Saturday, February 21, 2015

A Common Theme

Outside looking in!
This is a common 'look' at our house and I would imagine also at a lot of houses where their dogs are allowed to come in to the house or get let out of the yard or kennel.  Personally, I guess I can't blame them; I love getting outside after being in the house all day, but these are dogs and I think that their reason for wanting to basically be on the other side of the door or gate is because that is where the people are-at least with the dogs that we currently have. I have had dogs that didn't care where you were.  Their only goal when they were not 'contained' was to get as far away from you as fast as they could and then come back later when they were done touring the country side-talk about some serious frustration!!!  

   Abe, who used to be a service dog, really likes to be with people-(kind of a prerequisite for service dogs).  Anyhow, he really doesn't like to be one of the 'dogs' and hang out outside on the porch but he is doing much better with it as long as he gets his 'people' time-as I think all dogs should get; makes them better dogs!  

   Chip is Jessie's puppy.  He's about 7-8mo old now.  We've recently started putting him out into the 'big yard' area(he's growing up/graduating to the big yard) as he has shown that he isn't a wanderer and behaves well with the chickens, horses and goats.  Its kind of funny to see the change in expressions when they realize that now they are being kept on the other side of the gate, the very same gate that they so desperately wanted on the other side of to begin with.  Some of our dogs will never have this privilege unsupervised-a couple acres just isn't enough for them.
  The most desired place to be though is through this door or the front door.  This leads to the area that has the tasty foods, wood stove or swamp cooler-depending on the season and their comfy pillows(yes, they are spoiled!!)
  So, as I come to the end of this post, I wonder if there is something we can learn from this-I often think this way but don't want to over think these things either.  A couple things come to mind for me anyways; contentment is one.  We so often are not content with things in our life. Now, some of this may be do to our own lack of effort but sometimes we need to realize that we are right were God wants us to be and that He has given us already so many blessings in the possessions that we have-give thanks!!!
   The second thing that comes to mind is friendship/companionship.  We are not meant to be alone. We long for company, someone close to be able to talk to, laugh with, cry with, etc..... Ultimately, this 'void' in our lives along with the contentment issue can only be filled with God in our hearts but God did make Eve for Adam and sometimes our critters can be helpful when we need a little 'pick me up'.
  The last thing that comes to mind is............they are dogs doing what dogs will do if allowed-be part of the family as much as a dog can.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Smile

 Well, here it is, February second-Groundhog Day - and supposedly we're going to have 6 more weeks of winter.  Depending on what part of the country you live in this may be really good news for those of us that haven't really had a winter so far but for others, this is not what you want to hear.  I am one that is torn on this 'prediction'.  While we really need some winter, mainly the moisture that we usually expect, I always look forward to the warmer days; with that being said, I'm not complaining about the 50 degree weather we've been having and currently its raining-all good things!
Today is also my niece's birthday. Melody is 4 now and she called me this morning and wanted to go ride a horse, so before the rain came in, we saddled up and rode for about an hour; its always nice to be riding!  While riding, and actually while I've been out and about for the past week or so, I've noticed that there are many signs that spring is getting ready to make its 'appearance'. There are weeds starting to sprout-oh yippee!!!- but new grass is starting to pop up and the horses and dogs are starting to shed. 
Thinking on these things makes me really thankful that the seasons are not decided upon by a 'groundhog' but they are something that God started from the very beginning and will continue to come and go. His faithfulness in 'nature' is something that I think we often take for granted-He alone sustains all living things.  So, if your feeling gloomy about the '6 wks of winter' just remember that its all in God's hands, and if we look around, we will see that there are signs that the seasons are going to change even if its just longer daylight right now-give thanks and smile!

He sends the springs into the valleys; they flow among the hills......Psalm 104:10





 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now is God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore, do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble"   Matt. 6:27-34