Lesson on my Daily Walk~

 I love taking walks and many times it will be then that God shows 

me something in my life where I need to learn a lesson.

I'm a thinker ~ My mind has a way of going places,

good places of course, with God as my focus.

He walks with me and He talks with me,

something I look forward to on a daily basis.

Not that He doesn't talk with me otherwise, its just that my walks
are a special God and I time alone, well, of course Donatella too.
I couldn't be more thankful for the beauty that surrounds our home
making my walks all the more enjoyable.
The snow surrounding the creek is like soft marshmallow 
or fluffy white pillows, just gorgeous!
When the earth is blanketed with snow there is a beautiful quietness,
a hush in the air as even the winter birds sing softly and sweetly. 
The ice crystals on the branches of the growth near the creek
are reminders that Jack frost is still in the air. 

After I rescued Donatella her and I took a private obedience training course

together and I must say, I learned a lot about a dog's behavior.

We do not know the story of Donatella's previous owners or her life,

 our trainer said "maybe it's better that we don't."

Donatella was running from something when I found her

and it took a good year for her to stop running.

She is now at peace in our home and happy with her surroundings

and the love that she gets from other family members.

She is a real JOY in my life! 

I believe God knew that she would find a special place in my heart

and that she has!

With Donatella being a Beagle, she is happiest sniffing rather than walking,

but her tummy needs more than what her nose can give her.

I have always leashed Donatella as my bad knees could never reach her

should she decide to run and take off, which she did once

and thankfully a lady walking on our road was able to get to her.

I was in tears ~ I thought for sure I had lost my new best friend.

While I was out on one of our latest walks the Lord began to show me something

through Donatella's leash.

In the winter month's there is a shortage for Donatella to sniff

due to all the snow we have where we live ~

high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

I have always walked on a certain side of our quiet dirt road

and it's been that way since Donatella made her way into my life.

But...lately She has decided that she is going to fight me and walk on the 

opposite side of the road thinking there is more over there to sniff!

WRONG!!

As we walk I am constantly tugging at her leash and telling her

"no, this side please."

Oh she obediently listens and responds to my command,

but it's a constant tugging and commanding.

As I gently tugged at Donatella's leash and commanded her to return to my side,

the Holy Spirit was tugging at my own heart.
I could hear those gentle words going through my mind ~

How many times does the Lord gently remind you, Debbie, to obey His commands?

A lot!

There are things in my life where just one tug doesn't quite do it.

But God, in His love and concern for my life continues to work

ever so gently, molding and making me into the lovely vessel 

He has chosen for me to be.
I am reminded of  1Peter 1: 13-16  ~ living before God, our Holy and Righteous God. 
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and rest your hope fully upon grace that is to be
brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts 
as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is Holy, 
you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 
"Be ye holy for I am holy."
The desire of my heart is to obey my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 
in every area of my life with one tug to my heart, not many. 
Teach me Lord, and make me more like You.

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, 
being fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God. 
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, 
into all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."
 ~ Colossians 1:10&11 ~

Take Joy!
Debbie
♡

I'm Home ~

Hello my dear friends and faithful followers!

My time away looking after the needs of my mother

seemed to fly by quickly, though it seems like for-ever

since I have been in contact with my blogging community.

I will be around looking in on you

and enjoying the beauty that you have shared over the past month.

Donatella and I headed for warmer weather the first of October

where we would spend time getting mom settled in

for the winter months.

While driving mom's Coach, Donatella did a great job

as my companion/co-pilot.

This time I ended up renting a car and driving home

as I now have my dear Donatella and wouldn't think of leaving her behind.
I may never fly again. :)

~ Looks like Donatella needed sun-glasses sitting in the front seat.~

 ~ While in the Hotel, Donatella was a dear to fluff the pillows before bed time ~
 

By the way ~ her doggy school has been wonderful!

She is quite the lady I must tell you.

My life has certainly been enriched since she adopted me. HA! 

Who found who? 
I'm just thankful God brought us together.

I forgot to mention in my post meet Donatella

that after I named her I came to find out her name means "sent from God".  

Again, God is glorified in the work of His hands.

"Thou wilt show me the path of life:
in thy presence is fullness of joy:
at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."
(Psalm 16:11)

~~~**~~~ 

My time away was busy with much to do
and there were days when I felt tired and weary.
 I was reminded through the reading of God's Word
that my God was reaching down, imparting strength,
and holding me up with His righteous right hand.
"My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me."
(Psalm 63:8) 
 ~
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:
and thy right hand hath holden me up,
and thy gentleness hath made me great."
(Psalm 18:35)
~
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
(Isaiah 41:10) 
~
Sufficient is God's grace, He does marvelous 
things for those who call upon His name.
Daily I found the strength I needed as I looked to my Savior,
singing praises to His Holy name, with a thankful heart.
How about you, are you finding God's grace sufficient
in your daily life?
Are you allowing His righteous right hand to uphold you? 
Are you singing praises daily to the Lord,
finding joy in any circumstance?
"O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things:
his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten the victory."
(Psalm 98:1) 
 Amen


Joy!
~ Debbie ~ 

Meet Donatella~

It was a time of remembrance in the town of Bull Head City Arizona...

My mother, sister, and I were there to mark the one year

anniversary of dad's going on to glory.

Bull Head City is along the Colorado River, a place where dad enjoyed

sitting on his scooter with his two schnauzer's while watching the activity 
taking place with the boats and other water toys that people were enjoying.
 There he and mom would stay

during the last part of their winter months they spent in Arizona.

Dad was not fond of the heat. As Spring arrived in the hot dessert, 
 they would slowly make their way home to Colorado.

There in Bull Head City they would wait out the last spring snow storms
 that would take place in their hometown. 

 Dad was not a stranger to anyone 
and could start a conversation with those who would take the time to visit with him.
It was there at the Colorado River

where the three of us planned a picnic and a time of remembrance in honor

of our greatly missed and beloved dad and husband.

 There she was...dodging traffic on a busy four lane highway!

We were certain  this darling Beagle was going 
to get hit by one, if not more, of those fast moving vehicles
as the three of us watched helplessly from our own car.

As soon as Donatella reached the sidewalk

I jumped out of the back seat of the car

and began running after her.

This darling Beagle, with her nose to the ground, not looking back,
 took me for quite the run in my flip flop sandals, no less!

There was no stopping this girl until she came to a puddle of water,
and there, she rolled over looking for a tummy rub which allowed me to pick her up.
I fell in love with Donatella from the moment I saw her dodging the traffic.
When I went to pick her up she looked right into my eyes
as if to say, "I'm yours".
 Donatella has been submissive to my care over her from that moment on.

We put her in the car and headed right for the pet store for a collar and leash;
 as not to loose this fast running girl.

We called the animal shelter asking if anyone was missing this 

precious Beagle only to hear them say "NO."

In my heart I knew she was going to be mine, a gift sent from God, I believed.

We had to wait out the time that was needed for the owner to claim her,
so during the next two days we looked in neighborhoods
thinking that someone would surely post a "missing dog" photo of her, but nothing.

We never received a call over the next couple of days;

 the shelter thanked us for being so kind in giving her a home
and gave us the okay to keep her.

We packed up and headed for Colorado where Donatella
would make her new home with a family who would love and protect her.

Donatella gets in some hilarious positions while she is sleeping.

Eight days after we arrived home I received a phone call from her previous owner.

Sigh...
Donatella had been adopted out two weeks prior to when I found her
and the new owners had lost her twice in those two weeks. :(
Technically, she belonged to me as we waited out the time for the owners to claim her 
and they did not, but I was willing to give her up should the owner want to come and get her.
I was compliant and willing for her to be with her previous owners
but the situation turned ugly on behalf of the previous owners.
I was contacted by an officer from Bull Head City
and asked to share my side of the story
which led to both the shelter and the officer believing that Donatella was in the best place now.
Through the whole ordeal (and not so pretty at times) the Lord
would remind me of the verse "Be anxious for nothing."
I believed that God had His hand in the gifting of Donatella,
but He was asking me to trust Him throughout the whole situation.
There were times when I was a bit nervous of this previous owner
and even shared my concern  to the officer, yet knowing my God is greater.

My dad's name was Don, therefore, Donatella was named after my dad,
since she was gifted to me the day before dad's one year anniversary
of his going on to glory.
I thought it seemed quite fitting that I should name her after him.
There in Bull Head City God graced my life with a blessing
and a gift that He saw fit to give to me.
Now on my walks in the mountains I have a companion;
a dog with a nose who will alert me should I need to be alerted.
She may not take on a mountain lion or a bear but she can let me know of their presence. 
Whoever owned Donatella before her adoption did a great job of training her;
although, she has some issues that need to be addressed.
She, too, needs to find peace in the verse "Be anxious for nothing",
as she has some separation issues when I leave her.
I have told her that I will never,  ever, leave her and will love her forever.
She's my "sweet baby girl" who has been given a home 
where she will be loved, cared for, and enjoyed.
The two of us are going to "Doggy School" and there she is learning her manners
and becoming quite the lady.

Donatella my little honey pot. 

 Stephanie gifted me with this darling pillow she crafted for the 4th of July
and Donatella tried to claim it and our bed as her own.
Sadly for her, she did not win out. :)

"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Sing forth the honor of his name:
make his praise glorious."
Amen.

Joy!
~Debbie~