I told you he was growing

OK... the picture is not so great of me... we just finished walking from the church to the beginning of the Watermelon Day parade, the length of the parade, and then half way back to the beginning, with a stop to get Marshall come water at the concession stand. My friend, Kay., wanted a pic of Marshall and I... so I picked him up... not realizing how hot, red and sweaty and looked. But he has changed since the last picture posted. It was a great day all around. Lots of people, fun at the carnival, lots of folks working hard at carnival activities, parade coordination and entries, entertainment, good food of the usual Lionburgers and hot dogs. Team Hope not only walked in the parade as a team (to promote the Relay for Life), but worked the ring toss activity this year. I did the parade and a shift at ring toss... but when I was to do cashier at the concessions area in the evening a huge storm came up suddenly and everything got shut down. That's OK... they were running out of food anyway. :-) Fortunately, I'd DRIVEN to the park for the evening with Marshall instead of walking up so we only had to run through the pouring rain for about 100 feet.

We are leaving going to church camp on Sunday. I'll probably post something from there if I get time. We'll see how everything goes with the four-footed camper staying with me.

Dog and God

Every day I look at my Golden, Marshall and swear that he has grown overnight. He's sort of like Iowa corn... you can almost see him growing before your eyes. When he first came home he weight just under 15 pounds. When I weighed him on my home scale yesterday, he weighed 20 pounds! That means 5 pounds in 2.5 weeks! Or ... another way.... he gained 33% of his first weight in the next couple weeks. Geez! If I did that I'd be in big trouble. But he's a growing boy and very, very smart. He is already pretty much housebroken. He goes to the door and rings the bells to let me know he needs out... or in the night he barks to wake me up and let me know he needs outs.

It strange, but it's too bad we don't have more of a relationship like that with God. We are dependent upon God for everything and yet we think that we did it all on our own. Our whole being is because of God. And, like Marshall, I can choose to learn from my mistakes or continue to repeat them. I can find out that doing what is expected makes my life a whole lot easier, or I can buck the system (so to speak) and be on edge and wondering why. But also, like Marshall, we need to learn to let God know what we need and let God help (like when I open the door). God wants to open the doors for us, God wants to give us what we need (if not what we always want). God wants to love us and scratch us behind the ears and make us feel happy. OK... you know what I mean.

Oh... and Marshall was a big hit at Watermelon Day. He walked in the parade with Team Hope, our Relay for Life team. We all wore purple shirts for Relay so he had a new purple leash that said "American Cancer Society" and "Relay for Life" on it... and a purple bandana that had "ACS RFL" Everyone fell in love with him. And I didn't realize how many people have gotten to meet him, but all along the parade route we could hear, "There's Marshall! Hi, Marshall!" He's a town celebrity.

Another male in my life

Well... one more guy in my life... grew up with two brothers... single-mom to my wonderful son, and now a new guy.... with four legs. No, not a mutant. A puppy. Marshall Tumani Kwa Moore is a purebred Golden Retriever. His mom, Molly, and dad, Moses, belong to a friend of mine, Rev. Sylvia. He was born on May 9, 2008. He's met lots of people in the last week since leaving his mama and has done really well. He's getting much more comfortable with his surroundings... and bolder. Be in the heat he likes to sleep a lot... or play outside in the night. And... I'm hoping that maybe he'll be the best anti-depressant around... he already has (except for I'm tired from those every-3-hours trips outside just as I'm really getting into deep sleep, but that will pass). He's so smart and I think someday he'll make a great therapy dog as well as my buddy.

His middle name (Tumani Kwa) is Swahili and means "Hope for". One: Hope is big in my life... as my Bible Life Verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans for your welfare and not your harm, plans to give you a future with HOPE." TWO: I live in a town that has HOPE in its name. THREE: Our church camp and 2 counselors helped send money (and the 2 counselors) to a grade-school in Tanzania with beautiful children who had nowhere to learn near by until the school was guilt. The money helped build a new school room to their small school. The school's name? Tumaini English School.... School of Hope. FOUR: I love word play with my name... so if you know me... say his English translation middle name with my last name and you'll see my philosophy. :-)

I'm going to try to post a picture, but in the past when I've tried, it hasn't worked.