Perfect Pillow

MOM being a pastor she has a lot of meetings and other stuff to attend during the evenings.  And since I cannot go to all those things with her, and I can’t stand to be left home alone, I get to go to Uncle Mike’s house (MOM’s bro).

Uncle Mike has a dog named Cooper. I like Cooper.  We hang on the couch together.  I'm feeling a little sad because MOM has been gone for what seems like a LONG time. Cooper is trying to make me smile by being silly.

Then when I get tired he makes the best pillow!  Cooper is a good friend.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
                                                                -C. S. Lewis
Blessings,
Goose

Wordless Wednesday Evening Walk

Blessings,
Goose

Monday Madness

MOM does not decorate for Christmas.  For as long as I can remember there have been no lights, no tree, no tinsel, no ornaments, and no mistletoe.  Just one item gets hung up and that’s a stocking for me.  When MOM came home after “Hanging of the Greens” at church she went to the basement and came up with my beloved sock.  It’s empty now, but soon it will be filled.  She hung it up and then…

She wrapped lights around my neck!  Wait there is more.

Then with lights blinking she put a Santa like hat on my head.  She has lost it!!  I thought the humans decorate a tree for Christmas, not the dog.  Maybe this is just the beginning and I will actually get a tree.

Until then I will just wait for my stocking to magically fill up.

Yep just waiting…

Blessings,

Goose

Water Fun?

Today my Buddy Bert and his Vickie took me and MOM to one of Bert’s favorite swimming holes.  You know how I feel about swimming, not a big fan.  But Bert made it look like so much fun!  So I got my toes wet.

Not too bad. But look at that crazy Bert!  His toes aren’t even touching bottom.  I would bark to tell him to get back to the bank.

He would come back but right back to the water he would go.  So I got a little braver.  Up to my elbows.  I even crossed to the other side of the river (all be it at a shallower part).

But that Bert would just keep going in to bring back sticks to his Vickie.  OK deep breath here I go…  OK I got in up to my chest!  Not too bad.  MOM did not get a picture of that she was so amazed.

But the best part was helping Bert bring the sticks back and playing a little tug of war.

Yes indeed water can be fun.  Who knew?  Oh yea my buddy Bert.  Thanks Bert for helping me with my fear.  Next time I hope I will go all the way in, and my feet don’t touch bottom!

Bessings,

Goose

OVERTIME

MOM loves football.  But I really don’t get it.  When she watches a game I mostly sleep (except when she jumps off the couch shouting, that wakes me up).  But on this day I wanted to play.  She kept saying, “Hold on, the game is in OVERTIME, in the SNOW!”  I understand snow, but what is this “overtime” she’s so excited about and when will it end?  I could take it no more and must be heard.

Her team won.  And then I won, cuz she took me on a real long walk and when we got home I got a special treat.  Maybe this “overtime” thing isn’t so bad.

Blessing,

Goose

THANKFUL

There is so much I am thankful for.  Here is a SHORT list of those things.

The beauty of where I live.

 

Sunrise on a cold day

Backpacking with my MOM

Peaceful Existence.

Look just above the wolf and you will see a deer watching him.

Old Friends

And New Friends

Fishing with MOM (even though I don’t like to swim)

My Blankie and toys

The way my MOM hold’s my paw when we go to sleep

I’m thankful for a Creator who loves me and cares for me.

Yep I’m one thankful dog.

Blessings,

Goose

 

Holy Dogs

Tonight was the first "Dogs in Worship".  The information I will give will be second hand because I WAS NOT THERE.  That's right my MOM took me to Uncle Mike's (MOM's bro) house.  What's up with that?  She says because she has so much to do with worship she could not keep me on leash as she went about doing what she does.  Just tie me to the pulpit.  But alas for this time I was not there.  When she picked me up I could tell I really missed out on something special, I could smell it.

The first thing I smelled was my gal pal, Belle.  Yep she was there. sigh.... without me.  Isn't she beautiful?

This is Cricket, our keyboard players girl.  Looks like she played with the band.  But I wouldn't know!

This is some of the dogs and their peeps.  I'm told there were 14 dogs in worship...Could have been 15.

This is Bella Praying with her mom.  I was praying too...praying I could be there.

That's my MOM walking over to pet and hug and love my Belle and the other dogs sitting on the pew.

Then there were my MOM's homemade yummies for all the doggies that came.  The bass player in the band thought they were fellowship snacks for the humans. HA HA. He ate two!  I heard everyone laughed...but I wouldn't know.

This is me, drying my tears when I got home.

But ya know I am a BLESSED dog.  I get to go to church a couple times a week, and I don't have to be on a leash.  And MOM makes me special treats all the time.  And I am so happy that all the doggies got to worship God with their MOM's and Dad's.  And there is always next month.  I can never stay mad at MOM for long.  After all I am a reflection of God...I am Dog. 

Have a blessed week everyone.
Goose

I'm Soooo Excited

Over 11 years ago I came to my forever home to live with my MOM.  As it turned out my forever home was a church.  It was very cool I gotta tell ya.  Below is a photo of me on day 5 of living at the church.  My MOM was having a meeting with the other pastor and administrative assistant.  That’s me on the right.  I eventually grew into my ears and paws.

My MOM calls this photo

“You’ve probably wondering why I’ve called you all here today.”

Now the time has come, and I am so excited.  Starting tomorrow and happening every 3^rd Sunday of the month it’s “bring your dog to worship with you!”

MOM is busy finishing her sermon, it has something to do with Squirrels, and she is making special treats for my K-9 friends.  I’m hoping to taste them early.  I mean, I need to make sure there ok.  So if you’re in our neck of the woods stop on by at 6PM.  It’s going to be GREAT!

Blessings,

Goose

FREIENDS

My MOM has the best friends. I love the way they care for her and me too.

This is Jenni. MOM and her go to the gym together, go on walks and hikes, camping and backpacking. They always take me with them on their walks and hikes, I LOVE that. But you know Jenni was not always a dog person. Nope. But then she met my gal pal, Belle, and that changed everything.  Jenni likes to call me “Gooseberry”, it makes me smile and my tail wag.

And this is Cindy. OH Cindy! She has been my MOM’s friend for a long time. I’ve know her all my life. She comes every Friday to the church to fold the bulletins and newsletter and helps my MOM create beautiful altars and stuff like that. And every Friday when I go to work/church with my MOM, Cindy always gives me my favorite bone! I love Fridays.

But the best thing these wonderful ladies give me is that they care so much for my MOM.

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner I thought I’d share a recipe with ya all. My MOM makes this for me every Thanksgiving. Maybe as your MOM’s and DAD’s head off to the store for all the T-day fixens just slip a shopping list in their pocket.

In a food processor, combine 1 pound of ground turkey, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 egg, 1 slice of whole-wheat bread, and a quarter cup of dried cranberries. Form into balls and bake on a greased baking sheet at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes until cooked through. YUMMMM YUMMMM I'm drooling just things about it.

Blessings,

Goose

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Blessing,
Goose

Running

Yesterday I went to church with my MOM. I love to go there, it’s so much fun. I don’t have to be on leash and I can run and run and run. I can go where I please, sniff what I want, chase birds and mice from the field.  It’s GREAT! I have total freedom.

But you know what?  When I hear my MOM’s voice call my name I do not hesitate, I run to her loving voice and to her open arms.

And I’ll admit that when I am so fixated on something in the brush I have hesitated to come. Yet she still calls and greets me with the same love as if I would have come when first called.

I suspect that is how it is with God. We all are free to run and run where we will. But there is no greater joy when we hear the Master’s voice calling our name with arms open wide, no matter how far we have run from the Holy One.

Proverbs 4:25-26 “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.” -Proverbs 4:25-26

Blessings,

Goose

Bear not Bury

This is me watching the snow fall on the bone I just buried outside. I’m also thinking about what my MOM was preparing to tell her congregation about burying their talents, their faith, from Matthew 25. She says we are not to bury them. WHAT, not bury! Is she crazy?

And this is me finally understanding what she has to say.

Bearing fruit or fruitfulness: pouring life into producing something palpable and nourishing which itself carries the seeds for another generation — that has been the demand of discipleship from the beginning.

Jesus didn’t like buried treasure. He didn’t teach his disciples to bury their faith for some distant future. Jesus taught his disciples to bear witness to their faith for the very next generation. Jesus was not in the burial business. Jesus was in the resurrection business.

God loves to grant forgiveness and grace. So what’s the worst that could happen if we try and fail? If we bear it all and fail?  What’s the worst that could happen if we lose it all after risking it all?

Amazing Grace, that’s what.

Jesus insists that we “bear,” not “bury.” To bury your gifts, your talents, and your strengths is to live dead, to be buried alive.

So I guess my question is this, will you let God be God this week? Will you take some risks and invest your talents in something that promises to bear fruit, to bear it all?  And even if it doesn’t, will you let God be God? Will you trust God’s amazing grace to cover your losses?

A little p.s., MOM says that I can still bury my bones.

Blessing,

Goose

Third Time is a Charm

I want to thank my buddy Bert for helping with all this video stuff. Turns out you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Although it has taken 3 times to hopefully get this so everyone can see it.

I know this is a song about our Lord, but when I heard it I thought of my MOM and I think she thought of me too.

Blessing,
Goose

HOLD ME

I want to thank my buddy Bert for helping with all this video stuff. Turns out you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.

I know this is a song about our Lord, but when I heard it I thought of my MOM and I think she thought of me too.

Blessings,

Goose

My Gal Belle

Spent the evening with my gal pal Belle. I always bring her a little something.

Isn't she beautiful?

Let the fun begin.

Blessings,

Goose

Why Do I Do It

So let me begin by saying something in response to the door post. Yes I was OK and I never left the yard. Just paced back and forth until MOM came home.  And it turns out that it ended up being a BIG blessing to me and my MOM, because the next day I met Bert and his VICKIE.

My MOM always makes time for me, even with her hectic schedule. She takes me for walks and hikes. We go backpacking in really cool places.

Idaho

Wyoming

Utah

She plays tug of war with me and throws balls and sticks and blows bubbles for me to chase.

She rubs me down every night. Hugs and kisses me and lets me sleep in her bed. Life is good, real good!

So why do I have such a hard time letting her study? A lot of the time she doesn’t break out the books, note pads, pens, highliters and laptop until after I am fast asleep. Which means she gets a whole lot less sleep.

But on those times when she does start her work when I am awake I just can’t contain myself, I must be noticed!

I don’t make it easy. It’s tiring watching my MOM studying.

Blessings,
Goose

Wordless Wednesday, Sort Of

If you need words this says, “MOM don’t leave me home alone.”

See I don’t like her to leave me home without her. I mean she might need me. So I crashed through the exterior wood door to find her. Don't worry I was not hurt, I'm tough like that.

Blessings,

Goose

DOGS in WORSHIP

By now you may know that I get to go to church just about whenever I want.  I really like it there.  I hang out in my MOM’s office and run down the hall way.  No room is off limits, even the sanctuary is a place I can go. I greet everyone who walks through the doors and sometimes they bring me something special to eat.  Ya gotta love that, not to mention all the attention I get.  I wish all my doggie friends could experience the joy of going to church just like I do.  It’s a hope and dream of mine.

And now that dream is about to come true!!!! Starting this month every third Sunday is “Bring Your Dog to Worship”! Can you believe it? It’s been a dream of my MOM as well. So she took her idea to the Trustee’s and the Worship Committee (just because she is the Pastor doesn’t mean she can do whatever she wants) and they LOVED the idea and said, “Let’s do it.” I can’t wait, can’t eait, can’t wait.

This is me trying my paw at preaching. I think I'll leave that to MOM. I'll just keep reflecting God's love in my own way.

Little Doggie prayer time at the altar

It would be the worst form of a lie to call any place where dogs were banned "Paradise." Certainly no loving God would separate people from their canine friends for eternity.

A faithful dog will play with you and laugh with you or cry. He'll gladly starve to stay with you nor ever reason why. And when you're feeling out of sorts somehow he'll understand, he'll watch you with his shining eyes, and try to lick your hand. His blind, implicit faith in you is matched by his great love, the kind that all of us should have in The Master, up above. When everything is said and done, I guess this isn't odd for when you spell "Dog" backwards you get the name of God.

Blessings,

Goose