Friendship

I have been blessed in this life with a very dear and treasured friendship. We have walked with each other through the valley of the shadow, holding hands with Jesus. It was with great joy for how the Lord turned ashes into beauty in her life, but also with a personal ache, that I said goodbye to my dear friend this morning as she and her husband headed out on their great adventure, taking their time moving across the country. Can't wait to hear how God uses you on this journey, my friend, because I know of your deep faith and your longing to please Him in everything you do. Someday there will be no more sorrow or pain, tears or goodbyes! Till then I hold you close in my prayers.

Googling my name

Do you ever google your name? Besides being a bit egocentric, it is a good check to see what info. might be floating out there about yourself. It has both humored and slightly made me uneasy that a post appeared of a guest book entry I made for the condo we stayed in for our honeymoon in Kauai. Humored in that it is a sweet memory and mostly I don't mind, but a little unnerving at how much private information is floating out there.

Insomuch as I don't have anything to really hide beyond the usual embarrassing moments in life and the fact that most of our friends and family think that we are slightly eccentric, especially when it comes to our doxie dogs... Here it is: http://www.kauai-vacation-rental-condos.com/guests00.html

Sept. 17-28, 2000

Thanks so much for the lovely condo cottage. It was our honeymoon love nest and will always be special in our hearts for that reason. We especially liked to draw back the curtains and watch the sunrise in the mornings. We also got a kick out of the chickens who would run pel mel down the hill to get breakfast from the Hawaiian grandma who was their benefactor. Some days when we would come back from touring the island, the swimming pool would be a welcome refreshment.

We appreciated all of the amenities provided in the kitchen and the linens. We also enjoyed watching the Olympics on TV or listening to our romantic love songs on the stereo. A truly wonderful experience!

Steve and Donna Stroop
Seattle, WA

Refreshing Article

I'm not a political person. I believe first and foremost in the Biblical admonition to pray for our leaders. So, I thought this article was refreshing and shows that real life really can take place between people who are often placed at extreme odds from each other. I would like to see more of this kind of thing and less about the wrangling in politics. 

And finally, it is sweet that so many of our current and former leaders paid tribute to a man who actually started out as part of a group that was involved in violence and terrorism but then forgave his enemies and became a true statesman, a driving force toward change and reconciliation. Beautiful!

http://www.policymic.com/articles/76375/8-photos-you-didn-t-see-from-obama-s-trip-to-south-africa

Soaking in the Sun

I was looking back over my journal and thought this was very nice on Nov 4th. I was reading Andrew Murray "Waiting on God"

I really like the analogy by Andrew Murray that waiting on God is like sitting outside and soaking in the sun. It isn't something we feel or experience so much as just absorb. We absorb God's holiness and his strength by just basking in his presence. We don't have an expectation of what he is going to do to us or for us or say or reveal or even how we will feel. We just bask in his presence and rest in simple trust and faith that he is working in our spirits, in our souls, deep in our inner being. Resting, not struggling, not analyzing, resting, absorbing, listening, worshipping, through faith, because he is holy. Like turning your face toward the sun on a nice Spring day after a long and cold winter.

May you soak in time with God today my dear friends!

Donna

Our puppies are now 10 weeks old and will start going to their loving homes this weekend. This has been such a sweet adventure. Crazy sometimes, six puppies can poop a lot and chew on everything but we have managed by keeping them confined to the kitchen, dining room and family room area of the house. They also figured out how to use the doggie door just by watching their parents. Now they run in and out and romp and play. We will miss our little brood!

Here are some photos

Our Puppies

What a thrill to be part of the whole birthing process for our little dachshund, Jena. She went into labor about 7am on Tuesday morning, September 17th. By 8am, we knew something wasn't right. It looked like feet were trying to come out first and the puppy was stuck. I packed Jena off to the vets. They were wonderful! The whole team jumped to and worked on getting the first one unstuck and breathing on his own. He was a sweet little dapple boy, just like his Daddy.

The rest came fine after that. VCA All About Pets gave us a private room with blankets on the floor and a little whelping box. It took about six hours for all six puppies to be born. Steve took the day off and we hung out together witnessing this incredible miracle of life being born and puppies taking their first little breath, then nuzzling up to mommy to suckle.

Little Jena did fabulously! She knew exactly what to do and was a great mommy from the start. The staff at the vets were as excited as we were, I think, and took turns poking their heads in and checking in on our growing little family.

We are all home now and doing well. The puppies are growing like little weeds and soon will be opening their eyes.

Circle of Life

We lost our beloved dog, Sophie, about the same time as Jena became pregnant with her litter of pups. Amazing to think about the circle of life. It is haunting and mysterious in many ways.

Sophie was the sweetest, cutest little thing you ever did see and so devoted to me. Thank you, God, for this special gift in our lives. We tried our best to take good care of her!