Simple Journey

I want to know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life... --Mike Donehey, 10th Ave. N.

Friday, July 18, 2008

The New Kid on the Block

Introducing Thomas Jefferson Farrell, affectionately known as "Jeffy".  He was added to our family on Wednesday, July 16, 2008.  Jeffy was born March 22, 2008, and is the most darling thing we've ever known in canine breeds.
However, he does have a few idiosyncracies we'd love for him to lose, like peeing on the carpet from time to time... throughout the day.  Usually just AFTER he's brought in from outside, when we least expect it.  Time for Wee-Wee Pads I suspect.  We were told he was house trained.
Then there's his incorrigible habit of chewing the carpet.  If it weren't for the fact he is only finishing what the cats started a couple years ago, he would be only a memory by now, banished forever for having the unmitigated gaul to harm a hair of my husband's house.  He sure is lucky the cats got there first, and were the beloved animal family, therefore set a precedent where that little bit of carpet was concerned.
Or maybe it's just because Jeffy's just so gosh darned CUTE.
And then..... there's the way he digs the sofa.  I don't mean he DIGS the sofa, man.  I mean he actually digs up the sofa.  He found a treat beneath one of the cushions once, so now he believes all he has to do is dig hard enough between them and he'll find one again.  Gladly may he have his way with that sofa.  Never liked it, never will, didn't pick it out in the first place, never wanted it, want it to go away forever.  And soon it shall, heheheheee....
But I digress.  Back to the puppy, or Jeffy, as John has dubbed him.  His endearing qualities more than make up for his wayward puppy peeing, carpet chewing, sofa digging, and even his terrifying the cats, who don't realize he's more afraid of them when they get their dander up than they should be of him.  He lived with bigger dogs and cats almost since he was born.  He thought they'd like him too.  Poor cats, every time he comes over to introduce himself, they think he's going to take a chunk out of them.  If only they could talk to each other.  Ah, well, I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually.  In the meantime the problem is keeping them from eating each other's food.  Time for the baby gate.
Jeffy has the smartest face.  He's always thinking, and the foster nanny thought "the professor" would be a good name for him.  His fur is just right, not too short, not too long, as is his tail, which he wags quite vigorously when he wants to play, which is often.  He NEVER barks.  He yipped at the cats once to ask them to play and it scared the living daylights out of them, so he's never done it since.  He growled once when someone was coming to the door, but we told him to be quiet and he was.  He sleeps peacefully with our son, either on his bed or in Jeffy's own bed, all night, not even rising when we do but waiting until he's invited.  He does his dirty business outdoors, not indoors, thankfully.  He knows where the back door is, and I actually saw him sitting there expectantly yesterday.  (I wonder if that was before or after he peed by my husband's favorite chair.....)  He is the perfect size for cat lovers, about the same size as ours if not a little smaller.  He rides in the car nicely, we were told.  (Although John says on the way home he cried the whole way.)
Enough.  Words can't do him justice.  Enjoy the pics.
If there were a song for this one it would have to "How Much is that Doggy in the Window", as I don't know of any psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs that refer to the wagging tail of a dog.
Simply yours,
Patty

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Just want to share this.  Our church partners with World Vision to help bring water to villages in Africa.  Our choir sang an African song for visitors from one of the villages last year.  We sent a team there this month to learn more, and they were greeted by this spontaneous performance of a congregation singing the same African song our choir had sung for their fellow church members when they were here.
http://web.mac.com/gchandl/LGPC-GO-Team/Podcast/Entries/2008/7/6_Woodland_Baptist_Church_-_Bonse_Aba.html
I hope that comes through.  To visit our church's blog go to http://web.mac.com/gchandl/LGPC-GO-Team/Blog/Archive.html
Enjoy.
Simply yours,
Patty