Adopt-A-Dog

Half of this blog was accidentally deleted and is now in edit for emergency surgery.  Please check back at a later date. Thanks.

OCTOBER is Adopt- a- Dog month! It's my favorite month.  It's the month you won't see much of me because my husband locks me up so I won't go adopt another dog or a cat, a goat or a chicken either.  There are a lot bunnies that need to be adopted too you know.  If you happen to live around San Diego, you can adopt any of those things, or even a horse at the "Helen Woodward Animal Center"in Rancho Santa Fe, California.  Now that's a thought (she says with a sly grin on her face). 


 Now that you mention it, I haven't owned a horse in a long time. Last time I owned a horse I was a kid.  Horses are just like dogs but, way bigger.  They have beautiful, long, eyelashes and big hearts. Hmmm.  I just checked my door and it's locked from the outside.  Someone call the cops!  It's Adopt a Dog month and I'm locked in!


You can give a pup a loving home in honor of the American Humane Association's Adopt-a-Dog Month.  Studies show owning a canine can lower stress, boost mood, and help you meet new people.  You've heard the saying that a dog is a chick magnet.  It's true.  I've seen this phenomena myself at  Dog Beach. 

  "Come on Coops, take me to Dog Beach.  I'll carry my own leash.  Wait, it's October and October is after September which means it's after Labor Day.  I don't even have to be on a leash for gosh sakes so,
Lets Go!  Lets go now."

"Aww.  Thanks dad.  Thanks for taking me to the beach."  Wait a dog-gone minute.  This is the guy who locked me in the house so I can't run around willy nilly adopting dogs this month.  And this guy, he can't be a chick magnet.  He's mine!

And this one's mine.  Her name is Bailey Scott.  I always give my dogs middle names.  It helps distinguish them from all the other dogs that may have the same first name.  


(The rest of this blog is back in edit trying to get recovered).  Thanks.

LUIGI

I'd like to introduce you to Luigi.  He's a big ol bull.  He started out as a city bull.  For all we know.  That's where we found him.  However, let me just say that found is a term that is relative in this case.  My brother "found" this bull while he was still in high school, very late at night, on the top of a restaurant called (appropriately) Luigi's.  There may have been alcohol involved.  Just saying'.

Is he not adorable?  He's just precious.  Why, he is practically edible!  Just kidding Luigi.
It was a bad joke.  No seriously, he hates it when I joke about him being edible.

But really.  Tell me you don't see a sizzling platter of steak dinner when you look at this.  Maybe with a pat of butter melting right on top.

Ruuuuude!

This is a picture of Luigi attending many of the parties we had in our backyard.  Notice he looks fearless.  Not a drop of nervousness in that face.  That's because we were eating cake at this point, so he had nothing to be nervous about, nothing to fear.

But I digress.  Luigi's story started many, many moons ago.  I won't mention how many moons ago because it's not my place to tell you how long ago my brother was in high school.  That would be just like telling you that my brother is 50 for goodness sakes.  It would just be inappropriate to mention that it was like, 32 years ago.

And we don't even know how old Luigi was when he was skirted off  (skirted off?)  in the middle of the night.  He could be like, 102 by now.  All I know is he still acts like a calf half his age.

This bull is a bruiser.  A bruiser of a bovine.  He's a Taurus in case you were interested.  He never takes any BS either.  But he is never, ever, a bully!

You may be wondering at this point, how Luigi came to be living with me, in my backyard,  in a cottage at the beach.  You were wondering were't you?  Whatever.  I'm going to tell you the story anyway.  Because, well, to tell you the truth I just have to get this off my chest.  Guilt is eating away at me and I just want closure people!

You know how it is guys.  You get married, and then maybe, just maybe, your new wife doesn't have an affinity for your taste in art.  Just for example,  that painting on velvet of dogs playing poker? The one that glows in the dark.  She loves you guys, she does.  But she just doesn't have the fortitude to appreciate your collection of empty bottles of KeyStone Light.  Personally, I can't imagine that.  But, I know it happens because that is the way it all went down for Luigi.

This guy has seen it all.  He's lived under the city lights.  He's resided on a gentleman's farm and he once lived down the street from the world famous, "Wild Animal Park"in the county of San Diego, California.

He has lived through flood, fire and a small mold problem.  He was once kidnapped by someone in his own (extended) family.  Which is not the worst way to get kidnapped really.  At least you are with kin.

We have had the great privilege of living with Luigi for the past 25 years.  He's been more like my own kid than a bull really.  But now -  now he is just another casualty of remodeling.  I know for him it must feel like the whole nightmare of his childhood happening all over again.  On a side note, I really think he was a teenager when this first started happening. After all, he already had a job looking over  over -looking an Italian restaurant.

Lest you judge me, I want you to know that, I put a lot of consideration into my decision to let Luigi go.  I don't want you running off all willy nilly, thinking I'd just let Luigi live any old place with any old people.  By that I don't mean people that are old.  I mean... Oh never mind.  This decision was not taken lightly.  I was only thinking of what would be best for Luigi.  It's damp at the beach and his old bones just can't take damp.  He had no space to roam down here and besides he doesn't even surf.  In a word, he just needed greener pastures.

If I hadn't taken matters into my own hands, anything could have happened to Luigi

Like THIS

Or THIS!

Or Heaven Help Us - THIS!  (Stop smiling little girl.  It's not funny).

But because Luigi is my favorite bull, of all the bulls, in all the world -

Not just in the U S of A either.  I'm talking the entire world!

The home I found for him was with this family here.  Remember them?  They are my favorite family and I checked them out good.  Heck!  I had the department of Social Services check this family out. And they passed.  They passed with flying colors!

So when Luigi could no longer live with me.  Sniff.  I bid him farewell and he went to live with those good people.  He's out in the country again.  He's safe, and dry.  He is with people who love him.  He's with kin.

 And he has a view.

So long you old bull.  It was an honor.

And I'm gonna miss you every day...

Just to end on a happy note, I had visitation with Luigi today.  He's doing fine.  He's thriving actually.  And he said to tell you that he loves his new home.  Doesn't closure feel great?

Dirt Finito = CONCRETE = Progress

About the time we were getting really, really, tired of dirt.  Dirt being moved from one place to the other,
dirt being hauled out of the basement and yard and lower floor of the house.  So tired of looking at it, breathing it and taking pictures of it; countless hours of intensive labor - kudos to the many hardworking guys who have put in a bazillion hours surrounded by dirt.  And to Andy who is actually living in all that dirt.  Yesterday, we actually got to pour some concrete.  We passed the inspection and were able to pour 16 yards of concrete.  It was exciting.  It was awesome.  My husband loves concrete.  He loves cement of any kind.  He has taken classes and got certificates in concrete for hecks sake!  That is why he went into pool building.  That and because it enables him to wear short pants to work.  Dirt done, concrete beginning to be poured = progress.  His frown is starting to turn upside down.

Doesn't he kinda look like Saddam Hussein in this photo?  You know, when
they finally found him in the big hole he'd dug himself into.  Poor guy looks like
he's so dirt dog tired he may hang himself with that rope there.  

Did I mention how many millions of yards of dirt they took out of here?

Out from the bowels of the earth beneath, our cottage by the sea.

Via this tool

But then, this truck showed up.

These guys were awesome.  They were timely, thorough, informative, and they
let me help!

I love pouring concrete!  But you have to use all your girly muscles because this is
hard work. Someone had to come take over for me after about 2 hours minutes.
 I  can't be expected to do all the work all the time you know.

Tell me if I'm wrong but, this just doesn't look right.  The is a PG site for
goodness sakes.

This is Steve.  He is distributing and smoothing out the cement (footing).  He
has worked for my husband for a very long time.  He's helped build houses
for us, and pools for us.  He works hard and he is always smiling. I think he likes cement too.
You do a nice job with a good attitude Steve.  Thank you.

 The cement was mixed right here.  Clear up on the street, and then run through big
hoses all the way down, through a hole in what used to be the dining room and then
through a hole that used to be Cooper's room, through what used to be a closet, into
the basement.  And Superior didn't even make a mess.  They didn't let any muck or
mire go into the storm drain.  I checked.  Those guys were clean and tidy and they did
a great job!

Hold 'er steady there - that's a long ways down

This is the pumper truck. It's  mighty and macho.  The license plate says FATBOY. This wasn't
even the truck that did the mixing. This truck tow's the pump.  I was very impressed. Trucks aren't usually my thing.  Actually they are never my thing.
But I might change my mind after seeing this truck.

Do you see that hubcap Dennis?  That's a hubcap even a Fire Captain can appreciate!

And these guys are no shleps either.






The End.  At least for today.






Blessings to all,


Tia

There Are Those Who Think Families Happen By Chance

There Are Those Who Think Families Happen By Chance


There are those who think families happen by chance
A mystery their whole life through
But we had a voice and we had a choice
We were working and waiting for you


No matter the name and no matter the age
No matter how you came to be
No matter the skin, we are all of us kin
We are all of us one family


So here's to you, three cheers to you
Let's shout it, "Hip, hip, hip, hooray!"
For, out of a world so tattered and torn,
You came to our house on that wonderful morn
And all of a sudden this family was born!


I love stories and songs and poems, and slogans and blessings.  I can't help it, I'm Irish.
So before I get to the best part, the pictures, a little background if you please.


My beautiful Tara.  This is her right here with her handsome husband.

She is my firstborn.  She is my oldest daughter.  She owns my heart.

My husband and I have five of these.  Here we are with them.  Three daughters and two sons.  Some I birthed, (I don't know nothin' bout birthin' no babies Miss Scarlet!) And some we were given through an amazing miracle called, Adoption.  Albert Einstein said, "There are two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle and two is as though everything is a miracle."  To me, adoption is a miracle.  One of life's greatest miracles.  You can build your family through adoption.  You can know more love than your heart can hold through adoption.  You find Grace through adoption.  You realize how much God loves His children and you can put a face on the actual things you have prayed, and wished and hoped for. There are many kinds of adoption.  Private, Open, and through the Foster Care System.  We've done a little of all of these and each one is the right one.  These thoughts remember, are through my eyes.  Through the eyes of an adoptive mother.  A mother who loses her baby due to circumstances seemingly beyond her control, or a mother who chooses to give life to her baby but needs someone else to be the, Forever Family are other scenarios better told by mothers who have been there.  Although - now that you mention it.  You did mention it didn't you?  Even if just in your head?  Maybe it was just in my head.  Regardless, I will talk later, at another time, in another blog about how beautiful it is when a birth mom chooses the unselfish path to find parents for her baby.  CHOOSE LIFE!


Being the oldest of five, Tara saw adoption first hand.  She was there when we adopted each baby.  She was the big sister to each and every sibling.  Including the foster kids whom we loved and cared for, for only a while until their parents were ready for them to go home again.  Some people said that we were asking too much of her to share her home with other kids.  Others said, it wasn't fair that she had to share her Mommy and Papa with those kids. We had our answers then and we have our proof now.  You can never have too much love.  You can never give too much love.  Your heart always expands to make room when there is somebody who needs your love.


Many people worry that if the child goes back to her biological parents the foster parents and siblings will be hurt.  That it is just too risky and painful.  Tara learned early on that, it is better to do the right thing and risk being hurt, than to not do it in the first place. Foster care isn't the right thing for all families.  But it was the right thing for our family.  Each of us has been blessed by this decision in many ways.

Tara grew up.  She married the love of her life.  If I could have picked from all the guys in all the world, I would have picked Jason for Tara.  (Not that I had any choice whatsoever in the matter.)  Jeeeze.  Duh. So Tara and Jason wanted to build a family.  Soon, they had four sons.  You can see them here.

Are they not they a beautiful family?  But something was missing.  Someone was missing.  They all felt it deep down in their hearts.  So after discussing it for a long time with everybody in the family, they decided they had it in their hearts to foster a child.


"Do you want to do something beautiful for God?  There is a person who needs you.  This is your chance."  Mother Theresa. 

Then this baby came into their lives.  She was plopped, smack dab down in the middle of a gaggle, a clan, a crew of hoodlems and hoodwinks.  A hoodlum, hoodwinky filled family.  These guys here.

Well, the one on the far right is actually mine, but you get the picture.  This is them in
relaxed, chill mode.  Rare.  Very, very rare.


They are usually rough and tough guys.  They wrestle and make a lot of noise.  They are   b o y s   for goodness sake.  They sweat.  A lot.  And they are a crack up.  From the very first, if one of those boys was even in the same room as her, that baby girl would grin, and laugh, and squeal.  Those boys, in all their testosterone filled goodness, treated that baby girl like she was the most precious thing ever.  They kissed her and loved her and protected her from monsters and wild things.  Wait, they are the wild things.  Well, they protected her from all the other wild things. 

Then, when she started to get a little bigger she had to stick up for herself.
She had to get mighty with all her girly power.  She had to get sassy!


Everybody loved Emma and took care of her knowing that it might not be forever.  But they loved her as if it would be forever.  And yesterday, on the very last day of September, 2009 it was deemed and made official by a judge that she would get to stay forever.   So the following are a few pictures so that, you can share with us, that incredibly delicious, miraculous, joyous day.  ENJOY!!! 

This is Tara with Emma on her baptism day.

This is Emma on her baptism day checking out the two yahoo's (Auntie Maggie, and Uncle Dylan) who will be her Godparents.  Does she look a bit uncertain?
She certainly does.

Here we come.  Marching down to Department 23 where it all happens.

Daddy signing.

Momma signing.

Look how happy she is!  Look how happy they both are!  Warms a Mommy/
Granny's, heart.

I think I see a complete-ness.  A completed-ness.  A comple-te'.  This family is
complete!  Well, you never know.  Only God knows for sure what's in store for these guys.

We witness God's miracles in our lives each and every day; the sun rises, the sun sets. 
The sun set on a miracle in our family today.

Then Emma clicked her Ruby Red Slippers three times

and she

was

HOME.

Then they sealed it with a kiss.


Forever and Ever.


Amen


Love you and Bless you,


Tia