God has called another one home.....

I woke up this morning with a very saddened heart. My very good friend, Trish, has had a very sick horse, Reilly. Yesterday, I received an email from her basically preparing me for what was to come today. That is just the type of person she is......always trying to help everyone else understand why things have to happen, especially with our wonderful pets. She has rescued several horses as well as all the wonderful dogs, sheep, chickens, goats, rabbits, etc., that she has. She truly has the heart of a rescuer and animal lover.

Today was different for me though. Trish was there for me when I lost my Roxy. I didn't even know Trish that well then either. Maybe a few weeks or more. But she was there to comfort and help me get back on my feet. Now, we both have Multiple Pet Syndrome!!! This is the email that I had waiting on me this morning:

With great courage and calmness, Reilly died today.

The hospital called to tell us that his body had begun to shut down and he was in a lot of pain. It all happened very fast and unexpectedly. At our request, they gave him a drug to take away his awareness and the pain until we could get there.

He died peacefully and quickly. He did not suffer. He did not fight it.

He died with the same kind of grace and dignity that he lived his life with.

He truly was one of the most endearing spirits that ever walked this earth.

I felt every day was especially blessed because I could share it with him.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. I know Reilly was as strengthened by them as I was.

Love you all very much,
Trish.......
....and Reilly

Please continue to pray for Trish and her family through this loss. A pet is nothing easy to lose. It is just as much a part of a family than anything else. As you can see, Reilly was a beautiful and well loved family member.

Another long day....

Boy, today seemed much longer than yesterday! Of course, I had classes and once I got home, I tried to focus on my research paper that is due in a few weeks. I should have left the TV off because FOX News announced that Meisha Ferrell plead guilty at her trial today and stated she WILL testify against Bobby Cutts. For those of you who have not followed the story, Bobby Cutts killed is girlfriend and mother of his son and soon-to-be daughter back in June. I hope he gets the death penalty for what he did.


There were three teens killed yesterday afternoon in a car accident here in Pittsboro. Two of the boys attended Northwood H Brittany and one of the boys went to Horton with Brady. Yes, Brady knew the boy so they sent home a note to the parents explaining that they have counselors on hand for grief counseling and such. It's very sad.


Other than that, it's been a decent day. I am debating on whether I should take 6 classes next semester or stick with the five during the day. We'll see!!

Carolina SWARM #2

Crystal & I

Well, as many of you know, I bailed work on Friday and took off for Charlotte for another week-end of Scrapbooking. I know one thing, I am sick to death of Charlotte!! They don't know how to drive worth a lick there!! We had a wonderful hotel and I hated to leave that bed behind. It was comfy!! We had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (and cheesecake of course). I had Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake........mmmm...... Then we went shopping at a few local stores. Can you believe I didn't spend hardly anything??? Saturday we begin to scrap away. There were only about 10 veterans there from the past SWARM so we had quite a few new folks to get to know. I was busy working on Christmas cards and I actually got the most done before lunch so I got to wear the Princess Crown for most of the afternoon. Needless to say, I didn't take ONE picture!! I worked!!! LOL And I finally learned how to make the Tear Bears. Yeah!!!! Well, I'm off to finish my latest Christmas Card. This time change stinks!!!

Carolina SWARMERS Group #2

PRAISE GOD IT'S POURING DOWN RAIN!!!!!!

Well, I'll be darn.........

We won our baseball game last night!!! Not only did we win, but we were losing 8-1 at the bottom of the second inning. We came back and won it 12-8!!! It was an awesome game! Eric is walking around with his head so swollen I'm afraid he's going to drift away into the clouds!

It did sprinkle a little last night........had some lightning. STILL NO RAIN AS OF THIS MOMENT!!! It is so muggy and miserable around here that I feel as if I live in the desert. Who sweats at the end of October anyhow? Well, someone other than a woman going through premenopause and I sure ain't hitting that yet!

So many of our preschool staff members are experiencing sickness, family illness, personal problems that are BIG, etc.....we all need your prayers. There are 16 on staff and 9 that have major issues in their lives right now. I am going in to work this morning, then hitting my Wednesday class, and heading back to work. I'll be all multi-tasked out today!! And I have children's choir tonight and a paper to write for tomorrow's 119 class.

Well, I'm off to tackle the boys.....

This made my day.....

Have you ever heard that a dog "knows" when an earthquake is about to hit?

Have you ever heard that a dog can "sense" when a tornado is stirring up, even twenty miles away?

Do you remember hearing that, before the December tsunami struck Southeast Asia, dogs started running frantically away from the seashore, at breakneck speed?

Do you know that dogs can detect cancer and other serious illnesses and danger of fire?

Somehow they always know when they can 'go for a ride' before you even ask and how do those dogs and cats get home from hundreds of miles away?

I'm a firm believer that animals - and especially dogs - have keen insights into the Truth. And you can't tell me that dogs can't sense a potentially terrible disaster well in advance.

Simply said, a good ol' hound dog just KNOWS when something isn't right . . when impending doom is upon us . . .

One year ago today we laid you in your grave sweet one. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago for me. It seems like it was just yesterday that you were peeping through our windows and going with me to pick up the kids at school. I sat outside for over an hour last night with such a heavy broken heart wishing that you were here. Meadow and Pugsley are wonderful puppers, but they are not you and I know that there will never be another you. Meadow is such a mess that she needs to be taught some manners from above! haha Pugsley watches over me with great vigor and I know that he is my protector (at least from Eric!!).

This morning when I woke up and took the dogs out for their morning bathroom break, I noticed a very bright and obvious star. I have never seen a star so close to the earth as I did this one and I just felt like it was a sign that you were watching down over us; waiting for us to be ushered into the King's Court one day. I picture you sitting there at the gates with your tail wagging, tongue hanging out, just waiting to pounce on me and grab my arm with your mouth. How I miss those days.

You are not physically here on earth for me to hold or touch, but you are in my heart. Your pictures are throughout our home and the scratch marks you made are still left around the front door. They will always be there to remind me of you and your presence here. I love you my dear Roxy Lou. Forever and Always. Until we are together again in Heaven. Run with T.T. and Fred now until we get there!!! And play with Luke for Ms. Trish!! She misses him too.

Pet's

Ms. Trish passed this along to me yesterday. I just had to share it since everyone knows how much I love my pets. I'm getting that itch for another one too, I can tell. It'll be a year Sunday that Roxy disappeared and a year on Tuesday that she died. Of course, the men are going camping this week-end just as they did last year during that time and my mind is already racing as to how dreadful those two days were for me. I would do anything to have her back.

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR PET OWNERS

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me. Do not break my spirit with your temper, though I will always forgive you. Your patience and understanding will teach me more quickly those things you want me to learn.

3. Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your kindness than mine. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. After all, you’ve got your job, your friends, and your entertainment. I only have you.

4. Speak to me often. Even if I don’t understand all your words, I understand your voice when it’s speaking to me. Your voice is the sweetest sound I ever hear, as you must know by my enthusiastic excitement when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

5. Please take me inside when it’s cold and wet. I’m a domestic animal, no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me.

6. Keep my bowl filled with clean water. I cannot tell you when I’m thirsty. Feed me good food so that I may stay well to romp and play and do your bidding, to be by your side and stand ready, willing and able to share with you my life, for that is what I live for. However you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Don’t hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hands but I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I’ve been in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak.

9. Take care of me when I get old. You will grow old too.

10. When I am very old, when I no longer enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my trusting life is taken gently. And be with me on that difficult journey when it’s time to say “Goodbye”. Never say “I can’t bear to watch”. Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands. Remember, I love you.

-- Author Unknown.

Wow! What a week it's been! So much to do and very little time to sit back and relax. Brandon started fall baseball this Friday night.........Eric is the team coach so you can only imagine the pressure that Brandon feels from that! haha Well, they didn't win on Friday......in fact, they were pounded 15-3. Needless to say, the kids took the loss well, but Eric pouted ALL WEEK-END!!! Now tell me, whose the grown up??

This week is Mid-Term week at the college for me. I only have one big one to worry about, but I think I'll do fine. If the rest of my life would settle down and get in order, it sure would help! Brandon has been stressing over his adaption to Middle School, Brittany is starting to go through that teen-age rebellion thing again, and Brady is....well, he's just Brady!

As I was studying last night in my quiet time, I decided to start reading the book of Psalms. The Lord gave me the following verse and it has stuck with me all day. I know there is a reason for it and I truly do need this verse right now.

"Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; for You Who try the hearts and emotions and thinking powers, are a righteous God." Psalm 7:9

My battlefield right now is in my mind stronger than it's been in a while. I know that God will deliver me through it by focusing on the things He wants me to gain from it. He will give me the strength and ability to control and exercise my emotions and decision-making. I pray this will help you through your week as well.

Memory Verse of the Week

This weeks verse is from the book of Micah......in the Old Testament.

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7