LIKE A LITTLE CHILD

This is a short youtube of a little 2 year old girl singing. It is precious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR4PQ30VkBk&NR=1&feature=fvwp

My dog? A therapy pet?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Could my dog be a therapy pet?
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When my elderly father entered a nursing home several years ago, Tinkerbelle stared coming with me to visit him. She was so well behaved. She stays in one of those "crates on wheels" until I lift her out for folks to love on her. She's a Jack Russell Terrier, and you may have heard that they can be very lively dogs.
About a year passed when I spotted a service dog and owner at a craft show. We struck up a conversation with her about her dog and Tink. She advised lookin into getting her cerified.
One of the biggest advantages of doing that is she would be insured if she were to bite someone. She gave me some info and I contancted "Love on a Leash" foundation for pet provided therapy.
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Tink was trained and passed her test with flying colors! We had to get testimonies from three staff members at the nursing home regaring Tinkerbelle's activity there and she had to have so many documented hours of service before we became "official".
It is such a blessing to see her interact with the residents. She brings out such emotion in them. The smiles on thier faces are worth a thousand words. Sometimes, folks just hug her and weep. They obviously miss their furry babies.
This next photo is of Daddy with Tink that was taken a few years ago. Sad to say, he can no longer hold her.
Do you think Charlie wants to become a therapy pet, too? Yes, all sorts of animals can become therapy pets! What a blessing they are!
Dogs, cats, birds, can participate once tested and certified. You can read more by clicking the link below.
www.loveonaleash.org
*therapy dogs are not the same as service dogs*

Sugar Plum Spring Arts and Crafts Festival 2010

If you live in the Southern California area, or will be visiting March 11 -13, please stop by and visit The Sugar Plum Spring Arts and Crafts Festival!



http://www.sugarplumcrafts.com/

"MY CHILD"

It was about ten years ago...at a retreat, far away from my California home. It was in Eastern Canada. There was this workshop...the subject was "hearing the voice of God in prayer". We were instructed to do an excercise...just sit quietly and listen for 15 minutes. There was beautiful instrumental worship music playing in the background and we were told to just focus on the Lord and ask Him to speak to us individually and personally.

That sounded easy enough.......It was so hard! My mind was wondering here and there and everywhere! Then I started stressing out because the fifteen minutes was almost up and I hadn't heard from the Lord at all!

To my surprise...in the very last moments, in my mind's eye, (not a vision) I saw the Lord standing just to the left of me. I was seated in my chair and He reached his right hand around my head and pulled it close to His side. He had a chuckle in His voice and said, "My child". That was all...."My child". As if to say, "you silly, don't you know I am here? I am always with you? I will never leave you? Even now, it makes me tear up. I remember it as if it were yesterday. In all my fretting and trying so hard to hear from Him, it wasn't until I stopped "trying so hard", I realized He was there all the time, embracing me and calling me His own.

He is with you... will never leave you... He calls you His own....

Click on this link below to hear a beautiful song called "Child of God"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r3JAV2r208

A KITTY STORY

I was in the forums on etsy and posted the dog story (previous post) and got this response from an artist. I just loved the story and got her permission to post it here. Enjoy!
creativesparkle says:
One summer while I was in junior high my family took our trailer to a campsite just outside of Yosemite. Upon returning from a long day in the park, my parents and I went to the general store, while my brother took the keys and headed to the trailer. When we finished our business we returned to the trailer, to the door wide open and my brother standing outside, looking confused. When asked why he was still outside, he said "Theres a cat in there." Sure enough, when I leaned into the doorway, a large orange tabby cat was sitting in the middle of our "kitchen" licking a paw and looking at me like I should have his reservation. Apparently he'd run inside the second my brother had opened the door. After determining that the cat was indeed friendly, we went inside and Mom made beef stew for dinner. We of course gave teh cat some stew meat, and he took it gladly, and then as we began to prepare for bed, settled himself in on my bed on the far corner of my sleeping bag. After I lied down for the night, he curled up under my chin, and- sicne I was used to sleeping next to a cat- I fell asleep with my arms around him. Come morning, the cat pawed gently at my face and looked at me. I promptly got up and opened the door and he hopped casually to the ground and sauntered away. Later we talked to the camp ground owner, and he said that the cat was part of the campground. At some point he'd taken up residence, and picked a different trailer to spend each night in.
Please visit her shop on Etsy at http://www.creativesparkle.etsy.com/

DOG TIRED?

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of. He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed me into my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out. The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour. This continued off and on for several weeks. Curious I pinned a note to his collar: "I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.." The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with 6 children -- 2 under the age of 3 -- he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?"

Thank you to Karen at my Dr's. office for sending me this cute story. I loved it and and just had to pass it along to my friends.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT~ A REMARKABLE STORY!

Every once in a while a great news story pops up to restore our faith in humanity.
This one was just too good not to pass along. I came across it on my news page today. It's an increadible story. As I was reading it, all I could say was, "wow, that's a miracle." Enjoy!
http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/02/18/couples-25th-wedding-anniversary-photos-survive-15-months-in-se/