Friday Photos

This photo is not of excellent quality, nor is it a flattering photo of me, but it represents a humorous event in our lives.

For several years, Glen and I backpacked sections of the Appalachian Trail.  On this particular hike, we were hiking in Virginia.  Part of the hike included a section where feral ponies had been brought in to eat the vegetation.  Due to the prevalence of hikers in this area, the ponies have become very accustomed to humans.  They will even come up to you to either get food or to lick the salt off your arms and legs.

I love the beauty and power of large animals, but I must admit that I have never been comfortable around them. I think this stems from watching my brother get bitten by a very large dog when I was a little girl.

So, back to the picture.  We had hiked all day and were ready to set up our tent for the night in a spot nestled in the curve of the trail.  We could see the southbound trail, but not the northbound trail. Before we set up our tent, we decided to have a cup of coffee.  I sat down on a large rock to enjoy my cup, and I had only taken a couple of sips when Glen shouted, "Look, honey!  The ponies!"

The ponies had come down the northbound trail, and before I could even look up, one was right next to me. Before I could move, it started to lick my neck.  I jumped off that rock as if I were spring-loaded.  In the process, I spilled my coffee all over my leg.  Not to miss an opportunity for something tasty, the pony started licking the coffee off my leg.  I wanted to shoo the pony away, especially since his friends were starting to follow him into our campsite. Glen wanted a picture, and I didn't mind, as long as he hurried about it!  After a couple of snapshots, he gently encouraged the ponies to leave.  Realizing they would get nothing else to eat or lick, they went their way.

While uncomfortable at the time, this was one of the most humorous events of that hike, perhaps of all our hikes.

This was the "second take," and I tried to look like I was enjoying it.

I think he was wondering if he could open the backpack!

All Things Ellie Tuesday

Ellie, being a beagle, is a scent hound. 

It is said that beagles have approximately 225 million olfactory receptors, compared to humans' 5 million.  Additionally, they possess a larger olfactory lobe in the brain, enabling them to detect scents at incredibly low concentrations, approximately 10,000 times more sensitive than humans.

This explains what happened Sunday morning.

When we are leaving Ellie alone in the house for a while, we always like to leave her a treat.  Usually, I scatter this on the floor so she has to use those wonderful olfactory receptors to find all her treats.  This is good stimulation for her and keeps her occupied long enough for us to get in the car.

We were preparing to leave for church Sunday morning, and I had placed her bowl with her treats on the counter, along with her dental chew.

This is what I saw when I came back to the kitchen:

I especially loved the sideways look.  I have seen Ellie in action enough, trying to steal food, to know that her long tongue can reach out and capture things I would have thought impossible.

Fortunately, she only had a couple more minutes to wait until everything in the bowl was hers to enjoy!

A Tray of Lasagna

When my youngest daughter says she is going to make a dessert, I know two things about it before I even hear what it is.  I know it will be absolutely delicious and absolutely beautiful. Baking, however, is not just an art; it is science. 

Measurements have to be precise. In fact, the best way to measure ingredients when baking is by weighing them. But if you are going to use measuring cups, it must be a “good measure”.  This means there can be no air pockets in the ingredients, and the ingredients must be level with the brim of the cup, without excess. Too much or too little of an ingredient will change the consistency, texture, and taste of the final product.

Our Lord used this phrase, “good measure,” regarding our giving to others and receiving of good things ourselves:

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom.  For with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again,” (Luke 6:38.)

Often, when I read this verse, my mind skips over the word “Give” and flies to the part about receiving.  I think the Lord may have been addressing that attitude as He tells us that “with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.” 

If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus, then as we trust Him, He will supply all we need, when we need it, in every situation.  We need not worry about the venue of the supply, He will take care of those details. And His “measure” is always a “good measure,” in fact, a perfect measure.  

Glen and I have seen that in our lives over and over again, and it started from the very beginning our our marriage. I had just graduated from my nursing program, and Glen was still in college. Once, we unexpectedly came to the end of our budget before we reached the end of the week.  We sat down and prayed together, asking the Lord would supply. We told no one about our need.

Within a day, friends called us and asked us to dinner.  And my Mother called. She said a church social she had been preparing for had been canceled.  She had made a large salad and a pan of lasagna.  She knew she and my Dad could not eat it all, and asked if we would come and get it.  We hung up laughing.  Did we want my mother’s lasagna? Uh, YES!  And her salad was legendary.  We had food for the whole week!  The Lord had abundantly provided.

This was an event we often recalled in our marriage.  It bolstered our faith in other times of need.  While we thanked our mothers’ hands for making the food, we knew this provision was from our heavenly Father.

“Now unto him that is able to do 

exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen,” 

 (Ephesians 3:20,21).

Unseen, Yet Always Working

 

This morning, as is our habit, Ellie and I went outside for a walk.  This always begins with going into the backyard and looking for Percival, the box turtle who lives on our property.  More specifically, who lives behind our kayaks.

If we don't see him immediately when we go there, I will lightly tap on the kayaks and call his name to let him know we are there with his breakfast.  Then I listen.  Often, I can hear him moving to one end or the other. (Box turtles can't move backwards, so sometimes it takes him a minute or two to get to the end of the kayaks.)

Ellie had been sniffing at both ends and even along the ground where the kayaks rest.  I knew from the way she was acting that he was there, but she wasn't going to be satisfied until she could see him.

I could hear him moving, so I knew we would see him soon, but Ellie stood at the end of the kayaks looking between them. Her head turned from one side to the next as if she didn't understand why she didn't see him yet.  Then, finally, he reached the end, and we both could clearly see him.  He walked toward us and was rewarded with his daily food.

This reminded me so much of our walk with the Lord.  We know, by our experience, but more by His Word, that He is involved in every minute of our lives.  Yet, like Ellie, we are perplexed as to why we don't see Him moving in obvious ways.  Or sometimes, we are perplexed as to why we don't see Him moving in the ways we desired or expected.  And yet, He is there.  He is always there.  He is always working in our lives, our circumstances, and even in our spirits to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So many times, we don't see or hear this working, and we must simply believe it by faith.  Sometimes our "outward man" hurts, feels weak, or, as the Scriptures concisely describe, "perisheth".  Yet, that same verse continues to say, "...yet the inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

As we go through our days and face moments that prompt us to turn our heads in question, as Ellie did, we must make a conscious choice to turn our faces toward our Lord.  As we choose to trust Him by faith, that He is indeed working in every aspect of our lives, we will growingly be aware that the Lord "effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue..."

2 Peter 1:3

Friday Photos

This picture was taken on December 30, 2011, during the time our oldest grandchildren stayed with us every other weekend. Taking care of young children as grandparents was difficult, but we realized this would be one of the most treasured times of our lives.

When this picture was taken, I had just acquired a new laptop with a built-in camera.  I suspected they would enjoy making faces at themselves and they did.  The closeness of our faces in this picture depicts the closeness of our hearts during that time. While Glen and I were both exhausted by the end of the weekend, our hearts were full of joy.

Here are the rest of the pictures:

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward."

Psalm 127:3

All Things Ellie Tuesday...and Percival, too!

This morning, Ellie and I went outside.  We primarily do so that Ellie can do what she needs to do, but that is not her primary concern.  As soon as she is out the door, she is headed to the backyard where our kayaks rest against the side of the house.  

 

Quite some time ago, Percival adopted this spot as his home.  Last fall, while Percival was brumating, Glen and I took the opportunity to clean out this area, replace the leaves, and install a plastic box where Percival could retreat to escape the weather.  We also put a shallow bowl into the ground right by the kayaks, so he could cool off when he wanted to.  I also hoped this tiny pool would discourage any cats who might want to try to reach Percival.

He seems to have liked the upgrade to his domicile, because he is there almost every morning when Ellie and I go out.  This morning, he was actually sitting in his pool.  As soon as he saw us, he began walking toward us.  I am going to choose to believe it was because he loves us, not simply because he knows I bring chicken and cantaloupe for him.

(Percival does not have an injury in this photo; it is a piece of a leaf.)

Ellie has seen many box turtles in her life, but she doesn't react to any other the way she does to him.  I can barely hold her on the leash.  This morning, she stretched her body out to its fullest length so she could sniff him.  He sat contentedly eating while she did so.

Every time Ellie goes outside, she wants to look for Percival.  She is particularly good at letting us know he is under the car, where he frequently likes to hang out.

I am so thankful to the Lord for leading Ellie to Percival on that first morning and for giving us the interest to continue searching for him.  He brings joy to our hearts in a way I can't explain.  Part of it may be the obvious joy he brings to Ellie.

Percival eating breakfast.  Ellie is just outside of the frame.

Taking Pleasure

 This morning, my husband, Glen, quoted in his online devotional, The Special of the Day from the Orange Moon Cafe, the verse "The Lord taketh pleasure in His people" (Psalm 149:4).

Out my window

I had a wonderful example of that this morning.  I was sitting in a chair by the window.  Often, when I sit in this chair, I enjoy looking out the window.  I love the bright green of the grass and the hydrangeas under the window, and the darker green of the oak tree in our front yard, and the beautiful blue sky.

As I was looking, I let my gaze drop to Ellie's bed under this window.  Ellie loves to sit and look outside like I do.  But this time, she wasn't looking out the window; she was looking at me.  

It wasn't an "I need something" look, because she was fully resting on the bed.  It was more of an "I love you" look (or at least that is how I choose to interpret it!)

As I looked into those beautiful, caramel colored eyes (which perfectly match her fur), I could feel her love for me.  I just sat there, returning her gaze.  I wanted her to know that I feel the same way for her... that I "take pleasure" in her.  There are many things about Ellie that I take pleasure in, and many things I do with Ellie that I enjoy, but I wanted her to know that I also take pleasure just in her.  I think she knew I was choosing to look at her, just as she had been looking at me.

I know Ellie loves me; she follows me almost everywhere I go! But I want Ellie to rest assured that I love her as well.

If this story were just about me and Ellie, it would be sweet.  But it is so much sweeter because it began with the truth that our Lord "taketh pleasure in His people."

He loves us more than we can ever even begin to imagine.  Thankfully, we will have a glorious and wonderful eternity to explore all the depths of His love for us!

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33

"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee."  

Jeremiah 31:3

Friday Photos

 

I vividly remember taking this picture.  We were traveling to a friend's house and the setting sun looked so stunning against the gray clouds and bare bine-stems of the trees.  Since we were riding down the road, I didn't expect the picture to turn out, but it by far exceeded my expectations.  I believe that is how the Lord is with us, if we trust Him, He will always exceed our expectations.

Update: Guess who was in our driveway this morning?

 

Percival!

In our post on Thursday, I wrote about our turtle, Percival, and how he had been missing for three weeks.  You can read about that in this post.

On Thursday afternoon, I was working on our next children's book in the "Ellie & Percival Series" and drawing Percival.  It made me so sad to be working on him, not knowing if we would ever see him again.  I told Glen I thought this would be the last of the books with Percival. (Because without him, how would I have anything to write?) I tried to pray for whoever would encounter Percival that he would be a blessing to them as well.

This morning, Glen, Ellie, and I had stepped out for a walk, and Percival was in our driveway!  Glen went into the house to get him some breakfast while Ellie and I stayed outside with him. As I spoke to him, he walked closer to us.  

We stood there watching him eat chicken and cantaloupe for several minutes, and thanking the Lord for leading him back to us.  Glen shared with me that he had prayed the previous day that the Lord would guide Percival back to us.  I had prayed for Percival's provision and protection, but I hadn't prayed he would return, even though I wanted that very much.  The Lord graciously answered both our prayers, even the one I didn't pray.

Then we headed off for a short walk.  When we returned, we didn't see him, but Ellie's keen nose found him under our car.  (This is such a frequent place for him that I kneel to look under the car before we leave to make sure he isn't there.)

We were leaving for our grandchildren's birthday party, so Glen brought Percival a special "dessert", fresh watermelon!  He was also hoping it would occupy Percival while we were backing out of the driveway.

I can't express my relief at seeing him again (automobiles are the number one killer of box turtles), my gratitude that Glen prayed for his return, and my joy that the Lord had graciously answered Glen's prayers.

This whole experience with Percival reinforces in my heart and mind just how very much our Lord loves to answer our prayers. He loves to "give good things to them that ask Him."

So let us take every opportunity to take our request to our Heavenly Father, who delights in mercy and loves to shower His children with blessings "above all we can ask or think."

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; 

and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Psalm 37:4

Our Best Days

For at least twenty years,  I have been wearing monovision contacts. (This means my left eye sees far away and my right eye sees up close.)  Apparently I have the brain type that quickly adapts to that type of vision correction and I have been very happy with it.

In October, though, my eye doctor  told me that we had reached the end of being able to refract my closeup eyesight with  monovision contacts.  This was news I knew was coming eventually, but did not want to hear it when it came. Even since that visit, I have noticed my close-up vision being less than it was.  This gives me two options, one is glasses, the other possibly multifocal contacts.

I have never liked wearing glasses.  I miss my peripheral vision and I don't like the feeling of something on my face.  The other option could possibly be multifocal contacts.  I have tried them twice and each time preferred monovision.

Pondering this situation, I began to think about vision.  Not strictly regarding eyesight, but to our awareness around us.

When we are born, the "lens" of our awareness is very small.  In fact, we are told that in the first few days a newborn doesn't even realize the mother is a separate entity.  

As we grow and learn, the lens of our awareness begins to grow.  As children we learn about our families, our homes, the area where we live.  As we grow and have more experiences, we begin to learn about our town, perhaps our state.  Even older and we begin to learn about our country and our world. Different places, people and things show up in the lens of our awareness.  Then we become aware of things outside of our earthly existence.  We learn of rockets into space, other galaxies and even other universes.  These discoveries are often illuminating, exciting and lead to even more discoveries.

Then at some point in our lives, the lens of our awareness begins to diminish.  Just as the lens of my eyes no longer can focus without visual aids, we begin to think less and less of the things beyond our world.  The more we age, the smaller our lens of awareness becomes. Limitations, from multiple sources, keep us from exploring the things beyond our realm. 

This would all be extremely depressing, if it weren't for the Lord.  

Because we believe and trust in the Lord, we know this physical life is not all there is.  The greatest, the best of our existence is ahead of us. Once we pass from this mortal life to life eternal, we will be so shocked at how wide the lens of our awareness will be forever! 

Mostly, we will see how much more we are aware of the Lord, in us, by us, through us and all around us.  This is true now, but as the Scriptures says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12).  

But then, oh, what glories we will see!  What wonders we will behold! Things we can't imagine now will be before us! Delightful beauties and glories will abound! We can "hand our hat" on this verse"

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." 

1 Corinthians 2:9

Our very best days are ahead!

Friday Photos

 

Percival and the Lord

 For those of you who are familiar with our 

Ellie First Finds Percival

"Ellie & Percival Series" children's books, you know who Percival is.  If not, Percival is a box turtle Ellie discovered on our property about two years ago.  We have fed him almost daily since that time.  Percival is so used to us that one day we opened the back door and he was waiting there for us!

A very interesting thing happened to us this morning regarding Percival.  We had not seen him for 24 days (yes, I keep up with things like that). I suspected, since it has been  so hot lately, he was probably in the nearby creek cooling off.  Still, every morning when I walked Ellie, I would carry chicken for him, and sometimes cantaloupe, too. (He loves cantaloupe!)

This morning something unusual happened. 

Usually in the mornings, Ellie waits until we are ready to take her out, but this morning, she let us know she needed to go outside.  Glen and I were both up and getting ready for the day at that time and since his process is quicker than mine, he called for her to come so he could take her out.  Usually she trots along at his call, but this time she didn't move. She stayed at the bathroom door watching me.  He called again. She still didn't move. By this time, I was also ready and began to take her out myself. (This is important to the story because when I walk with Ellie in the mornings we go a different way than when Glen walks her.)

On the way out,  I grabbed some chicken in case we saw Percival, as was my habit, and we were out the door.  Usually, we go in the backyard first, to hunt for Percival, and Ellie always pulls to go that way, but not this morning.  She was on a scent and down the driveway we went. 

We turned onto the sidewalk and crossed onto the main street in our neighborhood.  Ellie did her "business" and as I was picking it up, I saw Percival in the middle of  the street about three houses down.

Now you might wonder how I knew right away it was him and not another turtle.  Well, for one thing, I have fed him almost everyday (except during his brumation) for at least two years.  Also, I have drawn him many times for the "Ellie & Percival" books. But mainly I knew it was him because he has a long neck and extends it fully when walking.  This gives him a very distinctive profile.

Ellie and I scooted toward him, first because he was crossing the street and I wanted to protect him if a car came by.   

Secondly,  and this may surprise you, turtles can move remarkably fast. By the time we reached him he was in the gutter.  

Ellie was so excited to see Percival, I could hardly hold on to the leash to keep her from rushing him.  As he reached the gutter, he clearly recognized us. I tossed some chicken to him, which he quickly gobbled up. I was curious as to what he would do next. I totally expected, and hoped, he would follow us home.

He walked from the gutter, over the grass to the sidewalk.  I backed up a bit and was ready to have him follow us when he turned and began going in the other direction!  

I would be lying if I said this didn't hurt my feelings.  Every morning, EVERY morning, we have looked for this turtle!  Every morning I carried chicken in my pocket for him! 

I knew I shouldn't pick him and carry him home, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't have done it.  Ellie would have probably knocked me down in her exuberance to be near Percival. But she didn't want to leave him either, and resisted me on the leash the whole way home.

Once I got over my hurt feelings I had to admit a couple things to myself:

1. It is still hot and I believe Percival was heading to the creek to cool off. I think that is also where he goes to brumate.

2. The presence of feral cats next door (2 cats and now 3 kittens) and the occasional opossum (whom we have seen on our bird feeder camera) may have discouraged him from staying at his usual place nearby behind our kayaks.

3. The most important of all. How wonderful for the Lord to lead us to be exactly at the place we could see Percival, precisely at the moment he was crossing the street!  If Glen had taken Ellie out, we wouldn't have seen him.  If Ellie had gone in the  backyard first as she always does (looking for Percival), we wouldn't have seen him.  The Lord arranged our morning so we were in the perfect place at the perfect time.

Why? So we could be reassured that Percival was alive and well.  So Ellie could get a glimpse of the friend she diligently searches or every single morning.

If there were not already millions upon millions of other things proving to me that the Lord loves us and is concerned with every detail of our lives - no matter how small- this would surely prove it.

So, this story may be about Percival, and even about me and Glen and Ellie, but it is really about the Lord's great love and involvement in our lives.

"Thou openest hine hand, 

and satisfieth the desire of every living thing." 

Psalm 145:16

As Close As Possible

There is something our beagle Ellie does that I absolutely love.  In fact, each time she does it I find myself softly chuckling.

Ellie usually starts the night out in our bed and in the night leaves to sleep in some of her other favorite places.  Then, early in the morning, she returns.

Knowing she wants to be under the covers, I lift them up for her and then she snuggles as close to me as possible.  As I curl my body around hers, as if she wasn't already close enough, she snuggles a little bit more. It is this second snuggling that brings out a chuckle. I usually drape my arm across her body and the two of us go back to sleep.

The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest as she breathes relaxes me, and I think my breathing relaxes her as well.  We both benefit from her choice to cuddle next to me.

This interaction reminds me of this verse: 

"Draw nigh to God; and He will draw nigh to you."

James 4:8

The Lord desires us to come to Him, to "draw nigh" to Him:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

Let us all choose to "draw nigh to God" and to find He draws nigh to us in return.  He gives us a full and complete rest.  He restores our souls and strengthens us. If we have placed our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, we have nothing to fear by drawing nigh to Him, and everything to gain.  There we will find Him to be everything we ever need.

Trust in the Lord always for having Him, we have all.

All Things Ellie

Ellie loves people and they usually seem to love her, too.  

This was evident when we took her with us to a local home supply store.  This store welcomes dogs and we were visiting the garden area.  Ellie had a great time smelling all the plants, planters and especially the bags of compost and manure. (She is, after all, a dog!)

Several of the employees  stopped to talk about Ellie as we passed by.  They all politely asked if they could pet her and Ellie seemed to really enjoy the attention.  Except for one lady.  She was polite and kind like the others, but when she reached out to pet Ellie, Ellie became frightened.  I think it was because the lady had very long fingernails, and the sight of those nails coming straight at her was probably more than she could handle at the moment.

The lady backed off and we joked that today just wasn't the day for her to pet Ellie.  I told her we would come back another day (which I am certain we will) and we will try again later.

I think we all have moments like that with people sometimes.  We may not know what it is specifically that puts us on guard about a person, we just know we feel that way.  Then, on another occasion, we may feel comfortable and at ease with the very same person.  Perhaps, if we choose believe our purpose on this earth is to bless others and be ministers of the love of Christ to everyone, we will find it easier to keep trying to connect with most people.  Sometimes that may mean we need to try again another day, but if we remember it is not about us, but about the Lord, we may yet succeed.

Friday Photos

 

I don't remember where this was taken, but I do recall what this flag represents.  It stands for countless men and women who gave their time, their health, and their lives so that our country may remain free.

When I see these stars and stripes, I think of all the families throughout our nation who have said goodbye to loved ones being deployed to war-torn places. They had no reassurance that their loved one would ever return.  So many didn't.  We owe all these families, and especially those who serve, the utmost respect and appreciation.

Knowing that my son and my daughter-in-law have pledged their lives to defend our Constitution, I cannot help but take pride in the flag that represents that most precious document of our nation.

So, to everyone who calls America their home and loves this country, I say "Happy Independence Day," and to those who fought for and maintain that independence, I say "Thank you," and "God bless you!"

All Things Ellie

Today is Tuesday, so this post should be about Ellie.  But it isn't.

That's because today is Sparrow's birthday, and Ellie would want me to talk about Sparrow.

Sparrow Jean

Sparrow was our first female beagle.  We have had five beagles now.  The first, Grunt, was a gift to our youngest daughter in 2001. He was her best friend until he died in an accident at three years old.

 In 2004, we purchased two beagles, a tri-color and a chocolate, as brothers. They were taken out of our backyard during the next hunting season.

Baby Sparrow

After those losses, we weren't ready for another dog for a while.  Then, for my birthday in 2006, Glen surprised me with Sparrow.  She was eight weeks old and weighed only three and a half pounds.

Sparrow was a sweet, loving dog.  Whenever we returned to the house, she had a distinctive greeting for us.  It was a combination of a howl, a bark and a whine, and it was very loud.  She would make this sound until everyone who was returning would stop and pet her.  You couldn't just speak to her, you had to actually touch her.  

Unlike our first beagle, Grunt, Sparrow was not a very athletic dog.  Probably because of her heart issues, she preferred to sit and watch the world go by outside through her window than to actually be outside.  An example of this happened one day when we went to run errands.  While we were out, our neighbor called and asked if Sparrow was supposed to be outside.  We didn't even know how she got outside.  We told Ralph that no she wasn't and he said, "Oh, she's okay.  She's just sitting on the front porch looking at everything."  Graciously, he took her to his house until we returned home.  No other beagle we have owned would skip the opportunity to explore the neighborhood!

One thing she did not like was to ride in the car.  If the window was down and she could stick her head out, she was good.  But if not, you had to be prepared to listen to a howling beagle until the car stopped. On one trip to the beach, we tried to let her hang her head out of the window, but wind from our 65 mph was drying her eyes out.  We had to endure the howling for the entire hour.   

Sparrow and Emmie

Like Ellie, Sparrow loved to be cuddled. She would jump up in your lap, and if that wasn't possible, she would just scoot up as close to you as she could.

We had Sparrow for 13 years until she died of congestive heart failure, precipitated by her mitral valve prolapse.  When we knew Sparrow was close to the end, we had a wonderful hospice vet (who knew these kind, tender people existed?) who came to our house and made Sparrow's passing the gentlest thing possible.  

It was due to our love for Sparrow and our profound loss of her that we began looking for another beagle and found Ellie.  Interestingly, Ellie was born eight weeks after Sparrow died.  We have always believed that, in some way we can't understand, Sparrow and the Lord send Ellie to us.  We love Ellie doubly because half is for Sparrow.

I firmly believe one of the sweetest scenes we will see in heaven will be all our beagles running up to us.  And one will be especially loud until we pet her.

Katie Sparrow Jean Louise Davis