Pets: Disposable or Family?

Scooter.

Now this is a dog pile!

Faithful Old Girl.

One fine beast!

She had a wonderful life as a junkyard cat! RIP Marbies.

Piper the dog-like cat:-)

We loved babysitting this sweet girl! RIP Fuzzy.

Don't Judge Her Until You Meet a Domestic Rat! My eyes are watering, I miss her so much.

Sweet, Sweet Goose!

Looking through some of my first blog entries, I noted that I said I would talk about pets sometime down the road. This morning, as I was digging through important papers in search of my dog's rabies certificates so they can visit the grooming salon for nail grinding, I thought about how I don't feel like spending the money but how not caring for their physical needs isn't an option. Many years ago, I took my dogs into my life & by doing that, promised them that I would take care of them & treat them well all of their days. Scooter is almost 16 & Sid just turned 10. I was single & without kids when I adopted them. A husband, three kids, four moves a many vet trips later, they are still part of my family. They aren't an object that I cast off when they become inconvenient or grow out of their cute puppy stage. Believe me, at times they are "inconvenient" but so are kids! A few months ago, my children & I visited an animal shelter. Tears filled my eyes as I looked into the eyes of "disposable pets", who stared back into my eyes, pleading for me to love them. Before anyone takes offense to this blog please know that I understand that there are a few necessary exceptions to giving up your pet. Working two years at a pet boarding & care facility, I touched noses with lots of formerly disposable pets. Rescue dogs were the most awesome critters I had ever met! I am referencing dogs but this applies to all pets. If you are considering adding a pet to your family, please consider these questions FIRST: 1. Am I willing to provide vet/medical care for my pet as needed? It isn't right to let your pet suffer. This includes flea & hot spot treatment. There are low cost, natural options for many health ailments & I hope to expand on this subject later. 2. Am I willing to provide high quality food & clean, fresh water at all times? Pets are like people, their bodies can only be as good as the food they eat. Ole Roy from Walmart is the equivalent to you living off of pop tarts. It makes me cringe when I see pets drinking from slimy water dishes or water bottles with green growing inside (for pets such as rodents). Worse is when the thoughtless owner let them go dry! 3.Am I willing to provide a clean, dry & warm place for my animal to sleep/live? It's so sad when owners don't provide adequate living quarters for their pets. My dogs get their bedding washed every week. They have a cozy kennel inside the house. If you are considering an animal like a rodent, ask yourself if you are willing to keep the cage clean & dry. Before our last rat had to put to sleep, I took her cage outside twice a week, took it apart & thoroughly washed it before putting fresh bedding back into to. Providing for my clean loving little friend like this was something I did for several years. I used a toothbrush to scrub inside her water bottle. 4.Am I willing to provide daily social interaction? Dogs & rats in particular are very social animals & they depend on their people to play & interact with them every day. I would let the rats climb around on my shoulders while I worked at the computer. I cuddle & talk to my dogs a few times a day, even when I am super busy.5. Am I willing to find proper care for my pet when I am away? You can't leave them solo while you head off on vacation. Someone responsible needs to provide basic things such as fresh water for them.6. Am I willing to love them even if I have a baby or babies? Mara, Gracen & Finn have grown up with my dogs. The dogs occasionally lick their faces & hands. My kids are healthy & strong & have been  taught to respect the dogs & treat them well.7. Am I willing to find a place if I move, that is pet friendly? Having moved four times with my dogs, I know quite a lot about this one. Yes, I paid hefty pet security deposits & I had to hunt a little more deeply to find an adequate place but they are still with me so I succeeded! 8. Am I willing to find a wonderful loving home in the RARE event that I can't keep providing for my pet? It is possible to find someone, who will give your pet a forever home. Look & be diligent. Don't take it to a shelter. 9. Are you willing to say goodbye at the right time? This one brings a lump to my throat. Scooter is in her golden years & when her health declines to the point of her not being comfortable & happy, I will have her humanely put to sleep. I won't prop her up & let her live in misery for my own heart. I love her & my love will drive me to do the best thing for her.  If you can't answer with a positive YES to all nine questions on the above check list, please don't get a pet!!!! 

Slowing Down Father Time

 This lil guy needs lots of sun protection!

After my last melancholy post, I am going to switch gears & talk about a subject that I think most people, especially women are interested in; aging. A wise friend recently told me that the figure on a paper is meaningless. He is right! I was sitting in a doctor's office last week & overheard two women listing their birth year. One was ten years older than me & the other was 10 years younger. The 20 year old looked older than me, with creases & lines on her face.When we are born, we begin to age. Gravity, toxins, ultra violet rays & lifestyle choices all contribute to our physical break down. Genes also factor into the mix. My siblings & I have awesome aging genes on our side. My dad looks ten years younger than he is, still has dark hair at nearly 69!. His siblings all look younger than they are. His mom didn't look 90 when she died. My mother looks at least five years younger than what her birth certificate lists. Growing up & all through my life, I have consistently guessed people as older than they are because I use how my folks look to judge age .Despite that I have good aging genes (at least I can hope they made it into my DNA!), there are still choices I make in order to try & trick my body into staying youthful! Here are a few I currently practice in my life or at least make an attempt at:-) Sun Sense. I wish I had been a more faithful observer of this one all through my years but I am definitely thankful that I heed it, now. For the last several years, I have worn sun hats or avoided excess sun on my face all together. I also wear a mineral sunscreen on my face & neck. I have never visited a tanning salon & it's been years since I have foolishly tanned my skin on purpose. Supplementing with Vitamin D is a daily thing for my kids & I, however as many western Oregonians have low blood levels of D due to the dark weather. My contact lenses block harmful sun rays. Sunglasses. My Native brand sunglasses are looking rather aged themselves but if they have prevented a few crows lines around my eyes, they are worth the sacrifice. For many years my sunglasses have been a constant companion. They go everywhere with me. If I get into my car to go somewhere & they aren't there, I will frantically tear my house apart to find them. Buy a nice, polarized pair & make them your special friend! Water. My sunglasses compete for my devotion with my stainless steel Kleen Kanteens. I have one 64 ounce one & several 40 ouncers. My water is filtered through a triple charcoal system. My husband & children all have their own Kleen Kanteens & Camel Bak bottles, that go everywhere with them. Most Americans are dehydrated. My skin looks much younger when I am well hydrated. Veins on my hands are full & easily visible. At nearly every ultrasound I had with my pregnancies, the technician remarked on the great hydration of my tissues. I didn't get stretch marks or edema. Water, water, water.....God's gift of health to us! Drink up:-) Diet. My vegetarian stance can be quite controversial. However, I can point you to study after study where a plant based diet is proven to slow down aging processes in the body. Omitting refined sugar, flour & processed foods is also shown to be beneficial. Rest. My children are young. My husband is gone much of the time. I haven't gotten the rest my body needs for some time. When I am exceptionally sleep deprived, it shows on my face. My skin becomes pale & I truly look older. This one needs much improvement on my end. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 Exercise.  I love practicing yoga. For some, they may find joy in another form of exercise. Exercise in recent months has been pushed on the back burner & it tells on me. My skin is more vibrant & my energy much higher when I am regularly practicing my yoga. Stress Reduction. History is fascinating to me. Last night before bed, I was thumbing through Mara's library book on Abraham Lincoln. One page showed four pictures taken of the great president throughout his presidency. The age progression in each one was dramatic. The author noted how great the stress he was under during those four years. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. For me, snuggling my dogs, playing with my children, reading a history or inspiration book, going for a walk, standing under the stars on a clear night, doing something good for others, using essential oils,  laughing & listening to inspirational music reduce my stress tremendously. Alcohol may mellow you out for a brief period but it has tremendous aging properties (not anti aging properties!). Contentment & Happiness. This has got to me my favorite anti aging antidote, yet the hardest one to consume. "I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat & drink & be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15

The Tin Man

Country singer, Kenny Chesney sings a beautiful song entitled, The Tin Man. In it he talks about how he saw a man in the movies, who didn't have a heart & how much he wishes on some days that he can be the Tin Man & not feel emotional pain. The past few days, I have been finding myself wishing a similar sentiment. How much easier & less complicated would life be if one could shut off emotions particularly ones, that hurt? To some people, I may appear jaded & unemotional but in reality, I am affected by life's angry arrows more than I want to admit. My coping skills for trauma have deepened & matured. Most months roll by, with not one tear to spill down my cheeks. I don't blink when one of my children accidentally drops one of my valued Fire King cereal bowls. I stare blankly into the night sky after a long day. I can function smoothly with a lingering ovarian cyst lighting fires in my pelvis. Maybe the long spells of compressing my emotions causes the break through periods to be all the more painful. Whatever the reason, today is one of those days where I wouldn't mind switching roles with the Tin Man.........."My flesh & my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart & my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

Looking Ahead To My Next 30 Years

When I was eighteen or so, the song My Next Thirty Years by Tim McGraw came out. In it, he sings about what he hopes to do a little bit differently during his "next thirty years" including drinking more lemonade & not so many beers. Personally, I don't need to make that resolution but there are plenty of things I can & want to do differently. Below are 5:  Crying & Tears. Last night I laid alone in my bed far too late, sobbing & letting tears flow freely. Wow, I felt like my pressure valve had been removed & although I don't want to turn into a walking sob, I realize how much more often that I need to allow myself the freedom to cry. It doesn't matter if the world or even myself, perceives weakness from tears. Tears are a gift from God, they are healthy & normal. "Every good & perfect gift comes from the Father of the heavenly lights......."James 1:17a.
    See More of the Joy & Goodness in My Life . Negativity is an ugly weed. It's like enjoying a good cup of coffee & getting near the bottom to discover that there is a dead mouse in your mug. It is like stepping in something icky while wearing your best shoes & already late for an important event. It's like a thunder storm soaking your yard while having a summer birthday party. Negativity ruins so many good experiences. I am no stranger to it. There are days, that seeing the sunlight is painfully difficult for me. Many times, I would rather stay in my bed, covers pulled over my head. Joy is a choice. Bad situations may not be a choice but how you perceive them & how your outlook is. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:2.
    Cultivate a Kind & Compassionate Heart. Last week my seven year old daughter asked me why I ignored a panhandler standing on the side of the road. She reminded me that we should help all people. Although I don't feel it's prudent to pass out money in situations like this, Mara's gentle rebuke stirred my heart. This week, I plan on making up the little care packages with my children to keep handy in each of our vehicles. Each one will have a bottle of water, granola bar & maybe a pair of socks or pack of gum. Also will be a voucher & information inviting them to Portland Rescue Mission. "Jesus said, 'In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law & the Prophets." Matthew 7:12
     Forgiveness. It would be a lie to say that I haven't been severely hurt by more than one person in my lifetime. It would also be a lie to say that I haven't severely hurt more than one person myself. Often as humans, we focus inwardly on our pain. We nurture & pamper the hurt & wounds. If you are like me, you guard your heart from more trauma. I this next decade & beyond, my prayer is that the Lord removes past hurt & pain that will continue to come my way brought on my fellow humans. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Forgiveness doesn't mean you forget. Forgiveness doesn't mean you shouldn't/can't set up boundaries. Forgiveness is healthy. Forgiveness is healing. Forgiveness is from God. "Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 
4:32

     Trust God.  Wow, that short phrase sounds simple! It isn't. At least for me it isn't. My frail human mind likes to be in control of the ship. My frail human mind too often tries to toss out it's own life boat without paying attention to the gaping holes all along the keel. In this next decade & beyond I want to claim more & more every day the promise in this beautiful Scripture passage, "Blessed is the man, who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit". Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Reflecting On My First 30 Years

Look at this handsome boy!

Standing behind my new van:-)

Mother & Son

Last week, as I slept through the night, I silently & quickly entered a new decade.....my 30's. My seven year old, photography loving daughter snapped some pictures of me enjoying the last sunset of my 20's. When my eyes opened on the first sunrise of my 30's, I checked my reflection in the mirror. Nothing appeared different, yet somehow I felt different. Still the wife to Matthew, mommy to Mara, Gracen, Finn, Scooter & Sidney, daughter of my parents, sister to my siblings....what changed? As I have gotten older, I spend large amounts of time reflecting. For me a perfect night alone is driving somewhere in my car, listening to some good music & giving my mind permission to wander. So, a few nights ago, that's exactly what I did. Born into a strong Christian heritage, I was raised to be strong & have strong morals & beliefs in doing what is right. When I look in a mirror, I see my mom & dad. I see quite a bit of my middle brother. There is a teeny bit of my other siblings. My maternal great grandma looks back at me, also. As I look deeper into that shiny piece of glass, it dawns on me what has changed overnight. I have faced the new sunrise in a brand new decade, a brand new opportunity to do some things different, a brand new opportunity to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. My first thirty years were tremendously exciting, tremendously exhausting at times & full of tremendous blessings. The last decade alone, brought me a wonderful husband & three beautiful Kramer babies. If I felt inclined to do so, I could make a list thirty feet long, detailing the events of my first thirty years, that shaped me into who I see in the mirror today. But here is what truly changed within me overnight; I accepted that I couldn't stop the hands of time. The day before, tears were given permission to flow. With the acceptance & permission to cry came new hope. If my first thirty years were silver plated, my next thirty can be gold! "God has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3: 11-13" Mara snapped the pictures on this post.