Millie : The One-Eyed Wonder

We are a rich family. Rich with pets, for one thing. Mostly of the canine variety... but we also have the equine variety, and the bunny...is that the rodent variety??? Even at the office we have some inherited fish that "just keep swimming".

Each of our pets - however small - is still a part of our family.

Millie entered our life early in our marriage. I was visiting Daddy in Mississippi. Millie was a gift from one of Daddy's hunting buddies in Kansas. With one small mishap - she got out his yard, ran several miles away... and Daddy and I had to head out in two different vehicles to find her. When I left to come back to Kentucky, I loaded her up in the truck, and brought her with me. At that time, her name was Molly. Since we already had a Molly, we changed her name to Millie. She got out of the car - and like and good bird dog, took off for the woods! Her little nub of a tail was wagging up a storm.

Also like most bird dogs, Millie was a little high strung, and a little nervous. She immediately found her place within the "pack" flying mostly under the radar and stirring up as much trouble as possible.

Along the way - she had a few obstacles to overcome. She had a good case of heartworms - which is common to dogs coming from the "delta" region. More mosquitoes = better chance for heartworms. We put her through the vigorous heartworm treatment - and then kept her still and quiet for 6 weeks. Not the easiest thing for a bird dog to do... but she did it nonetheless.

Just a few years ago - she came in the house after being outside on a windy spring day. Fine that morning - it now appeared her eye was cloudy. We spent over a month trying to heal her eye from whatever injury had occurred - but in the end she was blind. With an eye that was swollen and sore, and with 8 or 9 lab tails wagging at her eye level... it was better to remove the bad eye than to leave her in pain. It broke our hearts - but she got along great!

I remember introducing the girls to Millie. I was so nervous. I figured that out of all the dogs... Milile was the one that I had to keep my eye on. I was so wrong. She truly loved the kids. Rachel immediately claimed her as her own - and from that day forward they were fast friends. Rachel could rub her belly, roll her over, play with her feet... even feed her by hand. It was amazing. Not one time did she ever offer to snap or growl at any of the kids.

We noticed that Millie was beginning to lose weight. She was also acting as though she was having trouble getting around. She was getting older. Thirteen. So, because of her age we decided that we might need to fatten her up a little with some better food. But after a few weeks of trying dozens of different dog foods...the last Monday of January we took her to the vet to see what else we could try. There wasn't anything at all... she had cancer... and it was everywhere.

We took her home - and decided to make her as comfortable as possible until we knew it was time. It would give the kids a chance to say their good-byes. That week we had the ice storm - so with Millie curled up in the kitchen floor (or on the couch, where she actually preferred to lay) we spent the last week of her life.

Rachel must have known the time was coming - because on Saturday night she asked if we could sleep downstairs with Millie. So Rachel got her sleeping bag - and Mommy got a pillow for the couch, and the three of us had a slumber party on the family room floor/couch.

Millie was a tough dog... she never once let us know that she was sick. Even up until the very last day she never whimpered, never complained and never slowed down. When it was time to go outside, she got to her feet and ran out the door all by herself. She had a really good last day - with all four kids surrounding her the whole day with love and kisses.

Millie was truly loved by everyone in the family - and we all miss the jingle of that blaze orange collar with all the dog tags on it... as she would run all over the yard looking for birds, chickens or even the occasional rabbit. She was such a good natured dog. She might not have been a lab - but I don't think that she knew it! She was loveable, easy going, and like all good labs, just a smidge bit spoiled.

We miss you so much, Millie! You have a special place in out hearts that will never be filled!

Don't Blink...

Five years have flown by... I almost can't believe how quickly time has passed.

Where does the time go???

When I first started this blog, this is what I wrote:

I look back and I seem to be at a loss for words (...hush...) on this journey called Motherhood. It has been the most amazing experience of my life...and the most difficult. Those who have been at this longer than me keep saying that the best - and worst - is yet to come. (Thanks...by the way. I'd prefer to think it HAS to get easier.) HOWEVER, before I show you all the wonderful things these precious babies are doing... and how amazing they really are... I wanted to remind you where it all began. God is so good... and knowing that He is in control has been the single most comforting part of this entire journey. These pictures are from the visit that Tim and I made to Guatemala (October 2003) to meet Alejandra and Rachel. We fell in love with them the first time we saw their referral photos. But we gave our hearts away, wholly and completely the moment that we saw their faces, and held them in our arms. Our lives have never been the same...

All of that is still so true! But despite the highs and the lows... the pain and the waiting... I would do it all again tomorrow!! Ten times over! The joy that these girls have brought into our lives is such a blessing.

Our family has grown in the past five years. We've celebrated bringing home two more children and the triumph of overcoming the "WAIT". We have so much to be thankful for - so much to celebrate! But on THIS day, we celebrate the beginning of it all... Ali and Rachel and their Forever Family Day!

Where does the time go??? Keep your eyes open... because you blink... and then they're gone!

Little ABBY... and Sara's "Locks Of Love"

After getting home from our first road trip to Wheeling... we decided it was time to get everyone (especially McCaleb...) a haircut. So we set the appointment - and began to make plans.

Since the time the kids were very little, at night we would add people to our bedtime prayers that we knew were sick, or sad, or hurting.... it has become a family ritual. Lately, it seems, the list has been really growing. It seems that more and more we find people who are hurting, or sick, or just need to be lifted up. The kids are so aware of each and every name on our list... and we say them all, out loud, together, each night during our prayer time. It has been a great way to make them aware of people and their situations... and also aware of times that we can praise God for the blessings of healing or restoration. It has been an awesome thing to watch unfold... and it truly touches me when we bump into someone out - and one of the kids will say... "We've been praying for you!"

One of the people that we have been praying for nightly for quite some time is little Abby Riggs. What a precious little girl. Her story is one that you hear - and it immediately tugs at your heart. (I would encourage you to go to the Riggs Family Blog and read about Abby, too. Consider adding this sweet child and her family to your prayer list each day!)

When the time came that Abby was losing her hair... and she decided to shave her head... Sara decided that she was going to give Abby her hair. Sar had heard the story of how I cut my hair off and donated it to Locks of Love. I don't think she really understood the concept at that time...it was very soon after she first came home from Guatemala. However, when she saw Abby had shaved her hair... she immediately informed me that she wanted to give HER HAIR TO ABBY.

When we went to get our haircuts... Rachel went first. (She only wanted a "trim" and made that very clear.) Then we had Ali go next... because she wanted to cut her hair short too, since Sara was cutting hers. I thought that this would be a good idea (Ali has had short hair before...) so that Sara was able to see that once the hair was gone... it couldn't be put back on.

Sara was adamant that she wanted her hair cut... so after Ali was done... she hopped up in the chair, and held her hand up to her ears and said "Cut it up to here." Uh oh.

So Melissa... in all her infinite wisdom... pulled her hair back into a pony tail, measured off how much she needed to cut... and whacked off that pony tail.

Sara was THRILLED. She was so excited to send her hair to Abby. I tried several times to explain that we can't just send her hair to Abby... but I still don't think she ever really understoond me. She was just so proud of herself - and I am proud of her!

After the haircut - I could not believe how much older and more grown up she looked!

WOW! So here are all the kids, with their fresh cuts and trims. While I think they are the cutest bunch of children ever... my heart is overwhelmed by their sweetness and unselfishness... and their hearts that reach out to others. They are such good kids... and I am so blessed to be their mom!

Road Trip 2009.1 - Wheeling, WV

You would think that right after the holidays... we would want to stay home, settle back into a routine - you know - JUST REST. Nope, not the Hanks Gang. Instead, we decided to plan our first road trip of 2009!

We wanted to meet up with the Patton-Schmidt family... and since we needed a good half way spot to meet... we settled on Wheeling, West Virginia. On Monday of that week, Tim and I had our first "DISH" installed at our house. Instead of our usual 3 channels... we are now the proud owners of over 100 channels. No, I have no idea WHY...we still watch the same three channels. However... I decided that the SMART thing to do would be to check out the WEATHER CHANNEL. You know... make sure that we would have good driving conditions, and such.

Yeah - a lot of good that did.

We headed out on Wednesday morning... initially it was a beautiful day to travel. (keyword: INITIALLY)

On the way... I started to realize a few things that I forgot. Like, a bathing suit. It wouldn't be fair of me to go to a hotel and let Jane be in charge of all TEN kids. So just the other side of Columbus, I stopped to get the kids lunch, and hit the local Wal-Mart. It had started to spit snow when we went in to the Wal-Mart... but by the time we came back out (no bathing suits to be found...) there was a good 1/2 inch on the car! Uh, oh.

We decided we better get back on the road and head towards Wheeling. UGH. Four (4) hours later... we pulled into the Spring Hill Suites... thankful to make it in one piece. :)

We had such a great time! The kids were all so excited to see one another. It had been almost 2 years since Jacqueline and Sara had seen each other, a year and a half for Karly... and the last time we saw the boys was on our pick up trip in April of last year! It was so good to finally see them all here, in the USA... with their forever family!

There was plenty of action... we made a run to Target (bathing suit acquisition), swam in the pool, watched movies, stayed up way too late, ate lots of food, played games, danced, did "hair" and make up... and before we were ready, it was time to head home.

Let me just say... the trip home was MUCH quicker. The roads were clear and the sun was shining.

Despite the fact that we had to say good-bye...it was good to know that this good-bye was just a prelude to our next road trip. I'm already starting to make plans...

Resolutions...

A new year...

Time to consider what we might have done differently.

I got this email and thought it was worth posting. Enjoy.

Happy New Year! May 2009 bring many blessings to your life.

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Will You Dance With Me?

READ THIS VERY SLOWLY.... IT'S PRETTY PROFOUND.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord..

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I posted this for you.

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round
Or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.'
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die?
Just call to say 'Hi?

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.....
Life is not a race
Take it slower.
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

'Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!

Enjoy each day of 2009!