Welcome Home, Pippin

I have so many thoughts... so many unpublished, unfinished "drafts" from the last couple of weeks... there has been much musing, spiritual and otherwise... there have been many tears...

But, I can't tarry, waiting for all of them to get processed and finished and posted. The kids are asking for a photo post to share our news... we have a new canine member of our family.


We took to heart the admonition of former President Ronald Reagan: "The best way to get over a dog's death is to get another soon."

So, here is introducing our new little friend, Pippin. He is a cocker spaniel rescue from the local pound, and he is so sweet and gentle and soft and dear. We are very much enjoying getting to know him, and very much enjoying having a dog in our home again. We still miss Little so very much, but we are happy to have another soft fuzzy friend to love on...

And so it begins...

A California pastor and his wife have been ordered to stop holding a weekly Bible study in their home. A dozen or so people meeting for dinner and a study of the Word together is apparently being dubbed a "religious assembly" and therefore needs a "major use permit" to continue. They are fighting this in court, for all our sakes.

"The county asked, 'Do you have a regular meeting in your home?'
She said, 'Yes.'
'Do you say amen?'
'Yes.'
'Do you pray?'
'Yes.'
'Do you say praise the Lord?' 'Yes.'"

Can you imagine? Read the entire article here.

Remembering Little

Part of the way I've been handling the grief of the sudden, tragic death of our sweet Little is to work on a "memory book" about her. It has been therapeutic for me, and a huge blessing to the kids, now that it is here. You can view a copy of it online here.

A highlight of the book, in my opinion, is an article I found entitled "Do Dogs Go to Heaven?" by Randy Alcorn. Before you scoff, know that he quotes theological heavy-weights like John Piper and Joni Eareckson Tada, and leaves you with more than a little hope that you might get to see your special animal friend again one day...

Goodbye, Little

I am writing with the sad news that our beloved pet dog, Little, was struck by a car and killed this evening. I would like to ask you to pray for our children, who are deeply sad and grieving... but especially for OG.

Little had run away across the road in front of our house, and OG went after her to try to retrieve her. Little decided to play a game of "I can make you chase me" (this was one of her favorites) and darted across the large highway beside our house into the median. OG, fearful and worried that Little might get hit by a car, called her to come back. Although Little was not an obedient dog, and would literally NEVER come when called, she turned and headed back toward OG. She ran right in front of a car, who apparently swerved to try to avoid her, but could not. Although Little was not run over, she was struck by the car and passed under it - and OG did witness the whole thing. She heard the yelp and both heard and witnessed the impact.

We were having Bible study/music practice at our home at the time. OG ran into the house by way of the front door, screaming.

OG is our quietest, most introspective child, so we want to pray for her a healthy processing of this whole experience, without any undue guilt or self-blame. Please also pray this same thing for the woman who struck Little. She stopped (as did the car behind her who witnessed the whole thing), and she was pretty distraught. Several people waited and cried and talked with us ("us" being our family and the many members of the worship team who were at our house when it happened) while we waited for the Animal Control emergency vet to arrive and confirm that Little was dead.

We were able to talk together and process things, and we were able to bury Little - with her favorite chew toy under her head like she liked to sleep - but the children are still quite sad and are having a hard time getting to sleep.

They are asking hard "why" questions and are not sure how to engage them.

Please just pray for our family as we move through this night and these next days of grief. We're so thankful no people were hurt, of course, and yet we're missing our sweet little friend of a dog.

The one who touched me first...

One of my Mother's Day greetings this morning was a poem. I have included it below because it makes me smile, and because I think the idea of the final line is profound.

M is for the nine long months she cared for me as a part of herself.
O is for the very one, because of course that's what she is.
T is for all the time she spent just for me.
H is for all the help she gives me when I need it.
E is that she empties her money box to feed and clothe me.
R is for being ready for what I have to say and do.
When they are together,
they spell something I would not be here without.
Mother.
The one who touched me first.

Let me remember this, too...

"Remember that the world is full of youngsters who have some sort of handicap that they must overcome. You apparently have a speech defect. I am sure you will overcome it, in time.

There may even be some slight advantage, at your age, in not being able to say anything. It compels you to be a good listener. The world is full of talkers, but it is rare to find anyone who listens."

- wise observations from E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan
(New York: Harper Collins, 1970).

Hmmm...

I just read the following quotation on a sweet friend's profile, and it has started me thinking...

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” - Audrey Hepburn

So thankful that God, at least, can pull this off... so grateful for mercy...