Month: July 2017

RESCUERS MAY BE THE RESCUED. Recently, I saw a post on Facebook about a little dog huddling by a dumpster at a business located on one of the busiest highways in our town. I immediately thought of that four lane, late afternoon with everyone getting off work and in a hurry to get home, highway being so dangerous. I thought of the night coming on with all of the dangers and risks for a small dog and asked my husband to go get the dog and then we would see about locating the owners. He took a look at the posted picture and went out the door, no questions asked. This started our Duchess adventure.

Upon Duchess’s arrival, she was pitifully skinny, already had become a mother at some point but not recently, and scared to the point of shaking. Even our other rescued dog, Buster who is now 4 years old, recognized her fear and didn’t do his usual security alert by barking his head off. She clung to me and allowed Greg to put a collar on her with our info just in case she tried to bolt but this little princess was too exhausted and was only interested in eating and drinking water and laying down. I think the tears came when she laid down beside me and hugged my arm. She seemed to be thanking us for rescuing her. For the next two days while we did the usual checks for the owner, she slept and ate and slept some more. Buster was confused but somehow he was different with her and accepted her better than other dogs. He knew this was going to be special or maybe it was just Duchess being so magnetic.

 

We observed those two sniffing each other out, a little territorial spat or two, following each other, eyes and ears alert, and then it happened. Duchess regained her weight and strength and began showing her fun side romping and stomping with enticing I want to play moves and Buster gave in. They began to chase each other out in the yard and at first Buster who wasn’t used to that much activity was being outdone by her highness. He looked exhausted at first but as the days have gone by, he is revving up his skills and it is on, let me tell you, it is on at our home. Each day they romp, nip playfully, and even Duchess will grab Buster’s tail and hold on while he tries to turn around to stop her. They flip, they turn, they jump up and get down, they go out the doggie door and around the yard, and back in. This goes on for at least an hour or more every day and the funny part is it has been therapeutic for both of them. Duchess feels she has a home since she had to have been on the streets since it took a good nail clipping, several days of hydrating, feeding and several flea baths to get this gal back to good health. A good check out with vet, spaying her, and now chipped and she is now on the road to her royal standing. The reason I named her Duchess is because Greg said she was a Princess and since at least one time she had puppies or was pregnant, I said she had to be a Duchess .

The best part is about Buster. As I said in the beginning, RESCUED MAY BE THE RESCUERS has to do with Buster. We rescued Buster as a three pound little ball of flea covered fur with scabs. Buster who is a Papillon mix and a very different personality. He is so lovable to Greg and me but is hesitant to be social with others or at least that was before Duchess. Somehow her silliness, goofiness, and playfulness has brought out a different side of Buster. As we are in the process of moving within the next month, there have been several people coming in and out of the home for the sale and the planning of moves, etc. I have watched him and Duchess, protective of us first with their usual security barks but showing curiosity and not being skittish. They team together as a pack and watch each other’s back. When Buster or Duchess are outside and hear the other one start barking, each one will go to the rescue.

Click on this video link and you will see them at play:

Buster and Duchess at play

I tell the story of Duchess and Buster to encourage all of you to rescue animals, dogs and cats. The life you save is a blessing not only to the scared rescue but an enhancement to your existing life. We have rescued several dogs over the years. They were showered with love and devotion all of the days we were blessed before they went to the Rainbow Bridge. We knew Buster’s story of neglect. We knew the emotional tug of Whiskers, our Schnauzer Terrier Mix who will never leave our hearts. His is a story for another blog day but oh what a dog. Then sweet Bandit, my Yorkie writing partner, who was content to be Mommy’s doggie and lay beside me while I wrote the blog for several years and my first novel. It tugs at my heart now that Duchess finds that special spot next to my hip when I write.  Rescue, rescue, rescue! It is the most rewarding and emotional blessing when they hug or lick to say Thank YOU and I will love you forever.

Live Life, Love Life, and Live Life to the Fullest by rescuing! 

 

Our Tribute to Our Loved Rescues, Bandit (otherwise know as the Bandiman) and Whiskers, the famous Wikki. May you romp and stomp at the Rainbow Bridge. You made our lives happy and we thank you and will love you both forever.

(C) COPYRIGHT 2012-2017 Arline Miller with rights and privileges reserved. Third party material, if any used, will be sourced to original location for reference credit. All photos may not be the property of Sipping Cups unless stated.

 

ALONE? IS THAT WORKING FOR YOU?  This post may be slightly confusing until I have assembled all collective thoughts for a deep thought provoking subject.  No, this is not a dating website ad but I wonder how many of you, single or in a relationship, feel alone?

Life has a way of isolation if we allow it. We may withdraw from society and not necessarily from social media as we find that is a safe way to be alone. On social media, we can disguise our personal and real feelings. I have heard many times from my blog and my Facebook posts the question, “Are you really positive or faking it?” Good or bad, I am a positive person with reality checks.

Many people are alone while they are in relationships and quit communicating with their significant others. I would like to remind us to think back to when you were first together or even better, when you dated. How many times did you look at your phone and hope for a call? How long did you talk when you got the call and/or made the call? How many times did you read a card you received from your mate? Why did you stop?

Here is a great guide to communication (click on link to go to the original article and I think it is a great way to go through a practice run and see if you are communication to the fullest level:

Love and communication: 11 expert tips for a better marriage

On the school playground, you probably gave your sweetheart a paper heart with “I like u a LOT” painstakingly scribbled on it in your favourite crayon colour. Since then, you’ve come a long way in terms of communicating your love to your spouse. But even the best marriage can benefit from a little spark. This month, we chatted with relationship experts and life coachesfor easy, practical tips on enhancing communication within a marriage, as well as special ways to express your love.

Enhance your communication

1. If you and your spouse have a disagreement, explain what’s bothering you in a non-accusatory manner. “Use all the restraint you can muster to not say, ‘You never’ or ‘You always,’ ” suggests Sally Landau, a certified life coach.
2. But sometimes, discretion is okay. “Everything in your head does not need to be said,” says Stephanie Staples, a motivational speaker and wife of 22 years. “I know you think you will explode, but . . . ask yourself if what you are about to say is going to help or hurt your relationship.”
3. Have an attitude of gratitude. “Recent studies . . . reveal that gratitude benefits both the giver and the receiver,” reports Todd Reed, a communication coach and author. “When either of you does something nice for the other – lets you sleep in, washes the dishes when it’s your turn – take a second to show appreciation. Even if you’re just saying thanks for the small stuff, it can go a long way in solidifying your relationship.”
4. Use “hot words” when things get heated . “Never respond when you are angry – leave the room or the house if you need to cool off,” advises Elle Swan, an international speaker and life coach. “Establish a ‘hot word’ that each person can use to let the other person know, ‘I am angry and we need to stop talking.’ ” Examples of hot words include “cancel” or “break.” Once you’ve both calmed down, resume the conversation. “The best way to fully understand what your spouse is saying,” she says, “is to ask clarifying questions. A clarifying question always begins with, ‘What I hear you saying is . . . . Is that correct?’” This will give your spouse a chance to either agree or clarify what they meant. “The goal is to always communicate with a calm, level head.”
5. Express your needs or wants clearly. “You did not marry your clone,” notes Debbie Mandel, a radio host and author of Addicted to Stress. “So, be specific when communicating to your spouse. Do not take for granted that he or she has read your mind or intuits what you want.”

Show how much you love your spouse

1. Write a love note – the classic way to express yourself, and a practice that has slowly been replaced in our modern times. “In an age of virtual communication,” says Farrah Parker, an interpersonal communications instructor at California State University, “couples may benefit from giving and/or receiving a handwritten note – not an email, not a text message, but an actual pen and paper.”
2. Take a class together. “Couples who are not engaged in any joint activities,” says Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill, a marriage and family psychotherapist and author, “are living ‘parallel lives’ like young children in parallel play; there is no real connection. Without joint time and activities, intimacy suffers.” The benefits are many. “Learning together alleviates boredom, routine and the doldrums,” she says, “and allows us to see our spouse in a different light. This keeps the creative juices flowing, making a person more interesting. It also allows for new and interesting conversations, whether during the activity and/or after it.” O’Neill specifically recommends taking a cooking class, because the act of making a meal and enjoying it together creates a sense of security and safety in your marriage.
3. Go beyond simple “I love you” remarks. “Use character-quality language,” suggests Susanne Alexander, a marriage coach. “When couples say specifically, ‘I love how enthusiastic (or courageous, or caring, or thoughtful . . .) you are,’ it goes right to the heart. Add specifics about what actions were taken and it works like giving gold.”
4. Dates – even cheap fast-food ones – are important. “You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy time with your spouse,” says pastor Ryan Dalgliesh, author of Love Notes: A Biblical Look at Love. “Plan a regular night each week that you can call a date night. As a poor preacher, our monthly budget is $100. Once a month, we go to a nicer restaurant. The other three weeks, we hit up Chick-Fil-A or Subway. We just make a point to have time alone. It is always very refreshing.”
5. But you can even make a date night at home, even with your kids. “Many couples are harried at the end of the day and dinner gets thrown on the table,” says Michael Jonas, who creates conversation-starting board games for couples along with his wife, Barbara. Make a more intimate atmosphere at the dinner table with matching dishware, a sprig of flowers and softer lighting. “These specific things calm the day’s end and invite conversation – even with children, who often learn from what they observe their parents do rather than what their parents say.”
6. Make a souvenir that celebrates a special moment that you and your spouse shared. “Find a favourite photograph of the two of you and have it printed on a mouse pad or a large magnet,” says Jason Coleman, author of Discovering Your Amazing Marriage. “I did this almost seven years ago with a photo we took at the beach one summer. At the local office supply store, I found a box of printable magnetic paper. I made a large refrigerator magnet with our picture on it, from our home computer and printer . . . and it’s still on our fridge to this day!”

Now for my deeper thought: I posted this message on Facebook and it says it all: