The Momma Dogs...aka Yessie

Today we had to put our oldest Shepherd to sleep. We are better and more loving people for having her in our lives and for knowing her. Momma came to us in December of 2004. We had been working with a local German Shepherd Rescue to be able to adopt a dog. The one that we had originally thought of adopting ended up being adopted by her foster parents. A week later we received an urgent call from the lady that runs the rescue, Steph, saying that she had a dog in Kingman that needed a foster or she would be euthanized and asked if we wouldn't mind taking her in as a foster. After hearing her story, we couldn't say no.

Momma had been in a puppy mill and had been kicked out on the streets when she was no longer producing a high quantity of pups...they kicked her out while she was pregnant. The local shelter picked her up and she was adopted by a lady who had no idea she was pregnant. Two days later, Momma whelped two pups, both of them died, and the lady took her back to the shelter. When Steph brought us to her she was still producing milk and was severely under nourished. She had a home for Christmas and we were happy that we could provide that for her. It didn't take but a week for us to fall in love with this tender hearted girl and decide that we couldn't live without her.

Momma gained her nickname because she not only was truly a mom, but each animal that we brought into our family she mothered.

She loved to be petted, was great with children, and had the patience of a saint! She loved rides in the truck and to lay on her blankies...she was our little diva, but we couldn't have asked to take care of a better dog!

Till the end she was always sharing...

She has provided us with much joy, much laughter, and much love. She will be greatly missed and always loved!

Nature as God Intended

Somedays the mountain is there to conquer me and somedays I it, but not today. Today we were united in purpose. It to show off it's beauty and I to take it in and reflect upon nature, the laws of nature and God's purposes for each of us here upon the earth. It didn't make today any easier, but it was nice to turn off the world and reflect on my testimony of a loving Heavenly Father who not only put people in our lives for certain purposes, but animals. I am grateful to know that Heaven does exist and that even though their are trials in this life accompanied by sadness and frustrations, the ultimate purpose is happiness and we control that happiness by how we choose to react to the situations placed before us each and every day and whether we desire to be refined by the fire or not. Life is beautiful. It has a purpose, and it goes on forever and I am indescribably grateful for that knowledge...for that truth that exists in my life!

Reflections of Christ...

About a year ago a friend sent me a link to this absolutely fabulous slide show called Reflections of Christ by Mark Mabry. Every year the Mesa Temple has an Easter Pageant and they recreate the Savior's life and resurrection. He obtained permission to photograph the performers in full costume depicting these events. I fell in love with it immediately...the pictures, the music, the feelings it stirred inside of me. What I loved most was that these were actual pictures and not drawings. There are a ton of wonderful drawing renditions of the Savior, but never had I seen photos, and I loved how they reflected a living Christ...because He is living and I love knowing that and being able to feel that love in my life day in and day out! I am so grateful for his sacrifice and death, but even more appreciative of His life and that He was resurrected and continues to live. Life is such a precious and beautiful thing! I don't often show my "spiritual" side except at church when I am teaching, but I couldn't help but share this. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have and do...

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/2008/03/reflections-sli.html

Decades Dance

Last night was the ward family dance. Dave works with the Young Men and I work with the Young Women and each group was in charge of a decade. The boys got the 70's and the girls got the 80's. It was so much fun! We found a fabulous outfit at Goodwill for Dave...many people asked why I let him out of the house in "those pants" and I was complimented on my authentic pants that were actually Dave's that he wore...I armed myself with purple eyeshadow and pink lipstick and we both had shades that were pretty much the icing on the cake...but I'll let you be the judge!

Our Neurotic Dog...

Anyone that has ever met Nohhi, would think that we beat her as a pup and that she doesn't do anything but be scared. Well, I just wanted to post some proof that she does play, she is daddy's little girl, and as long as you aren't watching...she is our little love bug! Oh, and no we didn't beat her as a pup...or now for that matter! I'll try and get some video of her and Dave playing hide and seek in the house...

Things that go squeek in the night

Dave did our taxes and we actually get a return this year! Yippee! We are finally doing something right. So we decided that it should probably go towards my lovely credit card debt. Unfortunately our 1970's washer had a conflict of interest with us. It has been making a nice squeeking noise, and Saturday it got louder...so we reconsidered our options and decided that it is always better to be safe than sorry! Luckily Fry's electonics had a great President's Day sale and we were able to upgrade a little bit. I call it my Valentine's Day present and discovered that laundry could be fun again...at least for another month!

Horrible Horrible Me...

I know! November 1st! All my friends that I was irritated at because they hadn't blogged through Christmas, have blogged and then some. My only excuse is that they have kids and lives and well, Dave and I don't! :-)

So we took a Friday drive up to NAU a couple of weeks ago to turn back in student loan money and meet with Dave's advisor that has been so wonderful and helpful with getting him going in this online degree. She informs us that two weeks after she was able to get Dave enrolled and set up, that they got a department email saying that due to the lack of interest and people progressing through the program that they will no longer be offering it after this semester!

We are counting our lucky stars and thanking the good Lord above because without this program we wouldn't know what to do!