Begging Songs

A fun tradition with families who are in the next class with 4 Paws for Ability is to "beg" for their matches. The matches don't come any sooner, but it is fun. Here's are try at begging:

Begging, begging time is here
Time for matches should be near
We've been good, but we can't last
...Hurry matches, hurry fast.
Want a dog to search and track
Need to know which [dog] brush to pack
We can hardly stand the wait
Please matches, don't be late.

(See if you can tell what Christmas song the words go with....)

20 days and counting down....

26 and Counting Down

Today we started making sure the winter clothes are ready to go especially since we are outside practicing searching and tracking for William. Last week he escaped from the public library out the back door. This week when Ed took the kids for their weekly visit, the librarian told him they turned the alarm on for that door.

Instead of months we're now down to weeks and days. We follow the blogs and updates of several families who already have their service dogs home. What a difference the dogs have made in the lives of their human friends.

We are so looking forward to having an extra set of eyes watching William when we are out and about as well as a super sensitive nose to track him down. 26 days and counting down!

Do You Think Outside the Box?

Do you think outside the box? Can you take an ordinary, everyday object and turn it into somthing special? William does. An ordinary plastic laundry basket become a sled to ride down the stairs (Don't try this at home - it didn't work too well!), a garage for his cars, a helmet for sword fighting, a place to scrunch up in and hide, the top of a ramp for his cars, a place to hide the cat (Again, don't try this at home. Tigger did not like this!) and a dozen other things.

Creativity is one of William's strong suit. He makes the ordinary extraordinary. I pray he will never loose this gift and that we will encourage him to use it.

Oh, and 1 more thing a laundry basket is good for: turn it over and step on it to give someone a bear hug and kiss! That's our William - he does think outside the box!

A Visit from Dobby

Dobby is a 4 Paws puppy in service dog training. His foster family brought him to the Harvest Celebration Sunday afternoon. A boy and a dog are just meant to be!

Fundraising commitment completed.

Hotel reservations made.

We're counting down the days and preparing for our newest addition to the family. We look at the service dogs in training and wondering just who it will be.

Yoda and the girls, need to do their matching magic!

Thanks, Diane for bringing Dobby by. I think William is enjoying himself!

Santa's Little Yelpers!

Only 58 days until we meet William's 4 Paws best friend. Each class names themselves. Our class has chosen "Santa's Little Yelpers"! Not quite sure if that applies to the dogs or to us humans.

So much to do to get ready for this new family member. We've been reading books and watching DVD's about service dog. Plus many of the families who have received their dogs have blogged and posted You Tube videos. It's amazing.

Currently, there are 7 families in our class from various parts of the country. All of them will be traveling with a family member with special needs and spending 11 days in intensive training. We could all use your prayers.

Ok, before I can't contain myself any longer, I'll stop for now..... Thanks for reading!

The Countdown has Begun!

Something very exciting will be happening in 83 days! William will meet his furry, new, best friend. He understands this will happen around Christmas time. What an awesome gift that will be for him! (And us, too!)

Please begin praying now for a mild December since we will be out everyday practicing searching and tracking.

Some of the questions we are asking is what breed(s) of dog will William's friend be? Short or long hair? How big will the dog be? What will the dog's name be? (Just like our kids, the dog will already be named!) Will the dog like us? Will we be able to learn all the commands for the dog? Hopefully, the dog will be patient with us.

Ok, the excitement is mounting!!!!

I Want That One!

"Watching a man painting a sign to sell four puppies, a little boy asked, 'Mister, I'd like to buy one of your puppies.'

'Well, these are fine pups and cost a lot of money.'

The child dropped his head, then reached into his pocket and pulled out 'some coins. 'I have thirty five cents. Is that enough to take a look, sir?'

'Sure, sonny. You can take a look.' Then he called, 'Here Dolly!'

Down the doghouse ramp came Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face to the chain link fence, his eyes dancing with delight. Then he noticed movement again at the doghouse. Slowly, another little fur ball appeared, a noticeably smaller one. Down the ramp it slid. Awkwardly the little pup hobbled toward the others, trying his best to catch up with the others.

'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt.

'Son, you don't want that pup. He'll never be able to run and play with you like the other ones would.'

With that the little boy reached down and rolled up one pant leg to reveal a steel brace attached to a specially-made shoe.

Looking up at the man, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, the man lifted the pup, and holding him carefully, handed the lovable little ball of fur to the boy.

'How much?' asked the little fellow. The man smiled and answered, 'There's no charge for love.'"

Author Unknown

We all need to be wanted by someone who will give us unconditional love and understanding.