Look at Dad! He’s leading this year’s toy run.

Last year, he and Mom started sponsoring Spyder’s Toy Run, which started 26 years ago.  Spyder is Jennifer’s father-in-law and he and some friends started it to make sure all the kids in Crenshaw County have a great Christmas. Isn’t that a great thing?  So when he couldn’t lead it any more, he asked mom and dad to help and they said yes!

It’s sad to think about kids not having a good Christmas- but Dad and Mom and lots of other good folks invited all  the good folks they know.

When I say my prayers tonight, I’m gonna ask God to give a special blessing to each one who came to help.

Dad says that now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to get ready for Christmas. They’re getting ready to put the tree and the other decorations, and then something about making a list. He told us if we were good dogs, that Santa might bring us a surprise. I’m doing my best to be a good dog, but sometimes it’s tough.
I don’t know how Santa is going to come see us, though, because we don’t have a chimney…. one of my friends says that’s how he gets in the house.
Scout says she wants a new bone to gnaw on and a new blanket- she kinda ate her old one. I want another Kong chew toy – I like them because they don’t tear up quick.
Our kitty buddies said all they want for Christmas is to find a home- they like staying here but they all really want their own homes to play in.
If you see Santa, could you ask him to help them out?

What do YOU want for Christmas?

You probably remember the ‘possums that live at our house. We only see them at night – Dad says they’re “octurnal” or something like that; I wasn’t paying attention because Scout was trying to get my ball. But anyway, they come out at night and eat cat food with our cats. Mom says that’s OK because they also like to eat fleas and roaches and other yucky bugs, so she says it’s a good swap.

I’m not sure whether I like them or not- they do look kinda like Bunny the kitten, except for that pointy nose and those beady little eyes and that naked tail. Something just isn’t right about that…

But I would like to at least get the chance to talk to one of them, at least one time. Every time we go out at night, I rush out, thinking this time I’m going to be able to talk to them, but no- they go rushing off the end of the porch before I can get their attention. So then I have to run around the house trying to catch up with them.   I try following them to the end of the porch, but every time they just jump off, so then I have to run around the house really fast 2 or 3 times. But it doesn’t do any good. Every time they disappear.

Every night when I run to the end of the porch, Mom says, “Hope be careful! You’re going to fall off!”  And each night, I think, “Nah, I can stop before the edge.”

Except for last night…. because I didn’t stop at the edge. I just sailed right off into the bushes.  Of course, I jumped up and ran off around the house- I told Mom that I meant to do that. (It only scratched me a little. I’m a big girl- it didn’t hurt.) It did actually get me a little closer to where the ‘possums are.

But I don’t think I want to do that anymore.

I think next time I’ll take the steps.

Did ya’ll see the super moon this week? Sunday night when Dad and Mom came home from church we walked around outside and looked at it. It was beautiful! It was so big and bright, and the fluffy clouds around it made it that much prettier.

Dad says that God made the moon and stars for light at night, just like He made the sun for light during the day. That was a long time ago but they’re still up there shining!  (I know that the moon really doesn’t have it’s own light- it shines from the sun shining on it.  Dad says that’s a sermon right there, but maybe that’s a story for another night.)

Anyway, I sure am glad that God gave us the moon for night time; I love walking up to the peanut shed with Mom,  Scout, Chip, Baby Girl  and all the Little’Uns, but it wouldn’t be nearly so nice if the moon didn’t help us see our way.

If you like to color, Mom and I found a great website that’s got lots of coloring pages on it. Here’s one that tells the story of when God made the moon!

When Scout first came here, I wasn’t sure I liked her. (and to be honest, I’m still not sure on some days.) But most days we have fun. We both like playing with the kittens, especially Chip. Chip has been  my best friend since I first came here, because we were both new at the same time.  We grew up together…. and I’m glad that Scout and Chip get along together too.

Chip usually stays outside, because he likes chasing the squirrels and catching moles.  But this morning he came inside when Mom took us out for our walk.  Then when Mom started working, we all laid down on my blanket and played.

Some people think it’s silly for cats and dogs to get along, but we don’t care. Scout and I love Chip- and he loves us.  He lets us lick and chew on his ears without getting mad, and we let him grab our legs with his claws without getting mad.

Mom says that folks could learn a lot from us about getting along.  She says sometimes folks get mad at other people when they don’t agree.

That sounds kinda weird to me- I mean, how much fun would it be if we were all just alike? If all the cats were just like Chip, how could we recognize him when we see him?  We might start chewing on a strange cat’s ears and then he would get mad at us.  And  oh my goodness- if everyone were just like Scout, I don’t know if I could handle it.  It’s tough enough having one sister that takes my blanket and my cookies and my ball…. whew, it’s a tough life.

Mom says we just need to remember what the Bible says:

I Corinthians 13:

Guess what Mom and Serafina got to do? They handed out candy at “The Treat’s On Us” last Monday.   Serafina sat on a table and greeted everyone and Mom handed out goodie bags, til she ran out.  Each goodie bag had a few pieces of candy in it, and a little booklet that told the kids how much Jesus loves them.

She got some pictures of some of the folks they met- lots of cute little kids were there – she saw Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Iron Man, firefighters, witches, dolls, cowgirls,  Beetlejuice, pirates – and even a dragon! He looked like Serafina so Mom took their picture together. (You can click on the little pictures above to see bigger ones.)

Dad said Scout and I didn’t need to go, because some people might be scared of pibbles, and because we might accidentally get loose while she was busy.  (I sure am glad Dad loves us, but I would have really liked to go and see all that candy!)  He said we’re going to get to go to some of the places they go though-he and Mom say we’re going to start doing more stuff like this so we can tell even more folks that Jesus loves them. It’s gonna be great!

Dad said something about getting Mom a sidecar…. I wonder if the kitties will want to ride in it?

Mark 1:16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

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Mom says that today is my “Gotcha” Day! That means that I adopted Dad & Mom on Oct 28 and came to live with them. (I said, “Gotcha!” to both of them!)

They say it’s a good idea to tell all of you how great it is to be adopted by a dog or cat. If you haven’t been adopted yet, don’t feel bad. You just need to go see someone at your local animal society or humane shelter, and let someone pick you out! There are lots of good dogs and cats out there who would love to let you be their human. They’ll even help train you to be a good human.

If you live in Crenshaw County, the Crenshaw County Animal Society would be glad to help you out. My dad and mom foster some of the kitties (they are all very nice- don’t believe anyone who tells you that kitties are mean), and Ms Kimmie and Ms Leah and Ms Jamalyn and Ms Jordan all foster some of the puppies and dogs.

And don’t be scared – it’s not hard at all and before you know it, you’ll be adopted too!

Well, let me tell you something. In case you didn’t know it:  Dad and Mom like to go to Thunder Beach. I don’t get to go- Dad says there’s too much noise and most hotels won’t let dogs stay. (I wonder why?)

So anyway…. I got to go stay with my BFF Jordan at Camp Dawson for the weekend. She got an awesome rawhide bone and she took my harness off and let me run without it!

I played with the other dogs there, while Scout had to go stay with Jennifer and Daniel and the other little pups. Both mornings I got to sit on the back deck with Mr Charlie and we watched the birds.

I had a great time with Jordan and Ms Leah and Mr Charlie- I’m so glad I got to go stay with them; they love me like Dad and Mom do, so I know I”m always safe there.

When Mom and Dad were little and in Sunday School, one of the songs they used to sing is about Zacchaeus.

He was a tax collector who cheated people so most folks didn’t like him; he was also very short. So when he heard that Jesus was coming to his town he wanted to see him. He climbed up in the sycamore tree because he knew the other folks wouldn’t let him stand in front; he sat on a limb so he could see Jesus when he walked under the tree.

But he didn’t know that Jesus was planning to see Zacchaeus too! When Jesus came under the tree, he looked up at Zacchaeus and told him to come down because Jesus was going to eat lunch with him! How cool is that?

Zacchaeus was embarrassed because he knew he’d been unfair to a lot of people. But Jesus showed him so much love that he loved Jesus right back, and decided from then on to behave like he should. He gave the money back to everyone he’d cheated and decided from that day that he would do right.

Here are the words to the song, in case you don’t know them. And here’s a coloring sheet!

Zacchaeus was a wee little man
And a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see
And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in that tree
And He said,
“Zacchaeus, you come down! For I’m going to your house today For I’m going to your house today!”