Furry Musings

Hi everyone, it's me, Shadow. I know you're wondering why I'm blogging today instead of Mom, but she's too busy. One moment she's at the dining room table wrapping a gift; the next moment, she's looking for something in another room--except she can't remember what it was she was looking for. The last time I saw her she was addressing Christmas cards and muttering something about crossing the t's and dotting the i's.

What? You don't think dogs can type? Have you ever watched a Peanuts video? Of course you have. Then you've seen that Beagle hack away on his typewriter perched on top of the doghouse. A typewriter; how quaint is that? I'm a modern mutt; I use a laptop.

Not to worry, Grandma and Grandpa, the kids are doing just fine. I wish I knew how to run the camcorder. You should have seen Daniel jumping on the trampoline after eating the candy cane from his Christmas stocking. Can we say "sugar high?" Jonathan started singing "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" at the top of his lungs while bouncing off the walls, and Elizabeth kept chanting "We want cocoa! We want cocoa!" It was too much for me; I ducked behind the sofa for a nap.

I'm used to commotion from the boys. Elizabeth is usually the quieter and gentler one. She likes to pat me a lot and give me my daily vitamins. I overheard her saying the other day that she was going to get me a purple Christmas collar. With bells; imagine that. Snoopy, eat your heart out! Gosh, I love my kids.

One night, I was minding my own business during my family's dinner waiting for food to fall from the table when Dad said something about a tree. All of a sudden the kids got excited and started eating quickly, and before I knew it the entire flock was out the door. I was left at home to diligently guard the house, but how does a shepherd keep watch without sheep around? Truth be told, I usually curl up on my throne for a good nap while they're away. This time, I barely started snoozing when they returned home again. *Yawn* I opened one eye and saw Dad dragging in a cone shaped tree. What is that all about? Didn't they do this last year? I kept trying to nudge him with my wet nose to tell him that it belonged outside. Once again, he didn't get my subtle hint. He thought I was just begging for a head scruff. People do strange things!



The tree was decorated with lights and little thingamabobs. I jumped back up on my throne to survey the activity. I don't like pine needles on my fur. Or glass balls bouncing off my head. But I do like the sound of the children's laughter. Laughter is the equivalent of my tail wagging, which Dad calls my happy meter.

Eavesdropping is one of my favorite activities. I especially enjoy Bible time, when Mom reads aloud and the kids sing hymns and worship songs. I try to strike a prayerful pose though I often end up falling asleep. That doesn't happen to humans, does it?

Yesterday, after singing "O Come All Ye Faithful," Elizabeth turned to Mom and asked, "What is 'adore'?" Mom paused and I could tell she was thinking hard because she got those crooked furrows in her forehead again. Sometimes she has the kids look up definitions in the junior dictionary, but this time I think she made up her own. She said, "Well, it means to look at something and contemplate how very, very precious it is to you." Elizabeth smiled and nodded.

I could have saved her the trouble. Definition of adore; that's an easy one.

Just look at my face when I'm watching my family.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. " 1 Chronicles 29:11