And More Loss

Terry came in at noon to find Dirvey  had joined Macie in Doggie Heaven . . . Hyder was standing watch.

We had Dirvey for two years -- Bethany and Mat got her 8 years ago right after they married and moved to KC.  They decided their dog, Harley, needed a companion and rescued Dirvey.  We watched Dirvey come into her own with their TLC.

Bethany posted this on Facebook this afternoon . . .

Dirvey, our one-eyed, spinning, crazy little rescue pug who brought lots of smiles and LAUGHTER to lots of people went to her forever home in doggie heaven this morning. She was our fur baby before we had human babies and used to love to snuggle my belly when they lived in there. Real babies were too much for her & she spent the last few years getting way more love from my parents than we could've given her. We miss her & are thankful for the many laughs she brought our family

Dirvey was Terry's Father's Day present  when we realized that she wasn't going to be able to adapt to Bethany and Mat's growing family.  



She had her own special spot in the back yard where she liked to sun -- she talked and growled when she ate her food -- and sometimes would forget she was eating -- she walked from one-place to another by spinning in circles.  Dirvey didn't like change, or strangers and when company came would stay under the bed for hours and seldom venture out.  

We kept her Christmas of 2008 when Bethany and Mat went to Denver, and she stayed under our bed for SEVEN days -- we would have to drag her out and try to coax food to her under the bed.
She discovered that every night at 9:00 Terry would be giving out doggie treats and one night we looked up and Dirvey had joined the line-up of three other canines.  
 

Hyder is so lonesome now

She sort of did her own thing -  never really bonded with the other dogs -- But Harley took on the responsibility of looking out for her.  we had all sorts of pet names for her - "squirvey Dirvey" being one of them.  You couldn't walk her on a leash with all the whirling and twirling.

 

We really bonded with her on the Spring Break Trip to Denver to see Marshall in 2012 when we were "doggie sitting" for the kids.  We couldn't leave her behind with our other dogs who were being cared for by a friend because we weren't sure she was smart enough to make it inside if it rained.  She wasn't always sure what to do with the doggie door.  She sat in the back seat content to be the Alpha for a short time.


This little fur ball who left her mark so many places on our carpets -- not remembering to go outside and shed tons of hair everywhere -- certainly left her mark on our hearts.

 Dirvey connected with her two favorite people -- 

Bethany and Terry-- who were truly that!

Additional Loss

New Years Eve we started noticing that our dog of 14 1/2 years was slipping into a trance and then got to the point she wasn't able to move.  Terry kept watch over her for the next few hours and we decided she'd probably had another of her strokes.  She'd been having these episodes for about 18 months and with his care and attention she would come out of these in 3-4 days. She'd over come breast cancer surgery five years earlier and  she never seemed to be in pain.  Terry read about caring for an aging dog  and by keeping her

comfortable and hand-feeding for awhile,  she always seemed to bounce back. We kind of thought of her as the "EverReady Bunny"

This time was different and we knew we were going to have to make a decision -- it was just so hard. 

We got Macie when Marshall was a senior at Wright Christian.  He had found her as a puppy on the soccer field and brought her home and asked if he could keep her -- all dogs at the Bell house at some point -- become Terry's dogs --so he finally said we could.

She'd been such a peaceable -- gentle dog - who could jump straight up as high as your head when she wanted you to open the sliding glass door and let her in.

Macie became the Alpha dog when Maggie died and slipped into that position with great pride.  
 During the time Mom was with us Macie would see a cat walk across our drive and bark and bark and then run back to Mom's bedroom to make certain she was safe from the cat.  Those nights when Terry got up every two hours to check on Mom -- Macie would follow him into her room to check also.

She was in first place and never seemed to mind that "needy" Hyder would try to crowd her out.  As she got older, Hyder would watch over Macie while we slept and would waken Terry when she felt Macie was in trouble.

She and Hyder developed this love / hate relationship over their food but generally were two companions and good for each other.  always taking their afternoon naps in the living room together --one on each couch -- dozing in the sun. 

They loved to ride in Terry's pick-up with him -- each sticking their heads out opposite sides of the truck.

For several days we have told Macie stories and that seemed to help - but I understand that a brown dog and a gentle Master are still greatly feeling the loss.

From the Mouths of Babes

Sydney Kate is growing and grunting for EVERYTHING she wants -- she's learned that all she has to do is raise up her arms to be picked up --point and grunt for what she wants -- and she's got it.
She is so aware of what C is doing and wants exactly what C has--
we're seeing so much modeling going on. When I think of S - I always think of the word peace -- she's such an easy baby and I've called her the "peacemaker" in the family.  Holding her -- you suddenly come to peace.

Campbell always keeps us laughing and our heads spinning wondering where she came up with that phrase --  like the other day when she told her mom she was making a "HYPOTHESIS" -- and explained later she'd learned that word at pre-school.

Sunday afternoon, her momma found her lying on the rug in the bathroom -- when asked what she was doing she said -- "Oh just talking to God -- He's my friend!."  At that point she got up and looked in the toilet --
"Is HE in here?" 

This shows how a morning can go with Campbell Hope 

 Or when she learned that their family was having another little Good --

Wish I Could Say, "Been There -- Done That"!

Marshall has been away from Denver for five weeks on the Western slope of Colorado. Katie went over and visited him last weekend and they went skiing in Telluride --  We got this wonderful video Marshall made on HIS PHONE while skiing down the mountain.  OHHHH the new technology ---At the end of the 3 minutes -- I FELT LIKE I'D BEEN ON THE SLOPES!

 "Got to enjoy the slide down the slope with

              no broken bones  --

                    no cold weather 

                        or stumbling off the chair lift --

                              and for a short bit -- I so enjoyed the view!!!

Ornaments

I had a New Year's Day call from my friend, Charlene.  She was taking down her Christmas tree and was putting away ornaments that my mother and I had each given her--- she was thinking of me and decided to give me a quick call.---

That gave me the push I needed to take down the tree on Wednesday and as I did I thought about how much of our family history goes on the tree every year--

There's the ones we bought in India during our summer trips in the 70's -- ones from Mexico -- pine cones from a Chris Krinkle Market in Austria -- the candles that we clip on the tree like the ones on the missionary's tree in Vienna -- there are ones my mother made -- ones students have given me -- the bubbling lights like my Grandmother's tree in the 1950's --ones from my friend, Geeta, Charlene and so many dog ornaments from Dot and Earl -- I bought different ornaments for what the kids were involved in -- there are the ones the kids have made in elementary school --all reminders of special times with special loved ones.

Come to think of it so many of our decorations have history -- every time I think of tossing some -- a special memory of the person or place they are associated with comes to mind.  Reminders one more time of blessings --

ornaments from my tree growing up

a set of 8 stockings my mom made hoping for all their grandkids to be home for the holidays

a Father Christmas like the 

one we saw in Austria

A fabric wreath Bethany and I made when she was in elementary school

This Santa Marshall gave me when he was in second grade

Rudolph - my brother Bill made for us in the 70's!

a heart garland I sewed many years ago

Geese made by the husband of a friend 25 -30 years ago

a hand painted sweat-shirt from Dot --turned wall hanging

a wreath given by this same friend Charlene, when we were teenagers

a Christmas banner I designed and was finished by a friend Michelle

Our advent wreath given by my sister-in-law Sandy and completed with our ornaments from a trip to Eurekea Springs

A quilt I made in the early 90's from Christmas scraps

Holidays

I love the warmth of the room when everyone is there . . . together .

I love the smells in the house --

I love the excitement and anticipation of children (tiny tots and old g'mas and g'pas) -- at Christmas we're all kids!!!

I love those yummy  foods that we don't dare eat any other time of the year --

I love the sacrifices people make to be together -- 





I love starting new traditions:

I love the time preparing and 
anticipating the time approaching ---

 

I love the effort that goes into to buying just the right gift -- and the meaning behind it-- hoping the other person will catch the significance of it.

Marshall shopped for C & S by buying them his favorite toys at their age

Yay Hungry Hippos -- Uncle Marshall and Glo worm -- did good!

We MISSED our CO kids like crazy and was so sorry they couldn't be with us -- but we enjoyed hearing about the traditions they have started of their own this year as husband and wife --  I love all the phone calls with them in preparation for the big day -- and the ones for days after -- followed by texts -- and pictures -- we just can't seem to let go of the holiday

 

Marshall horsing around with Katie's Green Bay duct tape (stocking stuffer)

We enjoyed the pics of them celebrating Grandma Jeanette's 90th birthday.One of the things they were able to do was each write 90 blessings for her -

It's been a wonderful year -- a great holiday --I'm feeling very happy -- brimming over!

Whether Christmas is celebrated at Thanksgiving, on the actual day or New Years  or even 4th of July-- whenever you can have your people -- under one roof together-- sharing love-- it's CHRIST-MAS!

LOST

The end of my school semesters always bring a sigh of relief and a surge of cleaning to get the house back up to at least minimal standards in order to keep the Board of Health from shutting us down.   Yesterday I got up early and became a whirlwind -- cleaning carpets and washing bed linens -- scouring bathrooms and sanitizing the whole house.  (I even thought about sorting the garage -- but gave up on it)

IT was a day of highs and lows --About 10:00 I found out we'd won the Outdoor Christmas light decoration contest for our neighborhood -- I'm big on twinkling lights --I'd like to think they can see us from Heaven.

 About noon I looked down and saw that my diamond had fallen out of my engagement ring!!! EVERYTHING came to a screeching halt and I became like that woman in the Bible who was sweeping her whole house looking for the lost coin--  Same whirlwind I was earlier in the morning -- only this time --I was picking through trash -- sifting through the lint in the vacuum cleaner bag -- and searching through the washing machine's filter-Terry stopped everything and took over the vacuum bag -- while I retraced my steps through the house over and over. 

Twenty years ago -- I lost another diamond -- and since that time have checked mine periodically and even had the prongs examined by a jeweler. 
Forty years of marriage -- two diamonds lost -- but I still have my MAN!!.
That woman long ago in the parable -- I'm pretty sure she was destitute -- her life DEPENDED upon finding that coin!!!

 I'm sad -- and find myself preoccupied with looking for anything that glistens--do you know how much sparkly there is on the floor at Christmas???

Throughout the day I remembered that there have been other losses this week-- so much worse than mine . . .

A KU intern lost her mother in a tragic way

Another friend was given a timeline of his days left on this earth

 . . . I do have to admit that when I look at my ring -- it makes me  sad.  

It dawned on me while I was working frantically --caught up in cleaning -- this had gone on and I was totally oblivious to it.  It got me to thinking -- how many other -- hidden happenings are all around me that I'm not noticing because of being so caught up in my activity of the moment? 

When we prayed last night, I said -- Lord you know that people are lost and you know where lost things are -- LORD, please help me keep it all in the right perspective.

Sleepovers

Sleepovers are as much fun for T & me as they seem to be for the girls.  Campbell will often come up to me at Church and ask to have a sleepover -- of course I have to say not tonight -- since I'm in school the next day.
We sort of pull out all the stops and spend 24 hours in their world -- It's so much easier since Bethany and Mat keep them to a pretty regular schedule.

Often these sleepovers are on a Saturday night -- so it takes advanced planning for our Sunday responsibilities  to come off smoothly--  We're finding that getting two little girls ready on Sunday morning and Papa finishing his powerpoints can be a bit tedious. Nana resorts to bribing -- (the girls that is-- "Campbell you can have one more Joshua Fought the Battle Song and then you HAVE to get your clothes on." and "No we can't go out and play in your sand castle this morning."

Lots of great memories

Last Sunday morning -- waking up we heard Campbell singing "Frosty the Snowman" at the top of her lungs outside our door and Sydney Kate answering her from her bed in the next room with "EEE - I--EEE -I - OOOO".

Tonight  Papa built a fire and it was S'mores and watching "Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas" -- a sweet little movie I used to love to watch with our kids.

The girls go to bed so easily -- S loves to cuddle and then almost lunges for her bed eager to get to sleep.
C on the other hand, has to have 49 books read and 2-3 songs sung while you stand in a certain place beside her bed.  Right now we know we have to hurry to bed because morning with these two comes EARLY -- first wake-up call is about 4:30 and the second is usually by 5:30.  We are so blessed to see these two in action - growing, learning and becoming all they are destined to be!

Thankful For Our Time Together

How do two sets of g'parents spend a holiday together -- sharing kids & grandkids --  stories and waaaaay too much food????

Easy--- they're ever so thankful to have these two little ones in their lives healthy and happy --

Terry and Jim catching up and our kids thought it reminded them of the two old codgers in the Muppet movies

This little lady was raring to go!

Campbell and I hung out in the park during the first run

Katie, Bethany and Mat ran the four miles and then they all joined Campbell for the family fun run

Marshall was "night float" at the hospital and put in some long hours -- He gave up lots of sleep so we could have family time.

Everybody has their specialty -- Jim smoked the turkey -- Marshall and Katie make some wonderful mashed potatoes, I did the rolls and pie-- Jan does all the rest and beautifully so!

So glad Bethany had us all gather  for a quick pic before dinner.

Marshall and Katie took us to the armory right near the hospital to see the Buffalo and deer.  Couldn't believe it was so close to downtown.  A great way to finish up the trip!

Sydney was a happy camper the whole holiday and this pretty well sums up how we all felt by Saturday noon!