Tag: dogs

Leave It!

Pink post it notes, carpet, a wiffle ball, tissues, socks, a toy sheep’s leg, the button on boxer shorts, a duplo Lego, and poisonous mushrooms. What do all of these have in common? These are just some of the items that our dog, Zoey, has eaten. 

Zoey with something she’s actually allowed to have.

If I’m with her and see her about to eat something, I say, “Leave it!”. She does, most of the time. She needs someone to keep her accountable. I’m the same way. I don’t try to eat the carpet, but I do other foolish things. I’m thankful when someone is willing to speak up and keep me going the right direction. 

Right now, my daughter, Amy, is helping me tremendously, as we are training to run a marathon. It’s been fun planning together and keeping each other updated on our progress. She is such a great encouragement to me and definitely helps keep me on track! Tomorrow will be the greatest distance I’ve ever gone – 15 miles. I am so grateful that I will be running with Amy and not on my own!

Amy and me at the Coastal Delaware Running Festival half marathon in November, 2021.

Thankfully, Zoey has survived all of her culinary adventures. I don’t know if her habit of eating absolutely anything will ever be broken. In the meantime, I will keep watch and continue working on teaching her and holding her accountable. Who is holding you accountable, and who are you helping in the same way?

“Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

“True friendship is God’s editor, chipping away at my old self and cheering on the new.” – Steve West

My son, Dan, with Zoey and Kaylee.

Wiggly And Waggly

If I simply look at her, her tail starts going back and forth in wide swooshes. Our dog, Zoey, has a perpetually wagging tail. Many times I hear her tail thump, thump, thumping against the wall when she’s asleep in her bed. She wags her tail widely and a lot!

Kaylee, our other dog, also wags her tail, but not nearly as often and in more of a quivering motion. If she’s extra happy and excited, her tail may swish back and forth a whole few inches in a little wiggle. 

Mike, my husband, with our granddaughters and the pups at Nottingham County Park.

Some of us are wiggly and others are waggly, meaning some are more expressive than others. The same emotions happening on the inside can appear quite differently on the outside. The point is not to make assumptions based on a wiggle or waggle. Let’s give each other space to respond the way we are designed; don’t expect others to react like you would.  

Kaylee and Zoey (Zoey has the white-tipped tail).

God made each of us so wonderfully and just as He planned! He created male and female in His image. Together we are a beautiful picture of His design for life, both wiggly and waggly. 

When you look at those around you, always remember they are made in the image of God.

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. Genesis 1:27

My son, Dan, with Senna, Adina, Kaylee, and Zoey (each unique and each dearly loved).
Kaylee and Zoey