Our Sweet Alafair

Several weeks ago one of our beloved dogs died. She was with us for almost ten years and we miss her very much. Her name was Alafair, named after a character in one of my husband's favorite fiction series.

We adopted her in 1999 from Pets and People, a pet adoption organization up in the city. Several months before this wonderfully fateful trip, we talked back and forth about getting a buddy for our other dog, Streak. We both knew when we went, we would come home with a dog. One would grab our heart and we would bring it home.

My husband saw her in a crate with another dog. She was not feeling well, but her magic still worked on him. I was hesitant. The volunteers took her from the crate and I sat with her on the floor while B went to find out more information about her history. He was gone for at least 15 minutes. In that short time, Alafair stole my heart. She curled up in a tiny little ball very close to me as I sat on the floor. When B returned he bent down and told me about her history. She was about 18 months old, rescued from the animal shelter and was sick. He said we didn't have to take her, but with tears streaming down my cheeks, I said "I can't bare not to take her". That began our love affair with this little one.

When we got home she slept almost 24 hours straight. She ate only a little bit. Within a few days and a trip to the vet she was much better. Over the next few years her personality and confidence grew. When we first took her on walks, the sound of cars frightened her and she skittled cross the side walk. Over time walks became her most favorite thing (although she adored her buddy, Streak). In our house we couldn't use the word "walk" because she knew what that meant. We called them a "W" until we both were ready to actually go. Even putting on a pair of shoes would elicit high pitched yip, "Can we go? Can we go? Oh please, oh please".

We miss her very much and she will always have a special place in our hearts. She was gentle, devoted, and alive with life.

Valpak ~ total waste (or are they?)

Rob Riggle did a funny bit on the Daily Show the other night where he "supervised the worst mail call ever" in the words of the Daily Show. In the piece (actually broadcasting from Baghdad on a USO tour) Rob delivers Valpaks to Marines in the barracks. It was hilarious in a totally Daily Show way.

Tonight we got a Valpak in the mail and I promptly threw it in the recycle bin commenting what a total waste of paper. On a goofy whim while talking to my husband I decided to open it so we could continue to poke fun.

Lo and behold (and I hate to admit this) I actually found three coupons we can use: Marble Slab Creamery (yumm!!), Van's Pig Stand (even bigger yumm!!!), and Checks in the Mail (we really could use some address labels). Ha!!!!!

Front Yard Bouquets

This afternoon I got back from the pet food store and my neighbors were outside with their children and dogs. I noticed the 6 year old picking flowers (well, weeds) throughout the yard. My husband and I chatted a bit and then went back into our house. Within a few minutes our doorbell rang.

With a huge grin and a bouquet to match, little "A" handed me the flowers. I asked if I could give him a big thank you hug and of course he obliged.

Well, about 15 minutes later the doorbell rang again and guess what I got? A second bouquet!!

Little "A" made my day...truly a small glimpse of purity and goodness.

Quilting Binge

I started quilting again and I'm having a blast. I made my last quilt almost 10 years ago. Hard to believe! I'd forgotten just how much fun it is to work with colors, fabric, thread, the rotary cutter, my new sewing machine. I'm once again a regular customer at the fabric store and even signed up for the "Preferred Customer" program. Ha!! I finished two baby sized quilt tops from simple patterns (Sweet Baby and Mine Shaft) using some left over material. (I did buy some yellow fabric because the yellows in my stash were not quite right. Plus it was a good excuse to go to the fabric store).

My next step is to decide how to quilt the tops. Computers and digital cameras have changed that process. I took several photos of the tops and printed them so I can draw out the quilting pattern on the printout. In the past I sometimes drafted a miniature version on graph paper with color pencils. That was fun, too, but very time consuming.

(Of course I had to include one with Molly! She's new to the whole quilting and sewing thing. She's always been a very curious cat, but most of all I think she just wants to be with me. My squirt bottle is coming in handy at times.)

Blog Upgraded

I finally converted my blog to the new version of Blogger and took the opportunity to update the template.

For those who viewed the blog during Christmas, sorry about all the dots. I selected the dot template as a test and then didn't have time to convert it back. It was a little bit disconcerting though the dots did make me smile (for about 5 seconds). Cheers and Happy Holidays.

P.S. B and I went to a party last night with a group of new friends. During the course of the evening I talked with a gentleman that I've conversed with several times in the past. During the conversation I asked how his Christmas was. Later in the evening I learned he is Jewish. I feel kinda bad mostly because I realized I'd be taken somewhat aback if someone wished me Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa assuming that I celebrated these as well.

Just makes me ponder on this a bit. Is religious sensitivity such a bad thing??

10 Modern Gadgets That Changed the World

From Wired Magazine Blogs. Hard to fathom life without these gadgets. I wonder what's next?

Click here to read specific information about each gadget.

A Beautiful Sight

Discovery left earth Saturday evening for a 12 day mission. The pictures are spectacular.

Picture courtesy NASA from Tom's Astronomy Blog.

The Leper and Painful Questions - Part 3

When I posted the first and second parts of this series, I’d essentially written the third part. It was inspired by an email to a friend I sent a month ago about my struggle with church. I shared that I dreaded certain questions typically asked when I get acquainted with church people. They are innocent questions to be sure, but below the surface are miles of hard traveling with the Lord to make sense of my life's experiences. Beneath these simple questions are sorrow and disappointment.

In the subsequent weeks other questions came to mind from a whole different perspective. These questions have helped untangle my deep-seated fear of reacquainting myself with a church body.

A thought came to me to briefly describe each church memory that comes to mind every time I think about going back. Initially, three memories came followed by two more. When I looked over them a common thread emerged. They all centered around people (me or people close to me) expressing a different belief or opinion than held by the “leadership”.

They all share some element of, "if you cause waves, you will be thrown out or marginalized. You will be shunned or isolated.” Pretty painful stuff. My truth has been if you speak up or disagree, you will be cut off from fellowship. You will be rejected. People you love will pull back from you.

The next question that came to mind was "So what?" not a negative question, but "What does that mean?" in other words "If this happens, then what am I?"

A friend once described how deathly afraid she is of being on the wrong side of an issue. It was (is) a visceral fear of hers. So another set of questions came to mind, “What is my greatest fear? What propels me with visceral urgency and vigorousness? What do I fear most in these memories I described about church?"

All the experiences were similar in that they were about disagreements. People had different views and/or beliefs, but the harm occurred with the subsequent action and behaviors once the disagreement came to light.

In every case the action was separation, either emotional distance or cutting off of relationship or friendship; establishment of norms that indirectly do not permit legitimate differences of opinions; attempts to revoke membership; invoking executive rule, i.e. agree with me or we will force you out. If you do not abide by the norms you will either be shunned, marginalized or asked to leave.

One of my great fears is not being thought of as a good neighbor, good worker, good family member, or good church member. I fear disapproval. Why do I fear it? What is at stake? Is it reputation? Is it relationship? Is it friendship? Membership? As I pondered these questions, I realized deep down I fear people in authority will change the rules and revoke my standing with God.

In wrestling with this fear I came to see I am free when my value is not tied up in these things. I am free to be authentic. I am free to speak because threats of "emotional withdrawal" have no leverage. Threats of membership revocation cannot revoke my standing before God. They cannot revoke my adoption. They cannot revoke my relationship with God by changing the rules of membership. Even if they kick me out, they cannot change the fact that God loves me and I am adopted by Him. These are facts. No one has the authority to change this.

My truth (my experience) is now reframed by this encompassing truth and I'm grateful.

Part 1 - The Leper Encounters Jesus
Part 2 - Coming Down from the Mountain
Part 3 - Painful Questions

Adventure - an advent

I'm reading William Least Heat-Moon's book "Blue Highways: A journey into America". (It dawned on me the other night that it's a 1980s travel blog.) He said something that struck a cord when I read the words last night. In this entry he talked about traveling from New Tazewell to Morristown TN where he hit road construction through the Clinch Mountains. It must have been quite a harrowing trip.

The crossing became a grim misadventure, and I wasn't prepared for it. I tried to think of other things. Helen Keller, who never drove the Clinch Mountains, said life is a daring adventure or it is nothing. Adventure - an advent. But no coming without a going. Death and rebirth. Antithetical notions lying next to each other, as on a globe the three-hundred-sixtieth degree does to the first. Past and future. (p. 37)

I'm wondering if sometimes roads we travel are under construction and quite treacherous, but nonetheless it's the way out. Death and rebirth. Adventure - an advent. It speaks hope to me.

So I'm a 21st century dork

This morning I took the dogs for a walk while B was running errands. About 100 feet from the house, I noticed the car in the driveway. I whipped out my cell phone and called home. When B answered (he knew it was me since we each have a special ring tone on our phone for each other) and I said, "I'm a dork. Guess where I am?" We both laughed and I walked 30 paces home.