Perspective and Hockey

Disappointment is a part of life.

That doesn't mean that I like it, and I don't.

When I go to specific places I have expectations. 

Hanging out with friends? I'll laugh...hopefully snort because it's so funny.

Going out to eat? I'll pick something delicious.

Going to a hockey game? I will watch a good fight.

Yeah. All I want to is see a good fight.

Is that too much to ask?!?

I don't think that it is.

But obviously it was for Friday nights' game.

I know...

You must be thinking?

"Did I just read that right?
The girl who loves kindness, joy, cute kittens and puppies WANTS the players to fight?!?"

I know...weird right?

Don't worry.
The world is still turning on its axis.
The end is not near.

I just really like hockey fights.

It's the one place that fighting doesn't bother me.

Maybe it's the ice?

I don't know.

But I do feel like its okay.

I mean, they're wearing padding...a lot of padding! 

Plus, it's not like the fight is going to get too out of control.

They will be stopped, so it's okay in my book.

In fact, I like the drama of it all.

Stick dropped. Gloves thrown. Helmet off.

It's all so dramatic...especially when they're wearing ice skates!

I think it's the tough guy way of proving that they're never going to be in an ice skating competition.  

'Cause they thrown it down.

But this was not my night for a good fight.

Was there good hockey?

Yep.  

It was action-packed excitement.

We're my friends awesome and funny?

Heck yeah!
They're my FFF family!
How could they not be?!

Good fights?

No. None.

But that's okay, because as a group we had Fences For Fido 

up on the jumbo-tron.

That way other people can checkout our awesomeness and volunteer.

In fact...YOU SHOULD TOO! 

Who cares about hockey when there are dogs that need to be freed from life on a chain?!?!

You read me raving about it, so go sign up.

It will, literally change your life while you change another.

That's a promise.

FENCES FOR FIDO

www.fencesforfido.org

Spring Cleaning with a Purpose

Wait! Don't throw that away!

We can reuse that!

I woke up thinking about cleaning.

Rotten way to wake up, right?

Yeah, I agree.

But see, I have this dog living in my house...

Yes, you Murphy.

 Don't pretend that you don't know how stinky you are today.
Stinky boy!

With the endless splashing in the creek and in his splashy pool,

it smells a little like wet dog. 

Yuck!

That is not the smell that is very welcoming.
So, it's a cleaning day.
Spring Cleaning Day!
WooHoo! or woohoo...
Cleaning isn't my favorite activity, but I do love the end results.
Are you spring cleaning?
If so, please set a few things aside.
Sure, you can put items aside for the Goodwill,
but if you find any towels or blankets,
please set those aside for Dove Lewis Animal Hospital.

With all of the critical and life-saving work that they do every single day,
they go through a lot of towels and blankets to make the animals comfortable.

And if you're also like me, you have a large supply of towels and blankets.

No, I don't really need ALL of these items.

Yes, Murphy is a stinky, wet dog on a daily basis,

but really I only need 7 dog towels, not 20!

So, until the end of June I will be collecting towels and blankets to donate to Dove Lewis.

If you live in the Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville area,

I'd be happy to meet you to collect them from you.

Of course, my dear friends, you know that I'll drive to your homes to collect as well.

Basically, if I know where you live, you can contact me,

leave them on your porch and I'll get 'em.

 

If you are feeling extra generous, I'm also collecting other supplies too.

Here is a full list of things that I'm looking to collect.

Dog toys for our canine blood bank

Cat toys for our feline blood bank

Beechnut Baby Food (stage 1 turkey, chicken or beef)

Reusable wee pads for dogs

Yesterdays News Cat Litter

World’s Best Cat Litter

Towels or blankets

I haven't mastered the whole coupon thing, but I'm sure some of you have.  Maybe you can find coupons for the baby food or cat litter? When people are worried about their animal, the last thing that they should have to worry about supplies for their care.

 

Spring Cleaning is way more fun when you can find a way to reuse your unused items. :)

Too bad I can't find a way to reuse the Murphy stink...ewwwww. 

He seems to have an endless supply of that! 

But at least he won't be stinky for long and then I can begin the real work,

spring cleaning and collecting items
for Dove Lewis.

Can you help me too?

Remember, message me if you live in the area,

and I will happily pick up your donation.

Together we can help Dove Lewis, who is always helping us.

Thank you to all of my dear friends and family

who have already filled the back of my car TWICE!

As always, you amaze me

and fill my heart with love.



The Hunt Begins

Since the beginning of time, people have set out before dawn to hunt and gather.

My parents taught me, their parents taught them,

and that teaching goes back and back and back.

They taught me the tools to use, and the best locations.

Hunting and gathering is necessary.

But there is a definite time of the year

that the hunting season is better.

And that time is now.

And the day is today.

Let the garage sale hunting and gathering season begin.
WooHoo!
Ahhhh...I LOVE a garage sale.
I don't think of it as a garage sale...to me it's a treasure hunt to me.
A hunt to find a little nugget of decoration to make my house reflect my eclectic style. 
Looking around my house right now, it's amazing to me how much of the things in my home are these treasures found.

So with Starbucks in hand (an essential tool) and friends to hunt with, I'm off!

Like any hunt, it begins slowly…We survey the area, scoping out the best places to begin, so that we can work our way around and hopefully hit all of the areas by the time we need to be done. Some places are barren, while others give us the hope of true bliss.
And some bliss is found.

Did we really neeeeed any of these things?

Yes!  Okay...no, not really.  But garage sales are the best way to update a look in your home without spending very much money.  And that's just how I like to freshen things up in my home!

And, like me, you scope out the homes and take pictures of their beautiful flowers and entryways so that you can steal...I mean borrow their ideas.  I really want a stone dog.  It wasn't for sale.  I asked. But maybe next time.

So what are you going to do next weekend?  I say hit the road and find some very own treasures to spruce up your home.  It will definitely be an adventure.  Enjoy your hunt!

Light Shines Brillant in PDX

Nothing makes my heart soar like a night filled with love.
Tonight it was a love-fest for the Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc,
with the Lights of Hope Auction.

Not only did the people of Portland make the difference in the lives of children in Ethiopia,

but they also learned how far a little love can go when we join together.

I'm always so impressed with how far a little money can go.

Lights of Hope

Every day I listen to children complain about what luxuries they don't have and watch them toss healthy food straight into the bin.  It pains me.  The only positive is that all of the leftovers at our school go home with one of our teachers to feed their livestock.  It helps to know that the food isn't a complete waste. But when you see children so thankful for every morsel in other countries, I just wonder where we've gone wrong in our own society.  


Though those thoughts flooded my mind, they were not the problems that we helped that night.  Tonight it was all about the precious children and making their tummies full of nutritious food.

I'm not sure if I can really wrap my head around how far each dollar can go to make a complete change in lives...but here is a little glimpse at where the money directly goes from tonight's auction.

Two of these numbers were shocking to me...shocking in a wonderful way!

"English 6th grade text book $0.44" and "Biology school book $1.81". 

The textbooks purchased here in our country are so expensive! 

Each book used here in the United States ranges in price from $40.00-$80.00

...now that is shocking. 

I love that money can be used in such an economical way

and that the children are so thankful for each gift of education.

My heart puffs up with joy.

 

 

 

 

Love these very special girls and their gorgeous hearts!

Michael just wanted to make sure that they got his dinner order correct.

One of my little creations to help raise a little money.

Oh Happy Day!

 Roy and Ryan

This giraffe received a lot of love tonight!

Pucker up buttercup!

Kristi and Michael

Kelly and Kristi

The light of hope for those little lives, definitely reflected beautifully throughout the night.

And the beneficiaries were the children...what could be better than that?!

Nothing in my mind.

Reach out your heart, the impact is incredible.

Dashing is Better With Friends

Murphy is a nervous dog.

I know he looks relaxed here, but that's not always the case.

He doesn't feel comfortable in new situations.

And since he is fear-aggressive,

this can be problematic.

Every year there is a fundraiser, The Doggie Dash, 

for one of my favorite local shelters,

The Oregon Humane Society.

I have gone for years and Murphy has joined me since his adoption...3 years now.
Each year has been a different experience.
Year one, he was nervous, but still just a young pup trying to figure out the world.
Year two...very nervous.  He was a teenager feeling his oats and unsure of all of these strange dogs.

And now, year three...still nervous, but there was a big difference.

His sweet friend, IO was there with him.

As soon as they saw each other, both of them knew it was going to be a fun morning.

In IO fashion, she danced around Murphy greeting him with exuberance. 

All wiggles, leaps, and jumps!

Murphy just soaks in all of the love with a HUGE smile on his doggy face.

She gives him confidence to face all of the strangers, human and canine.

You see, IO owes a lot to OHS.  She was a Second-Chance dog.

IO was at another shelter and wasn't being adopted, instead of putting her down,

The Oregon Humane Society took her in.

Man, are we thankful!

Not only did OHS give her a 2nd Chance,

but Kathy our neighbor adopted her so that Murphy could have a furry best friend.

How lucky is that?!

 

 

 

 

This was a beautiful morning.

Not just because Murphy was super happy and friendly with everyone,

but because all of the people who were there loving dogs and raising money.

Portland, Oregon is such a special place.

I'm so thankful to live somewhere that views animals as family members, not just pets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For one morning, we celebrated our love of animals and supporting local charities.

And together we dashed celebrating that The Oregon Humane Society saved IO's life.

All is well in the world...even just for a moment.

Let's all just bask in the love.

Happy Mother's Day to all...whether your "kids" have two or four legs!