New Year ~ New Life ~ New Hope

The mother deer brought her doe as a sure sign of new life and hope. The picture was taken a few days after Christmas from our front yard. Not so unusual for those living outside the city. We who live in the heart of the city and just feet from a busy commuter train track, find these visits an affirmation that all is right with the world and our Sister Deer will allow us to live with her and her offspring.

It is a sign of new life, new hope and a positive blessing for the New Year.

We continue to ask the Lord to bless each of you as you have blessed us.

Happy New Year!

Spring Returns Home

Spring is known as the time of re-birth. Renewal of the promise of life.

It is also a reminder of home, family and hope.

Some families keep close and seemingly tight ties from one unit to the next. Daily contact and weekly gatherings are their norm.

Some families have a looser bond. A monthly phone call or even the once a year card for the big holiday or maybe if lucky a birthday.

Which ever the situation there is the ties to a firm corner stone called family that in times of need, trouble, doubt and hopeful expectation we turn to for the strokes and hugs of the familiar.

More important is knowing, no matter what, no matter how far, no matter how long since one has left there is always a road home.

There will always be a hug to greet and a warm plate of food. A bed to rest and a shoulder to snuggle into for comfort.

Home may not have the answers to your questions or woes, but home hold no judgment and allows you to grow. Home is where we seek refreshing time and to know that the roots are still supporting us when we feel alone.

A personal rule I strive to live by is this; There are no strangers here, only family we have yet to meet.

As long as there is a Sun, Moon and the heavenly stars, there will be a Spring. A reminder of life, past, present, and the promise of what is to be.

Yes, thankfully, like the Seasons, we all can find our way home. Again and again and again.

Tough Love for Another Fine Mess....

Parents have been told by many "experts" that when a child proves to be headstrong, will-full and hell bent for self destruction to use tough love.

Perhaps that is what we need to do with our "children" in DC and those spoiled rotten kids on Wall Street. Take a stance and just say NO!

Hold your breath, stomp your feet, and make your threats... NO MORE FROM US.

Sometimes one has to fall, and fall hard before they can get back up and act right.

Well, any way that is how I see this here fine mess we are in, from here... just off senter....

Bonnie and Clyde - A Tribute To LOVE!

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It is a given that to love means having heart aches and pain.

Does this fact mean it is wrong to love or that we should never love? It is only by allowing love, with all its pain, in to our lives and hearts that we can grow to understand what a great gift life is.

Love and loving is never wrong… never! Neither is the pain we feel when suddenly the ones we love are taken from us.

Clyde and Bonnie, siblings that could only meet as they did at The Rainbows Bridge, were taken all too soon from their family, who loved them both and struggle to understand how and why in less than two months, two very young and loving pups where called from this earthly realm to one where we pray someday to reunite.

FLOP had chosen “Little” Bonnie as their September FLOPStar and her Mommy, Angie, was so happy and proud. Which made it all the more painful that she had to inform us of how sweet Bonnie had gotten ill on Wednesday, Sept. 3, and quickly what seemed to have been a reaction to some puppy shots or that she had been exposed to something at the veterinarian’s office had made her very ill. By early Friday morning, Sept. 5, Bonnie could fight no more and went to meet her brother Clyde at The Bridge.

Clyde fought very bravely the effects of diabetes during his short life but the battle proved too much for his fragile body and he journeyed to The Bridge just weeks before Bonnie arrived with her forever family.

It is with a very heavy heart but with the knowledge that for all who love and have loved, we do so not in vain but because that is what life is about… LOVE. Without Love we have no life and nothing to live for. We choose to love even when it hurts.

Clyde and Bonnie’s mother even felt that it was Clyde who led her to Bonnie. Knowing that they are together now may or may not always be of comfort, but we hope they now await the arrival of those they love.

It is because of this love that FLOP has chosen to honor both Clyde and Bonnie as our special September FLOPStar Angels.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate these two young pups and the Love they have given and taught us to have for all.

FLOP

When AJ and I first stumbled on to Dogster, similar to My Space, but for dogs (there is also Catster, and your right it is for cats), little did we know what a life changing and enhancing day that would be.

At Dogster you have every bred of dog God has created and some extras, but unlike most humans, the furkids there just seem to get along so well.

Being a pug, we went looking for pug people and found some really great new friends. The first group that I wandered into was For The Love Of Pugs. FLOP!!!!

Everyone there made us feel so welcome and at home! It wasn't long before AJ was wanting to play with his new friends everyday. He soon discovered he was making friends around the world and they all had one thing in common... how to get more treats from their humans! They, the pugs and pups, would share their secret plots and coy maneuvers of twisting we humans to do their bidding.

Mean while the humans share, through their furkids, tips on how not to be maneuvered by the coy brown eyed "child" begging at your feet. If we are honest, the begging works 99% of the time.

We share the good times, when house-training works and the sad times when one of ours has made their final journey to Rainbow Bridge.

We bow heads and fold paws if one of our loved furkids is ill, we also share our experiences with illnesses, special diets and rescuing pups who have extreme needs.

AJ & I just want to salute the founders of Dogster and acknowledge the vision they brought to us and so many others. We also want to thank our FLOP family, for that is what we are, a family... for all the love and care and FUN we have every day.

It's You Day --- Celebrate

Surprise!

Happy Birthday!

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Today is our "baby's" birthday.

Happy Birthday dear Daughter. May this year bring you the contentment you deserve, the security you need, and more love, love, love!

We love you and are ever proud of you! (Yes, Christmas is just 6 months from today!)

Mom, Dad & AJ.... & ( your baby) Zero

Buddy Day aka Father's Day

It's Buddy Day

Right from the first I knew Daddy was a push over. I didn't even have to use my puggy look, he just grabbed me from Mommy's arms and began to fuss... I had him forever in my grip.

Now I was meant to be Moms pup, but even on the very first day, it was Dad who insisted that he would take me out in the mornings. He would come home for lunch, so we could eat together and make sure I got sometime in the grass. Dinner time was the same... soon my Buddy and I were inseparable...

I learned how to hook up DVD players and install all kinds of electrical gadgets. My Buddy aka Dad, loves gadgets. Even though Moms will cook my food, I will not eat unless my Buddy is here to eat with me... this kind of upsets the Moms... but hey... we Buds stick together...

I just want to tell my Big Daddy that I loves him and am so glad we are buddies. I love having him chase me as I run with his sock or try to fit into his shoes. He know what treats I like the best and makes sure every day they are all laid out so Moms won't get confused and give me something I won't like... like dog food....blah...uckkkk...

So Dad, I hope you enjoy this Father's day... and know that I will be eager to do all the
Buddy things we do... like long early morning walks, sharing your lunch, and grabbing your socks... And I will even see that you get to rest and protect you while you nap...

Thanks Dad... I think you know... I love you... I am so thankful Moms brought me home to YOU!

As told by AJ HoosierHugPug to his Moms