Our Dogs
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IMG_7881.JPG 2009-09-26
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IMG_9373.JPG 2009-10-22
Dogs in Bed
Sweet little boquet is being eyed by Bo. He's not very happy that she's in HIS bed.
Bo & Boquet
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Dressed up in outfits and riding in a doll stroller, we take our dogs to the local nursing home.
Begging Boquet & Alert Bo
cute close up
Bo is smelling and licking Boquet!
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Boquet & Bo at the Houndstooth Bakery & Boutique - June 27, 2009
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Boquet & McDoogle on Porch Swing next to Joel - August 1, 2009
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First Visit in New Stroller and as a 3 Dog Pack to Countryside - August 5, 2009
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McDoogle & Bo Cuddling Up Together - He's Now Part of Our Pack - August 26, 2009
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Boquet, Bo & McDoogle anxious for their treats - August 29, 2009
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Boquet, Bo & McDoogle at Thatcher Park - September 7, 2009
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IMG_1849.JPG 2009-09-07
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IMG_0357.JPG 2007-07-20
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IMG_0870.jpg 2007-07-22
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boboquetloghouse.jpg 2007-07-23
Side view- Boquet & Bo in Dog Stroller
Here they are... Boquet (left) & Bo (right) in their new dog stroller!
Front View of Bo & Boquet in Stroller
This is the front view of Boquet & Bo.
Closeup of Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Boquet is wearing the straw hat with pink daisies, and Bo is wearing his cowboy hat.
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Here is Boquet with her heart straw hat; Bo still has his cowboy hat on.
Cowboy Bo & Hearts Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Here Boquet is wearing her red hat with purple flowers.
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Finally, Bo decided to change his hat to a straw cowboy hat!
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Boquet is laughing that we call her a DOG, when she is wearing a hat like that!
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
Bo & Boquet in Stroller
D.O.G. = Depend On God
I realized the other day how true the slogan, "D.O.G. = Depend On God" is and how accurate it is that "the dogs in my life have truly been gifts from the Lord". In one way or another, the dogs in my life have taught me to Depend on God, no matter what happens. With each dog, my dependency on the Lord Jesus has increased. First, with Bo, I dedicated him to His purposes when he "went after a rabbit trail" With my second dog, Boquet, I learned many a lesson from her, especially when I learned to depend on God when she became paralyzed. My third dog, McDoogle, I learned to depend on God's Sovereignty when this beloved dog wounded and killed four of my five chickens when he escaped from the house without us noticing. Then, I learned to depend on God when our lease for the house stated "one dog", and I knew that they could enforce that and not permit me to keep all three of the dogs. Or, they could raised the rent, then. Therefore, I depended on God that He would bring me through no matter what the final say of the landlord was. In all of these previous cases, I was given back my dogs: Bo returned safely, Boquet was healed, and I learned a more effective way to train McDoogle that chickens are "off-limits".
Likewise, with Mocha, I have been depending on the Lord Jesus and God the Father, knowing without a shadow of doubt that He has plans for me that are better, and that Mocha is not for our family. While I would have liked to keep her, I also know that we can't always have what we'd like or want, because those things might not be the best thing for us, in the long run.
God's Order and Authority
The Dog Whisperer's techniques are really the reason why we adopted McDoogle last July, and why I would be able to try out a fourth dog. Bo & Boquet have had dog aggression issues, which I really couldn't solve using other methods. Even with McDoogle, when he sees another dog, he whines (really high-pitched and like he's ready to attack, but he's not really as bad as he sounds) and "goes crazy", wanting to get closer to the dog. And sometimes, once he's smelling the dog nose to nose, he'll growl/bark. But, once he's walking with the other dog, he's fine and acts like an old pal to the other dog. It was wondering what was the problem, whether it was something I wasn't doing or just the way he acts. Then, I realized, that most of those instances when he "goes crazy" around another dog, it's because he's IN FRONT of me = in charge. I have yet to test this theory to see if he won't act that way if he's calm, submissive and behind/beside me. But, because he's the top dog and likes to take control whenever I'm not paying attention, it kind of makes sense why he'd act that way.
I was sharing with Mom how even during the week we've had Mocha, I've been learning and am still learning important Kingdom things, as well as, earthly/doggy things. Things such as priorities, "establishing, strengthening, and confirming" the Kingdom of God by maintaining the things that we have been taught and learned, whether spiritual or natural, and how important order and authority is, and when you set out from that covering and out of that order, how things just "don't go right".
For example, on Saturday, Mom, Dad & I, along with the four dogs, took a roughly four mile hike at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The four dogs were all on one leash, connected to each other in a certain order. If they got out of that order, they'd get all tangled up, I'd have to stop and get them "back on tract". But, when they stayed in that order, everything flowed smoothly and we could continue walking at a steady pace. I also observed that, when they were behind/beside me and in order, they could walk past another dog without as much as one woof.
Later on though, while I was waiting outside the "off-limits beach", I let the dogs go wherever they wanted, within reason. Some other people walked by with their small dogs, and McDoogle "went crazy" and Bo & Boquet started barking, also. Only Mocha remained calm, in fact, she came over to me and looked up at me, as if to say, "What to you want me to do?"
Anyways, I couldn't understand (and obviously the other people couldn't either) why they didn't stay in order. It wasn't until later, that I realized that, alas, they were IN FRONT of me = in charge. I was not the pack leader at that moment, so McDoogle took it over.
In the same way, when we "take over" and don't let God direct us, things may seem okay, at first, but they eventually turn out get out of control. It's amazing how God created everything to function under His order and authority, and without it, everything tends toward disorder and chaos.
Lease vs. Our Three Dogs
The week before Christmas '09, we got a letter and lease from our landlord, after six years of living here and four years with the current owners. Long story short, the lease said we could only have one dog, but as you know, we have three. At first, we thought, Oh, they're small - it probably wouldn't matter if we didn't tell them. Besides, they live two hours away, and they've never visited us. But, after seeking the Lord about it and reading the Scriptures about integrity, I decided that what I should do is tell the owners the truth. Yes, there would be the risk of them saying, "Sorry, you can have only one dog. That's the policy." or "You'll have to move out if you don't abide by the terms of the lease." But, I realized that whether I lied or told the truth, the same risk applied. So why not do what's right and tell the truth? Not everyone in the household agreed, but I knew that it was really the only right thing to do.
So, on Tuesday, December 22nd, I called the representative of our landlord. I said, "We have two Chihuahuas and a terrier mix, and all together, they weigh 25 pounds."
Before I could say anything else, she replied, "Oh, that's no problem."
It was such a relief. It was one of the best gifts I could ever had, to know we could keep the dogs. Not only are they very special to our family, but they have been great tools in the Lord's hand in my life. The Lord has used them to teach me so many valuable Kingdom lessons that I want to cherish them as long as they live. Mom has compared this situation to what Abraham had to do with his son, Isaac. Even though we've dedicated and surrendered the dogs to the Lord and His purposes, it's much more of a step of faith to actually "lay them down on the altar" and trust that the Lord would somehow provide. The night before I called, I had a hard time going to sleep, because my mind was on the situation at hand. Finally, I opened up the Word, and my soul was comforted by the words that David spoke to his soul again and again in Psalms 42 & 43, " Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
As I was preparing to talk to the landlord, the Lord reminded me of these Scriptures: "Be strong and courageous! Fear not, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you where ever you go." - Joshua 1:9
As I was looking up the above Scripture, I came across another one, in Isaiah 41:10: "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Last but not least, I am very thankful for all the faithful prayers of my fellow brethren who supported me during this situation that while it may seem small to others, it was a life-changing event in my life. For, with the Lord's help, I will always remember the day that the Lord gave me back my three little dogs after I had placed them on the Spiritual altar of Surrender to the Lord.
