Here he is, the newest member of the family….Brutus 
He was found by a dog rescue organization as a stray about four weeks ago. They are estimating his age at 1yo. He appears to be an unusual mix of boxer, mastiff, bulldog, terrier, & “Who knows”. He is stocky, has a sweet personality, is VERY strong, and needs to learn some doggie manners, but he is an eager learner. Let the good times roll!
This is the dance that Abby did for the 2009 AOG National Fine Arts Competition in Orlando, FL. Out of 92 entries, she is one of 16 who received the highest ranking, but even more important — she had a great time!
That’s right, my daughter’s artistic ability has resulted in a new hobbie of sorts: Sharpie Tattoo Artist
In these pics, Abby is “tattooing” the bald head of one of her youth leaders during a youth group picnic.
This one ended up going all the way down his neck to his shirt collar. I don’t think his wife was thrilled, but he loved it. What a guy!
When you haven’t updated your blog in a long time, and don’t even know where to begin, always go with an inspirational video. I don’t like the title though. It’s more like “One Inspirational Speech out of Many!”
This guy thinks like I do! Luv it.
I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.”
—Abraham Lincoln
“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then 
subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.
- From the movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”
All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do
and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not
at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the
sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life – learn some and think some
and draw and paint and sing and dance and play
and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic,
hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup:
The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody
really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even
the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die.
So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books
and the first word you learned – the biggest
word of all – LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into
sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your
family life or your work or your government or
your world and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be if
all – the whole world – had cookies and milk about
three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with
our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments
had a basic policy to always put thing back where
they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you
are – when you go out into the world, it is best
to hold hands and stick together.
© Robert Fulghum, 1990.
Found in Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten, Villard Books: New York, 1990, page 6-7.
Almost 12 years ago, a small black standard-poodle puppy walked into our lives. Twelve years is a long season, but sadly the season is over. Shadow passed away earlier this week.
His name didn’t simply come from his color, but from his attitude. He literally shadowed me from day one, wanting nothing more than to be with us anywhere, anytime. He was a “people dog”. He had difficulty relating to other dogs, but he loved people and loved being in the middle of whatever was going on.
He firmly believed that he was on equal footing with all other humans, and we unashamedly encouraged that. We took him with us anywhere that he was welcome – vacations, parties, stores, etc.
He loved to play with his ball. He wouldn’t quit even if he was aching, freezing or bleeding. He also loved to go for walks and rides in the car. His least appealing quality was his constant need to “talk”, but we learned to live with that.
Shadow has left a large hole in our household. It’s amazing how these four-footed creatures who love unconditionally can hold such prominent places in our lives. Not a day passes that one of us hasn’t been reminded of his absence in a memorable way.
We miss you, buddy.
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