround them with our love and care, keep our eyes on them and make sure all our four feet are on the ground, even if their two feet aren't. This is the life of a Service Dog. This is the life of a good friend.
Time to get back to work. Enough rambling for now. See you around the kennel.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Revenge - Is It Worth It?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Revenge - Is it worth it?
Humans are funny creatures. We told you all about that rules meeting we were going to. Mom learned all sorts of good information and met new people. Most of the people there were people like her who like to show dogs and work at the dog shows. There were a few judges there too.They talked and they talked about how to do this and that. How far to throw the dumbbell and where to place the gloves. Yesterday was very boring. So I amused myself by rolling over on my back and wriggling my paws and being downright cute.Today it got more interesting because they talked about Rally. Now that's the stuff we do and what mom teaches. They had little movies showing people doing their thing and then people commented on how good or bad the people in the movies did. Now this is where it gets funny. One of the judges said, well they would take points off this certain dog because when she was going through she got dinged for it so she was going to do the same thing to other people.Nothing about whether it was right or not. Just a matter of getting back because it had been done to her. Now, I don't steal Ru's bone just because she's taken one from me. What's left on the floor in plain view all by itself should be able to be judged on its merits by whoever wants to claim it. If no one is chewing on it. It's fair game. No hard feelings.I'm thinking when we go out to play in the show ring judges should be wiping the slate clean of everything that has gone before and just judge each dog on its own merits - not what they think has been done to them in the past. Revenge can get you in trouble. You start plotting and planning and pretty soon you've got your tail all tied up in knots. Dogs don't worry about what's gone on in the past. We live in the present. What's happening is happening now and should be looked at based on now, not what happened 5 minutes ago or two weeks ago. This lady didn't seem like a very happy person. I wanted to go over and share my bully stick with her. Nothing solves unhappinesss like a good gooey bully stick.Oh well. Humans are funny. They worry too much and don't just try to play nice. Maybe one of these days I'll understand them. Play hard, sleep well. See you around the kennel.
Posted by Rev Keo at 11:09 PM
Revenge - Is it worth it?
Humans are funny creatures. We told you all about that rules meeting we were going to. Mom learned all sorts of good information and met new people. Most of the people there were people like her who like to show dogs and work at the dog shows. There were a few judges there too.They talked and they talked about how to do this and that. How far to throw the dumbbell and where to place the gloves. Yesterday was very boring. So I amused myself by rolling over on my back and wriggling my paws and being downright cute.Today it got more interesting because they talked about Rally. Now that's the stuff we do and what mom teaches. They had little movies showing people doing their thing and then people commented on how good or bad the people in the movies did. Now this is where it gets funny. One of the judges said, well they would take points off this certain dog because when she was going through she got dinged for it so she was going to do the same thing to other people.Nothing about whether it was right or not. Just a matter of getting back because it had been done to her. Now, I don't steal Ru's bone just because she's taken one from me. What's left on the floor in plain view all by itself should be able to be judged on its merits by whoever wants to claim it. If no one is chewing on it. It's fair game. No hard feelings.I'm thinking when we go out to play in the show ring judges should be wiping the slate clean of everything that has gone before and just judge each dog on its own merits - not what they think has been done to them in the past. Revenge can get you in trouble. You start plotting and planning and pretty soon you've got your tail all tied up in knots. Dogs don't worry about what's gone on in the past. We live in the present. What's happening is happening now and should be looked at based on now, not what happened 5 minutes ago or two weeks ago. This lady didn't seem like a very happy person. I wanted to go over and share my bully stick with her. Nothing solves unhappinesss like a good gooey bully stick.Oh well. Humans are funny. They worry too much and don't just try to play nice. Maybe one of these days I'll understand them. Play hard, sleep well. See you around the kennel.
Posted by Rev Keo at 11:09 PM
Friday, March 5, 2010
New Rules
We're going to an AKC (American Kennel Club) judges seminar tomorrow to find out what all the new rules are for Rally and Obedience. For some strange reason mom like knowing what the rules are all the time. I say live and let live. Give me a good bone and a nice comfy couch or bed to lay on and I am good for life. A few squirrels to chase every now and then are good, too.
But for some reason, mom thinks its a good idea to know and follow rules. She says it keeps us out of trouble. Well I can attest to what it's like when you don't know the rules. It can get confusing. That older sister of mine, Ruach. Sometimes she wants to play and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes I can steal her bone and sometimes - man - does she get snarly and grouchy about it. Every have a full grown GSD's gleaming white teeth in your face? You back down real fast (and then steal it when she's not looking.) But it does get confusing not knowing what side of the crate she's going to have woken up on.
So I guess some rules are good, just as long as we don't get hung up on always doing everything by the book. After all, life isn't one big obedience class. But I'll be a good Service Dog and go along and lay on my blanket and chew on my bone and let everyone say how cute I am. Then mom will let them pet me and I'm glad that's one rule she does allow us to break.
Well, we'll tell you what the seminar was like later. Be good. We'll see you around the kennel.
But for some reason, mom thinks its a good idea to know and follow rules. She says it keeps us out of trouble. Well I can attest to what it's like when you don't know the rules. It can get confusing. That older sister of mine, Ruach. Sometimes she wants to play and sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes I can steal her bone and sometimes - man - does she get snarly and grouchy about it. Every have a full grown GSD's gleaming white teeth in your face? You back down real fast (and then steal it when she's not looking.) But it does get confusing not knowing what side of the crate she's going to have woken up on.
So I guess some rules are good, just as long as we don't get hung up on always doing everything by the book. After all, life isn't one big obedience class. But I'll be a good Service Dog and go along and lay on my blanket and chew on my bone and let everyone say how cute I am. Then mom will let them pet me and I'm glad that's one rule she does allow us to break.
Well, we'll tell you what the seminar was like later. Be good. We'll see you around the kennel.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Free at last!!!
Well, mom finally got it figured out. One lousy little letter was missing. The computer had us down as "with all our paws on the ground" instead of with all four paws on the ground" You would think they'd know we had four paws. Count them 1,2,3,4. I know. I had to have all the nails cut off all four paws today.
There is something about being held down and controlled that I don't like and haven't since the day I was born. But that's what drew mom's eye to me. Knew I'd be trouble but knew I'd be the independent spirit she needed also. But I guess none of us like being under someone else's control. That's why mom thinks its so funny that people think God makes us do things we don't want to do. God just puts in front of us all sorts of choices and we make the decision of what we want to choose. You know - like between that hot dog on the ground or the bone I'm suppose to be chewing on. If I think about it hard enough I know what is right and what I'm suppose to do. Don't you? See you round the kennel.
There is something about being held down and controlled that I don't like and haven't since the day I was born. But that's what drew mom's eye to me. Knew I'd be trouble but knew I'd be the independent spirit she needed also. But I guess none of us like being under someone else's control. That's why mom thinks its so funny that people think God makes us do things we don't want to do. God just puts in front of us all sorts of choices and we make the decision of what we want to choose. You know - like between that hot dog on the ground or the bone I'm suppose to be chewing on. If I think about it hard enough I know what is right and what I'm suppose to do. Don't you? See you round the kennel.
Beginnings
Beginnings
We start something new today. Never sat down to share our thoughts with others except in sermons and only mom did those. But its time that we get out four paws planted formly on the grounded and start looking toward our future as a Service Dog and all that it entails.
Thought it best to talk about keeping our feet planted in reality and our head up in the air keeping an eye on things because that is the best way to go through life. There's just no use running around with your head stuck in a treat box or pushed in the nice warm sand of a horse arena with all that horse....well that's another subject. You keep your head down like that and you're apt to run smack dab into the fence post just like I did - BAMM. Now it's one thing to see a puppy splattered all over the floor but its a whole nother thing to see one of you humans splattered all over life because you didn't keep your eyes up and focused and the One who will give you the direction that you need.
When we're training if I keep my eyes on mom I never get dragged by the collar or banged into a pole or end up on the wrong side of the pole in the supermarket aisle (now that has only happened a couple of times.) There are just so mant temptations out there and so many other things that get my attention. But what can I say I'm only 10 months old. ut I'm getting better at keeping eyes on mom and she's getting better at keeping her eyes on her ultimate trainer who helps leads her around the obstacles in her life.
Well in the days to come you'll here some about my training and my adventures on the show circuit and especially about all the fun times I have in church. Cause me and the Creator. We're like buddies and we make sure that we take care of my mom. That's why I'm here, isn't it?
We start something new today. Never sat down to share our thoughts with others except in sermons and only mom did those. But its time that we get out four paws planted formly on the grounded and start looking toward our future as a Service Dog and all that it entails.
Thought it best to talk about keeping our feet planted in reality and our head up in the air keeping an eye on things because that is the best way to go through life. There's just no use running around with your head stuck in a treat box or pushed in the nice warm sand of a horse arena with all that horse....well that's another subject. You keep your head down like that and you're apt to run smack dab into the fence post just like I did - BAMM. Now it's one thing to see a puppy splattered all over the floor but its a whole nother thing to see one of you humans splattered all over life because you didn't keep your eyes up and focused and the One who will give you the direction that you need.
When we're training if I keep my eyes on mom I never get dragged by the collar or banged into a pole or end up on the wrong side of the pole in the supermarket aisle (now that has only happened a couple of times.) There are just so mant temptations out there and so many other things that get my attention. But what can I say I'm only 10 months old. ut I'm getting better at keeping eyes on mom and she's getting better at keeping her eyes on her ultimate trainer who helps leads her around the obstacles in her life.
Well in the days to come you'll here some about my training and my adventures on the show circuit and especially about all the fun times I have in church. Cause me and the Creator. We're like buddies and we make sure that we take care of my mom. That's why I'm here, isn't it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)