Down Time

Hello Friends.

Last week was a pretty long week for me, well really for my MOM.  Oh sure my MOM made sure I was fed and had some treats and she made sure we walked at least 30 minutes a day (even if it was completely dark outside).  I think I spent more time with BERT and his Vickie than I did with my own MOM.  Finally Sunday night we got to have some down time together.  

Just a Goose and his MOM reading together.

I like to hug on her while she reads.

I think MOM has fallen asleep reading.  hehhe.  I'll let her know how the book ends.  

Blessings,

Goose

Collections.and Connections

Hello Friends and Happy Easter.  Christ is RISEN!!

As you might guess I would like to give you and your peeps (your humans not the marshmallow chicks) a little Easter message.  The photos you will see of me in my bunny ears are from last year, my lawn is not that green yet.  And the photos of me in church are only a few hours old.  In my church instead of placing Easter Lilies around the altar we fill these bags with enough food to feed a family of 4 for 5 days.  And come Monday morning they will be delivered to people in need in our community.

Easter egg hunts have been in the news all week, both because of the controversy in the White House over the invitations that went out warning that the one on the White House lawn might need to be cancelled, as well as the refusal of some school districts to refer to “Easter eggs,” only as “Spring eggs.”  Come on.  Easter egg hunts.  They are part of many's most beloved childhood memories, even though they have very little to do with the real Easter.  Or do they?

Coloring eggs; that sweet smell of vinegar; getting those same six colors all over fingers, clothes, and counter-tops year after year. Then getting up early enough to compete against brothers and sisters to find the most eggs and goodies.  But while some of the traditions behind Easter egg hunts have remained the same, there has been one big change that has transformed large community-wide egg hunts, Sunday school class quests, and our own living room look-fors.

Let’s get real: people might still color and decorate real eggs.  But how many of those actual hard-boiled eggs get taken out of the fridge and hidden anymore? Real eggs have been replaced with plastic eggs. The realities of lurking bacteria and potential lawsuits have banished actual eggs from almost every “egg hunt.”  Instead, plastic eggs filled with store-bought candies have, for the sake of sanity and sanitation, replaced the hand-colored hard-boiled real egg.

That's what happens, not just when we've learned that eating eggs that have sat around at room temperature for several hours can lead to bad things. That is what happens when our culture is focused more on things, on collecting objects, than it is on people, celebrating life and connecting subjects.  We live in a culture of collections more than connections.  At the heart of the culture of death is the reduction of human beings to things which can be collected, bought or sold, used or not used, broken and then thrown away.

When the women set out at first light, they are on a death mission.  Having witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion, having shadowed Joseph of Arimathea to the site of Jesus’ tomb, and having spent their last hours before the Sabbath collecting the spices and concocting the ointments for anointing the dead, the only thing on the minds of these women on Easter morning is death, and on the things death requires. They are focused on the tomb. They fixate on the grave clothes. They savor the scents they are bringing to mask the stench of death.

These women are immersed in the culture of death. They are concerned only with “things” of death. They are preoccupied with those objects they can lay their hands on. They do not have any expectation of encountering a “someone,” of bumping up against a subject to connect to. They certainly do not anticipate encountering a completely new life and connection to the divine.

Easter morning is the moment when everything changes. A culture of death becomes a culture of life.  A culture of collections becomes a culture of connections.  Nothing less than the entire way the world was ordered is recreated and birthed anew. The tomb of death becomes the womb of life.  Jesus cannot be contained or collected in the cold stone of earth.  He is risen, a living connection, and has gone before us.  The expectation of death is unexpectedly replaced with the presence of life.  Instead of finding a dead body, the first visitors to what had been designated as Jesus’ tomb, find a living word, and embrace the promise of a living Lord.

Jesus Easter morning surprise moved the women who came to the tomb from a culture of death to a culture of life, from a world of objects — tombs and ointments, sadness and loss — to a world of subjects — where Jesus’ self-sacrifice was made a life altering, life atoning, life affirming option for everyone who “remembered” or heard the news of his defeat of death.

After Easter morning, none of us are objects waiting for death.  After Easter morning, all of us are subjects, children of God, invited to join in new life and to start eternal life now. The Resurrection of Jesus is the sudden declaration by God that we are someone and never just something.  You are a subject, not an object. And you are called to live in a culture of life, even amidst a culture of death.  With meaning to life coming from connections, not collections.

Blessings,
Goose

Jesus and The Easter Bunny

Hello Friends.

We are coming into the home stretch to Easter. With Maundy Thursday behind us and now it is Good Friday.

Now I am just waiting for Easter.

I hope the Easter Bunny hops to my house.  I like that bunny.  He brings such joy.  
I know my title may suggest the beginnings of a bad joke, "Jesus and the Easter Bunny walk into a bar...."  Hahaha actually I think that would be a funny joke.  But MOM has been asked several times in the last little while how the Bunny came to be associated with Easter.  Have you ever wondered that?  Well I know the answer.  Are you ready?

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Here is how the Bunny came to be associated with Easter.

I hope you all enjoy your Easter weekend and I hope to bark at ya all again on Sunday.

Blessings,

Goose

Rockin It

Hello Friends.

I don't know if I told you this but Wednesdays are a very long day for my MOM.  VERY LONG.  It's dark when she drops me off at  Bert's and often it is dark when she picks me up.  But it's all good, I know stuffs has to get done and because of it beautiful things are happening.  Anyway... Yesterday when we pulled in the drive way MOM didn't see it, but I did.  I did not come into the house for an extra long time.  But when I did I was carrying a package.  Want to see what I got?  I knew you would.

These are my new Onion Glasses.  That's right special onion safety glasses.  And YES they are for me.  These will come in very handy when I am cutting up a ton of onions.  

I also think I can use them in other ways.  Like cruising on a motorcycle, or sticking my head out of the Blazer as we zip along, impressing the girlies, if I ever need a disguise (that will come in handy when I hang out with Puddles.)    

And I figure if it will help me not tear up when chopping onions then surely if I wear them at Bert's place and he lets one rip I will be protected.  I love multi-functional items. 

And lets face it, I make this look good.  I ROCK the Onion Glasses!

I'm not the only one Rockin' the Onion Glasses.  This is my pal Buddy.  Lookin' good Buddy, lookin Good.

Thank you  for sending these to me.  They will come in handy in so many ways!  They sure came in handy to bring smiles and laughter to my MOM's face.  And that my friends is the best use of all.

Blessings,

Goose

A New Friend

Hello Friends.

When MOM and I got home there was a package on the front step. I noticed it right away.  Woo Hoo a package for me.  But MOM said it was for her.  WHAT?  No way!  So she took it in the house.  Instead of doing my normal patrol of my yard, like I do every time we get home, I just sat in the kitchen staring at the package on the kitchen table.  Finally after 87 hours MOM opened it up.  And would you lookie  here.

It's a Platypus!  

I knew it, it was for me.  OK to be fair, there was a book in with the Platypus, I guess I will let MOM have that.  But it does look real good, it's called "Start Something That Matters".  But back to the Platypus (I love saying that word) ....Platypus, Platypus, Platypus, Platypus...  Oh that is fun.   hehhehe

Ewwww, what is that smell?  I did not fart... it was the Platypus.   hahhaha.  Makes it even funnier.  

I have named him Jeremiah.  

My most beautiful friend LYDIA sent it to me.  Jeremiah squeaks when you squeeze his legs AND he makes this honk like sound when you squeeze his tummy, just like a real life Platypus.  Hahhahah Platypus.  "Hey MOM I think I would like to read a book to Jeremiah."

"Oh yes Jeremiah, MOM and I read a book almost every night.  This one is called "Dog Loves Books."  

"WOW Goose I never knew reading could be so fun."

"I know, right?"

"I bet it is even funner than say... oh I don't know... funner than chewing on my legs and tummy."

"Well lets not get carried away little buddy."

Thank you Miss Lydia, I LOVE IT!  

And oh how you made my MOM smile.  :). 

PLATYPUSSSSSSS! hahhaha

Blessings,

Goose

Play Time

Hello Friends.

When MOM got home Sunday night from church she had some work to do.  But first she started to pick up a few of my toys I had left on the living room floor.  I am usually pretty good about putting my toys away, but I figure that I was just going to play with them again so I left them on the floor.  As she was picking them up I said, "Hey we should play some foot-ball."  MOM said maybe later.  But then I reminded her about our 30/30 Challenge that we are doing at the church.  It's a challenge that for 30 days we will intentionally do 30 minutes each day of some kind of exercise.  Doesn't matter what it is, as long as it is intentional. Murphy and Stanley's peeps started this at our church.  So as MOM stood there holding my Easy ball I just kept barking at her.  I can be very convincing.


So for 30 minutes we played foot-ball.  I won by the way.  Oh, and I was not holding, so no penalty was given.  MOM was very thankful that we did our 30/30 for the day.  She said it re-energized  her.  When we finished I looked at her and said, "How about a walk?"  "Goosie" she said "I have to get a few things done."   But once again I reminded her of the 30/30 Challenge.  To which she said, "We just did that."  "True" I said.  "But it is now after midnight, it's a new day and that means another 30 minute challenge."  I ask you, how could she argue with logic like that?  hahhaha.  Well she couldn't and she grabbed my leash and we went on a nice, all be it cold, 40 minute walk.
Blessings,
Goose

No Mischief Moinday

Hello Friends

No Mischief here.

But a Goose can dream.

Blessings,

Goose

Know What Today Is?

Hello Friends.

Do you know what today is?  Sunday March 24th.  Here I'll give you a hint.

Do you know now?

OK one more hint.

It's Palm Sunday!  
The day we celebrate when Jesus rode into town on a young colt.  That's right friends I am not the only four legger that is allowed inside the church.

That's my MOM in that photo (she is the one on your left). hehhe

Easter is on it's way.  
But first we must journey through Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.  But the resurrection awaits us on the other side.  

Blessings,

Goose

PS- You might already guess but... We might be spotty in posting and commenting this week.  With 5 worship services this week and all the stuff at the Homeless Shelter MOM will be gone a lot.  But don't worry about me, I am sure I will be spending time with my buddy Bert and his Vickie.  Of course MOM will take me everywhere possible that she goes that I can tag along.  But still I think this will be a VERY long week for me with my MOM working so much.  But what JOY there will be come next Sunday! :)

Goose and the Geese

Hello friends.

I would like to dedicate this post to my friend ZIM.  I like to think of Zim as the critter whisperer.  Kit-cats love him, woofers adore him, and the birdies come when he calls.  I really admire him.  I've learned a lot from him.  And recently I had the opportunity to put into practice what I have learned from him.

Ooo what do I see across the way.

It's some Gooses.  "Hello feathered friends."  Zim taught me to speak kindly to the birdies.  

Let's see what else did ZIM say about talking to birdies?  Be calm, no barking, call them with your eyes, put forth a friendly paw.

It's working!!  "Hey there Canadian Honkers.  Do you know my friend Zim?"  

"Oh yes we know him.  We just flew in from Kansas.  He was hanging out at the Kansas Ocean.  Nice Husk-a-Roo that Zim is."

"I knew it!  It's such a small world.  And I could not agree more, Zim is just the best."

Oh and Dave Davey, Dave Dave DAVE .  Don't think I forgot about you.  Here is a little somethin' somethin' for you pal.

Me and my MOM.  

Dave I know you understand this.  Me and the MOM workin' on Sunday's message.  I am giving a read over what she has written thus far.  Not bad, but I think she should talk about the small colt more.

And for both of you.  This is me practicing my mind meld on MOM.  'You will stop working.  You have a need to take a walk.'

Thank Dave and Zim, this mind meld thing really works.

Thanks Dave and Zim for teaching me such great stuff.  I love talking to the birdies and talking to MOM through the mind meld.  

Blessings,
Goose

Continuing Education

Hello Friends.

I know I said I would be gone a while cuz of MOM's crazy work hours.  But seems she can't sleep.  I've never understood humans inability to not sleep.  But since that is the case, here I am.
Let's continue on my adventure shall we.  I think it is important that everyone keep learning.  Even if you have mastered your special gift it is no reason that you should stop learning.

Here I am waiting for my teacher to come across the river for my lesson.

My teacher, Betty the Beaver, is a great teacher.  Today's lesson is how to create your own sticks.  WOW, my teacher is a master at this.  Just look how she made this tree into a beautiful stick.  And she works fast.  

Professor Betty is giving me my assignment.  Always listen very closely to your teachers.  She suggested I might want to start off a little smaller and work my way up to this size.

    Here is my first attempt at making a stick.

What you think?  Not as precise as Professor Betty, but I bet with a little more practice I'll be making piles and piles of sticks.  

 Practice, practice, practice.  I love doing homework.

Remember friends you are never to old to learn.  Even if you are the master of your "thing".  Learning is FUN.

Blessings,

Goose

A Good Book

Hello Friends.

MOM and I like to read together.  Last night it was my turn to pick a book to read.  So I choose "Doggone Dogs!".  I love this one.

We snuggle in on the couch and I always have Billy join us.  MOM reads to me and I turn the pages.

And often this is how we end up.  Don't ya just love bed time stories?  

Blessings,

Goose

PS- If we are not around the next couple of days don't worry.  MOM has a couple of 15 hour work days ahead of her.  So I told her she could hold off on my blog.  But ya never know, she may decide sleep is over rated.  Hahhahaha.  If that happens I will just read her a story.

Slippery When Wet

Hello Friends.

Let's pick up where I left off yesterday.  After MOM took that crazy photo of the bank falling away we started off into the woods.

It's a beautiful day for an adventure wouldn't you agree?

Let's head down this trail.  Might as well play a fun game on the way called, "Can You Spot Goose?"

Yep I'm in there.

"MOM are you coming?  I just found something real cool.  Ya gotta see this!"

"Come on follow me it's right over here."

I know what you all are thinking.  And no, it's not another stick, although there are plenty out here.

"Look at this!"  It's an old car.

We have not had our Spring run-off yet and so the river is sort of low and because of that this old car is no longer hidden.

Check this out.  I have no idea how it got here cuz there are no roads close to this at all.  But there it is.  I better take a closer look.

OK, see that splash by the old car?  That's me.  Seems that when a car is under water for who knows how long the hood can get sort of slippery and mossy.  I took a header right off the hood when I tried to stand on it.

"No need to rush over and save me MOM.  You just keep taking those pictures.  I'm OK, really."

No really I was just fine.  Just look at me leap over this stream that shoots off the river.  

"Come on MOM lets cross over and see what else we can find."

Stay tuned cuz there was even more finds.  Hope ya all have a beautiful day.  And get out there and find an adventure, one is waiting just for you.

Blessings,

Goose