July 17…a reminder from Ecclesiastes
The author of Ecclesiastes in the bible tells us:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Well July 17 was like that in our home.
At 9:00 am we took our faithful family dog to the vet for s checkup and a bath.
We heard she was suffering from cancer and should be humanely put to sleep.
At 1:00 pm five of us said our goodbyes to our pet of 12 years.
At 4 we decided we needed a new puppy to turn our mourning into dancing.
At 6 pm Zoie came into our lives.
Zooey was scheduled to be put to death because she was an orphan and there are too many unwanted puppies in the world.
Being in the business of rescuing people we may as well add puppies to that list.
What a emotional roller coaster ride or maybe it was more like finding hope in the midst of calamity.
The truth about Twelve
Filed under: God, Reflection | Tags: God, Children, Grace, Hope, Be the change
Leave a Comment Twelve is nine weeks now and a joy to all of our lives.
She will undergo open heart surgery in just 28 days.
I spend a lot of time just rocking her.
Six asked me if I ever got bored doing that.
Sounding a lot like Seven I said, “what…showing her God’s love?”
Maybe Seven is rubbing off.
At another time in my life I probably would not have had the time to spare for her…too many meaningless meetings to attend and so-called important memos to write.
But the truth is three other families considered taking her into their home and then turned her down.
Too much work?
Too much risk?
A ship is safe in harbor – but that’s not what ships are for.
God is in the business of saving lives.
We are in the business of helping God save lives.
But here’s the question…arr we saving Twelve…or is she saving us?
From selfishness?
From not caring?
From a wonderful to show the world the love God has shown us?
To be that conduit of God’s love?
Yes…yes…yes…
Good bye to the best dog ever
Funny how sometimes the day takes a turn you never expected?
Ours did today.
We said good bye to our family pet of twelve years.
We knew something was wrong.
She lost 32 pounds in a few months.
We took her in for a check-up and a bath.
We ended up saying a tear-full good bye.
It was the right thing to do…the humane thing…she was in pain…she wouldn’t get better.
She showed up for her checkup at 9:00 am and at 1:00 pm five of us pet her farewell.
Four hours.
Another one of those things I never thought I would do.
Do all dogs go to heaven?
If any dog did it would be Maggie.
I thought I would get through it OK but then I saw Three…and I remembered her as the little girl of ten who picked up our puppy twelve years ago and held her all the way home. I had this vision of her in her soccer uniform holding her puppy and…sob.
Funny thing, on the way home I imagined her playing catch in some lofty realm with Lucy.
Conversations on the way to school
I think there is a book in the making, lurking in the corners of the car as I drive Seven to school.
He’s been working on painting the basement laundry room this summer.
I say this summer because most people would paint a 6′ x 10′ room in a few hours.
Our Mr. Fix-it is doing home make-over on our laundry room.
I think he has logged about 72 hours so far and isn’t finished yet. It will be the nicest room in the house when he is finished.
At this rate he may be able to do all our home improvement projects by Christmas.
Anyway, today’s conversation centered around his discovery of my old circular saw.
The dangerous power tool hasn’t been used in about 20 years. It was hidden away behind some junk in the above mentioned room.
My first words reflected my immediate thoughts…DON’T EVER PLUG IT IN!
Mr. Tool Time was so fascinated he wondered why we hadn’t used it before.
I told him because it would be like going after a squirrel with an elephant gun.
I think I lost him on the metaphor.
I’ve since locked up the saw in the attic.
Seven’s parting comment was, “can I have it as a wedding present when I get married?”
Sure…and won’t Mrs. Seven be delighted.
Note to self, get rid of this deadly weapon at the next garage sale.
Seeing change in me
I’m not the same person I used to be.
Multiple personalities?
Not exactly…changed…for the better.
My priorities have been rearranged…maybe …or maybe I just have new priorities.
I was up late getting Twelve to sleep for the night.
Once that would have upset me because I needed to be on top of my game in the morning…for what?
For pointless meetings and emails that lead to what?
Twelve slept all night…good for her…good for us!
That’s a change in priorities.
I think…if I can sum it up…the biggest change is that all that I do is not just about me…and I’m good with that.
It sounds strange to say it out loud…but you can feel fulfilled…significant…even when it isn’t all about you.
No…you can feel better.
I sense God in this.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight…” (I Corinthians 3:19)
I’m finally getting it.
When a baby spits-up on me today, my heart goes out to the baby…not for me. After all…its just a t-shirt…I can change.
I like me better this way.
“Therefore, whoever is in Christ is a new creation…the old has gone…the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Amen for the new!
Touching moment recognized
Filed under: Memories | Tags: Blessings, Children, Legacy, Love
Leave a Comment So Ten says to me, “Dad, when you hold Twelve and make her go to sleep…it’s pretty!”
Blown away by a six-year-old’s observation.
It’s good for your daughter to see a man in a tender situation.
I’m glad she saw…glad she recognized tenderness.
I hope she files that away until the time she starts looking for a man of her own.
Isn’t life good?
Best way to nap
Filed under: Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Children, Grace, Together Time
Leave a Comment Everyone has their opinion about the best way to nap.
Some define best by the position…prone or in a chair.
Some rank their naps by the comfort of the chair, couch, hammock or whatever.
Others rate their naps by the time of day.
Still, some people consider whether the nap is a stolen time…like while their wife is out shopping.
But I think the best way to nap is with a baby on your chest.
I’ve had the privilege of doing this for 27 years…never getting tired of it…pun intended.
For one thing they (babies) smell great (except when they have a dirty diaper).
And somehow, you or they sync your breathing.
Then they make cute little noises.
Best of all…you usually don’t get chastised for napping because you are also baby sitting.
Often I’ve been sentenced to baby holding with the words, “Twelve is crabby…see if you can get her to sleep.”
Throw me in the briar patch.
She’s a vegetarian poser
As of this day I no longer recognize Six as a vegetarian.
If anything, she is a junk-food-etarian.
How can you be a vegetarian if you don’t eat vegetables?
What do you call someone who’s main food groups are Sugar, Starch, Caffeine, and Chemical Additives?
Sorry Six, you posed as a vegetarian to disguise your bad eating habits.
Not good…not acceptable…not family!
My best job description
Filed under: Reflection | Tags: Legacy, Children, Big Family, Boot Camp for the Real World
Leave a Comment I’ve had many job descriptions over the years.
They were usually a far cry from reality.
But this Father’s Day I received a Facebook message from One that read, “Happy Dad’s day, father! Thanks for always fixing stuff, cooking stuff, paying for stuff and takin care of business. Love ya!”
Fixing stuff…cooking stuff…paying for stuff…and taking care of business.
My job description…for better or for worse…right-on reality!
The best job description I’ve ever had because it is the most accurate.
Put on my tombestone…fine with me.
The only part that’s vague is the taking care of business…hopefully that includes helpful life lessions.
Big family defined by Seven
Filed under: Reflection, Seven | Tags: Children, Big Family, Grace, Blessings
Leave a Comment Seven related a conversation he had with a girl in his high school summer school class today.
She asked him what it is like to be a part of a big family.
These stories always scare me because you never know what Seven will say, being autistic.
Then again, Seven’s comments have been fodder for good posts, term papers and even college entrance essays.
So Seven told her, “it’s like a place where you are loved no matter what you look like or what’s wrong with you.”
Choke…sob…he did it again.
Maybe I will write that novel, only as the ghost writer for Seven.
He went on to say that coming from a family like ours it is easy for him to easily accept other people he meets.
