Fur Babies
Last night I shared a picture of my fur babies on Facebook. It isn’t often that I allow my furry friends to get in my bed, but I made an exception last night. I think the look on one’s face says it all:
Doesn’t it look like the little Teacup Yorkie is smiling?!
I have had so many wonderful pets through the years, and they have blessed my heart and life more than words can say.
You may think I am crazy after I tell you this, but currently, we have five horses (four mares and a gelding), two female pygmy goats, a male rabbit, three cats (one male and two female), and four dogs (one male and three females). Yes, that’s right. You don’t have to count them again. We really do have a total of 15 pets at the moment. Don’t worry, through, we are responsible pet owners and have all of our cats and dogs “fixed” with the exception of one male cat, as he’s not yet old enough to do so.
I’ve always been an animal lover, but never in my life would I have thought I would have 15 animals. I’m not some animal hoarder, either. I provide the best care possible to all of my animals, and I truly love them with my whole heart!
Those that know me personally have probably already heard about my little goat baby. She actually belongs to my oldest daughter, but this little goat has a special place in my heart. We almost lost her when she was just a month old. She was pretty much lifeless when we found her, but through our tears, my entire family worked to save this little goat baby’s life. We worked on her for two solid hours after my husband brought her lifeless body inside to warm her. I took a quick moment to look it up on Google to try to save her, and it gave ways to bring her body temperature back up. She was so tiny at that point and fit right in my kitchen sink. (Again, don’t think we’re nasty, but we did what we had to do at the time, and afterwards, we bleached it real good!) We ran warm water to fill the sink and submerged all but her head in the water in an effort to bring her body temperature back up. Then, we placed her in warm towels fresh from the dryer and used a hair dryer to also try to raise her body temperature as we dried her hair. We also tried to bring her blood sugar levels back up by placing a few drops of honey on our fingers and putting them in the corner of her mouth. When these efforts did not work, we tried it all over again. Back in the warm water she went. We were not giving up on her! I refused to do so. I worked on her while crying and begging God not to take her from us. I kept looking in her eyes and could see life in them. I knew that although she wasn’t moving, she was still with us! I felt it in my heart and had to keep going with the life saving efforts. After two hours, this little goat made the sweetest sound as she cried, then flopped out of my arms onto the floor. She was still incredibly weak, unable to stand up, but she flared her limbs around a few times, then rested her head on me. She looked right up at me with those big beautiful eyes, and she tried a few more times to stand. It was then that I knew God brought her back to us! It is truly a miracle from God that she is here today, and we are so very thankful. Although my daughter had originally named her Tory, she will forever be my “little goat baby.”
I could go on and on about all of the animals on my little farm, and I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about all of my fur babies. But tonight, I had to tell you about a miracle from God and how He brought one of our fur babies back to us!
Oh, how I love this little goat baby!
Exploring The Ordinary
Yesterday morning began as usual without any extraordinary occurrences. We arose from our slumber anticipating a leisurely Summer day. All was well throughout the day until we received an evening call which changed all of that. We went from exploring the ordinary to being thrown into a situation we’ve never encountered before.
“They’re taking Mom to the hospital. She’s unresponsive.”
My daughter sat with a look of disbelief on her face as she repeated the words her friend had spoken a few seconds earlier.
“Where are they taking her?” I asked, followed by, “Tell him we will meet them there!”
We all sat in silence as we made our way to the hospital as we whispered prayers straight from our hearts to God’s ears.
Our prayers were interrupted mere minutes from reaching the hospital as he called back and said, “She’s gone …”
Oh, Dear God …
We rounded the corner of the emergency room parking lot, searched the people standing outside, and scanned the cars parked nearby. There in the back of the lot was his white Acura with the door open. We approached the car slowly as we did not see anyone inside at first. Then we saw him laying almost lifeless himself across the seat of the car with his hand over his face sobbing deeply. I ran to him, pulled him up out of the seat and held him close to me as he cried, soaking the arm of my shirt with his heartbreaking tears.
His mother was gone. The only true mother figure in his life was gone. This woman, his grandmother, stepped in when he was only four days old, to care for him. She became his “Mom” at that point, and she raised him as her very own all these years. At 19 years old, his heart broke right there last night and shattered into a million pieces. We got there as soon as we could to gather those shattered pieces and hold him as tightly as our arms could.
This was most certainly not an ordinary day at all as it ended in such heartbreak and pain. Watching our dear friend trying so hard to be strong was excruciating for us as there was nothing we could do to take this pain from him. All we could do was hold him, pray for him, and ask God to comfort as only He can at a time like this.
One thing we know for certain is this woman left this world last night and was rejoicing with her Lord and Savior that night. As we wrapped our strong arms around him to hold him up, Jesus opened His Almighty Arms and welcomed her Home.
None of us know when our time on this earth is through. Let us all get our hearts and lives right so when our time comes, our loved ones will know without a doubt that we’re in Heaven as well.
Love Is In The Air
Love is in the air. Do you feel it?
Floating past you seemingly unnoticed at first, then knocking you off your feet.
The tall, dark, and handsome man across the room glances at you and continues to sneak a peek hoping you won’t catch him, and yet you do. Frozen in time for a moment, his face flushes red as he turns away only to look back at you as you’re now watching him.
And so it begins.
A soft smile forms on your lips as you look down and to the side.
Fast forward and these once shy teenagers are now older doing this thing called “Life” together.
Hand in hand. Heart to heart.
Love has brought fourth two beautiful children. When you didn’t think it possible to have any greater love, you became a mother! Now, without a doubt, you know the meaning of unconditional love.
Soft cries in the night, those of your newborn baby girl. Rushing to her side, cradling her in your arms, you look down at the face of an angel. God’s angel. He sent her to this earth for you to nurture, love, shelter and protect. And she gave your life new meaning and purpose.
Years later, after trouble, adversity, tragedy, and heartache struck, God blessed you with your miracle from above. Your heart’s desire now wrapped securely in a blanket, placed in your arms as you cry tears of pure joy at another angel God has trusted you with.
Your life feels complete. Your family unit now whole. And all is right in the world.
Years pass by, and your babies grow up. One now 19, the other knocking on the door of her 12th birthday. The pregnancy you lost never forgotten.
You reflect back, and it all seems like yesterday. You can recall every precious moment with your baby girls, all the beautiful firsts. And you look around and wonder where the time has gone? Why did your babies have to grow up so incredibly fast? It’s like you blinked, and they transformed into a grown up version of the little ones you once held hands with crossing the street. Yet you treasure every memory you’re blessed to have, and you take way too many pictures of moments to make them last a lifetime. Savoring every single moment in time, loving with all your might, pouring out all of yourself into your family. Grasping every fraction of a second you can with them before they’re grown enough to extend their wings to fly.
And you dread when that day comes knowing your heart will break. As you wave your hand high in the air at them going down the driveway while blinking back tears, the love you share with your children will remain forever.
Whether near or far, love is where you are … right there tucked inside your heart.
Forever.
And no one can take that from you.
