Heavy or Light

What kind of day are you having?
Do you ever feel 'heavy'? Or perhaps your heart is light today?

There is much in the world today to be heavy about.  I ask myself if I want to look at these things. The answer is no.  I don't.  Don't get me wrong, I will engage in deep conversation and thoughtful commentary regarding issues, but it still seems I am able to avoid the raw and ugly truths that still lie out there.

Crime, homelessness, abortion, poverty, terrorism, suicide, human trafficking, war....yuck.

As I contemplate these dark and heavy topics, my soul begins to hurt and ache and I feel helpless.
What can I do?  Will the energy I give these thoughts help in any way? Will my tears somehow comfort a human being in need of solace?

If I remind you of these unfortunate happenings...those we all know exist...will you give it your thought?
Or, will you avoid it so as to not bring a cloud over your day?

I guess I would like to think, that if we all, collectively, give these suffering humans a bit of our time, a prayer, a tiny moment of our intention,  there will be a grace that falls upon them.

It's my Lenten sacrifice, to suffer for a moment in thought  each day, embracing the suffering of another, in sincere hope that a lightness will come over these innocents and fill them with peace.

September Morning

There is something elegant and wistful out here on my raggedy little mini farmstead.  I can't resist the morning ... donning rain boots and pj's with my tag-a-long friends, aka Daisy & Biscuit, we set out for a morning of musings in the dew and sunlight.

The $50 Puppy

This summer we added a new member to our family.   Introducing Daisy.

She's a Lab Coonhound mutt.  I'm not sure what has happened to me because I was dead set against getting a puppy.  On a warm summer day, as I was perusing the social media sale sites, I came across a listing on Facebook for $50 puppies...two of which were yellow!
YAY! WHAT? I don't need a dog! I totally don't need a puppy! So, how do I deal with this? I wasn't even in town at the time.
Well, of course I did what any good mom that doesn't need a puppy would do...

I sent the link to my 'weak for puppies' daughter! Yeah...I did that.

Shame on me, BAD MOM!!! But this takes all the guess work out of knowing what to do.  You leave it to that one child who has never winced at a decision. Okay... maybe over clothing. But when this girl decides something, there's no fence sitting, no wavering. Nope...she's in the car, with a plan, and don't get in her way.

So, on this day, she was at work when my link was texted to her. And before her keys were in the ignition at the end of her shift, her server earnings were earmarked for 'The $50 Puppy'. She grabbed her big brother and off they went.  And what's her dad going to say when our sweet daughter comes home with a puppy? Tell her 'No'? Of course not! 

Welcome Home Daisy!

Here we are, a month later, everyone has left for college but the 7th grader and guess who's left with Daisy Dog? And her antics, her messes, and her sneaky trips to my closet for shoes! Yep! It's me!!

Wow! What a life change. I. AM. IN. LOVE!

I am now guilty of being a Puppy Post-er on every form of social media I can find. I'm so sorry Facebook friends and Instagram followers. Not really. 

This little pup has become my newest obsession, hobby, and love.

I'm not sure if it's her wrinkly face with silly expressions or the way she just stares up at me waiting for me to look into her little doe eyes and embrace her, but whatever it is, I'm just smitten.

I could spend (waste) my entire day using every means possible to impart to any willing victim the sheer joy and entertainment this small creature brings to me.

She has some flaws (accidents).  My 12 year old chastised her stating 'you need to be trained!' after discovering a boo boo in the laundry room. 

I say, 'Need I remind you that it takes 2-3 years before tiny humans show any sign of potty training? She's 10 weeks old and whines when she has to go, so let's not throw rocks from our glass house.'

He laughs, thinking how funny and true that really is.  As humans, we are so impatient.  This little puppy already sits, lies down, and lets us know when she has to go.  If we ignore her communication we pay the price.

We already have an older lab mix, Sasha, and she is not real keen on the newby.  

There has been a serious increase in the barking in my house.  And as Daisy grows, she is even more vocal about how dang mad she is that this old dog won't get up and wrestle with her.

We were just sure that Daisy would learn great manners and good dog protocol from the older and wiser Sasha, but Sasha just can't be bothered.  She'd rather just saunter out of the room and take a nap. Daisy won't go away without a fight. She follows Sasha all over the yard and house, nips at her tail, tries to engage her in a good game of tug-a-war but so far, no dice. I'm not convinced just yet though.  I've caught Sasha when she thinks I'm not looking...tail wagging, making eye contact...she's warming up to the little scamp.

Is this puppy a response to my almost empty nest?...as the mom of 5, why stop the madness? 

Crazy Life = Mental Acuity - Right? I'm going with it.

Stay tuned for the follow up story about a little spotted pup that found a home!

Meet Daisy! Enjoy!