God Moments

Lately it seems like I am experiencing more 'God Moments' than normal. These are moments that I know God orchestrated them. So I thought I would share them in the hope that you will begin to notice how God works in the small things in your life too.

#1.  I have been looking for a new wallet for months now. It has to be just the right size because I need a side for Gwin's cards (our Sweet Sister in the Lord who we look after), and I need a side for all our cards and stuff. The one I had was just perfect but it was 7 years old, and getting kind of frayed around the edges. I stopped at K-Mart to buy a new mop for our new tile floor and gravitated towards the purse section because they were having a sale. I went through three shelves of wallets and none were big enough. I was walking away when I saw some wallets on the other side so I started looking there. I moved one wallet and saw what looked like the perfect one...and it was. It had a side for Gwin's stuff and a side for our stuff. I was very happy. I got the mop and was checking out when I got my old wallet out to pay for everything.Guess what? I was looking at two identical wallets. The new one was exactly like the new one. That was a 'God Moment.'

 

#2 & #3  I was out looking for some things to decorate our fellowship hall at church for our Sisters of the Spirit Event this coming Saturday. I found a few things but really wanted to find some crowns since the event is entitled "You Are a Jewel in God's Crown." I was not having any luck finding anything. So I called a good friend and she said she had just seen some at the Dollar Tree. I was in the parking lot of Dollar Tree at that moment so she said she would meet me there. By the time she arrived I had found the crowns she saw and we got a few more things to decorate with...now that was a 'God Moment' also, and I was ever so grateful for finding the crowns.

I decided to drive home the back way to Fry's to get a few groceries, but it was time for the little ones to get out of school, so there was a line of cars a mile long (not really, but it seemed that way) waiting to pick up their kids from school. I decided that I would just go down Hwy 69 and forget the Fry's trip. I had been shopping till I was past dropping! I was drooping.

I remembered at the stop light that I had wanted to get a plate hanger to hang a really pretty platter that a friend made for me, which just sits in the cupboard, not used very much at all. Since I was already drooping by this time, I was gonna just go home. Then I hear this very small voice say, "Go to the Big Red Barn". That meant to make a stop at one of the thrift stores, and although I was exhausted, I pulled into the parking lot and went 'shopping' some more. I went up and down each aisle, found a couple of things to use as little gifts for my girls, but not one decorative plate in the place had a hanger on it.

I was just about to give up, but saw a really nice gift for a grandmother, so I read the words, thinking about my own grandmother, and how now I have my grand-kids and I am so blessed. My eyes got down to the bottom of the plaque and right in front of me was a lonely plate hanger marked 29 cents.

I had two 'God Moments' in the same day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

The platter I wanted to hang on the wall, and the 25 cent hanger!

 #4.  We had our Book Study Lunch today at Chili's. Oh my, did we have fun. We were there from 11:30 until 2:30! Since we have only been meeting once a month, we have a whole lot of catching up to do when we see each other. Three of us needed to stop at church afterward, but one precious friend was running late to another appointment so she asked if I could take some things to the office for her. One thing was a really itty bitty hot pink flash drive, I mean really tiny! I got her other items in the car and went to church, delivered the items to the office, and then remembered that I didn't have the flash drive. I went back out to my car, looked everywhere, no flash drive. All I could think of was that it must have fallen out onto the parking lot at Chili's. So I drove back to the restaurant, and the parking lot was totally empty. Which meant that all the cars that had been there had driven out, and I thought even if I did find the thing, it would be smashed to smithereens. As I drove into the spot where I had parked, a pink thing caught my eye, I pulled up and opened my door, and it was some bandage wrap from someone who had some blood work drawn. Shoot..right color, wrong item. I opened the car door a little wider, and there on the ground was the flash drive. No one had smashed it with their tires....and if the pink bandage hadn't of caught my eye, I probably would have missed it. 

So back to church I went, a very grateful girl! it most assuredly was a huge 'GOD MOMENT!'

You can see the pink bandage, and barely can make out the flash drive.

 #5. I still needed to find something to put on the tables for Saturday's Sister of the Spirit Event. I could picture in my mind what I wanted. Some gold paper to run the length of the table, and I knew exactly the kind I wanted. We used to use it a lot to decorate with years ago, so I thought I would run into Stepping Stones Thrift Store where they have the craft items. Again, I was looking through bins of craft items. Not much organization there, and I wasn't finding any jewels to use or the paper I wanted. I saw some straw looking stuff  hanging up on a rack, and went to have a closer look. There, hanging in the back, as if hidden just for me was the exact gold paper I wanted. The exact stuff I had wanted to find. Just waiting for me. Another 'God Moment.'

So now I am really jazzed about Saturday....we are really going to have so much fun, making crystal earrings, and learning just how much God loves us that he says we are jewels in his crown.

Buy wait, there is more.....

#6. I get home and I said, "This day has been so wonderfully filled with 'God Moments', that I feel silly even saying it, but it would be so absolutely wonderful if we got a good old fashioned thunderstorm with a lot of rain."  Two hours later, what happened? It began to thunder and raindrops began to fall. Then a HUGE clap of thunder happened, sounding like it was just outside the back yard, and all three dogs come running into the office. Normally just Jake comes and won't leave my side, but now I have 3 big German Shepherds trying to stick to me like glue.

But all in all this has been just a very awesome week of noticing God in the small things...
The God who cares about wallets.
The God who cares about crafty crowns.
The God who cares about plate hangers.
The God who cares about a little lost flash drive.
The God who cares about gold ribbon.
The God who cares about a Texas girl who loves storms.

Our God is an Awesome God and 'God Moments' are when we realize just how Awesome our God is.

                                                         

Tragedy Hits When Least Expected

 For those of you Sisters of the Spirit who attended the worship experience last evening and were present when I received the news that the firefighters that were prayed for during the concert were all dead, I cannot thank you enough for the way you supported my grief. Your love, you support, your understanding how deeply I was in grief and shock all at the same time, and your ability to hug me, to cry with me was amazing. I am so blessed to have ‘sisters’ who care so deeply.

Thank you for the words spoken to me, “I love you.” “I am so sorry.” Thank you for the shoulders I cried upon. Thank you for encircling me not just with your bodies, but with your love.

Pam thank you for your ability to sob with me was you felt my grief, and again I apologize for practically screaming that they were all dead. I wanted to scream. I wanted to just fall on my knees and cry “Abba, Father.”

The names have been released now and there were none who Marty personally knew yet we are still in shock, as is the whole EMS community now. For those of you who have Facebook you can check this link to see the page that was created yesterday for the 19 brave, souls who died. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/357941024332032/

 

As I lay awake last night trying to make sense of all of this, I began to think about what I shared with you all yesterday…that no matter what we go through there is a melody that Jesus gives us, which sees us through EVERYTHING we experience in this life. I cried out, what song could there possibly be playing in my life now in all this weight of sorrow. And then I remembered back to a time long ago at another time when my young 12 year old heart was broken and bruised, attending church camp I chose to sing a song for talent night, and that song became my life song which has carried me through each moment of my life ever since. The song is How Great Thou Art. It carries me right now through this experience as well.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

I can just see the 19 firefighters walking in their line, through the woods and forest with those big boulders. I see the birds taking flight and the creek beds dry as the hot breeze blows through the trees. And I see Jesus in that line with them, Just as he was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. The 20^th person in that hotshot crew was Christ.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

I believe with all my heart that our loving God did not allow the firefighters to suffer, regardless of how we think they died. God was there to take them home to heaven in an instant of time.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Christ came yesterday to take them home, and I can see them as their spirits rose from their bodies up heaven bound, and their eyes were on Jesus, and joy filled their hearts. “They could, released from the bodies that kept them earthbound, now truly look at our Savior and singing, “My God How Great Thou Art”

They died doing what they were not just called to do, they died doing what they loved….fighting fires.

It is hard to think of all the lives that are left behind, all of those in our community who are in shock, the families who are grieving so at their loss.

How can we find God in this? I say how we can NOT find God in this. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our shoulder to cry on, and our blanket of peace.

We grieve, we cry, we break down as our knees shake and we crumble to the ground under the weight of the grief of our community.

And God gently places his arms around us, and comforts us, give us the peace that passes all understanding.

So today, as we await the names to be released, as we wait for the memorial at 4pm today, as we begin the long process of healing, I share my song out to those in the depth of sorrow ‘My God How Great Thou Art’

Thank you all, for your love and prayers, as we grieve with our EMS family.

Rev. Charlotte

Written by Regina Brett, , of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19.. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Precious Dragonflies

The Dragonfly Rebecca gave me

The Dragonfly from Doris Newton

This past Thursday at Book Study I looked down where I had placed my teaching materials, and there on top was a beautiful dragonfly pin on top. I turned around to the women in the study and asked who put it there, and with the quietness of her sweet spirit one of the ladies said, "I did. I found it in the Fry's parking lot, and I know how much you like dragonflies, so I brought it to you."

I could not believe this was happening. My eyes filled with tears as I explained to the group why this dragonfly meant so much to me. It all had to do with Doris Newton, one of my hospice patients.

Her memorial story is written below. I copied it from my Peaceful Journey Memorial Journal where I wrote about each of my patients.

My heart was so touched..it was a God moment for sure, because just last week the other dragonfly pin I had received from Doris had broken. Now she had left another one for Rebecca to find and bring to me. I thank God for Rebecca's heart and her thinking about how much dragonflies now mean to me. Thank you so much Rebecca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Story of Doris Newton Hospice Patient 2006

When I first met Doris and her husband Keith, I have to admit I felt a little hesitant because Keith was a retired Baptist minister, and I was unsure how he would receive a non-traditional female minister. At the first visit however it became very clear that Keith was a true Pastor with a heart of love for everyone. They shared about searching for their own spiritual walk, first studying Mormonism, and Keith said to this day he admires their philosophy and dedication and the way they take care of their own people. Neither of them showed any signs of harsh judgments of anyone with different beliefs. It was truly a blessing to see.

Over the months that followed I met Geri, Doris’ sister, who was filled with Christ’s love and held the compassion of Jesus as foremost in her life also.We developed a wonderful relationship and our visits were full of laughter, joking and even talks about Doris’ favorite TV show, 24. I have to admit here that because of Doris, I have become a follower of the show myself.

It still is amazing to me the impact that we were able to have upon each other all because we offered each other love. It taught me the importance of loving unconditionally, of bringing peace to people who are caregivers, as well as to those who are facing their death.In return love and peace flows from them to me. Love truly conquers all.

The last weeks of Doris life were very stressful. It took a lot of work for our whole team, and from Doris’ caregiver nieces who came into town from out of state to help with precious Auntie, to get her pain free, and hence another gracious lesson presented through Doris was the need for our hospice team to work cohesively together, and in this instance we all worked so very well together it was like a flowing river. We flowed around a few rocks, but ultimately Doris was able to reach a rest stage and do her soul work and relax into her transition.

At one point her niece Sandy, plus Geri and Keith were struggling a great deal as to knowing what to say to Doris, wondering why she was lingering, and even Doris herself was questioning why God would not take her home. I brought out the book Final Gifts for the family to read. Even before the visit was finished, Keith had read the first story and let me know it was just what he needed to help him understand how to talk to Doris about death.

Keith shared with me on subsequent visits that all his life as a pastor he felt uncomfortable talking with people about death, and their own Pastor who came to see Doris a few days before she died told the family that he knew she was going to heaven, he just didn’t know how to help her get there. What an honor it was to teach the beautiful spiritual family how to talk to the dying, how to understand the things she said and did, and what she might need to help her on her way.

Once she was pain free she did reach a resting place where she could do her soul work…work left over from being abandoned by her father when she was young. This was what I believe she needed to work through before she could let go. She asked about her dad several times before she died, wanting to know if he was with their mother in heaven.

Doris and her family taught me again that the greatest gift we can give to people who are dying is to be able to LISTEN to them, hear beyond their “I am all right, I have no pain.” And see the pain written on their faces, and feel the pain in their hearts. Dedication from the team brought Doris to that final place of rest and for that I will be eternally grateful.

On a glad morning when this life was over…Doris flew away. It was April 13, 2006

The morning she left this world, I got the news that she had died. I went on a few visits and stopped at Safeway to get something for lunch. As I was returning to the car I saw something shiny right by the drivers side door, on the ground. I stooped down and in amazement I picked up beautiful dragonfly pin.

I immediately remembered a conversation I had with Doris. She had a lot of dragonflies on bushes in her yard and she could watch them outside her windows. She really thought they were beautiful and told me that if there was any way that she could get a message to me after she died; letting me know that she was at peace and pain free she would do so through a dragonfly. I remembered how we had spoken about dragonflies being a symbol of the afterlife and I knew that Doris was letting me know she had made it safely to heaven, and had left a reminder of her journey with me.

I love you Doris.

To kill a Kidney Stone

Back in November I began to have quite a bit of blood in my urine. No infection was found I had to go see a urologist. They did a Ct with dye, and a cystoscopy which was really cool. I saw my beautifully pink, healthy bladder and even saw the left kidney duct open and squirt into the bladder. Way cool!

At first look, the radiologist didn't see anything abnormal, but I have continued to have severe abdominal pains and back pain. The pains go from feeling like menstrual cramps (I do not have my uterus anymore), to feeling like I am in labor, pacing the floor, breathing right, finding my focal spot and last but not least moaning and crying. (I didn't even cry when I gave birth to my children!) So this is really hardcore pain...now that I think of it, my tattoo didn't hurt this bad.

Yesterday I got a call from my urologist saying that he took another really long, close look at my CT and he believes that I have a 5 or 6 mm stone in my Right Kidney. Wonderful! Finally an answer. I ave another CT with dye scheduled for my birthday..Happy Birthday to me!

Being the natural girl that I am, I like to try to find natural remedies, so I went on line and found hundreds of positive posts about using lemon juice to break up the stone. Sounded like a plan. Marty went and bought me a whole lot of lemons. Here is my wonderful 12 hours. IT is a goof thing that Marty was working today..I was a wee bit fussy.

protocol started at 9 am

I can't believe I am doing this

Yucky

 

Morgan? Did I hear you call my name?

I just finished watching a movie that just really was unexpectedly probably one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. It is a movie like the movies I grew up watching, with an actual meaning and a lesson to be learned from the watching of it.

It is a movie with Morgan Freeman in it, which is what attracted me to it on this quiet afternoon of my 'pajama day.' I settled down with Inky (our fraidy cat since the new dogs scared her two weeks ago) in my lap, and a cup of tea, we cuddled up and to my astonishment the main female character was named "Charlotte,"

I have to say here that Marty and I just watched a show last night where the woman's name was Charlotte. I grew up never hearing anyone named Charlotte except the woman in Hitchcock's movie, "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte."  Not exactly a role model for my name! And of course the awesome Spider in Charlotte's Web. Now that is more like it! A strong woman who can write! I like that.

Anyway, in this past year I have seen a significant number of movies and TV shows where one of the characters is named, "Charlotte." Which is pretty cool for me!

A little known fact which Marty and Sarah know is that I have always thought that Morgan Freeman would make an excellent grandfather. I did not grow up with a really close grandfather on either paternal or maternal side, although I did have Grandpa John, my step Grandfather who married my Dad's Mom. So I missed having a Grandpa to spoil me, or give me advice. All the things I really wanted in a Grandfather.

When ever I see Morgan Freeman in a movie, I just pretend for those short hours that he is my Grandpa, even though in reality he is more suited age wise to be my father. He is 75 years old, making him 18 when I was born.

The name of the movie I watched today is "The Magic of Belle Isle".

Release Date: July 6, 2012 (limited)
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Guy Thomas
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Virginia Madsen, Madeline Carroll, Kenan Thompson, Fred Willard

 Plot Summary: Reuniting with his director from the hit film, "The Bucket List," Morgan Freeman plays Monte Wildhorn, a famous Western novelist whose struggle with alcoholism has sapped his passion for writing. He takes a lakeside cabin for the summer in picturesque Belle Isle, and befriends the family next door—an attractive single mom Charlotte (Virginia Madsen) and her young daughters—who help him find inspiration again


It was a lovely movie, with me playing opposite Morgan Freeman, Okay, a girl can wish can't she?
For 2 hours I heard Morgan Freeman say my name and was just pleased as can be.

Isn't it funny how the little things in life can be some of the best things life brings to us? Actually it is the little things that makes life worth living!

I hope everyone has enjoyed an afternoon as blessed as mine.
 

The Rest of the Story-Bella

Mama's New Girl: La Bella Noche Matzke

 

Charlotte just loves Jake

 Friday dawned with Charlotte energized from her restful night. She did really great in her kennel, but once she was up for the morning, she had Jake worn out by 8 o'clock.He came into the office and tried to hide in the corner. I text-ed Sarah to let her know that she didn't need to come up to meet Charlotte, because I would be taking her back to her old home. Sarah responded that she didn't want me to take her back yet. She said, "What if Charlotte is my dog?"

 A few minutes later she text-ed me that she had been looking at Craigslist for dogs, and she had found a black German shepherd named Buffy. There was another German shepherd also, but when she tried to find it again, each time she clicked on the link..every one of them came up to Buffy's page. Sarah said she would email them about her. Not too long after a woman responded, and Sarah called her and they set up a time for Sarah to come see Buffy. 

 Here is the ad on Craigslist:
This is Buffy! She is a 3yr old black German Shepherd female. She is spayed and up to date on her shots - she was rescued off of the Euthanasia list at the county shelter. Buffy is looking for the perfect home! which may take awhile as she is a very special lady.
She is looking for:
Someone with prior Shepherd experience.
Someone that will go slow with her - she is shy and a little fearful
Someone with a fenced in yard! - she would not be a good apartment dog.
Someone without children younger than the age of eight.

She is a very good girl but needs people willing to go slow and let her come to them - she loves attention but was probably abused in the past and is scared of people at first.

Buffy walks very well on a leash and she rides well in the car. She is crate trained and good with cats and most other dogs (She likes dogs smaller than her best!) She takes treats very gently! Buffy is a kid focused dog who has bounded very well with my 8yr old daughter. I believe once she has time to bond with a family of her own that she will turn out to be quite protective of them!
She has been evaluated by a professional German Shepherd handler who was very impressed with her.

When Sarah arrived, she saw a beautiful black German Shepherd, who had a very sad story. She was frightened of every little sound. She was afraid of men especially. She got along with other dogs and cats, but was extremely shy and startled very easily. No one wanted to adopt such a scared dog. so "Dog Love Rescue" came to the pound and saved Buffy from being killed. She was on the euthanasia list for the next morning, so she really and truly is a miracle rescue story. Marianne, the Adoption Representative, told Sarah that no one had ever been able to get Buffy to come to them so quickly. Sarah called me and said she had paid the adoption fee and was on the way up to Prescott Valley.

Jake and Bella playing

She said "Mom, Buffy was named after Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so she will be your psychic vampire hunter, and I will have Charlotte to always protect me." Of course that caused some tears from us both. They arrived and we allowed the dogs to greet each other slowly, and soon all three were playing together. Charlotte and Buffy are submissive females, and Jake is now the Alpha 2 male (Marty is the main Alpha male). He puffed himself up and made himself taller than Buffy and the pack was formed. 

Everything was going very well, we got home from picking up Charlotte's kennel from her former owners. We let the dogs out and when they came in I put Buffy's leash around the top of our rocking chair just to hod her until we got our Chinese food ready. All of a sudden something spooked Buffy, so she started running, dragging the rocker with her, straight towards the back door. she she did, we heard a huge HISS and that angry meow that comes from cats when they are very unhappy. I was trying to get to Buffy, and looked down and there was Inky, our BIG cat, stuck half way out of the couch. Right then, Charlotte runs over, and Inky swipes at her, makes more screeching sounds and I reached down to help Inky out. She bit me. Sarah put Charlotte out on the back porch as I was lifting the couch up so Inky could get out. When I lifted it, Inky went with it. Somehow she had become stuck in between to bars, as this section of the couch is a recliner. More screeching from Inky, more hissing and the Sarah tried to help her out, only to get bitten also. At this point, Charlotte is outside looking in and barking, Inky is hissing and lashing out, and Jake then steps in and starts to go for Inky because she had bit us. Sarah had to get Jake and put him in the dining room. She comes back and holds the couch while I look to see what Inky is stuck on. I see that her tail and one back leg have gotten between the bars, so I pulled to recliner release and pulled the foot-piece out. Finally Inky was free and she took of like lightening! She did have some bleeding, but we could not entice her to come out from under our bed. Inky will get a bath today sometime after the Viking game.

 

We got Charlotte kenneled for the night, we started thinking of better names for Buffy. That name just didn't fit her personality...she would run from any vampire! We looked up a lot of names but the one that first came to me even before looking on the internet, was Bella. Sarah thought that I meant Bella, as in the Twilight movies, but that wasn't it. The name came to me because Bella means beautiful, and I started saying Bella Noche, which means beautiful night, so that is her new name. 

We checked on Inky, and she was under the covers of our bed, and still was bleeding from somewhere, but she wouldn't let us look. I finally was able to pick her up, and could not find any place that was cut. I put her in the Reiki room and shut the door. Did some work on her for healing and left her in there. About an hour later I heard her meowing, and knew she was finished with her Reiki session! She ran into our room and hid again. The next morning after I made the bed up she was trying to get under the covers, so I put another blanket on top and she was fine hiding on the bed.

Sarah ready to take Charlotte home

Sarah decided to take Charlotte home yesterday to allow her time to get adjusted to the apartment before Sarah had to work today. We got everything she needed for Charlotte and they set off for Phoenix. Charlotte in the front seat head out the window, in total ecstasy. Since Charlotte is a mini-lab her size is perfect for Sarah. She has lots of energy, but now Sarah has a dog who can run with her each morning. It is so cute that she cocks her head just like Ebony used to do when we talked to her. Sarah is very happy to finally have a dog of her own. I am glad that when she does come up that they will all get along.

An interesting tidbit about Charlotte. She lived on Leprechaun Drive, and was born on St. Patrick's Day. She is an Irish dog, and fits right into our family!

 All was quiet and peaceful in the house once again. I brushed Bella and got a lot of her summer coat off and decided to give her a bath, which went very well. She ran around as most dogs do after a bath, and then settled down next to Jake to go to sleep. I went to shower myself and when I returned to the den, Bella was sleeping on the couch, with her head on the pillow, just like Ebony used to do. Jake was on the floor by her, and I settled in my couch position and we all fell asleep after the energy filled day we had.

 
 This morning when Marty was coming home I called him to let him know that he would probably need to approach Bella slowly, as we were told she didn't like men. Well....he came in, and of course Bella went straight to him and wanted attention just like Jake. Anytime she would walk away, she turned right back around and sat closer for more hugs and attention. Instant bond once again. Hallelujah. Finally after the past weeks of trying to find a dog that fit perfectly in our home....Bella is a perfect fit. She needs to grow into her head and feet. She only weighs 60 pounds, and is very thin, much like Jake was when he wandered into our yard so many years ago. We will have her fattened up in no time! I think she's a keeper!!!!

No fear of men here !!!!

Bella is a cuddler!!!!

Here's Charlotte

Here is Charlotte

Well, today during the book study I said that I didn’t know why Ebony needed to leave us, and that maybe it was that the lab we were going to see needed us. One of Marty's co-workers who is really into rescue dogs, told him that there was another dog waiting for our loving home....

We arrived at their home in Cherry, and were introduced to the smallest black lab we have ever seen, she only weighs 50 pounds, but is smaller than Ebony (probably cause Ebony’s hair was so fluffy!). Anyway, the she ran to greet us, and I asked them, what her name was?

 “Charlotte”.

 “What?” I said.

“You know, Charlotte, like Charlotte’s Web.”

We just about fainted right there. A dog with my name…who would have ever thought that would happen? I laughed later and told Marty, well, I won’t ever have a grandchild named after me, so I might as well have a dog with my name. I am honored!

She and Jake hit it off very well, she is a very submissive dog and no aggression whatsoever, with lots of energy, like Ebony, and even has the same color of eyes that our Ebony had. Jake responded to this new female by acting his male part in humping her (a behavior we have only seen him do with male dogs to show them he was superior). After they had played and played, and were licking each others faces…it was obvious that Jake was a happy boy again. A tired one, but happy.

The drive home was quiet. We have never experienced this if we had Ebony and Jake in the vehicle together, there was continual whining, which drove us crazy. Both dogs were good as gold, they laid down and there was a peace filled truck with NO whining! YEAH!!!!

We are going to have a temporary trial of Charlotte for a few days to see if she has too much energy for Jake, but so far it is good. She needs training still, since she is a puppy, for walking, we will need to get her a harness for walks, but she is just so beautiful. Her coat shines and she doesn’t shed like a lot of labs do.

So, I believe that God most assuredly had His hand in this one!

A rare moment of stillness

Ebony Matzke 1/31/2004 to 10/16/2012

Our Baby Ebony

We will miss her cocking her head when we talked to her

Here is the breakdown on Ebony. We took her to see Dr.Tebbe last Wednesday, they did blood-work and an x-ray which showed something in her belly, plus blood. When diagnosing a pet they always start with the simplest diagnosis to treat (since to find the actual diagnosis would have required and MRI and Ultrasound...Which we could not afford.) So she got fluids and was being hand fed. He put an IV in and we monitored the drip over night at home.

My request of Ebony was that she please not die before Sarah's testing, and she didn't. She rallied while Sarah was here, still having to be hand fed, but she was drinking water, having bowel movements and sticking to Sarah like glue. She loved Sarah so much, they really had a very special bond. Then as soon as Sarah left here Sunday, Ebony jumped up on the couch and slept the rest of the day. Only getting p to go outside and drink water, then back on the couch she went. She wouldn't eat from the spoon as she had so I had to put the food in her cheek. She only ate a little bit.

Love you Baby Girl

Yesterday morning she was very listless and I fed her like one would a baby, and felt like some of my hospice patients families who try all they can to get food into their loved one. I held her all morning, and she had an episode which was like a seizure of some sorts. She held her head back, body stiffened and she made a howling sound. It was just like when Foxy died, so I thought she was leaving then, but she didn't. 

Inky is saying good-bye

I called and could get into see the Vet at 4pm yesterday afternoon.  I had to carry her everywhere by this point, and she was extremely dehydrated again. Inky spent about an hour laying beside Ebony and licking her...she only knows Ebony as "Mommy".

 Dr. Fernandez was there and he looked again at her x-rays and blood work. He felt her belly, which seemed to be growing day by day. He said that he believed that she had cancer of some form, maybe liver, since she was so anemic and he asked how her eating habits were for the past months. I explained how for about the past 6 months to a year she has been an extra finicky eater, we had to play all kinds of games to get her to eat, then she would refuse to eat altogether for a few days. Then she would be fine and eat OK. He explained that animals who have cancer act that way. They eat when they are having a good day, don't when they aren't....he even said "Just like people on hospice have good days and bad days, this is what you have been seeing with Ebony." 

An evening spent loving Ebony

So She got more fluids and a shot for pain. I brought her home and Marty got off work to come home. We gave her pain meds and she was very lethargic. She would take some water with a dropper, and during the night she actually drank water from a small bowl we had at bedside. We spent all our time with her, waking in the night to let her drink, and Marty took her outside to pee.

Last sleeping time with our beautiful Ebony

We made an appointment for 10:30 for her to be euthanized. The hard part was that because of the fluids she had rallied and was acting like her old self, except that she would not eat, even er favorite cheese or yogurt. She gave us kisses and was very present with us. It was such a very hard decision to make, but we took her to her appointment, and Dr. Tebbe was there, with his wonderful wife and Vet tech. He explained to us the whole procedure of how they start with the simplest thing they can think to treat, and if that doesn't work, then they go to step two,  then step three, and so on. He said that she had indeed rallied with the liquids on board, but it was temporary. He went back to look again at the x-rays and did a physical exam of her abdomen and rib cage. I even had noticed that her girth in her rib cage area had been growing in the past days, which meant that the tumor was growing. He suspected that it was more than likely pancreatic cancer, which can present with all the symptoms she had. Her belly was very hard and even the area behind her skull was depressed and showed classic signs of being even more dehydrated.

After talking with them, we made the decision to euthanize her, so she would not be in any more pain, and even though we were wondering why she rallied on the day we were to say good-bye, I truly believe it as her way of telling us good-bye. She gave us one last glimpse of the absolutely beautiful dog she was, she gave us good bye kisses and as we both held her she took her last breath.

We are grateful for High Country Pet Clinic, their staff  are so caring and supportive. Thank you To all of you who walked this journey with us. http://highcountrypetclinic.com/

We are filled with a great sadness, as anyone is when they loose a loved one "too quickly". But I am thankful that she left here allowing us to have in our mind's eye the image of her alive, barking at the doorbell, looking for birds....instead of our last thought of her as being lifeless and sick.

She gave me kisses just this morning

"None to nose, Ebony do you know how much your Momma loves you? Forever and always...kisses and hugs. I have told this to her since she was just a little puppy, and every time she would lick my nose."

  

 Miss Ebony Debebony, we will always miss you






 Here are some photos of when we first adopted her on March 20, 2004

My baby girl

She always loved being carried by her Daddy!