Pile-o-Puppies

Yesterday I mentioned that Matt and I are presently 'playing' parenthood. Well, today we put ourselves directly in the midst of it.

We were supposed to come home with three foster puppies, but ended up with all six. We have only ourselves to blame (well, more like myself - Emily). How can you say no to these faces? (We PROMISE we're not keeping any...they're only taking up our kitchen floor for a few weeks!)

On a side note - the shelter we're fostering for is the Helping Hands Humane Society. We love you guys!

Preparing for Parenthood

I think that Matt and I have the idea that owning pets is a nice segue into becoming parents (some day). It's a very nice idea, in theory, and has taught us what we will NOT do when we have children.

Here are a few examples:
-We will not let our kids jump on guests when they come in the door. Nobody wants dirty little hand prints all over them when they drop in for a visit, do they?
-Our kids will not be allowed to stand beside our guests, while at the dinner table, and beg them for food. We promise that they will most definitely have enough to eat on their own plates and that they will not ask you for part of your steak and potatoes. Nor will they ask to lick your fork when you're done.
-We will not allow our children (unless they are asked) to climb on our guests' lap, then onto their head, then their shoulders, and then back into their lap again. They will promptly be instructed that it is not proper to sit on someone's lap and give them slobbery 'kisses'.
-Finally, we will not allow our children to climb the curtains. If they insist, we will simply provide them a ladder which they can climb at their will...and we may give them a paint brush so they may do something more constructive with their time. Please view the pictures below for insight as to how we learned this lesson:





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In other news, the kitty in the photos above is our newest addition to the family! A big welcome to Noah "Sunshine" Baker!





--Edited to add the following comparison to the photo above:

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

One of our meteorologists said that we would get a peek at the sun this afternoon...boy was it a peek! I was doing dishes and noticed that the kitchen had suddenly become brighter, warmer, more lovely...the sun was out! It was quickly washed over by thick clouds, but it at least dropped in to say 'hello' for a moment. It has been so dreary here over the last few weeks (or should I say months?). First we had snow - lots of it - that stuck around up until about a week and a half ago. Snow is so beautiful at first, but then it starts to get on ones nerves when it just. doesn't. go. AWAY. I think now we're all suffering from SAD, plus PAD (Pothole Affective Disorder) here in Topeka. The sun just won't stick around, the temperature keeps fluctuating, and there's a bigger pothole around every bend. BUT...

If that's all I have to be worried and stressed about, than I consider myself lucky! So the backyard is full of mud and gunk. So there are potholes big enough to swallow a car. So it's the middle of the afternoon, but is so dark outside that it feels like midnight. So what?

I have a roof over my head. I have food in my cupboards. I have enough meat in the freezer to feed a small army. I have electricity and running water. I have a car and quick access to a gas station. I can get to Walmart in 5 minutes. I have a fantastic husband and wonderful pets. I can reach my family in seconds by phone or minutes by car.

After the tragedy that befell Haiti last week, I feel much too blessed. I am so very thankful for everything that I have in my life and do know that it can be ripped right out from under my feet at any second. My heart cries for that country and it's beautiful people. Their history has been so rocky and this is a big blow that will take a long time to recover from. But seeing the faces, the smiles, hearing praises to God after being rescued, listening to the vibrant songs in the tent cities...I know that their hope has not faded.

"Hallelujah"

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Joys of Fostering - Cat Edition

Fostering animals (dogs, cats, guinea pigs) has given Matt and I a sense of purpose, in a way. We feel like we're helping out, even if it's just a minuscule amount.

At the moment, we're fostering Alice (see previous blog post) and as of yesterday, "Sunshine" (we've temporarily re-named him "Noah"). He is a precious tiny kitten who is sick, but not too under the weather to give all the affection his little heart can hold.

Here he is becoming BFF's with my big, brown bear (Brownie):
We haven't let any of the other animals up to meet him yet, but we did let Buddy get a sneak peek:

He is a very attentive:

His favorite place is on someone's shoulders:

I think Matt's falling in love:

See what I mean about the shoulder thing?

Peek-a-boo:

The Wonderful World of Fostering

We are more than tickled to welcome our newest little foster 'kid'! Meet Alice:

We are a foster family for the Helping Hands Humane Society here in Topeka. Fortunately for Alice (and us...she's so CUTE!) she already has a pending 'Forever Family'. She's only camping out at our house to get over her kennel cough (basically a doggie cold).

She has definitely made herself right at home. She's taken over Buddy and Daisy's bed:
And she's learned how to make a quick get-away through the cat door in the gate:
She's very friendly and doesn't mind being brushed -- which was quite a task with such long hair. Buddy and Daisy are being very nice to her (though she did growl at them a few times), though I'm not sure if they think she's a dog or a cat...or a mop. :o)