Dedicated to our cat 'ICE'

Today we put our cat 'Ice' to sleep. For the last year she has been going blind and lately I think she had gotten arthritis in her hind legs. She was not doing good. As much as she drove me crazy with her howling and even though I have turned into a dog person, it was still hard taking her to be put down. As many times as I tell myself I did the right thing, I still have doubts & the tears start all over again.

Ouch!!!

Allen crashed on his bike today and broke his collar bone, pulled muscles in the rib area and got some roadrash. Thank heaven he was wearing a helmet and it wasn't any worse then it was.

Here's some xrays of the titanium plate in my neck. I've had a few good days without the pain in my arm and hand, so I'm hoping that's a sign the surgery was a success.

Letterman - Stupid Pet Tricks: Playing Dead

My Surgery

Tomorrow it will be a week since I had my surgery. Thought you might be interested to see exactly what I had done. Check out this youtube video. Wonder if I'm going to beep in the metal detectors?!?!? :o)

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

miniature chocolate dapple doxie

Happy Birthday Hannah Banana

God lives in the Post Office


God lives in the Post Office

This is one of the kindest things I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is a beautiful soul working in the "dead letter office file" of the US postal service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God