Gertie's first walk

The day we decided to keep Gertie, Erin had a bag of fun stuff for her to send home with us.  In the bag was this adorable pink harness, a leash, and puppy food.  It was a fun surprise.  

This evening Gertie, Sleepy, Dave and I went on a short walk.  There is a little loop near our house that is about 2 or 3 blocks long.  Gertie walked the whole way (except when a big dog scared her and she refused to walk for a minute or two)!  I was very impressed.  

She gets tired very easily and sleeps a lot of the time at the moment.  She and Sleepy have been sharing a bed at night (it is TOO cute), and I think this is helping her transition a bit more.  

With the help of our friends, Gertie has spent a lot of time out of doors, (they let her out during the day when we are working) and she is making a lot of progress with training to "go" outside.  We are thoroughly enjoying having a puppy again :).  I think Sleepy is a bit annoyed by her following him around constantly, but I'm sure he'll love her once she can play with him a bit more.  Well--that's all for now!

Pup's for sale!!!...or else we may end up w/ 2 dogs

UPDATE: Leigh and Dave are getting a new puppy tomorrow!!!! We're taking the girl and bringing her home around noon! Her names is Gertrude, but we'll probably call her Gertie for short.  So excited...and a little nervous. More detail, and I'm sure pix, soon!
These guys are pretty darn cute--sure you don't want a puppy? I'll bring it to ya!!! They'll be ready to be taken home--shots and all--next Saturday!
This one is a girl--we really love her!


the only boy!!!

another girl



The three individual pix are the ones left to adopt!!!

a few short thoughts

~you realize the value of a baby's smile when you meet one that does not have one--one who hasn't had enough touch, emotion, love, and care in its life to muster the energy to learn how to smile. The joy that comes from making a baby smile, coo, and giggle is amazing because you know it is a healthy thing. In that moment the baby feels well, comforted, and loved. Door of Hope is an amazing place. Babies come in weighing their birth weight or less at several months old and, in just a couple of months, grow strong and healthy in that loving environment. Every person that works or volunteers there must love and adore God and children--even the house keeper and the secretary. The smiles on those children's faces show how much they are loved and adored daily. Each child is held, smiled at, called by its name, cuddled, and cared for. Each child is celebrated, photographed, praised, and raised to love Jesus, even if they're not old enough to speak His name. I would gladly go back to love on those babies some more--and am already planning to next year. If anyone has a place in their heart for some place like this, I ask you to donate to them. They always need diapers (called Nappies over there), formula, baby food, and much more. If you were considering getting me something for my upcoming birthday, PLEASE send a donation to them instead. Their website is: http://www.holeinthewall.org.za And you can go to their "donation" tab to find out how to send them money from the USA. They are an amazing organization working to reach abandoned babies and their families for Christ. I can't think of a better place to send my money.

fun pix

So I know I haven't posted in ages (thanks for the reminder S), but I promise to catch you up on my feelings on my trip, etc, when I have time to sit and think about it. Here are a few pictures from G's game the other night that Dave and I went to watch. I love that they all get their names on the back of their shirts!
--an action shot of Coach Shaun :)