I just finished watching the movie “Courageous” with my son. It is a great movie for the entire family. It is also a challenge to anyone who watches the film.

You don’t have to be able-bodied, be a certain social class or ethnicity. The question is the same for all:

Do you have what it takes?

I am not going to say anymore. If you haven’t watched the movie, I would recommend it. It is now out on DVD.

Then read: Joshua 24:15

Recently, I have told you about my daughter mentioning the possibility of a helper dog to watch out for me, when I am living alone again. With a bit of training, I think I have found the perfect dog for the job.

Recently, a friend sent me an article about the biggest Great Dane EVER. He is bigger than many men and tops the scales at over 250 lbs. He dwarfs his owners.

Doesn’t this little guy look simply adorable?

Last year my niece got a Great Dane. She is an animal lover with 2-3 dogs already. So, I was skeptical of her latest addition. But, he is really a big baby and family dog.

Duncan just turned a year, and her youngest son is about the same age. I was a bit worried that the puppy would sit on one of her boys and do some big hurt. But, if anything the opposite is true. The baby crawls all over him, shares his blankets with him, uses him as a lounge chair, etc. It seems that the pup and the babe have really bonded. Although my niece is the one who really wanted a Great Dane, I would say that this dog belongs to the babe, and the babe belongs to the dog.

So, I was thinking . . .

Since Great Danes are such people animals and really family oriented, wouldn’t they make great helper dogs for people in wheelchairs – like me?

For example, when I am transfer from place to place, and the furniture moves, I wouldn’t have to crawl to a place where I can pick myself up without sliding. I could just put my arms around the dog’s neck and he could lift me up, so I could grab onto the wheelchair. He could also sit on my feet and keep them from sliding during transition.

Think about trips to the grocery store alone. I wouldn’t have to ask strangers to reach something on the top shelf. If the Dane is a helper dog, he could reach the top shelf for me. His mouth would be big enough to grab anything I could need. Of course, this is definitely where a bit of training would be necessary. Otherwise, we could make quite a mess of the groceries.

The Downside

Unfortunately, there is a downside, apart from the cost of the dog and finding someone to train him. How would I shop for approximately 100 lbs of dog food a month. Who would scoop the yard?

Well, now you know how my mind wanders, when I am doing chores around the house. I still think a Great Dane would be a great help to me, with a bit of training.

Recently, my sister made a list of all the things she wanted to accomplish in the day. In fact, she likes to add things she has already done, just so she can cross them out and feel like she is making headway. Her lists are usually long enough that it makes me tired just to read them.

Underachiever

Basically, I am an underachiever in comparison. But, I did have my list of sorts:

Take a shower and get ready to go out – done.
Take my meds and eat an apple for breakfast – done.
Go to the bank- oops!
Go grocery shopping -oops!
Get income tax done – waiting for Social Security statement, because I have never done taxes for disability before. – bummer!
Work on my current crafting project and make significant progress – still working on that one

Going with the Flow

Even though I am no longer working, and the days are basically my own to do whatever, they don’t always go as planned. In fact, my grandma always said, “Life happens, when you are making other plans”.

I thought it would warm up enough today to dry everything up, so I could take my son and go shopping after school. No such luck. I also need to get to the bank, because he is going to a youth rally this weekend and needs food and gas money.

The taxes will just have to wait, which may not be a bad thing. I may actually have to pay in this year on the retirement check I get from being formerly married to a military guy. (not sure on that one.) But, I still wanted to get it done and know the outcome. I will have to put that on a list for a couple of weeks from now.

Unfortunately, today I was also LAZY! Yes. I didn’t crochet while watching Netflix. I had the audacity to snuggle under a blanket and just watch.

Now, I sort of feel like I wasted a day. But, I am also learning that it is a lot less stressful when I am going with the flow.

Do you ever feel like me?

Here is a little help for cat lovers:

In Wyoming the weather can be very unpredictable. Today, it was in the high 40′s. Then, it rained. Now there is a winter storm watch out. The wet roads are going to freeze and possibly be blanketed with snow by tomorrow morning.

Of course, you probably know what that means for me. I will not risk going out – either to transfer into a car or to drive. It just isn’t worth the chance of falling and breaking something or getting into an accident.

So, our minister told us of a website that we can go to on Sunday, if we can’t get out to attend church:

If you click onto the picture, it will take you to the site where you can listen to an audio lesson or click on a file to watch the lesson. If you have already seen one, they are also archiving the lessons, so you can go back and review one or see one you missed.

This will probably be how me and my mom are “going to church” tomorrow. It is definitely not as good as being with my church family. But, it is better than nothing.

I hope you have a blessed Sunday.