Just a few pictures of the boys with our beloved Hunter!
{Photo taken by my amazing assistant Jenn last month, thanks Jenn for capturing this moment}
{Henry gets so excited when Hunter actually “sits” for him when he says!}
A dog is a friend. An unconditional friend. Dog’s don’t say rude things to you or misunderstand anything, they don’t have bad moods even, they are just there and kind and love you and your kids. I did this for Drew, but in doing so Hunter has blessed Henry and even me (except for the night he had an accident on one of my fave rugs, yes know i should have rolled them up but little rugs can easily be cleaned).
So here is what we do with Hunter:
- we have a great groomer and trainer nearby (walking distance) that does the “fulminator treatment” with him shampoo and comb and it reduces his shedding I think, he is SO blonde and it gets everywhere but oh well we have swifter and lint rollers..and they have trained him a bit..he is part Lab and mouthy and rowdy but the boys tumble and play with him and he is so much happier inside with his pack!
- Bones and toys to keep him from getting bored and chewing on fabrics!
- Clipping nails and murphys oil really does help with any scratches on floors…and teach your kids to swifter swifter
- we crate him when gone or at night and Texas has sunny days so he can still go outside for play time a lot even in winter, I do still believe that animals want to be outside in gorgeous weather especially a rowdy lab like Hunter
- what I do struggle with is enough time to walk him..my oldest isn’t old enough to walk him alone so we do struggle to get enough exercise time in….
But he has lots of toys and we have a long hall and open space and we play a lot. And its working (knock on wood) he is doing so good with “going” outside (though he seems to want privacy and won’t go quickly, drives me nuts i have to leave him out alone to “go” and I never know for sure if he did…he has a huge bladder apparently.)
So any tips or thoughts on our Hunter….any doggies treats you think he might love..i am looking for the exact name of the one known on the streets as “doggie crack” to help with his fetching. I did find the “Call of the Wild” food at Tractor Supply he seems to love.
So this year Hunter and a new normal are what our Christmas are about more than perfect decorations and wreaths on every window.
I WILL be posting more photos of the True Blue Home Show Cottage, my creative Christmas energy and joy have gone more there than in our home this year and that is okay. Each year is different and its okay to just use a few “happy” decorations one year and not so much stuff.
Honestly, I struggled with using my silhouette ornaments this year but they finally went on, didn’t feel like Christmas without them..yes Hunter needs one now!;;;And I love that this house has these natural columns and ledges and spots for the nativity and little trees that are a bit out of reach but easy to see and enjoy! (Yes that is a toy soldier in the nativity, courtesy of my oldest)
Bottom line…God is faithful, life throws us lots of curveballs, lots of storms brew and take us by surprise, but he is the SAME..yesterday, today and tomorrow and He loves us and our families, even via a dog! But most important, He sent a baby into the world, the Christ child, BECAUSE of these very storms whatever they may be. He knew storms would come, he never promised EASY and he knew we needed (need) a Savior so he sent us one and that is why we celebrate Christmas! Pretty trees and wreaths commemorate THAT but of course they are not the source. And the best part, when His son died and rose and went to be with the Father, God left his Holy Spirit to comfort us. So we have him here with us, Emmanuel “God with us!” Best story ever.
In some ways this is the worst Christmas ever for ‘decorating Holly’ and there other deeper areas I can’t even cover here but for ‘soul Holly’ I will say I have never anticipated the Advent of our Lord more or understood it more or NEEDED it more. A WEARY WORLD REJOICES INDEED.
Do you feel weary?? Rest in the coming of our King, the birth of our Savior and THE HOPE OF GLORY!
We have a hope and a comforter y’all, lean in!
