A Look Back in Time... 

Hi, it's me Coco!

I've been reminiscing. This requires deep concentration, because one year for me is like seven for you!  Now, where was I?  Oh yea... think, think.  

Me concentrating!

Concentrating often triggers me to lick my chops, so this is a good sign! But I digress...

Don'tcha just love Christmas-time?  I know... there are lots of reasons to enjoy this season: friends and family coming and going, yummy food, pretty lights and decorations, giving of presents and worshipping the Baby-King.

But for me it's even more than that... sometimes I forget that it's only been 3 short Christmases ago that my mom brought me home! 

My 1st Christmas!

My 3rd Christmas!

So you see, Christmas is a special time for me and my mom!

But about 1 year after my mom brought me home, she got laid off from work. It was a little scary, but she was excited about it too.  It opened up new possibilities. First and foremost, she took some time to rest, be creative, be still & explore.  

So, I decided to take some time too... to play, explore, romp, & nap!  

I loved it!! I mean, come on... what dog wouldn't? I had my mom all to myself!   It's what I call, Puppy Bliss... Woof!

After resting for a few months, my mom found some balance in her life again. She felt a peace so deeply, she couldn't explain it.  She knew without a shadow of a doubt that God was in control and would take care of us both.  She knew that He has always had her in the palm of His hand! 

I'm pretty small, so I think I can fit in His hand too!

But soon it was time for my mom to start looking for work again.  She discovered it was pretty tough out there.  As the months passed by, it never occurred to her that she wouldn't be working 12 months later.  A couple temporary assignments presented themselves, but nothing seemed to materialize full-time. 

Right when things were starting to look up, she hit another bump in the road... 

You remember... last Spring... yep, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Bow Wowzer! No one saw that coming!

There were lots of doctor's appointments, insurance meetings, and running around.  Summer was a time of two surgeries and a long recovery.  

In September, she started looking diligently for work again, even though her body was telling her to (perhaps) wait just a little bit longer.  No job materialized (again) = blessing in disguise. Funny how that works!

Thankfully, by November she started getting her energy back. Finally no more skin stretching; less and less pain; and minimal discomfort.  If you ask me, I think her energy is back!

She even decorated for Christmas, hoping and praying this wouldn't be the last Christmas in this sweet little cabin in the woods!  If it is though, we sure can't complain... it's been wonderful!

 

Looking Forward... So now I'm thinking... 

God must have known my mom needed these past two years off from work.  Her unemployment brought her a time for rest and renewal... then it brought her to a place financially to be eligible for insurance which would pay for all of her medical needs (WOW!), and now it's given her time to heal and recover.  And of course... I got to have her all to myself!! (*Sigh*)

So as we say goodbye to 2012 and ring in the New Year... I know God will continue to take care of both my mom and me!

Just think of the possibilities!
Woof, Coco

Raining Cats & Dogs....

Okay, what exactly does that mean?  When I look out the window, I don't see kitties and puppies.... 

.... and believe me, I keep looking, because I LoVE company!  


I think someone's "messin' with my mind."  All I see is puddles getting bigger and BIGGER!

I don't like to go outside when it's like this.  And neither does my mom.  

I think it's the perfect day to stay inside.  Nice & cozy. Maybe a bit of play now and again.

My mom wants to start decorating for Christmas, but she would have to go outside to the storage room and walk through this...

So... what I like I say is, "Put off today what you can do tomorrow! Let's play!"

Come on...

That's it...

Now,  what can be more productive than a play day?

Come on over if you want to.  Lots can play this game!  Don't get wet!!

Bow Wow!
Coco

Tick Tock, Tick Tock


Waiting isn't always easy, ya know... I don't like waiting.  When I'm home and my mom is out-n-about, I'm lonely!

But waiting isn't always bad!  

My Mom came home from the doctor last week.  She looked perky and was smiling from ear to ear.  Guess what?  She's done with her "filling"! No more skin-stretching!  A-Roooo!  Ruff, Ruff!  

Tick Tock, Tick Tock.... She "gets to wait" and let her body rest for three months before the next surgery!  Yippee-Ky-A!!

Tick Tock, Tick Tock... Of course, she's also waiting to find the right job.  Tick Tock, Tick Tock!  I can tell this waiting is getting harder and harder for her.  

But God obviously has some extra lessons for her to learn.  Lessons in trust... lessons in waiting... lessons that will transform her if she'll let Him.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock...  Transformation is happening both on the inside and the outside.  

Well, I need to go and wait for my mom!  See ya later!

Woof, 
xoxoCoco

Divine Timing...
(told through Lynne)


In the wake of not getting the job in Scotts Valley, I was spending some time reflecting on God's goodness in my life.  I picked up my "Jesus Calling" devotional and read the following excerpt:

No matter what your circumstances may be, you can find Joy in My Presence. On some days Joy is generously strewn along your life-path, glistening in the sunlight.  On days like that, being content is as simple as breathing the next breath or taking the next step. Other days are overcast and gloomy; you feel the strain of the journey, which seems endless. Dull gray rocks greet your gaze and cause your feet to ache. Yet Joy is still attainable. Search for it as for hidden treasure....

... Awareness of My marvelous Companionship can infuse Joy into the grayest day.

Can you believe this message?  On this very day?  When it was pouring rain outside this morning?  Coincidence... I think NOT!

The Son is shining through the clouds.

 

Acceptance vs. Discouragement
(told by Lynne)

When an army of people are on their knees, when prayers are covering those making employment decisions, when an interview goes very well... how can I be disappointed when the Lord closes the door?  Well, if I'm honest, the answer is quite easily!   

The good news is my discouragement is very short-lived.  If I believe in an all-knowing, miraculous, and ever-loving God, then I know His hand was intertwined and enmeshed in this process.  There is nothing He doesn't know; there is nothing He can't do; His mercy and grace are ever-present in my life.  

So I accept His hand; the same hand that shut this door, and lean on Him in His waiting room, clutching His strong hand, awaiting the miraculous plan He has for me.

Thank you Lord for stretching my faith; for deepening my dependence for You; and for the gift of the faithful prayers of so many.  I feel overwhelmed by love!
Lynne

P. S.  It's me... I just had to share a little secret from my heart.   Grrr!  ... wait a minute... I'm way too close to the camera.  

There, that's better.... I know my mom needs a job, but deep down... I can't help but be a little happy that she's still home with me!

Waiting Stinks! 

I hate waiting. I'm a dog.  I don't like to wait for anything.  I get antsy.  If I wore pants, I would undoubtedly have ants in them!  

Really.  I wiggle my butt if I'm waiting for my mom to throw my toy.  I wiggle if I'm waiting to be fed. A treat... forget about it!  
A walk... even better!

Waiting Stinks!

I moan and I groan. I yip. I sigh.  I'll do anything to get my mom's attention!  Just being really cute usually works!

Waiting Stinks!

My mom doesn't like waiting either.  It's Friday; one week since her interview.  The company told her they'd be making a decision that day. They said they wanted someone to start Monday.... this coming Monday! 

She still doesn't know.  The temp agency isn't giving up any information except that they are waiting to hear too.

Waiting Stinks!

But my mom says that waiting is a part of trusting.  Just as I depend on her to feed me, throw my toy, give me a treat or take me on a walk, she is depending on God for a job... whether it's "this" job or one she doesn't know about yet.  

She says...

Waiting is depending. Depending is trusting... trusting in what we can't see and what we don't understand.

Waiting Stinks... but my mom says it produces trust and reflects God's faithfulness, so I guess it can't be all that bad! 

... Now where's my breakfast?!

Gotta run,
Coco

Why do you love Autumn?


Grrrrr... woof!  It's me again!  Coco.  Don't be afraid... when I growl, it just means I'm talkin' to ya! It's my playful voice.

I LoVE thE FaLL!   Why, you ask?  Well, one reason is because my Birthday is...  (drumroll please)..... TODAY!  Yep. Yep.  October 8th!

Can you believe it? This is me when I was only 3 weeks old. Ahhh... look at me.  I'm so cute and so BROWN!  

Here I am on my 3rd day in my new home with my Mom!  I was so in love, I couldn't take my eyes off of her.  I think she was in love too!  It's called Puppy Love!

Here I am about 3 months old.  Hey, what's happening to my brown fur?  I need to get my roots done!

Wow... what happened to me?  Where did this white hair come from? I'm not old; I'm just 3 years old today!  Even in dog-years, I'm only 21yrs.  I'm in the prime of my life; time to par-tey!  Oh well, I guess I won't get "carded"!

ehem... ehem....   (Are you ready?) memememe.....

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me... Happy Birthday dear Meeeeee, Happy Birthday to me...  and many more!


Okay... enough about me.  Let me catch you up a bit on my Mom.... she's been really busy lately.  

She's doing a lot of homework for her Artist Books class.

She's been practicing in her watercolor journal (a little).  She still needs to finish a few pages, but she's having fun.

She went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday to enjoy the sights and smells of Fall.  Look at the pretty vegetables and flowers. I didn't get to go... no dogs allowed.  aRoooo... Grrrrr....  (now that was a crabby growl!) Humph!!

She's postponed one of her doctor's appointment because of pain.  I guess her skin needs a little break.  She goes again this Thursday.  I sure hope it doesn't hurt so much.  I don't like sleeping in my crate.

She's reworked her resume.  REMEMBER when I told you she wished on the "Blue Moon"?  Do you remember what she (I mean I) wished for?  

Well, she's applied for an Executive Assistant position for a company in Scotts Valley.  It's temp-to-hire, and she's praying for an interview this week or next.  PLEASE pray!  

If she gets the job, maybe she can come home at lunchtime and play with me!  Yippee!

I'll keep you posted!  In the meantime, please oh please.... keep praying!

Ruff... I'm gonna go get some birthday treats... bye!
The Party Pup

BLUe MoON WiSHeS!!

Pant, pant... did you see it, did you see it? 

Last night I was out doing my "business" (*sorry, TMI!*), and I glanced up and low-n-behold, look what was in the sky....

A Blue Moon!

In my (almost) 3 short years, I don't think I've ever seen a Blue Moon before... so I made a wish!  

Did you make one?  I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours!  No, it won't ruin it... I promise!  The more people you tell, the stronger the wish gets!  REALLY!  Haven't you heard that?  

My Mom says, "What you dream about will come about!"  And I think a blue moon is so "dreamy"... almost like... Magic!

Speaking of magic, don't you just love SEPTEMBER?  I love the Autumn season.... cool, crisp days; a lovely roaring fire in the fireplace (opps... we don't have a fireplace!); okay... cozy blankets, and pretty leaves to romp in! One day the leaves are green... then, yelllow, orange, red, purple... IF that's not magic, what is?

Mom's excited it's Autumn too because she's taking an Art class at our local Junior College for the Fall semester...  something about learning and making different Artist Books.  Maybe down the road, I'll take a couple pictures of her projects and share them with you!  Shhh... it will be our little secret, okay?  

A secret isn't the same as a wish, you know... so you CAN'T tell, okay?  Do we have a deal?

Mom's actually excited about a few things...

1) Being Cancer-FREE!
2) Continued healing!
3) Opportunities for creativity (Fall is such an inspiring season, don't you think?)

BUT she's excited AND (a little) nervous about one HUGE thing, so she wished upon a Blue Moon last night too!  Wishing is fun, but I thought I would ask you to pray about it with her too.  Then it's bound to happen don't you think?  Will you do it?  ... for HER and little ol' ME?  Pretty please?!

This is my begging face...  please, please, please!

Ok, are you sitting down?  Cuz, I'm serious about this.  Hands folded.  Close your eyes!  NO PEEKING!!  Well, okay, don't worry you can peek and repeat after me....

"Dear Jesus,  it's me, (insert name)!  Hi.  I know you're busy, and there are probably lots of dogs (*I mean, people*) asking for your help, but I wanna ask you for help too.  She really needs to find a full-time job soon.  Her money's running out, and she (*I mean, Coco and she*) really don't want to have to move, because she (*I mean, Coco and she*) LOVE their home here in Mount Hermon.   

So, since You can do ANYTHING because YOU ARE AMaZiNG and PoWErFuL and MiRaCLeS live in your back pocket, would you provide the perfect job.... in Scotts Valley for my mom (*I mean, Lynne*)?  I know I'm asking a lot, but for You, it's effortless!  See, here's the thing:  if her job is close to home, she can come and eat lunch with Coco or take Coco for a mid-day walk, and Coco won't be so lonesome!  God... you wouldn't want Coco to be lonesome, would you?  I mean look at that face... how sad is that?  (*I know, that was a selfish prayer, but God loves puppies too, ya know! ...Okay, I'm getting off track here!*)  

Thank you Jesus, for hearing all of us and caring for Coco and Lynne!!  Love Coco... (*I mean, AMEN!*)"

(Me so lonesome cuz my mom has to commute soooo far!)  

(Me panting w/ excitement cuz my mom will be home soon!)

Thank you for praying with me!  I just know my AND my mom's wishes will come true, because I believe in Blue Moon wishes, living your dreams, and especially in a very BIG and LOVING God in Heaven!

So, if you tell me your Blue Moon wish, I'll tell you mine! 

Woof, Woof!

Coco

 

Best Laid Plans... Foiled!

Hi, it's me again... Coco!

It was Thursday morning... and I could see luggage being pulled out of the closet, laundry being done, and Mom stacking clothes on the sofa. And I thought, !ADvENtuRE!... we're goin' on a trip!  

(*I congered up visions in my mind*).... Car packed; seat belts on; and off we go... wind in my hair; cars whooshing by; French music playin' on the stereo; nothing but open highway before us.  Road trip!  I LoVE it!  I settle down for a nice snooze. I couldn't be happier or more excited... 

(*But then I remember...*)
...sometimes (to my dismay), my "adventure" ends prematurely... and I wind up at Grammy's.  Now don't get me wrong, I love Grammy, but that just means my Mom is headed for an adventure without me.  Ruff!  Not a happy camper!  


So I thought, what's it going to be this time?  Do I get to go?  Oh please, oh please, oh please... woof, woof!  (*Wait... didn't I hear Mom talking about a Lundy Family Reunion in Truckee this weekend?*)  Hmmm... that may mean to Grammy's I go.  Humph!  Time will tell... 

Now it's Thursday afternoon... and off she goes to her weekly doctor's appointment.  It's a "fill" day! I hoped she wouldn't be too sore when she got home. I mean... she still needed to pack all her stuff and my stuff too! Come on... a pup can hope, can't she?

Don't worry about me, Mom!! I'll just wait here while you're gone and hope, okay?!

(*Pant, pant... here she comes!*)  She's home! Yippee, she's rushing around!  Wait... she's not packing; she's ignoring me; she's brushing her teeth again; now she's feeding me early... really early... whaaat?  Rut-ro... she's leaving AGAIN!!! Without me and no luggage. What's going on?!

Rut-ro is right! Best laid plans can turn on a dime... my Mom's off to the hospital again!

It turns out that one of my Mom's scars (which had split open a few weeks ago) wasn't healing properly, and her doctor decided to make her go to sleep again and do surgery in the OR.  She ended up leaving his office at 4:30pm, picked up a prescription at the pharmacy at 5pm, was home 10 minutes and was admitted to the hospital by 6pm.  

She got home about 11pm, but didn't feel very well.  The general anesthesia makes her feel like she's going to lose her "cookies".  Where's nurse Julie?  We need you!  

Well, I guess it's up to me!  Coco to the rescue! So I tucked her into bed about midnight, and off to sleep we went!

On Friday, she woke up sad, because she knew she wasn't feeling well enough to travel to the reunion.  I had to lick a few tears away.  Mom just sat in her chair, in her jammies, and rested all day.  I sat on her lap and kept her company.  It's my job to make her feel better.  And I think I do a pretty good job!

Today is Saturday - and thanks to lil ol' me - my Mom is in much better spirits!  She still needs rest and to be careful, especially with her left side.  Her "filling" schedule will be delayed for a few weeks while she heals again.  But she's really grateful her doctor played it safe.  We don't want anymore "hiccups" along the way!

So don't worry... I've got everything under control.  I gave her one of my favorite toys, and I'm keeping a close eye on her.

Nurse Coco here.. signing off!  Woof, woof! 

Artful Pup!

Yep... that's me!

It's a pretty good "liking" too!  So much so that when my mom hung it on our living room wall, I immediately growled at it. Then I realized it was JUST me... no need to worry! Whew!  That was a close one...

Don't get me wrong... I don't mind sharing my toys; I'll even share my food; I just don't want to share my Mom!  I mean, I'm top dog around here... don'tcha think?

I LoVE my Mom. She's my BFF.

Since her surgery, I don't like letting her out of my sight.  I'm on high alert!  She needs to be watched. See... this is me watching her...

It's all very intense... it's my job, and I take it very seriously!  I hate to admit it, but on very rare occasions, she gets out of my sight.  What can I say?  Sometimes my toys distract me...

....well, she's VERY tricky sometimes!!!

...and before I knew it, she snuck out of the house (without me!!!)! Grrrrr...

Sometimes when she comes home, especially after a doctor's appointment... she's in pain and very uncomfortable, so we just take naps together.

But the other day, she came home and was very perky.  Now, now... I know what you're thinking!  Sheesh... she's not THAT "full" yet!  No, silly... she was perky with energy!

She's feeling well enough to get back to being creative.  She took a class in precious metal clay (PMC) and had a lot of fun!  Look what she made... isn't it pretty?  

It's hand-rolled out of fine silver, textured, and then torched and antiqued.  She just needs to make a "purdy" chain for it!  I know... it's a bit blurry, but it's very hard for a dog to take pictures.  I need to get my nails cut!

Here's a necklace she made that looks like a little book! Notice the fun chain?....

If you look really closely, you can see my name hammered into the tag near the heart!  


Mom's doing great, and I'm a happy camper because I know how much my Mom loves me!  Woof, woof!! (*sigh*)