All Is Well

My MOM is doing just fine after her surgery, and my attempt to make her dinner. I guess what I do best is love her back to feeling better.

Two days before her surgery she took me and our friend Jenni on a fall hike, so I thought I'd share some photos of our adventure.

Fall Colors

We headed up right through the trees

I don't know why I have to be hooked to this leash. MOM says because the sign at the trail head says I have to be. But really, we are so far up from the sign, I think I should be let loose. I mean, I promise not to chase anything... unless it moves of course.

That's our friend Jenni. She got a late start and she jogged a mile or more to catch up with us. Notice she is not on a leash.

I love it up here

Then we came upon this old car in the middle of nowhere. I tried to get in to take a ride (you know how I love rides). MOM's friend, Gary who keeps our Blazer humming along and is the biggest car guy we know, says it's a 1936 Chrysler with suicide doors. How it got way out here with no roads for miles must be quite a story.

Gary wants me and MOM to take him up there so he can check it out more closely. I'd go again for whatever reason.

I fell asleep on the way home. Great day! Happy Dog! Blessed Dog!

I’m a happy dog on a walk, I yelp and woof and bark
Along with the sound I run around
I’m a happy dog on our walks.

I’m a happy dog on a walk, some may think me off the mark
But I’m not by mistake, I like it more than eating cake.
I’m a happy dog on our walks.

I’m a happy dog on a walk, I hunt like a big hairy shark
The critter's trails, puts a spring in my tail
I’m a happy dog on our walks.

I’m a happy dog on a walk, I’ll be wagging well into the dark
Enjoy fresh air and fun, is my tip everyone
Oh yes indeed I am a happy dog on our walks.

Blessings,
Goose

I HAVE NO THUMBS!

So my MOM is a little incapacitated. She had surgery on her eye (it’s another diabetic thing-stupid diabetes). So I needed to step up and help her. When she got home from the surgery I knew that she needed to have dinner. I grabbed the car keys and thought I’d go get her something special. But guess what?

I HAVE NO THUMBS! Can’t turn the car on.

So I thought, “What’s better than take out? A home cooked meal.”

I foraged around in the fridg and pulled out a few of her favorites, veggies and fish.

Now to chop up the veggies…. But guess what? I HAVE NO THUMBS! I could not hold the knife.

Not all is lost, I still have the fish. Going pretty good now.

I’ve got it in the pan. But guess what?

I HAVE NO THUMBS! I can’t turn the fish over.

On to plan C. I poured her a bowl of my kibble with a carton of milk.

It looks good to me. And hey she can’t see anyway so… But wait there is a knock at the door.

And Angel come to save us. It’s our friend Jenni (she calls me Gooseberry) and she brought DINNER!

Yummy spaghetti squash, grilled chicken and cherry tomatoes!  Thanks Jenni!!

Then after Jenni left I thought I’d read a book to my MOM. One of my favorites, William Wegman’s “Polaroids”. It’s has tons and tons of photos of Weimaraners.

But guess what? I HAVE NO THUMBS!

I can’t turn the pages. And MOM frowns on me using my tongue.

But you know what, it doesn’t take thumbs to bring my MOM comfort, warmth and love. All it takes is me, cuddling with her.

I’m with you many hours a day, and never a word am I able to say.
But I can say more with a look or two, such as I Love You!
As you do your chores throughout the day, I’m by your side, every step of the way. When you stop to eat, you can bet I’m there, sitting of course, in my favorite chair.
Then as you lay down to sleep, I’m there by your side, my vigil to keep.
And I thank the Lord, in the heaven above, for my MOM and for God’s love.

Blessings,

Goose

I Love to Ride

One of my favorite things to do is go for a ride in the car. My MOM thinks I am crazy, cuz I just love to sit in the car even when she is not going anywhere. If she leaves the window open and we are outside, I will run and jump right through the window and just sit there, waiting. I have to be prepared, just in case she decides to go somewhere.

Yep that's my spot, right up front. Even if my Uncle Mike (MOM's Bro) comes along with us, it's still my spot, Uncle Mike rides in the back.

And that's me starring out the window as my MOM loads up to car so we can GO.

I’m a happy dog in a car, whether we go near or far. I bark up and down in my seat, at some corners I’m rocked off my feet. Yep I’m a happy dog in a car, roaring down miles of tar. On the windshield I leave my mark, some would call it their kid’s refrigerator art. Oh yes I am a happy dog in a car, sometimes I go a little crazy, too excited to lay down and take a nap, I love to look out the window and let my ears flap. I am most defiantly a happy dog in a car, with my MOM I love to go near or far.

Blessings,

Goose

HAPPINESS

So my MOM is going to preach on Happiness this Sunday.  Well, who would know more about HAPPINESS than me?  So I offered her some of my thoughts on Happiness and I will share them with you.

(Me and my MOM on our walk yesterday with our dear friend Jenni. Jenni and I were trying to cheer my MOM up, you know give her some happiness)

Happiness does not come neatly packaged in 24 hour increments.  Happiness comes in unexpected spurts and momentary bursts.  Happiness is woven into the tapestry of our life as an infusion of grace.  Happiness is not something we “find.”  Happiness is something we cultivate on a daily basis, not for itself, but as part of a larger mission, a mission which, joyfully, sometimes gifts us with an unexpected bumper crop of happiness.

(This my MOM and me backpacking in the Uinta's last month. Want to talk about HAPPINESS! This is it.)

So what do you say we all practice Happiness this week? It dosn't mean you will always feel happiness. But as John Wesley said, sometimes you need to act as if you have faith, even when you seem to have lost faith, and in due time you will have faith. I think the same thing goes for happiness.

Blessings,

Goose

Taking Care of MOM

My buddy Bert said I should write about this so that’s why I am going to give it a go, even though it’s a bit embarrassing and I know there are many of us who do the same thing for the people we love.  Here goes.

(This is us poolside at my gal pal, Belle, house)

See my MOM has type 1 Diabetes.  She has had it for the majority of her life, but until several years ago she was not diagnosed with it. This means that she has several complications and for some reason one of those complications, for my MOM, is she slips into comas. It’s scary! The scariest time is when she is asleep.

When my MOM starts going into a coma while she is sleeping, I know it’s happening and I jump into action. I start whining right in her face. I push her with my nose, pull at her hand. I bark and I jump up and down on the bed or couch. I do whatever I can to make her come around so she can take her medication so she'll be OK.

Sometimes I am met with pushing away, but that does not stop me, I keep going until she responds. But like I said I know many, many of us would do the same thing for the people we love. But still not bad for a rescue dog, a dog who was abandoned TWICE in the first six months of his life. I Love my MOM and will do what it takes to keep us together.

“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made his greatest gift the commonest.” -Martin Luther

Blessings,

Goose

Water Fun

As some of you may know, I'm not a big fan of water. Oh I love it when my  MOM gives me a bath, in the tub not outside. See when I was a young pup the people who had be before my MOM thought it would be fun/funny to throw me off a bridge into the river below. I can tell you it was NOT fun or funny. Ever since then I have not been a big fan of water.  My best gal pal, Belle, has a pool at her house and no matter how hard she tries I will not get in (I just put my front paws on the first step and bark at her, but when someone gets close to me I take off). That's why the following photos are so surprising.

Yep, that's me! But to be clear it is not very deep and it is my own back yard that is flooded.

Once a week my MOM floods our yard from the water that comes down from the ditch.  I think I am starting to like this water stuff, especially when my MOM blows bubbles for me to chase through the wet stuff.

And this is me at church running through the water retention pond after a lot of rain.

I just might be ready to go for a swim with Belle at her pool next summer. Keep your paws crossed!

And now for a more inspirational moment:

It's not how much you accomplish in life that really counts, but how much you give to others. It's not how high you build your dreams that makes a difference, but how high your faith can climb. It's not how many goals you reach, but how many lives you touch. It's not who you know that matters, but who you are inside.

Blessings,

Goose



Happy

I lie belly-up in the sunshine, happier than I thought I'd ever be.

Today I sniffed many things— I celebrate by kissing your face.

I sound the alarm! When I know you have to leave. Please take me with you, please please please!!

Sleeping here, my chin on your foot — no greater bliss — well, maybe catching cats, and racoons, and skunks.

Look in my eyes and deny it. No one could love you as much I do.

"Dogs make us believe we can be as they see us"

Blessing,

Goose

 

Friends

Everyone should believe in angels, they surround you everyday. They help and protect you, love and care for you. They try not to let you down. But even angels make mistakes. Do you believe is angels?

I do.

 

 

I call them my friends.

 

 

They do all the things an angel should, they make you laugh when you're sad. Make you feel better when you're sick. Stand up for you when you're tormented. Love you when you feel as if no one does. Doesn't that sound like an angel?

To me it does.

Everyone needs an angel, at least one good one, or your life isn't complete.
And it won't be till you find your special angel.

Angels don't always have wings, often times they have paws.

Blessings,

Goose

 

 

More Than Showing Up

So my MOM talked to her congregation today about “Showing Up is Just the Beginning”,  that being a Christian is more than just showing up on Sunday.  That got me thinking.  Just “showing up” and getting a dog or a cat or any pet really, might make you a “parent,” of that furry child, but it does not make you a house breaking, vet taking, training, hugs and kissing, walking, feeding, playing, grooming, loving, lifetime relationship MOM or DAD.

I Would also add bubble blowing. I LOVE to chase the bubbles my MOM blows for me. She will make as many bubbles as I can chase down, and trust me I can chase A LOT of bubbles.

"Companionship with a dog touches the broader issue of our relationship with all of creation and with the Creator."

BLessings,

Goose

A Little About Me

 I thought since I am new to the Blog world I should let you know a little about me.  I was born February 14th 2000. Yep a Valentine Boy. In the first 6 months of my life I was abandoned twice. I was in Pet Smart with New Hope Foundation as a part of an effort to adopt homeless cats and dogs. There I stood in a cage that was to small for me (my tail stuck out of the cage). Then she came in. She was not looking for me, she was getting some rocks for some lizards. And, she had vowed she was not going to have another dog, not after her companion of 14 years, Pete, had gone to play in heaven. That's him below, 140lbs of of love and devotion.

But I believe that God intended us to be together. As she walked by I gave her that look and she tried to look the other way, but... Well lets just say fate would have none of that. That afternoon I went to my forever home with my MOM. And what a cool home I got to live in. It was a church! Not a old church that was turned into a home but a real church with and old bell and everything. Yep the hand of God was all over this. See my MOM is a pastor. And she LOVES animals, every year she blesses the all kinds of animals at church.

AND on Palm Sunday my MOM leads a donkey (OK it's a mule, her name is Rosie) into the church and not just into the church but leads him around in the sanctuary!!

I was my MOM's constant companion, at work, at play, at church. We were always together. I even got a job at the church, I now was head of security (see the old church we lived in was in a very scary part of town). And let me tell you there was more than a few times that I had to be the very tough Goose to protect my MOM and the other employees.  See below, that's my squint eyed Clint Eastwood look, it says, "go ahead try and mess with the ones I love."

Well 3 1/2 years ago our church built a new faculty and we moved into a regular home and that is when my MOM decided that I needed to learn to stay at home. I can tell you I did not like this idea, I mean who would take care of her, who would protect her, who would eat the crust from her sandwich from lunch. Well one cold and snowy February day MOM came home to find me outside in the falling snow. She felt real bad because she thought she had left me outside when she left for work. But that was not the case.

You see in my attempt to be with my MOM I busted through the front door, that's right, I ran right through a door. Left a hole in the door that was 2x3 feet. Was my mom mad? Well maybe a little, at first. But then she hugged me and loved me and set out to find the perfect loving place for me to be while she is at work. And that's when I came to Canine County Club. Oh at first I was not to sure about the whole idea. But I got to tell you, that Vickie and all her furry friends and guest made me feel so welcome and safe and cared for. Now when my mom takes me there I can hardly contain my self. I start barking and barking right in my MOM's ear when we get about a mile away from CCC. I love it there.  And you know what, I still go to the church with my MOM on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I have the best of both worlds! I am a blessed dog and I am so thankful my MOM listened to her heart and God's nudging to look in my eyes all those years ago.

That's part of my story. My hope and prayer is that all of you are as blessed as I am.
Blessings,
Goose

You can say anything to us dogs and we will give you that look that says "WOW, you're right! I never would've thought of that."

When someone is having a bad day, Be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them.

My MOM took me on a hike with her friend Jenni this week. Below is me and my MOM. I, however, was more interested in the mouse that was passing by in front of us than having my picture taken. A guy has his priorities.

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Goose