Pure Heartache

Our Simba 

Most people who know me know I tend to be a private person. Probably perfected after years of practicing the age old art of cover-up. But my relationship with God, and my time at Grace, has helped me to see that He already knows I'm flawed. That's made me more comfortable in my own skin.

So - with that being said - today's post is to let you know that my heart is absolutely breaking.

I grew up in the country, which many people think means the great outdoors. But my parents did not farm, per se, they more or less gardened. It wasn't until some of us had married and left home that my parents actually built another house, moving to 'The Farm.' Anyway, as kids we still had numerous pets. Like most, we had the customary pastel colored Easter ducks, chickens and rabbits. Poor things. They all mostly disappeared - mysteriously - except for my sister's duck. My mom accidentally backed over it leaving the garage one day. It devastated my mom. Seriously.

Most of our dogs - and cats - were victims of Hwy 13. I'm assuming this was before restraints or leashes of any kind were widely used because they would wander and that would often be the last time we ever saw them. My parents didn't believe in indoor pets and I'm sure 4 stair-step-aged kids played a big part in that. So as a result I never really had much time to get attached to childhood pets. 

But 14 years ago - came Simba. Man oh man ... what an awesome, awesome pooch ...

Simba was given to Amanda as an early Christmas gift. She named him Simba - from The Lion King. He was her pet. Yes, we did as many parents do and assumed she could accept full responsibility of the day to day care and attention that he would require. Then when we realized how busy her life was, Mike stepped in.

Simba quickly became a member of our family. Let me repeat that. A member of our family. For you to truly understand our heartache you have to wrap your head around that first. He was a part of our family 24/7 and he helped to make our house a home. Every. Single. Day.

At first he was like another child. You know - the whole potty training thing. Puppy pads and accidents. Then teaching him what he was and wasn't allowed to do. Particularly when it came to Q-tips. Oh my gosh - how he loved to find a Q-tip!

And he required multiple trips to the vet. Not just for the normal vaccinations, but because he also had a lengthy history of ear infections. We would always complain about it costing more than taking one of the kids to the doctor - but we never regretted a single trip.

Look at that handsome boy :) He was a faithful client at The Village Groomer. They scheduled him annualy for regular 6 week appointments. He even had a calendar with paw prints marking his special dates. I'm pretty sure we also spent more on his salon visits than on my own :) And once again - we never regretted a single trip.

He LOVED his visits to the groomer. So much that we couldn't even say the word 'haircut' until it was time to actually get in the car. I swear it sounded like he was barking the words 'hurrrry, hurrry' the entire way there. I don't know what they did to him, but he absolutely loved to visit Mike and the ladies to be pampered!

Simba was a unique and irreplaceable pet. He had complete rein of our home when we were away. He was never kenneled and never gave us reason to do so. He never bothered anything. Nothing. He could go the entire day without an 'accident'. He ate when he was hungry and he stopped when he was full. He sat at the door and barked to go out - and then he sat at the door and barked to come back in. He growled at one person the entire time we knew him - and he never met a stranger. Like many of us complex humans, he simply longed to be acknowledged.

He loved to be brushed and he hated a bath. If Mike made the mistake of saying the word 'bath' he would immediately sneak off to his hiding place - under our bed.

He knew what a treat was and he loved microwaved bologna. He loved watermelon, tomatoes, popcorn and sweets. Mike treated him like a King at mealtime and Simba loved the man to death for it.

He loved to fight rain water gushing from a downspout - with the determination of a true little fighter. Yeah, he always wound up looking like a little drowned rat, but he never gave up.

He loved our neighbor, Dwayne. For some reason Simba idolized the man. He always knew when Dwayne was outside and would sit in the same spot for hours just staring at him.

Simba was as smart and as wise as could be. Miss Priss taught him how to play hide-and-seek. Really! And he always found her. :) He loved and knew us all by name. Daddy, Mama, Amanda and Michael. He always knew when we were due home - waiting just inside the door to greet us. All he wanted was for us to know that he was there.

If you've ever been blessed by the love of a family pet I know you understand the degree of heartache in our family right now. We miss the clicking of his nails on the hardwood. The clinking of his name tag on his water bowl. The jingling of his collar. And even the snoring while he slept. We miss anything and everything about him.

I'll end this by saying that Simba completed our family. He was normalcy and right now that is missing.

He won't be waiting when we get home today and our hearts are absolutely breaking.

So we will do our best to play the old cover-up. But please understand if we become misty-eyed when you offer condolences or we're caught off guard by our raw emotions for a while.  

We loved Simba more than you can imagine.

He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them, and every new dog that comes into my life gifts me with a piece of theirs." Anonymous

 Give your burdens to the LORD,
      and he will take care of you.  Psalm 55:2

God blesses those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.   Matthew 5:4

Shelia :'(

Snow, Celebration & Blessings

Man, what a difference a week can make. Remember that a week ago last night we had snow?? It caught us off guard - and wondering if dinner out was worth it ...


And then this week we've had warm(er) temps, thunderstorms and rain, ridiculous winds, chilly(er) temps and yesterday a bright sun that was out and absolutely beautiful! Clarksville weather :)

This past Friday night was spent with Miss Priss. We attended the first Ladies Night Out sponsored by Grace. Nothing big :) Just about 200 friends and new faces who were treated to a little ol' evening of wisdom and laughter by the amazing Patsy Clairmont. I needed it. Can't wait until the next one!

Last Sunday, Mike and I celebrated our 30th Anniversary. It's really surreal when I think of it. On one hand I consider everything life has brought us over the past 30 years, then on the other it seems like it was just yesterday that we said our vows. Craaaaaazy! I think this quote says it well ...

              'Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.’

hmmmm ...

We decided on no gifts since #1 neither of us need anything and #2 we'll be heading to Daytona soon for a visit. But naturally I couldn't let it pass without doing something. So in the spirit of Pinterest (and yes this was MY creation) I gave him a Box of Love (go ahead ye naysayers and gag if you like).

I found a 'manly' box at Hobby Lobby, used scrapbook paper to print my personal thoughts, dated and labeled the bottom and filled it up with 30 reasons why I love Mike Sheppard.
 

I think he liked it. I found this hidden in my purse yesterday :)


We started out with no plans for the upcoming weekend, but found out last night that The Forbes are treating us to an anniversary dinner Saturday evening. I love surprises :) We're looking forward, as always, to spending time with them.

We'll also be treated to some time with our Sammie this weekend. It really does this Nana's heart good to know she's giving up a Saturday night - just to hang out with us :)

Add to that the great things we're hearing from Daytona - and life is indeed good. God continues to bless our family!

We start this Sunday morning out with sign-ups for a new small group. We are so excited! It still amazes us how a group of people/strangers from all walks of life just mesh into a family all their own. We are really looking forward to living life as a small group.

That's about it for today. I'll end with a couple of things that made me think, laugh or smile this week. 

Until later :)

  

 

 

  

 

 
 

What Really Matters

I'm sharing another devotional today. Soak it up!

Far too often I seek God’s blessings instead of seeking God. I seek His hand instead of His heart. Like a child with a long Christmas list, at times I run to my heavenly Father as if He’s a celestial Wal-Mart purposed to satisfy my every want. Instead of leaning in to hear the whispered will of the Lord, I selfishly shout my will. My desires. My demands. I’d rather have relief from life-pressures than gain the strength to endure them and the lessons I’m intended to learn from them. When I’m desperate to fill my over-sized heart-cart with things that I think I need, I rob myself of what really matters: the pursuit of God and the blessings found in Him alone.

Why do we desire God’s intervention in our lives more than His presence? Why do we think that we know what we need? It’s so arrogant of us to tell God how to be God. Isn’t that what we do when we stomp our feet before His throne and whine about all of the things that need fixing instead of praising Him for the strength He graciously gives us to endure? While we’re certainly encouraged by Scripture to make our requests known to the Father (Philippians 4:6), the highest calling on our lives is to love God with all of our hearts, souls, bodies and minds (Matthew 22:37). What really matters is seeking God first.

God knew we would struggle with this truth. His Word promises that when we chase His heart, we can relax. Our needs will be met because He loves us.

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:30-34, NLT).

The Message version of the Bible says it like this:

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, and God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:30-34, MSG).

Set your list of wants aside today and seek God. Go before Him with a heart of worship and adoration. Get lost in His presence. Remember His mercy. Relish His grace. Love Him. Seek Him. Put first things first.

God loves us so much. His plan is perfect and His ways are mysterious. He knows our needs and He knows our desires. When we remember what really matters we can rest in the knowledge that He’s working on our behalf, and in our best interest, to bring glory to Himself through our lives.

How has God met your needs in the past? Do you trust that He is able to meet them today?

He’s not just concerned with your needs – God also cares about your heart matters. Read, meditate on and memorize this verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, ESV).

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Please know that today’s devotion is not suggesting that we shouldn’t go to God with our burdens. We must! But God wants your love before your list.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33, NIV).

Until later :)

One tough cookie...

I spent the day with Priss yesterday.

Most of you know that mother/daughter time is something we've lacked very little of - well, accept for those few years when she thought she loved her friends more than she did me ;)

Anyway - yesterday wasn't exactly what you'd call an outing or anything. More to the point, it was spent in Gateway for yet another day of surgery. And much to her dismay, it turned out that Mr. Forbes had non-negotiable responsibilities at work. So naturally, I was more than happy to fill in for him.

The day started early and you know how it goes - 'Please deny yourself food and drink so that you may arrive super early just to lie and/or sit around and wait on us.' But still, she was all smiles.


And thanks to Wi-Fi - she had plenty to keep her occupied.


It was a typical day of same-day surgery - which means exhausting. I'm pretty sure Priss would have gladly traded places, but there's just something about waiting at a hospital that wears me completely out. (y-a-w-n)

Everything went fine - she has a great surgeon. She should be good as new in a couple of weeks - if she follows the doctor's orders.

Now, anyone who knows her will understand the following photo. For a while now her catch-phrase has been 'rude'...


Not completely sure she remembers using it here :)

And while she's not your typical sassy patient at all, experience has taught me she's always happier at home and settled in.

Here's Jaxon - looking out for Mommy.


And again - more than content to fill in until Daddy can make it home.


We caught up on a few dvr'd shows and I'm pretty sure we got in a few catnaps.

She's a tough little cookie, no doubt. Makes her mama proud :)


Prayers for speedy healing appreciated ...

Until later :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving Wednesday today because of the large open windows in my office.


It may be cold and breezy outside, but I'm loving the absolutely gorgeous sunshine beaming through today. Definitely getting in my quota of vitamin D for the day :)

"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." Ecclesiastes 11:7

I'm loving Wednesday because I'm gearing up for the first of my 2012 'DIY' projects I hope to accomplish. I'm excited to get started. And whether I post before and after pictures will depend strictly upon my level of success :)

I'm loving Wednesday this week because there is no laundry duty tonight! The four day weekend gave me a jump on that. Oh come on. Surely I'm not the only one who participates in some form of laundry almost nightly...

I'm loving Wednesday because that means tomorrow is Thursday and the next day is Friday. This week it's as simple as that. Come on weekend!

Until later :)

Refresh yourself ...

With the New Year I began a new devotional. Loaded it on my Kindle and then downloaded the FREE iPhone app to go along with it. Devotion on the GO! Plus it's actually a devotional that Miss Priss told me about. I love the fact that she knows what her mama needs :)

So as my first official work week of 2012 began today, I wasn't surprised that this was the one I'd start it off with.

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. This Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances.

I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am. I LOVE THIS!!

Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am you burden-bearer. Can I get an AMEN?


In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you have confident Peace. What a comforting reminder!

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Soak it up!

Until later :)