Hello Everyone! It's been along time since I have posted, or read and commented on blogs and I'm so sorry. It's been a difficult time as of late. I have had a bad patch after Lucy went into the light and we found out news it would be hard to have our own baby (or very expensive to say the least) and other stumbling blocks here and there. But we've had many other blessings - Christmas with family was wonderful, we got a new pup named 'Chewy' (after the star wars character Chewbecca b/c he was so hairy, he's a poodle adopted from the local shelter) and he is just a sweetheart. I recently visited my family in Ga., and got to see several family members I haven't seen in a long time. I'm very hopeful for this new year. I'm so excited about the new President. I do know we still have a long time to make up for the last 8 years and things won't change overnight, but I have a lot of hope in my heart about the future for this country and for us as a nation to embrace these changes. I've been using facebook and enjoy that, you can look me up there if you use it as well. I miss you all and hope to blog more, love love...
Our recent trip to N. Ga included a trip to the Victorian House Restaurant. They have lots of hats they encourage you to try on, and as you can see we did. Tony was a great sport for me. Everyone in the restaurant said so as well. I think he's so handsome! The food there was spectacular, especially the Lobster bisque! Love, love...
Well, we had a wonderful time w/ our friends in Tellico Plains and a most restful and relaxing time in the beautiful cabin in Northern Ga. My mind is clearing more from the sadness about Lucy as I remember the joy of having her company with me for all those years. It's amazing how God can heal you in that way, replacing grief with the memory and blessing and appreciation of knowing what a gift you had for so very long. We are going to start to work on some projects we've been too busy to really dedicate the needed time - a network to serve the needs of those in this surrounding area and a foundation to help 'other animals' and people. The first one will network churchs together to help meet all the needs of the parishioners so that just each individual church doesn't carry the burden alone. We have a meeting w/our pastor this next week to brainstorm with him.
The second has been a dream of mine for many years, a foundation to help animals and people. It would provide funds to adopt animals to elderly, disabled or low income people and some food/vet care to appropriate homes. We all know the value of what a pet companion can add to the quality of someone's life, and it would provide a home for the furry friend. The second part of the foundation would provide funds for vet care if an animal has an injury or illness that is treatable but the steward isn't able to afford it. We would ask that those funds be paid back in volunteer hours to the local shelters or in helping w/ the first component of the foundation. We are putting together the non profit status of this, have talked w/ a local vet who is very excited about this and soon we will be doing some fundraising about it. The first part of funds are called Lucy scholarships, since she was a rescue dog, the second are Audrey scholarships, my beloved peekapoo, since she was once run over and also had kidney disease.
We are excited about these endeavors and feel spirit led in doing them and hope they benefit a great many people in the process. Keep us in your prayers as well start the ground work for them. Hope this finds you well, love, love...
Nose to Nose picture of us at camping (click on it and look at it larger).....
I'm so happy and excited that Obama Won. I feel like the tide will finally change in this country. I have real hope now. Like tangible hope I can feel in my hand!
Personally, I have struggled though, with the dark curtain of sadness. I have good days and bad days. One day I asked Tony if there was magic to bring Lucy back, was she really gone. I didn't believe she was really gone for good. I still don't think it has sunk in yet. You know they talk about the 'stages of grief', and I guess I am dealing with them. I am putting my husband through my bad days as well. I was rather ugly to him for no reason the other morning when I was really just hurting and also anxious about about our dr's appt to see about us having a baby together since I'm so old and he's been 'fixed'. But he was sweet and very forgiving and we worked it out quickly.
We saw the doc.. and the long and short of it is.. we will do this test of my ovaries w/ some blood work and meds to see what happens to see if I'm still fertile at my age before we go any further. I guess I feel guilty I'm so old.
But this weekend, we have some respite and rest!!! we will will see some friends in Tellico Plains and then we are graced to be able to relax in the N. Ga Mtns at my Dad's nice cabin while I take the hormones for this test.
I guess what I'm saying, I'm so happy about Obama, but still so sad about Lucy,, this will take time, probably lots of time. One of my best friends has left my side physically and it's finally hitting me and it's devastating. I go between denial and being upset, and angry that she had the cancer and how I took her to the vet for the last year and how they missed it and blame myself. I just miss her. I honestly just miss her. I always will. For my lifetime left on this earth, I will miss her forever...and that is why difficult times make you more compassionate. I know these times are teaching me tremendous lessons.
I'm So excited ( or I mean we are - Tony and I), we feel like it's the beginning of a whole new ERA for our country! A new day has dawned today... !!! yeah yeah yeah....
I find it rather disappointing and baffling the reasons I've heard most people will or will not be voting for the candidates they have picked. Of course this isn't about everyone, but from interviews and then things I hear around town and here and there. I've gotten some chain emails forwarded to me that are just full of myths and urban legions as well. I think people, perhaps it's human nature, would rather believe something bad than think better of people. I've heard that people think Obama is a Muslim, an Arab, a Terrorist and anti-American and a socialist. Or that McCain is just too dang old. Or they want to vote for Obama just b/c he's not from the same Bush administration. Of course we know that Obama is American. And so what if he were a Muslim, or even an Arab, that wouldn't make him a bad person, nor a terrorist. One of the most kind hearted and most spiritual and most nonjudgmental people I've ever met is a Syrian lady. Everyone now connects anyone Muslim or Arab with terrorists, which is horrible. I suppose since my husband is a white male he might bomb a government building like Timothy McVeigh, doing the same unfair association. We don't do that with all white males. McCain is older, but many people reach their pinnacle of success and just finally shine in life in the later sunshine of their years. And just b/c Obama isn't with Bush, doesn't qualify him to be 'better'.
What about research into what their policies, their beliefs, their views for the future of this country will be? I don't hear that for reasons why people want to vote for them. It's always things of a personal nature or of a past nature from the prior government - not even their voting record. I don't see how that really is a of a qualifying nature. And on a personal note, that many will disagree on, to add heat to this, I don't see why abortion or gay marriage has anything to do with the presidential election. I don't think government should be running our households that closely. What we do at home and in our personal life, should be left up to us. Abortions will always happen, legal or illegal and if they are ever outlawed, women will die, and back alley profiteers will crop up everywhere and it will be a horrible mess. And gay people deserve the right to live as unhappily or happily married as anyone else. What they do in their home has nothing to do with what I do in my home, or in the home of the government elected officials. These have always been issues used to inflame politics and side tract from the real issues at hand.
What I'm concerned about is the economy, domestic affairs, health care, foreign policy, the social welfare of our own citizens. These are the questions to be concerned about with our politicians, not age or the background of their name or the color of their skin.
I find it embarrassing that people will use any convenient excuse, urban myth or downright prejudice to look past a good candidate instead of educating themselves on what would be best for our society as a whole. As I've posted before, I am a supporter, an enthusiastic supporter for Obama. I'm not against McCain. I think he's a good man and has served this country in a number of honorable ways. But I strongly believe that Obama is the best candidate for the job. I'm very hopeful that he will win and I believe in his policies on domestic matters, health care, economics, taxes, and foreign polices. And he picked a grand running mate as well. I'm excited. I hope you feel good about your choice , and mostly about the reaons why and will go out with excitement to vote tomorrow, and most importantly, do vote. If you don't, you have no voice in which to complain the next four years, but also b/c so many suffered and died for our right to be able to vote. I'm sure many of you won't agree w/ me. That's the beauty of this country,, we can agree to disagree... but I'll be stepping down of soap box now.. love love....
As I went down to the river to pray Studyin about that good ol' way
and who shall wear the starry crown? Good Lord show me the way!
O sisters let's go down Lets go down, Come on down O sisters lets go down
Down in the river to pray As I went down in the river to pray Studyin about that good ol way ..
That's the Allison Krauss song that I love. I was singing it as I walked Lucy down by the river. It seemed appropriate as it was our last walk by the river together this past weekend. (I didn't even know Tony was videoing that moment til I walked by him and said 'that's enough' but I'm glad he did). Lucy went into the Light Monday October 27th. I didn't realize how after after almost 13 years just her being with me was just pure comfort to me in the house each day. I guess that is selfish. I have so enjoyed the pleasure of her company. Just knowing she was here when I came home, when I woke up, when I went to bed. Each of those moments, when I would have expected her, I have cried, actually sobbed. Then there are those times during the day that I just break down when I realize she has left me physically and isn't coming back ever- I have cried so much; though I know we are always together in mind/body/soul if you know what I mean when you have a connection like you do with a sentient being like that. I know she won't suffer any longer and what happened had to happen. But we miss her tremendously and we are devastated. We also remember all the joy and blessings she gave us and me for all the many years she blessed us with her sweet devoted life. We celebrate her passing onto her next journey leaving her tired sick body, but we miss being able to feel her sweet self and be in her presence so much.
It will take me a long while to get used to this, she was my sweet special flower and my strong rock. Thanks for listening, love love...
