children – Sand Spring Chesapeakes

{This Moment} See Beautiful ~Involvement Makes A Difference

There was a man who lived along the ocean. One morning, at about 5:00 a.m., when he could sleep no longer, he decided to take a walk along the beach. It was a foggy morning, and the first rays of the sun were slipping above the horizon. The man enjoyed the walk, it was as if the beach was his own. He glanced down the beach and saw a figure that seemed to be dancing. He wondered why anyone would be on the beach so early, his curiosity caused him to quicken his pace. As he drew nearer, he realized that the figure was that of a young man, and he wasn’t dancing–he was throwing something into the water. As he drew very close, he realized that the young man was picking starfish off the beach and was tossing them back into the water.

“Whey are you throwing starfish into the water?”

“The tide is going out, the sun is rising, and the starfish that are left on the beach will surely die,” said the young man, continuing on his task.

“But that’s such a waste of time and energy!” There are so many starfish, and there are miles and miles of beach. What difference does it make?”

The young man thought for a moment. Reached down to pick up a starfish, and said “it makes a difference…to this one.”

Author Unknown

The beginning of December marks one year since Gambler and Glory received their Therapy Dogs Inc. certificates to begin their journey in live making a difference. January 17, 2013 they made their first therapy dog visit to a elementary school in Beaver Dam, WI, almost one year later we are still visiting the children.

Raindeer Glory.

Each visit is a {This Moment} See Beautiful moment. Never did I believe that my dogs could make a difference in someone’s life. They make a difference in my life each day but a stranger? These kids start out as strangers but grow into something much much more.

Each week I look forward to our visits. I never know how many children are going to be visiting with the dogs or how long I will be there. I always leave there knowing that to one child my dogs have made a difference. All I know about the children is that they may suffer some type of Emotional Behavior Disorder, it’s not my job to know why the children need to visit with my dogs. It is my job to make the children feel safe and have them know that they have a friend in my dogs and that they can spend their time with them reading, petting, talking to or just hugging them. I do believe and can see that my dogs take away their troubles, it may only be for ten minutes but for that child 10 minutes makes a difference and could be a lifetime to them.

Thanks to my leaders Lisa & Polly (Canine Solutions llc) for seeing the beauty in my dogs and knowing we could make a difference.

{This Moment} See Beautiful is a once a month Blog Hop, every 2nd Friday of the month. simply create a blog post that made your day, week, and/or month … inspiring you in Seeing Beauty. Blog Hop inspired by See Beautiful.

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Happy Saturday Everyone!

This first picture is not in sepia, I wanted to keep the maroon colors as I thought it was too pretty to change. I made this picture for my friends daughter. Ella is 4 years old (I believe, not good with knowing children’s ages). She had never met Norman. I work with her mom and Norman was her favorite out of my gang. She has pictures of Norman on her phone. Her daughter Ella would look at the photos on her phone and then the day came Brenda needed to tell Ella that Norman died. Ever since then Ella will look at her phone and when she comes across Norman’s picture she will say “Poor Normis, he was a good boy”. Brenda would tell Ella that she never met Norman and that didn’t matter, she knew he was a good boy. Now at random moments Ella will still say “Poor Normis, he was a good boy” when she comes across his picture. So I made this picture of Ella and Normis together so she can have him with her. She melts my heart and now I call Norman Normis.

The love from my friends over losing Norman keeps pouring in. It always comes at a time when I need it. I’ve been so good and I think of Norman all the time and usually don’t cry but this past week I was thinking of what I was going to do for my This Moment~See Beautiful post and I thought of Norman and shed a tear. I got home from work and there was a package from Bittersweet Ridge Jewelry. I knew right away who it was from and couldn’t imagine why I got something as I hadn’t ordered anything or won a contest from For Love Of A Dog blog. When I opened up the package tucked neatly inside was brown tissue paper sealed with a heart, inside that was a beautiful card wishing me a Happy Valentines Day. I got a beautiful Chesapeake pin that was a little something in memory of Norman and Brooke. It wasn’t little it was hugh, something that I will wear in pride and smile knowing Norman and Brooke are with me always. Thank you so much Susan for being so darn thoughtful and thinking of me and knowing just what to do. I am so blessed to have you in my life!

For those of you who haven’t seen all the wonderful jewelry and know that Susan has her own business and hand crafts all her items pop on over to For Love Of A Dog and see if she can’t get you a beautiful piece.

Now onto Sepia Saturday hosted by Ruckus The Eskie. Since I started with a child I thought I would finish with a child. Here are some pictures of Norman with my nephew Joeys nuk. If you look closely in the pictures you will see he is holding it in his mouth. This just cracked us up. He also would carry around Joey’s balloon animals without popping them.

On a much sadder note I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to a blogging friend who lost her beloved Kobi from Wag ‘N Woof Pets on Thursday. Norman greeted Kobi with open paws over the Rainbow Bridge. Together they will run and play and look down on us and send us love from above. I leave you with my favorite poem. RIP Kobi 10/2000 – 2/13/2014

CREATION

When God made the Earth and sky, the flowers and the trees,

He then made all the animals, and all the birds & bees.

And when his work was finished, not one was quite the same,

He said, “I’ll walk this earth of mine, and give each one a name.”

And so he traveled land & sea, and everywhere he went,

A little creature followed him, until its strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth, and in the sky & sea,

The little creature said, “Dear Lord, there’s not one left for me.”

The father sniffed and softly said, “I’ve left you till the end,

I’ve turned my own name back to front, and called you Dog,

My friend”.