He’s a Keeper.

Posted January 12, 2015 by Barbara Techel

This month marks 36 years that I’ve been with John. Not all of those married.

I fell head over heels in love with him when I was a freshman in highschool. He was a senior. Off to college he went. Returned in six months. It wasn’t for him.

We began to date. We dated for six years. Fresh out of a two year college degree, we married. It’s been bliss every since.

Okay, well, maybe not complete bliss. We’ve had our ups and downs. Some big ups and some big downs. But I wouldn’t trade any of it. He’s a keeper.

This past fall we went through some tough challenges – well, at least challenges to us.

But as we’ve moved into the New Year, I’ve felt a deeper sense of love and compassion from John. He’s always been a very caring man, but there is just something more now.

It’s the little things, really. Lately he’s been telling me how pretty I am. Not that I really need to hear that all that much anymore, as I’ve gotten so much more comfortable in my own skin. But still, it feels good to hear it. And I hear it differently than when I was younger. It feels sweet and makes my toes tingle.

It’s the way in which he talks to Kylie and Gidget. How he looks when he’s loading the wood in the woodstove, talking to Gidget who is often times beside him, “helping.” My heart does sommersaults for the love I see radiating from him in those moments.

It’s how he has learned to settle in at the end of the day, comfy in his flannel pants with “Life is Good” yellow labs on them, and his slippers, relaxing across from me in the living room in the big maroon chair. It wasn’t always easy for him to do this.

It’s the way in which he wraps his arms around me in the morning. Hugging me before he is out the door. The way his arms feel around me makes me feel safe and secure. Different than from when I was young and when it was all about reassurance.

I’m truly proud of the person he has become and how he is willing to keep growing, even when things have been difficult.

He is so much a part of what defines a meaningful life for me. So, Yes. Yes, indeed. He’s a keeper. Lucky lady am I.

Two Wheelchair Dogs on a Mission to Help Disabled Dogs in Need

Posted January 10, 2015 by Barbara Techel

You may remember Darla from a few years back. When she was in a foster home, The Fuzzy Pet Foundation contacted me asking if The Frankie Wheelchair Fund could help with funds for a wheelchair for Darla.

I was so happy to help this sweet girl, who reminded me so much of Frankie. Well, that did the trick and she was then adopted to a wonderful family and mom, Tricia.

Fast forward to now and Darla now has another wheelie dog sibling. Tricia and her family adopted another special needs dog named Doolittle. Wow, talk about big hearts!

Tricia, Darla, and Doolittle want to give back and help other disabled dogs who need wheelchairs. Isn’t that great? And what’s so special is that they want to help with a donation to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund. I’m so very honored.

So you may be wondering, how can you help? Well if you love to paint your fingernails and toes, too, you will love this.

It’s a Jamberry Nail Party and Tricia is donating 100% of her commission for the month of January to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund!

To shop for fun nail products click on this link: Jamberry Nail Party for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

To follow along on Facebook click on this link: Fundraiser for The Frankie Wheelchair Fund (you can ask Tricia questions here, as well as learn more about the products).

I would also like to say a very special thank you to those that have also been sending donations directly to The Frankie Wheelchair Fund. I am thrilled for donations that came through yesterday. It means so much and it fills my heart up with such love for the many kind and generous friends out there.

Mystery Solved. But the Guilty Party Not Fessing Up.

Posted January 9, 2015 by Barbara Techel

Kylie is truly one of the sweetest dogs ever. Though she didn’t inherit all the typical Lab qualities such as playing fetch, swimming, or hunting, she is the best, most cuddly “big ole bear” ever. She also has a mischievous side about her.

I keep my mittens on the second shelf of a small table next to our kitchen table so they are easily accessible. They’ve been there since the beginning of December.

The last few days I’ve come into the kitchen to find them lying either in the middle of the floor or on the bed that Kylie and Gidget share which is also in the kitchen.

Each time I’ve picked them up and put them back on the shelf, wondering how in the heck they got to the middle of the kitchen. You’d think I’d be smart enough by now to know what’s going on. I’m a work in progress. What can I say?

Yesterday the mystery of my mittens were once again in the kitchen lying on the dog bed.

It finally dawned on me (stay with me here – my blonde hair gets in the way now and then) as I witnessed just then Kylie squeezing her body in between the big table and little one, snout sniffing out the second shelf.

“Aha!” I said. “You! You are the one whose been snatching my mittens from the shelf!”

Ever so slowly she backed out, head hanging down as she slinked her way toward the bed. Along the way she picked up her favorite stuffed toy, Lambchop.

She had the gall to sit her sweet little butt down upon the bed right in front of my mittens, her puppy dog eyes really playing up the scene now and is if to say, “Oh, how could you? How could you think me, your sweet dog, the one you call “big ole’ bear” and love with all your heart—how could you possibly think it was me?”

“Not confessing are you, Kylie? Well, okay then. But I’m on to you. I just want you to know that.” I was chuckling the whole time I said it as I reached over to pat the top of her head.

And just so you know, I’ve gotten smarter since the last episode last night and my mittens are now on the top shelf of the table. I might not be able to teach my old dog, Kylie new tricks, but this old dog is catching on.