A Wonderful Weekend!

We had a really good weekend! We went up to Mick’s town and attended Anna Elizabeth’s Dedication Service, and a lot of family was able to attend. Both of my sisters went, along with my Brother-in-law and one of my grand-nieces….

Another thing that was great, was that my eldest son, Charles was able to attend, too. He had spent the last week driving out from St. Pete, FL, and he got there a couple of hours before church started. He’d driven 28 hours straight from E. TX, from my son, Jay’s house to get here. He is out here to visit and to attend his 20th High School Class Reunion.

A lot of my daughter-in-law’s family were also able to come up, and we got some great “5 Generations” pictures.

Their church is a lot like ours on their Baby Dedication Services. We know that a baby can’t make an informed decision about following Christ, but that it is the adults around that child that have the responsibility to lead and teach that child in the way they should grow. We choose to make a covenant with God that we will do the best we can to accept that responsibility. It is not JUST the parents, but the extended family AND the church family that seek to be good role models and teachers.

It was so great to see Charles, as well as my newest grand-daughter, and it was a fun visit for everyone. Jenn’s family are all wonderful people and we all get along really well.

My grand-niece, Jamie, is the one that looks a lot like Kody and is close to the same age. They really love to play with each other, too, so it was a good day for Kody and he got a lot of attention, too.

Robert had to work at our church, so he wasn’t able to go, but he took OC, Dott, BG and Mercy into town, to my sister’s place, so OC was taken care of and didn’t have to go with us. (We can’t leave her here by herself because she needs her wheelchair to go outside with.)

I just Praise God for His goodness and mercy that my kids are following him and teaching my grandchildren in the ways of Life that are promised to those that follow Him. I am so very thankful that Charles was able to make it out here safely, and am praying that he has a great visit and makes it home safely too.

God is so good! Sometimes it is hard to put our beloved children and grandchildren all the way into His hands, but it really is the very best place for them, for, though it seems impossible, He loves them more than we do, and He knows the paths their lives are on more than we do. Some of life’s lessons are hard and some are glorious, but all are in HIS hands.

If you would like to see more pics of Anna and the Dedication, you can click here:  Anna’s Dedication Facebook Album

Tuesday’s Show and Tail: Big Horn Sheep

It’s time "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures.  Angela has been hosting this special time for almost a year now, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 51st week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

I got this in an email from a cousin and thought that it was truly amazing!

Hard to believe that these sheep can stand up let alone walk across this wall!

We don't need no stinking bridge! Big Horn Sheep taking a stroll at Buffalo Bill Dam, just west of Cody, Wyoming

A whole new meaning for being "sure footed!"

Notice that some of the sheep in this picture are heading the opposite direction of everyone else.

Isn’t God’s Creation AWESOME!!!

An Explanation for my Blogging Absence…

I thought that since I haven’t had a chance to blog very much lately OR visit my friend’s blog much either, I should post a bit about what’s going on so everyone will know what’s up.

Many of you know that my husband’s Auntie passed away in March. There was a Will stating that she wanted my husband to be the Executor and sole heir of her estate. We thought that would take care of things, but apparently, at least in the state of California, “A Will is just a ‘suggestion’ to the court of the wishes of the deceased” as explained to us by our lawyer (which we had to get) THIS state has laws about exactly how much of an estate the lawyers are to get and the State is to get, and they want their share!

We had to find a lawyer, and they had to petition the court for a Court Date for a Judge to “appoint” Hubby as the Executor. THAT took until June 10th to get the Court Date, and then it took until mid- August to get the paperwork back from them so that Hubby had authorization to start getting things liquidated, etc. He’d already had her neighbors, which had wanted her house for 20+ years, asking and asking about it, but we couldn’t clean it out or do anything else with it until we could get some money to be able to get a c-train (large metal storage container—10 x 10 x 40 ft.) to store everything in.

Meanwhile, there were break-in after break-ins until almost every thing of any monetary value had been stolen. We finally got the c-train about 3 weeks ago, and since then, Robert and I have had to make the 2 hour round trip over to the town she lived in and work on cleaning up the mess the burglars made. They had dumped every closet, drawer, etc. onto the floor, overturned beds, etc. looking for places an elderly lady would hide stuff. There were 40 years of stuff all over that had to be gone through, to at least get the “treasures” like pictures of family members that were all that was left. Auntie was also a “hoarder.”

We found so many pictures with nothing on them that are very old. Some of the old pics had things written on the back and so we were able to figure out who some of the other pictures contained. For your kid’s sakes and family members sakes, please try to include names, dates, etc. on the backs of the pictures you take. We found pictures of Hubby’s grandfather that had passed before he was born and that he had never seen, as well as things in his precious Grandmother’s handwriting on family tree info, etc.

These things were all mixed in with newspapers and old cards, and junk because of the burglar’s sifting through the drawers. It has taken us quite a long time, and we have not been able to clean a lot of the things like many, many stuffed animals and clothes, etc. We have just had to pack them up and haul them out here to be put into the storage container. She collected stuffed animals as well as so many other things that were stolen. The burglars didn’t take the stuffies, and once washed, we will be selling them and donating proceeds to our local Animal Rescue as Auntie was all about saving dogs and animals.  Here are just a very few with Dott hiding in them...

The clothing, once clean, will be donated to the Thrift Shop for our local Battered Women’s Shelter. Those things as well as the furniture that wasn’t broken or stolen are all in the storage container and at least are now out here for me to work on. 

We have to wait another 4 months for any creditors to petition the State in case they feel she owed them money, and then another couple of months for the NEXT Court Date to finalize things.

Hubby and I have found out that the way to go, at least in THIS state, is a Revocable Living Trust because then you don’t have to go through the courts at all because your estate is handled like a company and the “CEO” and Successors to that post, just handle things according to what is written down. I’d suggest to everyone that doesn’t know about these things, to find out, because it’s a mess otherwise. At least she HAD a Will that stated “without bond” which helped a bit.

We finished the house yesterday, but still have several weeks/month(s) of stuff to go through and clean that is now stored out here. This is all on top of regular life and sick and injured corgis. Praise God I HAVE Him to lean on!

THIS is why I haven’t been on and the corgis haven’t gotten a chance to blog much either. I just wanted to let you all know that we love you all and really miss reading your posts, keeping up with your lives, and letting you in on ours. I hope that this will help you understand… It may still be a while before we are back regularly, but what’s got to be done, has got to be done. Grammy, from Corgi Country

Silent Sermon ... an Email

My daughter-in-law shared this email with me and it's something that speaks louder than words...

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. 

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. He sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday.

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

Remembering 9/11

I posted this last year at this time, but I have more people following and everything I wrote then, is still true...  Today, this country should stop, and take time to remember the tragedy of 9/11 AND it's hope! It is something that we should never forget. We, as Americans, are NOT invulnerable to terrorist attacks, and we should be praying for this country, and its leaders, everyday!

I also want to keep in mind the wonderful way that so many people became heroes that day, just by showing love and care to those around them.

So many risked their lives for people they didn’t even know, and for so long afterward, so many “linked arms” and worked together to support each other in their times of sorrow and suffering.

9/11, for me, was also the day I knew my Mama (or Nana, as everyone called her) was going to die VERY soon. She had been fighting cancer for quite a while, and that day, when she saw the horrifying start of what I know she thought would be World War III, instead of fighting back, by praying as she had always done in every trial, she told me to turn off the TV because she was just too tired… Her body lasted another 5 days, but she finally let go and went home to her rest in Heaven with all of her loved ones here on earth to say good-bye, for a time, around her. I know, at that same time, that all of her loved ones up in Heaven were there to meet her and have a glad reunion the second after her spirit left here… her sister, her brothers, my dad, my brother… so many that had left ahead of her that she loved.

I have a hard time, at this time of year, remembering, but I also try to remember that here on earth, all things have an end except the love that has been shared. I know that she is just one more of those precious treasures that are laid up in Heaven for me to see when I get there. I am so thankful for the time I had with her and for the lessons in love that she taught me.

Nana wasn’t perfect, and neither was my Daddy, but that was because they were human. They did the best they could and they ALWAYS tried to do things out of love for us and others. They didn’t “preach” but just lived lives that showed their love and faith. My Ma would answer questions if I asked for advice, but she didn’t tell me how to run my life... she showed me, through hers.

When I was young and went my own way for a time, she let me, but I always knew I could come back and that she would love me, and she did. I know, now, the tears that she shed for me and the prayers that she said for me, for I am a mother now, with children that have gone on to lives of their own away from my area.

I was truly blessed by the gift of my wonderful parents that God gave me, as well as the gift of having had the chance to live in this country. Though things are bad and in many cases, getting worse, there are still a lot of good, wonderful, loving people in this country, and I need to do my part, whenever possible, to be a servant that shows the Master’s love to those I am brought in contact with.


Thank You, Lord, for the life You’ve given me… for my parents, and other loved ones, and for this country. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have misused the privileges you provided, and help me to walk in your steps, daily, so that others see You in me, like I saw You through my Mama. Amen.


Here are the words to a song that helps me when I need encouragement. God truly does "Raise Me Up..."

Turn on your sound, you will be able to hear this wonderful, uplifting song. Enjoy… and get out the hanky…

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;

When troubles come and my heart burdened be;

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

There is no life – no life without its hunger;

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;

But when you come and I am filled with wonder,

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up… To more than I can be.

“Show and Tail”… Game Birds

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail"  time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 46th week that she has done this. Angela hosts this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines. 

Since we are so far out in the “boonies,” we have a lot of “game birds” that take refuge from the hunters, such as it is.

We have had hunters shoot at our cars and shoot out the truck mirrors, and one time, a couple even shot at Mike! They hit the tree beside him and the ground in front of him! He was NOT a happy camper, and of course, the police didn’t get all the way out here until they were long gone!

Right now, we have a lot of quail and dove that are in our yard and pastures. Yesterday, I went out to feed the horses, and at least 20-30 dove flew up out of the backyard and the trees back there. I hadn’t seen that many before, but when I mentioned it to Robert, he said that he’s seen a LOT of them back there lately. Maybe next week, I’ll have been able to get some pictures of them.

Robert WAS able, though, to get several pictures of the quail that were outside of the front yard the other day. BG was intently watching them, as you can see.

Several years ago, we even had a white quail, probably an albino, that was around for about a year. I sure wish I’d been able to get some pictures of him!!!  Isn't this male, California Quail a beauty!

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Tuffy Loves to Tease

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! Angela hosts this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. This is the 45th one.  If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

As I’ve mentioned before, we keep my son’s horse, Tuffy, here because when my son’s new job moved him, he wasn’t able to take Tuffy with him. That’s ok, because horses are herd animals, and he is a companion for my old horse, Cory.

The thing is, he LOVES to tease the corgis!

He will come right up to the fence and snort on them, or swing his head toward them just to irritate them!

It makes them SOOO MAD! 

It is really funny to watch, so I made a short video so you could see what I mean…

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Hummers

It’s "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again, and this time, I get to join in! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in!  This meme let's us share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals.  If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

We have a hummingbird feeder near our front door and get quite a few little hummers that come by to eat. Lots of times, you can see them out there fighting for their territory. Robert was able to get these pictures today, for me to share.

And this short, 15 second video...

Tuesday’s Show and Tail… Field Pups

It’s time "Tuesday’s Show & Tail" time again! Angela, over at West Virginia Treasures, has been hosting this special time for several months, and it is always a lot of fun to see all the interesting posts of the people who join in! This is the 39th week that Angela has hosted this meme to share about past or present pets, animal friends we’ve known, or interesting stories about animals. If you’d like to join, here is the link to the Guidelines.

Today, I thought that I would tell you one of the stories from the Unity Thrift and Outreach files. My sister and a few other people work together, volunteering their time to help save lost, abandoned, neglected and abused dogs in and around the Taft, CA area.

Last year, they received a call that there was a pack of dogs that people had let loose in the hills on one side of the town. There were several big dogs running the in pack, including one that looked like a Mastiff, and another that looked, at least mostly, like a Shar-Pei.

One looked to be mostly Rottweiler and another looked a lot like a Bernese Mountain Dog. They were told that the Animal Control officers would be going out to shoot these dogs if they could find them, but that someone thought that there were puppies up in a den on the hill. My sister and her friends searched for them and finally found them, pulling several pups that were approximately 6-8 weeks old out of the hole.

They took them in and fostered them with some of their volunteers. My sister took care of one of them that she named Smoochie. They were taken to the vet for their puppy shots, and after several weeks of socialization and care, they were taken to some No-Kill Dog Rescues on the coast where they all found wonderful homes.

My sister has kept in touch with the people who took “Smoochie” and he is well loved and cared for.

The Animal Control officers weren’t able to find all of the wild parents and U.T. & O recently had to rescue another litter from out there.

A couple of these pups were taken to another Animal Rescue where they were able to get surgery done on one of the pups that had inverted eyelids (A common problem with Shar-pei’s from what we understand).

They were adopted out shortly afterward to good homes. These rescues do home inspections before they will adopt out, and then they do follow-up inspections as well.

I really respect the dedication of people who do this kind of work, going out day and night at times to help save some of God’s creatures that need help.  These pups all have happy stories because of them.