A Story About A Dog Named Lucky - GREAT one!

Journal Pals, you dog lovers will LOVE this one, I did! Love, Merry   HIS GREATEST TREASURE

      Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky.
      Lucky was a real character.  Whenever Mary and Jim had company
come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave
their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever
struck his fancy.
      Inevitably someone would forget and something would end up
missing.  Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and
there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's favorite toys.
Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very
particular that his toys stay in the box.
      It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.
      Something told her she was going to die of this disease.  She
was just sure it was fatal.  She scheduled the double mastectomy,
fear riding her shoulders.
      The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with
Lucky.  A thought struck her.  What would happen to Lucky?
      Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim he was Mary's dog
through and through.  "If I die Lucky will be abandoned," Mary
thought.  "He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him."  The
thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
      The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had
anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks.  Jim took
Lucky for his evening walk faithfully but the dog just drooped,
whining and miserable.
      But finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital.  When
she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up
the steps to her bedroom.  Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch
and left her to nap.
      Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she
called.  It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
      When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was
wrong.  She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.
Panic soon gave way to laughter though when Mary realized the problem.
      She was covered, literally blanketed, in every treasure Lucky owned!
      While she had slept, Lucky made trip after trip to the basement
and brought his beloved mistress his favorite things in life.  He had
covered her with his love.
      Mary forgot about dying.  Instead she and Lucky began living
again, walking further and further together every night.
      It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free.
      Lucky?  He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy
box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
      Live everyday to the fullest because every day is a blessing from God!
                       -- Author Unknown

Life Lesson

Subject: A Lesson in Life
>
>  An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the
>  donkey & the old man walked. As they went along they passed some
> people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking & the boy
> was riding.
>
> The man & boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed
> positions.
>
> Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he
> makes that little boy walk."  They then decided they both would walk!
>  
> Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk
> when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
>
> Next they passed some people that shamed them by saying how cruel they
> were to put such a load on a poor donkey.  The boy & man agreed they
> were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey.
>  
> As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he
> fell into the river and drowned.
>
> The moral of the story?
>
> If you try to please everyone, you might just as well...
>
> Kiss your ass 'Good-bye'.

RESOLVE

Hi Journal buddies, I haven't heard from a lot of you for a long time.  I hope all is well with each of you.  By the way: This is what I dream of doing of being, but it's a bit much, don't you think?  I don't think that all these things can possibly occur in the time I have left to live no matter what I do.  Still, I'd like to hear what you think of it.  I could still "work" on it, right?

Answer any old time! xoxo Merry In a message dated 1/3/2006 10:04:32 PM Central Standard Time, publisher@heartwarmers.com writes:

RESOLVE
by Karen Carroll

The New Year is upon us and it's time to find resolve
To decide what's important and to fight to evolve.
To be a better human or to learn a new task
To grow ever stronger or to get over the past.

To help other people or to help ourselves
To make extra income or to share our wealth.
To give time to our family or take time we need
To live life with laughter or continue to grieve.

To watch the world changing or to ask that it stop
To pray for peace among us as we watch the moving clock.
To accept growing older as we see the children grow
To be a little more patient when the times seems so slow.

To feel our heart beating as it bursts with love
To have faith that life's worth living, it's a gift from God above.
To realize we're all equal in the Great One's eyes
To look up and see the heavens in the bright blue sky.

To see ourselves as he see us, beauty to the core
To be that person who stands proud at the door.
To know that when we get there to the pearly gates
That our resolves to grow each day was worth the wait.

For with resolve comes strength and peace when we succeed
Knowing that we did what we set out to achieve
So in this New Year coming resolve to be your best
For that's the one thing you can do to pass the lifetime test.

Which is to learn to laugh and love and grow ever stronger
Have peace and understanding as we live ever longer.
Happy Happy New Year.  Happy Happy Days
May 2006 bring you Happy Happy Ways.

           -- Karen Carroll    <mndlvme @ msn.com>

Let me know what you thought of it, and where you think you are at on this scale.  Oh, and I almost forgot the most important thing:  Happy New Year!  May 2006 be your best year ever.  I mean it! Merry merry1621@aol.com


They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. 
Carl W. Buechner

My Friend Tory

This is exactly how my friend Tory is!  I remember her having rabbits and sleeping on the couch to take care of them.  She let them go when they were big enough at the park or in the wild, I think.  She has gone to shelters for some of your own animals, her love for them amazes me, but then she amaze me as she is that wonderfully special kind of person that she is!  I honestly don't know another living person that cares for animals, their own and the world's as well as dear Tory.  She carries 40-50 lb. dogs upstairs, feeds the ill ones by hand.  But most of all she loves them as they (animals) love all of us, unconditionally.   And I miss her.  Must write her!!   (I know it's my turn to write- I promise to write very soon. And she is always in my heart.)  I hope you each have a friend like Tory in your lives!

Love, Merry
EMBRACING LIFE
by Monique Koeleveld

      This is an amazing story of the tiniest little wild baby bunny
you can imagine -- who championed the odds and embraces life despite
his handicap.
     It has been a life experience unlike any other, seeing him
develop, never giving up, and bearing testimony to his intense will
to live.  We can all learn from such an indomitable spirit, to fare
so well despite dire circumstances and prevailing disability.
     One evening, I was walking the dogs with my friend.  The dogs
found a nest of baby bunnies that I believe had already been attacked
earlier in the day.  A momma rabbit makes her nest in fairly
unprotected areas to ensure her best chance at survival, but often at
the demise of her babies.
     I was able to retrieve the two bunnies who were still alive, and
another one who was injured.  Shortly after returning home, I lost
the little one I was hoping would survive.  I discovered puncture
wounds on his little chest and concluded that between the injuries
and the trauma, his little body and spirit simply gave out.
      That left Kelsey, clearly the runt of the litter.  He was barely
half the size of his siblings and had sustained a puncture wound
above his left shoulder.  I immediately called my friend, Gayle
Lanter, who gave me a recipe for bunny formula.  (Thank God for
Gayle!)  I was sure he would pass also, but now 8 months later, he is
still alive.
      The idea was to rehabilitate him for release back to the wild,
but his injury left him with neurological damage.  He cannot sit up
and hop like a normal bunny without support.
      Kelsey was no more than a few days old when he entered my care.
He had very short fur, short little legs, eyes closed, ears very
small and flat to his little head.  He could easily have fit into the
smallest chicken egg.  I toted him to work in his little basket with
heating pad and "diaper" bag for 6 weeks.  Thankfully my boss was
very understanding and supportive.
      In that time, I transitioned him to solid food and reduced the
number of feedings a day.  Transitioning a baby bunny to solid food
is extremely difficult.  The gut is sterile when the bunny is born,
so formula feeding has to be done under very sterile conditions.
Having no way to get all the ingredients for the bunny formula during
the late night hours I brought Kelsey home, I gave him homemade
Pedialyte his first night home.  I have read that it is important
that the bunny's tummy be free of the momma's milk before formula is
introduced, so the Pedialyte feedings may have also contributed to
his successful survival.
      He became quite domesticated.  I have him in his own home, lined
with a thick towel and water bottle fashioned on the outside of his
home, as he can now drink from a water bottle without assistance.
His daily maintenance is time-consuming, gladly provided.  I no
longer have to syringe hydrate him.  He has completely weaned himself
from requiring help eating.  He eats completely on his own.
      He loves his fresh greens, apple, carrot and rabbit pellets.  He
is now able to sit up on his "elbow" without support, a grand
improvement.  He is out with my other furry kids every night.   He
loves to be out with my cats and enjoys doing his little leaps (with
support).
      This is all very, very unusual for a little one that is meant to
be wild and live in the wild.  Once I realized that Kelsey would not
be able to survive in the wild, I did the best I could to help him
adjust to home life.
      Through his lick kisses, body language, his vocabulary,
wonderful appetite, and impeccable grooming habits, he communicates
to me that he is a very content little bunny -- indeed, happy to
embrace life to the fullest.
      I am in total awe of this perfect little creature.  It is an
honor to give him love and care each and every day.

           -- Monique Koeleveld    <jasper_4_16 @ yahoo.com>

____________________________________________
Monique says, "I live in Madison, Alabama, with my furred and
feathered children, most of whom are rescues.  I have been an animal
lover all of my life and am deeply passionate about the plight of
animals and animal welfare issues."
____________________________________________   merry1621@aol.com

Thought to Ponder . . .

Live each day with a little less fear
and a little more faith.

Memories PART 2

PART 2 <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P>

1. Falling in love.<O:P></O:P>

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.<O:P></O:P>

3. A hot shower.<O:P></O:P>

4. No lines at the supermarket.<O:P></O:P>

5. A special glance.<O:P></O:P>

6. Getting mail.<O:P></O:P>

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road. <O:P></O:P>

8. Hearing your favourite song on the radio.<O:P></O:P>

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.<O:P></O:P>

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.<O:P></O:P>

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).<O:P></O:P>

12. A bubble bath. <O:P></O:P>

13. Giggling.<O:P></O:P>

14. A good conversation.<O:P></O:P>

15. The beach<O:P></O:P>

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.<O:P></O:P>

17. Laughing at yourself. <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you <O:P></O:P>

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.<O:P></O:P>

20. Running through sprinklers.<O:P></O:P>

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.<O:P></O:P>

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.<O:P></O:P>

23. Laughing at an inside joke <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

24. Friends. <O:P></O:P>

25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.<O:P></O:P>

26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.<O:P></O:P>

27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner). <O:P></O:P>

28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.<O:P></O:P>

29 Playing with a new puppy.<O:P></O:P>

30. Having someone play with your hair.<O:P></O:P>

31. Sweet dreams.<O:P></O:P>

32. Hot chocolate.<O:P></O:P>

33. Road trips with friends. <O:P></O:P>

34. Swinging on swings.<O:P></O:P>

35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger. <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

36. Making chocolate chip cookies. <O:P></O:P>

37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.<O:P></O:P>

38 Holding hands with someone you care about.<O:P></O:P>

39. Running into an old friend and realizing <O:P></O:P>

that some things (good or bad) never change.<O:P></O:P>

40. Watching the expression on someone's face <O:P></O:P>

as they open a much desired present from you. <O:P></O:P>

41. Watching the sunrise.<O:P></O:P>

42. Getting out of bed every morning and <O:P></O:P>

being grateful for another beautiful day.<O:P></O:P>

43 Knowing that somebody misses you.<O:P></O:P>

44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.<O:P></O:P>

45. Knowing you've done the right thing,<O:P></O:P>

no matter what other people think. <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

Pass on These Natural Highs to at Least 7 People in the Next Half Hour and Something Fantastic Will Happen to You in the Next Few Hours. <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

Be sure to send it back to the person who sent it to you! <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

Lord keep Your arm around my shoulder <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

and <O:P></O:P>

 <O:P></O:P>

Your hand over my mouth <O:P></O:P>

<O:P> </O:P>

  merry1621@aol.com
Today's Quote

Best of thoughts

Dear Journal buddies, a  This will be in 2 parts because of the length rule, but I promise you, you won't be sorry you read it!!

I don't know if you've seen this before but it is so good. I had seen just parts of it.  My sister just sent it to me.  It made me cry, but a good cry.  Be sure you scroll ALL THE WAY TO THE END!!    It's  worth it. Had to share this with you. I hope you like it. Love you my pals, Merry    Anyway, I wrote Bev back immediately saying: Bev, Boy, this was wonderful, many were great, but the last one is like the "legacy" we hope when we pass on people will say this about us and the way we lived our lives.  Mostly #1 guy = our creator, Jesus Christ.   Mom once told me when I fussed about too much with housework, and I missed things and then she said, "When I die, I don't give 2 hoots if it DOESN'T say on my tombstone, "She kept a good house,"  Or even, "She was a good cook."  Much better to have been a good friend, a good person, and to leave this world knowing you did your best to the end."  She really did say this to me.   Love to all, Merry

Natural Highs <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O:P></O:P>

Please make sure you forward this back to me . . . You'll see why at the end ! <O:P></O:P>

Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one . . . <O:P></O:P>

It Does Make You Feel Good, especially the thought at the end #45. <O:P></O:P>

 

Christmas Story

  I hope you haven't already read this, but if you have that it's been a while so you can enjoy it again.  Love Always, Merry

____________________________________________


MASON'S CHRISTMAS BALL
by Kathy Pippig Harris

      The clock in the hallway sounded 12 times.
      Midnight.  Christmas Eve.
      Playing softly through the speakers mounted above the nurses'
station Christmas music filtered into those rooms with open doors.
      The older lady sat in her chair by the window.  A thick
comforter wrapped around her frail frame.  Colors flashed and spun
along the walls of her room from the gaily lit Christmas tree in the
walkway, just outside her door.
      Lora gazed past the chilled windowpane, at the snow flurries
dancing on an errant breeze.
      But the vision that filled her eyes was that of a certain yellow
Lab who had become her most treasured visitor.
      His name was Mason and he had once been Lora's life companion.
When she became too ill to care for him, her neighbors, newlyweds
Tyler and Kelli, had volunteered to take him in.
      Mason had always nurtured a fondness for the couple and quickly
became a member of their family, while spending many hours with Lora.
Happy hours they were, sitting in Lora's garden as the sun warmed
them both.  Or in Lora's den, a fire crackling in the hearth as both
canine and human napped in its cozy glow.
      Lora had been in the retirement home for nearly three years, and
Mason always visited her on Christmas day.  She looked past her
reflection in the window glass and smiled.
      Not too long now until she'd get to see Mason.
      Closing her eyes she snuggled into the warmth of the comforter,
her mind playing back well remembered scenes.  Mason loved to fetch
and come every Christmas he would gingerly pull aglass ball off
their tree, trot over to her and drop his treasure in her lap.  Lora
never knew why he was fascinated with the Christmas ball decorations,
but she had come to anticipate this loving gesture from Mason.
      Last Christmas, when Mason came with Tyler and Kelli to visit,
he had proudly presented her with a shiny red ball.  Moments after he
had brought the decoration to Lora, a nurse padded through the
doorway, a searching expression on her face.  Lora held up the glass
ball and the nurse had smiled and shook her head.  Mason grinned and
everyone laughed.  Mason had plucked it from the Christmas tree in
the hallway.
      Comforted by her rememberings, Lora fell asleep as the snow
tapped softly on her windowpane.
                                    __________

      Their guests had left an hour ago and it was just after midnight
when Kelli and Tyler had headed for the comfort of their bed.  Their
party had been marvelous but it had left them both tuckered out and
the thought of sleep was welcome.
      Mason, too, had enjoyed the party, entertaining guests.  Seeking
out and giving affections.  Bestowing sloppy kisses on the children,
and for the adults Mason proffered his paw.  It was the closest he
came to giving them a hug, without fear of knocking them down.
      Kelli and Tyler had stopped telling their guests that Mason
would fetch them a Christmas ornament from the tree.  For in the two
Christmases that had passed, Mason did not comply.  It seemed this
particular "gift" was given to one person only -- Lora.
      As the couple made their way up the stairway, Mason followed
close behind, his long tail wagging happily.  A smile on his face, he
panted, tongue out to the side of his muzzle.  An expression of utter
joy on his furry face.
      As Kelli and Tyler settled in for the night, Mason circled three
times, then snugged down into his soft bed on the floor, at the foot
of their bed.
      Christmas morning arrived as the winter sun splintered through
the blinds of the bedroom window.  Tyler groggily stumbled toward the
bathroomand stopped short.
     Something was not right.  He turned 'round and his eyes fell on
the sight of his wife at Mason's bedside.
      Tears wet her cheeks as she sobbed -- Mason's head held gently
in her hands.  Mason was limp, his once animated face now lifeless.
      Tyler swallowed back a lump in his throat.  He walked numbly
over to his wife and Mason, dropped down on his knees and wept into
Mason's soft fur.
                                    __________

      Lora was awakened due to the persistent nudging of her hand by a
cold, wet nose.  Whiskers tickled her wrist and she smiled as she
opened her eyes.
      There in her lap lay a multi-colored glass ball.  And staring at
her was the happiest face she could ever remember.  That of Mason's.
      Lora gingerly cupped the ornament in one hand as she stroked the
broad yellow brow of her beloved Mason.  She bent down over her
friend and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Mason."
      The nurse padded quietly into Lora's room to find the woman,
lifeless, still wrapped in the comforter.
      In her lap was a glass ball -- the one she noticed missing from
the Christmas tree earlier that night.
     Outside the frosty windowpane, the wintry sun sparkled on new snow.

            -- Kathy Pippig Harris   <kappi00 @ gmail.com>

___________________________________________
Kathy is a published author.  She finds inspiration for her novels,
short stories, and poems from her family, her job, her life's
experiences -- from a diagnosis of cancer, to a diagnosis of life,
and from the furry loved ones who share her world.  And she thanks
God for them all.
____________________________________________
We put a space before and after the @ symbol in the email addresses
to disguise them from robots that harvest addresses on the Internet.
If you would like to correspond, just take out the spaces.

  merry1621@aol.com
Today's Quote

You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on.

-Homer Simpson