Pup-date

The leftovers are foiled up, the pies are decimated. I slept deeply and awoke to a flood of dog pee. Sammy is taking medication that makes him extremely thirsty, so he’s drinking more than usual. And polite little man that he is, he did not want to disturb my food coma to tell me he needed to go outside.

I have much to be thankful for, including the health of my dog. Your prayers worked. Samson is home and recuperating from a gnarly intestinal malady. He is on special food and meds but we are expecting a full recovery, in Jesus’ name. His little shaved paw and bony back are heartbreaking, but his cuddles are priceless.

What would we do without our Bubbas?

Thank you, my friends, for your prayers. I am so very grateful.

A prayer for my puppy

If you’ve read this blog more than once, you are probably aware of my second child, my furbaby, my bubba… Samson. Sammy is our 4-year-old American Bulldog who brings more love and joy to our family than you can imagine.

Our bubba has been in the vet hospital this week with an unknown issue in his tummy. He has been submitted to lots of tests and tomorrow he will undergo a more invasive endoscopy to take a look inside. My apologies for than unpleasant imagery.

I have prayed for my puppy a lot. I have also questioned myself and my faith on whether you can believe God for healing for a pet. I have mulled on this for days and a smarter person than me, a more theological person, could educate me thoroughly, but here’s what I know.

God cares about what I care about. The Lord will complete that which concerns me. Psalm 138:8 I care about the health of my dog, and I love him very much.

My hands and my prayers carry power. …They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Mark 16:18 I have laid my hands on him and prayed the prayer of faith.

The power of Biblical agreement is boundless.  …If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:18 I have many people close to me standing in agreement that Sammy is healed.

I do not care how God does it, but I believe that His healing work has begun in my puppy. I will take him for his tests tomorrow, they will get to the bottom of it, they will successfully treat him, and he will come home, safe and sound.

And God will get the glory.

Happy Birthday, Daddio

It’s my Daddy’s 65th birthday today, and I am grateful for him. I’m grateful for his love, his prayers, his believing in me, and his faith in me. I’m grateful for his love of my husband and son. I’m grateful for his words of wisdom. I’m grateful for his heart for God and people. I’m grateful for his anointing. I’m grateful for his steadfast faithfulness to his family. He has watched five little girls grow into strong women who serve God. Christi, Jordan, Olivia, and Chloe and I are blessed to call him Daddy.

Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children (Proverbs 14:26 NLT).

My Dad is a rock.

Happy Birthday, Daddio. I love you.

Peace in transit

The other day I opened the door to Jackie’s linen closet, and the fragrance of Tide, and Bounce, and Downy enveloped me in a cloud. The woman’s laundry smelled amazing. Sometimes I could smell her fabric softener out in the driveway on big laundry days. I made a mental note to check out what flavors she used and to duplicate them. I want my laundry to smell like Jackie’s.

Since she passed away, I’ve been wearing Hypnose, a perfume by Lancome. She wore it for years and it makes me feel close to her. Smell is such a powerful sense. The memories it evokes can stop me dead in my tracks.

Transitions like these can be brutal. Moving, divorce, death, job changes… all these things can feel like a slow drowning. But they don’t have to. God can help us during these times. And He wants to. We have only to ask.

Psalm 46:1 says He is our ever-present help in time of need. And if we seek Him, He will envelop us in His presence, like Jackie’s cloud of Tide and Downy. If we seek Him, He will whisper our names into the ears of those He can count on to listen and pray. If we seek Him, He will give us peace in transit.