I Believe In Dogs

Peeking Out From Behind the Flowers

I've been thinking a lot about how much to, or not to, post about Asher and the puppies. Since the age of eight, I've had a dog and I cannot imagine my life without one (or two or three...). I was the little girl who begged and begged for a dog, who decorated holiday ornaments in school with magazine pictures of dogs and finally got my first puppy on Christmas day in second grade. My dogs were always my siblings. 

As many of you know, we adopted Asher in 2002 while I was sick in bed. I held his photo in my hands and waited for this 10 month old rescue dog to arrive in our home. Since that day, he's shown me a fiercely protective love on a level I had not experienced with any other dog. He hates to see his 'sister' suffer. He has spent every night of his life here by my side, ready to alert Mom at any time that something is amiss. Now, he also alerts us to any fighting between his brother and sister or any 'emergencies'. 

This Girl LOVES to be Outside. All. Of. The. Time.

As Asher aged, you all followed our path to deciding to bring Miss Tovah Rose into our lives. And then, our 'oops' baby Gershwin Leor. These two puppies became my furbabies, giving me a break from the often heartbreaking grief over not being a mom. Every day, I get to 'mother' my three dogs. I get to be their Mommy. 

Last night Gershwin woke us up in the middle of the night for an emergency potty break. Tovah cries herself to sleep when she is overtired. She rings the bell to go outside incessantly. Asher needs extra special attention to make sure he eats. The puppies wrestle non-stop. Each dog is a unique and special personality. I love watching them grow and change. They are eager and jolly participants in this thing we call life. And they make my life fuller, more meaningful, and happier. 

You Put These Pillows Here for Me, Right?

While I realize that many people are not as excited about these furbabies as I am, I have decided to try to post a week-in-review photo blog, something I wish I had started when the puppies were little. Some weeks, maybe it will be a look back at something from earlier. For now, these are my babies and the beings that I have been gifted with mothering. While I take joy in the blogs, photos and Facebook posts about your children, I hope you'll enjoy sharing in my journey too. I know how much I cherish following your lives--health, children, furbabies, jobs, travel, hobbies and most importantly, everything YOU! 

I Have it Made!

This week, I got a rare photo op of Asher. He is pretty low key these days. Poor guy has also been shaved since he can no longer hold his back legs up long enough to stand on the groomer's table. Thankfully, it's finally beginning to grow back! 

Otherwise, it's mostly puppy shenanigans around here. Gershwin has learned to jump up on the sofa and bed (and oh how happy he is about this newfound easy access to a lap). He jumped up and nestled himself in the pillows on the sofa the other day. As you can see, he's quite content. I sure wish I could relax like this guy can!

Tovah: Stop Torturing Me and Untether Me from My Noodge of  Brother!
Gershwin: I LOVE Being Close to My Sister! Why Won't She Cuddle With Me?

If Gershwin had it his way, he'd cuddle with his big sister. But Tovah does not like to share her space. I readied the two puppies for their daily walk with Mom and put them on the coupler. I don't know how they dragged each other over to the red bed, but Tovah is so frustrated about being 'stuck' to her brother!

Getting two puppies, as crazy as it is around here, has been such a life-affirming, joyful and sometimes challenging experience. These little guys breathed new life into ALL of us here at the GREATS. For NPR's This I Believe, I just might say: I believe in dogs. :)

I'm off to cuddle with Asher while we listen to a book on CD before bed.

Blessings, and Happy Monday!

Emily

Mini-Reunion: Mack and Robin

Mack and Robin

Hadley arrived in May, Loralea in June, and then Mack in August! Like Hadley, I had not seen Mack since graduation 15 years ago. He has offered to come visit several times, but I allowed my fear of letting him see me sick interfere with that happening. As I said in my earlier post life is too precious and too short for me to keep on with that attitude, so Mack came for a visit this summer with his fiancee, Robin.

He and Robin gifted me with a gorgeous red clutch that I will treasure and will make me think of Davidson and our friendship every time I use it. Go Cats!

Mack, Robin, Me

Mack is another person with whom I have stayed connected with through Facebook and with whom I wish I had spent more time with at Davidson. He's the kindest, gentlest, smartest soul. He's famous for his wonderful hugs, so I made sure he gave me fifteen--one for each year we haven't seen each other! I'm truly sorry we waited so long to see each other.

Dr. Mack is also allowing me to open up to him about medical issues and talk through them with him. I have never wanted to burden him with asking for medical advice, but it's invaluable to have a friend talk to me about very difficult decisions--a friend who has my absolute best interests at heart.

Mack and Me!

When I announced it was 'picture time', Mack enthusiastically said: "Yay! It's my turn to get a photo taken on the couch!" Yes, every visitor must take a photo sitting on the couch in the sunroom. :)
Seeing Mack in person really affirmed our connection with each other and commitment to our friendship. His fiancee, Robin, is fantastic about making sure Mack's Davidson friends are part of his life and she's made him so very happy, which is wonderful to see. Thankfully, they don't live too far away and we hope to see more of each other! I was so happy to meet Robin and finally hug Mack again. 

Blessings,

Emily

Mini-Reunion: Loralea, Brian, Kaylea and Brianna

Me and My Roomie

After my May mini-reunion with Hadley, I had a June mini-reunion with Loralea. 

Brian, Brianna, Loralea, and Kaylea

The last time I saw Loralea she was six months pregnant with her oldest daughter, Kaylea. I have so desperately wanted to meet her little girls for such a long time. Loralea's senior apartment had their own mini-reunion, and then she and her family zipped up to PA for a quick overnight visit. It was a whirlwind for sure, but we squeezed in as many hugs and 'I love yous' as possible. :)

Brianna Plays 'Baby'

Kaylea and Brianna are sweet, loving little girls just like their mommy and daddy, and full of a willingness to give hugs! :) The girls really enjoyed playing with my old Cabbage Patch dolls, my first baby doll, the wooden high chair, the baby bottles and the doll clothes. They were especially excited to discover that Cabbage Patch dolls came with diapers. Ha! I loved seeing new life breathed into my old toys.

Look! A Davidson Bookstore Goodie!

Loralea and her family made a stop at the Davidson bookstore on their way up from South Carolina. We now have matching long-sleeve t-shirts (is there a better kind of t-shirt?).  I am super excited about this, because we love us some long-sleeve t-shirts from Davidson. 

Fast Friends: Brian and Gershwin

Brian and Gershwin became fast friends. Gershwin settled into Brian's lap and didn't move for so long that at one point Brian said: "Are you dead?!" Brian is a K-9 officer who is used to a much more active dog in the home!

Me, Loralea and Kaylea (she looks like a mini-Loralea)

Davidson spends a great deal of time, energy and effort pairing Freshman roommates together. A committee uses a combination of a survey of hobbies, subjects you feel strongest and weakest in, etc.; the Myers-Briggs test; your four entrance essays; and your transcripts to pair roommates. 

One of Davidson's greatest gifts to me was in pairing me with Loralea as my freshman roommate. We are two people who seem so very different on the surface that we may never have become friends otherwise. 

We also lived together sophomore year and were able to visit each other when we both traveled abroad junior year. Had I been a better roommate to Loralea in those first two years, we may have lived together all four years!

Loralea will never know the extent to which she changed me as a person. She is one of the kindest, most loving, most forgiving, most generous people I know. Over the years she opened my heart, she taught me to love more openly, she taught me to be more patient, she taught me to be more forgiving, she taught me to be less judgmental. We hugged each other every night before bed, we always knew where the other person was, we always said I love you, and we were the perfect match of silliness and goofiness. 

Recently the President of Davidson, Carol Quillen, said that the reason alumni give back to Davidson is because of their gratitude to the institution for the relationships formed and the education received. For me, this is certainly the case. Davidson was a challenging, sometimes tumultuous experience for me, but the end result was the most loyal and faithful friends and an enduring legacy of learning.

Thank you Loralea, Brian, Kaylea and Brianna for making the long journey to PA! We can't wait to see you again! 

Blessings,

Emily

Bath Time

Up First: Gershwin

Mom gave the dogs baths. I was in charge of drying and brushing. I don't get too far with brushing before tiring out, but swaddling the pups to dry them is one of my favorite things. 

This Girl LOVES To Be Swaddled

Have a good week. 

Blessings,

Emily

Mini-Reunion: Hadley

Hadley Hanging Out with Twinkle Toes

I think it's time to start posting about my mini-reunions! When I decided to have these mini-reunions, I didn't strategically plan who I wanted to come visit this year. I just put the idea out into the universe, and allowed those who were willing and able to make the travel come to visit. And how wonderfully it all evolved!

My first visitor was the beautiful, brilliant, kind, sweet, lovely Hadley, who arrived at our door with a bouquet of gorgeous yellow roses and my mom sick on the sofa. :P 

Hadley and I hadn't seen each other since graduation, and here was my mom, who is never sick, unable to do anything. Hadley just went with the flow, taking care of picking up dinner, and just doing what needed to be done to help keep the house running. We felt so badly about the 'welcome', but Hadley was a trooper.

Hadley and I had mentioned getting together several times over the years, but we never got it organized. We finally got our butts kicked into gear when she decided to move across the country for a job. 

Hey, We Match! :)

Hadley is one of those people with whom I always wished I had taken more breaks from studying to nourish a friendship. Thankfully, proximity always kept us in contact through the four years--living in the same dorms freshman and sophomore year, swapping rooms the junior year when we went abroad, and living in the same apartment building senior year. Somehow, the universe made sure to keep us connected. I also always loved to visit her in the library where she worked the front desk and I'd find an excuse to take a 'study break'. :) 

Facebook has enabled us to keep in touch over the years and realize just how much we enjoy each other. Once we were together, it was as if we hadn't skipped ahead 15 years. It was easy, comfortable, authentic, honest, and fun. We kept wondering why we had waited so long to see each other.

Now she lives in Aspen. Her photos of her new home are so beautiful, that if I could fly, I'd certainly be there in a heartbeat. Instead, we'll hope Hadley makes another journey to the East Coast for a change of scenery sometime. 

Thank you for our mini-reunion, Hadley! I love you!

Blessings,

Emily

Shanah Tovah

Farmer's Market Flowers

Shanah Tovah!

Mom Has Been Buying Sweet Fresh Bouquets at the Market All Summer Long. I ADORE Fresh Flowers, Especially From Our Local Farmers.

Somehow this year has flown by, and I can't believe it's time to celebrate another new year, and spend the next several days reflecting and repenting.

A Holiday Meal Filled With Sweetness

We celebrated with a simple, but delicious dinner of wild salmon and local green beans and potatoes. For dessert we had grilled pineapple sweetened with maple syrup. Mom had to be a little creative this year in making the celebratory meal, which is usually filled with lots of honey, including apples dipped in honey. However, due to my gastroparesis, I am on a very restrictive diet that does not allow for either of these foods. :( We substituted maple syrup and found a way to put it on the salmon, green beans and pineapple. :) Jeannine joined us for the holiday meal and prayers.

For the past many years, I always recline at dinner time and eat with a special table at a reclining chair, even when we have company. But, this summer, I have started to be able to sit up at dinner time for meals some nights. I cannot stretch the meal out for a long time before needing to move to the sofa or reclining chair, and I need to sit with my legs Indian style, but I really love the feeling of normalcy sitting around the table with everyone else brings. So many small and large victories to enjoy and celebrate as the new year begins!

Making Being Sick Look Glamorous! Ha!

The start of the year 5774 finds me in a place of profound transformation. I feel my soul changing and growing every day. I'm happier, more joyful, more open to life and love than I have been in many, many years. My hope for this new year is that I may continue on this journey of transformation and be written in the book of life. I pray that those I have hurt unknowingly forgive and that G-d in turn does the same of me.

I snapped this photo of myself today while resting in bed this afternoon so that I would have energy for our holiday meal. I am wearing the passion flower dress that my friend Susannah designed and gifted to me. I wore it as a symbol of embracing life and who I am. I love that this photo captures the two sides of me--the one that spends much of her time sick and in bed and the other that spends as much time as possible living life to the fullest. 

No, I Didn't Purposely Dress to Match the Flowers Today.

To my friends and family of Jewish faiths, may your year be as sweet as honey and apples, may you be written in the book of life, and may you be blessed with health, peace and love.

Blessings,

Emily

Labor Day Picnic

All Decked Out for the Party!

Happy Labor Day!

We hope you didn't labor on Labor Day!

            

Miss Kaylee and Gershwin

We were able to have our 2nd Annual Neighborhood Labor Day Picnic on Sunday!

Penelope Stylin' in her Shades with Mama Andrea

Just being able to say "picnic" makes me happy. 

Danielle and Laura

To be able to add "2nd Annual" to that makes me even more happy! 

Jennifer (also our vet!) and Mark

And saying "Neighborhood" is the cherry on top!

We had our first picnic last year with the same group of neighbors. Since getting sick, we had never felt that we could plan a picnic or that I would feel well enough to enjoy it. Last year was so much fun (and it was meant to be posted as a LIGHT of 2012, but I got behind!). 

Andrea and Jason

Having a party at our house felt like such a huge milestone. I was so excited to be able to have one again this year! Getting to do 'normal' things brings me incredible joy. Our neighbors are all great about accepting my illness. They know I need to recline, they know I'll crash out afterwards, they know the heat is hard for me, they don't mind me decked out in my pink cooling vest, they offer to get me what I need. It's great to be with such a loving, accepting group of people. 

Pure Joy! Tovah, Allison (Jennifer and Mark's Daughter), Tegan (Danielle and Laura's Daughter)

The kids kept us laughing the entire time. Tovah wasn't too interested in the water, but Gershwin had a blast.

Gavin, Barb and Mark (Kaylee is their daughter).

We have such a nice group of neighbors all in the same age group. I'm really enjoying being able to grow in my connectedness with our neighbors. 

Guess Who? BFF Jeannine!

We have so many lovely neighbors, but we really had to just choose a few to invite in order to make the party manageable for Mom and me.

Gershwin was Game for Anything!

The kids decided it was too hot for clothes. :) Gershwin also decided the pool would be lots of fun. A baby pool, my old super soakers, some cups and a dog willing to participate in water games made for a lot of fun!

That is One Cool Wagon!

We kept it simple: BBQ Beef sandwiches, non-alcoholic beverages, dessert. Everyone else brought a dish. 

Hey Look Mommy! That was FUN!

Gershwin tore around the yard, running in and out of the pool. He slept well after the party.

All Tuckered Out After the Party

None of us are laboring on Labor Day here. I'm having a pajama day to recuperate! 

I can't think of a better way to end what has been an incredibly joyful, happy summer. 

It's hard to believe that last year Miss Tovah was just a baby, and Gershwin had yet to join our family. Here are a few pics from last year's First Annual Labor Day Picnic!

Baby Tovah Rose snuggled with her 'boyfriend', John, the whole time. Look how small Allison is here!

The Hostess With The Mostess! What a Great Job My Mom Does!

Me and Anissa. We Missed Having Anissa and John This Year!

Mmmm. That Was Some Good Chocolate, says Penelope.

We hope to see everyone again next year for a Third Annual Labor Day Picnic!

Blessings,

Emily