The Purpose of Theology

This is an interesting reflection (and I don't mind that it is a bit cranky - and the comments about blogging and evangelicalism made me lol) on the relationship between the knowledge of God and the knowledge of self.

And on a lighter note here is Denny in his Halloween costume - he is either a pumpkin or a proud member of a certain political party with prairie roots.
And minus the annoying headwear.

Dogs

Roger Ebert has a really wonderful blog post about dogs here. I'm wiping my tears now.

Scenes from Christmas '08

Denny's First Christmas

Friends came over for an early Christmas and gave Denny a new outfit. Now that he has camo to wear over his red long johns he is a real Albertan.

Denny and George

Theological Reflections on Art

I found this list of theses on art really interesting - I really enjoy this blog a lot.

And in a totally unrelated matter - here is my little work of art waiting for Santa:

The Blessing of the Animals

Yesterday at Ascension we blessed the animals!

Denny's latest

Accomplishment

Besides being told by the vet that he is healthy and bright and brilliant (okay I added that last one) Denny also weighed in at....1.3 kilos!!!!! Yeah!!!!! That is approx. 3 lbs for you non-metric folks. He's a bruiser!

We're Back

Denny and I are home and doing a mountain of laundry after a week in south Saskatchewan sleeping, eating and reading. Well, Denny mended while I read.

Accomplishments of the week:

6 mysteries read

3 movies watched

90 hours slept

And Denny's big accomplishment - he's happy, healthy and bouncy!

Tie him down

I'm going to have to tie Denny down this week while he recovers from his troubles. He's improving noticeably every hour. He's wanting to chase the cat and he's eating (and peeing) like a horse. The first time he ran out of his kennel wagging his tail I thought I'd cry I was so happy. Yeah!!

It looks like it will be a happy ending

Denny has made it through another night and it looks like he is going to be okay. On Wednesday he was enthusiastically greeting someone at the door and he got stepped on. I rushed him to the vet and they pumped him full of steroids and lasix and kept him on oxygen. He made it through that night - I only realized from their comments yesterday that they hadn't expected he would. He came home with me yesterday at dinner and while he's still really weak and fragile he has eaten a little and peed and pooped. His lungs are big bruises apparently and it is important to keep him really quiet to let him heal. It isn't hard right now - all he wants to do is sleep.

I'm a basket case. I'm buying bubble wrap today. But I am also so grateful for the friends who came and sat vigil with me and who prayed for him and who have helped me feed and care for him. I am also more grateful than I can express to my vets. Northside Veterinary Clinic is amazing. They were so good to him and kind to me. And they went in three times in the night to check on him. They have been the most incredible vets through all of Robbie's troubles and now little Denny's misadventure. I am so very grateful.

Quite the Charmer

Yes, Denny Crane does like the chicks :-)

Meet Denny Crane

After all the sorrow in my life these past few months it is with great joy that I introduce the newest member of my family....Denny Crane. Yorkies are friendly, courageous (ie a little in your face), social, high energy. Doesn't that sound like Denny Crane?

Saying goodbye to Robbie

Today most of my Lethbridge family gathered with me to scatter Robbie's ashes at the home of two of the people he really loved. They own beautiful property with a view of the coullees and the mountains. We prayed and read scripture and scattered the ashes while standing downwind (it was a typical windy Lethbridge day). It was lovely and sad and then we ate a lot and talked a lot. What a wonderful day. I am very blessed.

The view from where we scattered him - the second is later in the day with a fancy setting on my camera. That is Chief Mountain.

A reading from Romans 8

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Another of God's creatures enjoying the beauty of the day.

Threshold Issues

We used to joke that Robbie had threshold issues. He was great with people (except the postal carrier) outside the house and in the house but not at the door. Even with friends he would go a little nutty barking his head off if someone stood in the doorway.

Now I have threshold issues. When I come home I pause at the door to listen for him on the other side. When I leave I turn to tell him how long I'll be. It makes comings and goings particularly difficult.

A few years ago on retreat the director talked about the parable of the prodigal son and focussed on how the father, seeing his son a long way off, runs out to greet him with an embrace and a kiss. He asked us if we knew that God, seeing us a long way off runs out to greet us. I thought of Robbie always thrilled to see me whether I had been gone a half hour or a day. After that he was always a special reminder to me of God's love.

Rainbows

After Robbie died I was driving through Bragg Creek and it had just poured. There was an incredible rainbow - a short one but really intense. In that moment I thought of God's promise to never abandon us and felt an intense moment of peace. A friend and the vet's office sent me this little story of how animals go to the rainbow bridge and I thought it was really interesting that people make this connection between animals and rainbows. Then I went to church this morning and one of the kids gave me this picture because Robbie had died. At the announcements one of the women who had walked in the Relay for Life described how an amazing rainbow came out to encourage them at one point.

I am surrounded by rainbows!

Another Sad Day

I had to take Kafka in this morning because he was losing weight and was restless. He hadn't seemed to be in any pain so I thought it might just be old age but the vet found a big nasty tumour under his tongue. It wasn't noticeable three weeks ago but she said it was probably some form of cancer, forget the name, that grows really fast. So we put him down and I cried again. Northside Veterinary Clinic has been absolutely incredible. They have treated us so well. I am so grateful to them.
Kafka, age 15 or 16, came to me 13 years ago. A sweet big suck.

Just because I miss him

A Sorrowful Day

Sir Robert Dobber "Robbie"
came to me in 1999 when he was five. Died yesterday at age fourteen after nine lovely years. We had a quiet last day today enjoying the sun in his favourite back yard and then accompanied by wonderful friends who love us both we made the trip to the vet.
I will miss him terribly.