Heavenly Friends

Last Sunday was a sad day here in the McPherson household.  We had to say goodbye to Akita ~ our pet Samoyed who lived to be 16 years old.  I just have to write a blog about our loving earthly friend.

We got him when he was just a puppy, he was a little fluff ball and kind of shy.  He thought Nate was his brother and they wrestled a lot.  He was happy to be a dog.  Not like some dogs who think they are humans and want to come in and sit on the couch.  Akita loved to be outside, preferably if it was freezing.

His thick coat kept him warm even when it got below zero.  We would look out and see him sprawled on his back like he was sunning.  I had the privilege of walking him every single day.  At first he walked me ~  he pulled me up the hill, pulled me down the hill.  In fact he pulled where ever he went, even when he didn't know where we were going.  He even tried running once with Charissa - at least he tried:)

Akita pretty much thought he was a puppy his whole life.  Everything was a game.  Even when he got old and couldn't move very well, he still thought that life was about playing a game.  His favorite game was when we  would play Frisbee, he would run back and forth every single time we threw it - thinking it was always his turn.  But he couldn't catch it!  He ran funny.  He didn't like to fetch more than once.  We never took him swimming.  But he was just always there, ready to join in and celebrate being alive.

My big white fluffy earthly friend is hopefully going to one day be my big white playful heavenly friend.

Oh the fun he will have with us.  No more pain, and he can keep his puppy ways forever.  

Putting a dog down in never fun, but I am so glad that I got to spend 16 years of my life being greeted by a big doggy smile and cheery beady eyes - that always said.  I'm here!!  Let's play!!

A Psalm a day

I guess it's time to take my mom's advice.  When she died, she left some notes and one of them distinctly said :  "Read a Psalm every day".
I've kind of been going through a dry time in my life.
You know, things look bleak.  You want your days to be filled with sunshine and laughter, but they're not.
Us folks here in Seattle tend to "feel"  the weather.
If it's raining outside, then it's raining inside.  If its beautiful outside, then inside I'm beaming!!
Well, let's just say in the last 2 months the sun has been hidden.~~  it's up there, you just can't see it!!

TRUST:  It will come back.  God never leaves.  The sun still shines.  Even in Seattle!!
A life without trust in God becomes bleak and dismal - just ask me.
It's easy to say "i trust God".  But it's harder, much harder to live it out.

I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR:  So what if everything isn't perfect.  If we love God then He will get us through these dark rainy days ~  right?  Psalm 27:1  says the Lord is my light.
Do I really believe this ~ in my heart?
I think it takes a lifetime to learn this lesson.  (please dear God, be my light and my salvation)

I AM STRONG, even when i don't feel like it.
One thing about 'aging'  is : everything is slowly eroding!  It's a process I know.  When I feel weakest, then God can be my strength.   (this is a hard one to learn!!)
Psalm 27:1 says the Lord is the strength of my life and I should be afraid of NOTHING!

My daughter says that this is her "birthday Psalm" because her birthday is July 27.
WOW!!  I should have taken my mom's advice sooner.  I should have read this Psalm sooner.  Hopefully the dry days are over!  I'm going to take heart, wait on God and  have courage.

So here it goes Charissa, here is my birthday Psalm 15.
(paraphrased by me)
I will never be moved or have those hopeless days.
I want to dwell on God's holy hill - everyday!
With God's help I will
   Have a Christian walk that speaks love to others
       Speak the truth into my heart that comes right out of the Bible

              Look for God's love in everything that comes my way
                    And never ever think God has left me or forsaken me!

Love has a name ~ Jesus