joyful paws

Something New: Capturing My Joyful Pause Moments. Weekly Recap.

Posted by Barbara Techel

garden off deck 1200Looking out my writing cottage and enjoying how my little perennial garden is starting to grow once again for the season.

I’m trying something “new.” While I do try and live a joyful life, I decided I wanted to try and capture a moment of joy each day. Something that makes me smile. Something that makes me forget time exists. Something that fills me up. While I will concentrate mostly on capturing it in photos, I may also include a quote now and then too, or whatever strikes my fancy as a moment of joy.

The name of my website, Joyful Paws, was born because of my dogs showing me the way to more joy. Even when Cassie Jo was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer, and Frankie became paralyzed from IVDD, they lived each day from a place of happiness despite their challenges. They taught me that we always have a choice.

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday. -Henri J.M. Nouven

So each week I’ll recap my daily moment of joy and share it here on my blog (I’ll recap on a Saturday or Sunday- just depending on how my week plays out and what’s going on on any given weekend). I like this idea as a practice to look for, and choose joy, just as Henri J.M. Nouven said.

I hope you will find joy in my “joyful pause” moments I will share with you. And I hope it will encourage you to look for those little moments of joy in your own life.

Here is the rest of my joyful pause moments from the week:

flowers and rainbow outside cottage 1200Bringing home flowers for outside my writing cottage. A second, unexpected joyful pause moment was looking at the photo and it looks like there is a rainbow running through the center of it. I have no idea how that happened!

yoga gidget 1200Coming out of shavasana pose, onto my side, and seeing this sweet face.

cassy painting 1200Seeing my dear friend, Cassy Tully’s heart happy doing her art outside on a beautiful day.

tea and books e 1200Spending time on the deck in the morning, reading, sipping my warm lemon water, listening to the birds, and soaking in a bit of warm sun. These simple pleasures truly bring me so much joy.

tree frog e 1200Hanging out with a tree frog.

Waterfall Zen Meditative Moment brought to you by Joyful Paws

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

IMG_2017 1200Click on photo for your moment of waterfall zen meditation moment just from me to you!

I bought this tabletop waterfall a few weeks ago to add to my writing cottage, which I now call my Zen Writing Cottage. After all, if I’m going to have a Buddha dog in Gidget, I must also have a waterfall!

So, I wanted to pass along a moment of meditation to you my faithful readers.  Don’t forget to click on the picture for a bit of calm joy to add to your day!

Meet Ginger: 19th Recipient of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

gingercart3 e2It’s always a beautiful and touching day here at Joyful Paws & National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day headquarters when I get to share the news of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund helping another special needs little dog.

Meet Ginger. She is 13 years old and was down for over 3 1/2 years.  Her mom, Lisa, heard about the Frankie Wheelchair Fund and contacted me for help. After filling out the application and receiving a letter from her vet, it was an honor to help this sweet girl love out a quality of life for whatever remains.

She is just learning how to use her wheels after being immobile for many years, but we have hope she will be rolling with confidence real soon.

I had an unexpected and welcome surprise during the holidays when I received a larger than usual donation from someone who admires the work I’ve been able to do helping these dogs. I do believe he wants to remain anonymous, but I just wanted to say a thank you again to this person for believing in me, my mission, and these dogs. It means the world to me!

I couldn’t do it without the help of generous contributions such as the one I received from my recent contributor and everyone who has, and continues to, support my mission. A big thank you to each and every one of you!

If you wish to learn more about the Frankie Wheelchair Fund and/or make a contribution, please visit National Walk ‘N Roll Dog Day.

Always be positive and keep on rolling, Ginger!

Note:  Ginger’s wheelchair was custom made my Eddie’s Wheels.