My Path that Leads Me Home

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My path.

The path I walk to celebrate, think, endure, contemplate.

It’s always there for me.

As my feet carry me forward down the path

I skip when happy, push my steps forward when I feel sad, pause in place when I must contemplate.

The path shows me the way to the heart of who I know I am.

It embraces all the parts of me, gently sifting any struggle, dispersing it into the wind

where the trees grab hold, rock them with care and remind me all is well.

When happy, the path supports the extra bounce in my step while the tree limbs sway from side to side in joyous celebration.

My path.

Always there for me to walk it, journey forward, and return home once again.

Another Dachshund Up and Rolling – thanks to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

fritz eHandsome Fritz makes 31 dogs helped to date to gain their freedom in mobility thanks to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

Fritz is five years old and though he didn’t take right away to his wheelchair, he is now rolling full speed ahead.  His mom even shared with me that she had a hard time capturing a good photo of him because he now does not sit still!

Music to my ears and love to my heart knowing this little guy is back to doing all the doggie things he did before.

Please join me in saying:  Keep on rolling, Fritz!!

***Wheelchair I recommend and work with for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund is Eddie’s Wheels.

Learn more about The Frankie Wheelchair Fund

You can learn more on our website, National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day where you can apply for funds or donate.

The Traveling Weenie and a Giveaway

traveling gThis past weekend we took a little road trip to Sister Bay, WI – in the heart of Door County – our friend, Cassy, John, Lil’ G and I hit the road as the the autumn colors whirled by us traveling north.

I didn’t know how Gidget would do traveling and I tried hard not to worry too much. One thing I’ve learned having had Frankie is to go with the flow and enjoy being in the moment. I’ve also learned that dogs sense our nervousness or apprehension. If I had a great time, Gidget would likely, too.

She did so well traveling with us.  To turn around every now and then to see her sweet face as we traveled down the highway, did my heart good. One of my greatest pleasures is that she is happy and content.

When we arrived late Friday night, Gidget checked out every inch of the condo we stayed at with her snout in full smell mode and then she settled in nicely. She even tolerated quite nicely staying in her kennel when we couldn’t take her with us.

One of her favorite things to do each morning was to settle into the sun spot in the room that we called the all season room. I told John we now need to build her her very own sun room. Ha!

gidget in DC

It’s truly the simple things that make life so grand. The colors of fall, time with two people I love dearly, laughter, great conversation, fun…and a traveling weenie.

And now for the giveaway!  My friend, Lisa, gave me a book she had finished reading called What the Animals Taught Me: Stories of Love and Healing from a Farm Animal Sanctuary by Stephanie Marohn. Lisa told me to pass the book onto someone when I was done and I thought it perfect to give away right her on my blog since many of you are such big animal lovers.

animalcover

I loved every inch of this book and the cover makes me smile every time I look at it! In some ways it reminds me of my favorite author, Jon Katz and his blog, Bedlam Farm.

But this book left me appreciating all animals on an even deeper level than before…. and wishing even more that I could have a hobby farm. I also really believe this statement on Stephanie’s website:

“A shaman revealed that animals will be arriving more and more in the lives of humans—in dreams, as guides, in the news, everywhere—because they realize humans are in trouble and need the message they are here to tell.”

They are indeed our wake-up messengers and we must listen to what they are trying to tell us. I find myself in such a state of gratitude more and more for being open to what animals teach us – my life profoundly changed because of what I’ve learned through them.

Leave a comment of a lesson an animal has taught you that has changed how you look at life by midnight cst today. Tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 2) I will use random.org to pick the person to receive this book.