Category Archives: spirituality

The Giving and Getting Go Hand in Paw…

29 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, coincidence, dog adoption., dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, rescue dogs, spirituality, summer, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, trees, Uncategorized, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

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Dear Mommy,

How I have missed you this week because I have been working on getting the syllabus ready for the Finding Joy class which starts this month already! Although I have been busy with that, I, of course, have been lamenting about the meaning of the class and after interviewing so many people it’s all I can think about. Onwen and I have had deep discussions about animal companions and their peeps – lot of them!

One thing I have been thinking about is how people who choose to share their lives with us fur kids are very special. They are very important because they adjust their life for us. You need ot let people know how important that is. Adoption is all about giving and getting. I know you are always mumbling to yourself thinking about how much you give to others and it is true – you do so much of that, but you have spent most of your adult life giving to various animals and look at what you have gained.

There are people who will never adopt a dog, for example because you have to take us out to poop or pee and that requires a schedule that meets our needs, perhaps more than it meets theirs. Those people will never get it I am sure, but for the ones that do, I think they gain so much in return. The interesting thing about this is that both sides give and get. Since I shared my life with a cat and Joy does too, as dogs (and I will speak for her correctly I am sure) we simply want love, to be with our peeps, food and shelter. We are very basic in our needs. You are person who gives your companions lives of Princes and Princesses and no one could be more grateful than I and I am sure Safari & Joy as well. What I love about you is that while you are a complex thinker, your needs are fairly simplistic. I know you have always told me and everyone that nothing is more important than good health and love. Obviously health is needed to enjoy anything, especially love.

Mommy, you are so right that love is everything. Here in Hyfryd, we don’t have to worry about health because we are all purfect!!! That is the trade-off I guess. We are separated by space from the ones we love, but what we receive in return is perfect health. On earth, you can have both and until I got sick, I enjoyed every second – that is why I did not sleep that much because I wanted to pack in as much fun time as possible and I think we accomplished that and it looks like Joy is too. Safari has loved you the longest obviously – you knew he was a prince the second you saw him, didn’t you?

This is one of the things I plan to discuss in class, so I wanted to tell you.  The giving and the getting go hand in paw. When you give of your heart to us and we to you, we all get back so much more in return. You always said that it was funny that God is Dog spelled backwards. There must be a good reason for that.

So that is what I had to tell you. Sorry I did not get back to you sooner. The class starts next week. Guess what? We skip 4th of July because none of us really liked fireworks so they do not exist here! YAY! I saw you visited the tree twice already this week. Did you like how I made the leaves blow everytime you touch them – not a coincidence! I am there – always next to you. Forever just like you predicted when we first met. I am your Bailey girl always. You could have 100 more dogs and cats and I will always be your heart dog and vice versa. I love you so much and think of you every single day and I know you think fo me too. Try to stop calling Joy by my name too, huh> You will give her a complex – at least she now knows “Bailey’s Tree” when you visit. She is pretty darn smart. I told you I would find you a perfect girl. You are a giver, Mommy and for that you will get goodness because I am sending it in many forms.

Write me soon! I love you so….

Your Sweet Bailey Girl xoxoxoxoxoox

Precious Two….

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by in animal families, border collies, coincidence, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, Petfinder, rescue dogs, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, summer, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, trees, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

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Dearest Bailey,

I am so proud of all the pre-qualification work you have already done in planning the new Finding Joy class. It makes so much sense that you have become a teacher – a working dog must always have a job and certainly because you passed at only 10 young years, you had more work to do. Nothing stops my tenacious Bailey!

I came across this picture of Safari and you and it’s one of the few pics I have of the two of you sitting very close. When you did, it was so sweet and I find that Safari really had missed your company, as he likes to sit close to Joy when she is not acting like a wild Border Collie! Because you were a senior dog and Safari, a senior cat, I think Safari finds this new experience a lot different with  baby Joy. She totally keeps him on his toes and I think that is a good thing, considering he likes to simply chill. The only time he runs around is when he should be sleeping at 4am, waking everyone up! The funny difference is that you did not care if he was up running around. Joy, on the other hand, says, What? Why is he up? I think I will herd him back to sleep! She is like you in the fact that she is very sensitive to noise and she is VERY protective over us.

She is a definitely a great one. I know, you are thinking, “of course she is! I found her!” Yes you did and I would not expect anything less of you. I do have to work with her all the time on the barking at men, however. With you I always thought it was so nice I could take you anywhere and you never cared who touched you, talked to you or petted you. Joy has not had worldly experiences, although each day she is getting more. She is very nosy with the neighbors! She needs to know what is going on at all times; I think that is part of her protectiveness too. That will never change. Already though, she has stopped barking across the way, which is nice. It will just take time.

Here is a picture of them together before the room was redone recently – it looks great by the way! I have a new office, which of course is where the kids like to hang out just like you and Safari did in the picture above! Sometimes when I only catch a glimpse of Joy from the back, she looks just like you. She is   bit less furry and smaller than you, but she is loving just like you. You did good my girl, you really did. In fact I was thinking how much good you put onto this planet – now you are just doing it in a different location of the planet – Hyfryd – you are the Princess of Love! You certainly are my Princess of Love and now I have two, thanks to you with  help from the beautiful Ms. Victoria.

Well my sweet girl, I am pretty sleepy. I have a tiny cold so I want to go lie down and get away from the computer as I had a long day and got a lot of work done – lots of crisis management PR today! Write me more and let me know some of the folks you have qualified. I am sure you have chosen some people by now as you only have a little more than a month till the new class begins and you are still teaching all your other classes! Whew! You are a busy and beautiful working girl! That is my girl! We would not have it any other way….

With a ton of love from here and many kisses thrown through the air, I love you….

A Touch of Class…

13 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by in adopting a new dog, animal families, border collies, cancer in dogs, coincidence, dog adoption., Dog walking, dog/human relationships, dogs, Dogs named Bailey, Journaling, letters, loving dogs, loving life, missing your dog, nature, parks, Petfinder, second chances, Senior Dogs, spirituality, summer, talking dogs, teaching, The Rainbow Bridge, the wind, trees, Uncategorized, Working Dogs, www.petfinder.com

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MOMMY! I am SOOOO sorry I have been late in writing. I have never been 3 days late have I? Well, I have a great excuse because the Finding Joy student qualification process has kept me and my helpers very busy. I have so much to tell you! First, we had to come up with the questions to ask potential students to see who would really benefit from the class. Since these classes will be so intimate, it is important to make sure only those who would truly benefit would be in attendance. So do you want to hear some of the questions? Of course you do! Okay here are some of them:

What made you feel like you were not just an animal? What made you feel like part of a family?

Who was your favorite person?

What was your favorite activity and was this something you did with your favorite person?

Did you like other animals not of your own species?

What was it you most liked about your life?

What food made you the happiest?

Did you and your favorite person “talk to each other” ie: in your own form of communication that was personal to you?

Did you cross over the Rainbow Bridge because you were sick or was it by accident?

So, Mommy, what do you think? The last question is very important because people who cross by accident have the highest amount of regret it seems. Take our little Barkley. Although he loves it here, she was only a puppy and she regrets going into the road to chase the squirrel so much. She really misses Dozer, Molly, John and Tracy, so it was lucky that she had me, her own neighbor who came here not too long after she came because she did not know anyone and was very lost. The fact that we live to each other helps us both out a lot. I was sick, but she wasn’t and that makes all the difference. When death happens by accident, it is harder to understand on both ends and that is why I think the class can help. When the potential students are interviewed we can tell who really needs the class. I was able to lead you to Victoria and subsequently Joy, because of our strong connection on the ground. If you think about the pups or kittens who die too young, they might not have had time to form that strong bond like you and I shared. I want everyone who takes this class to be able to feel like they are not lost and are still spiritually connected to their people if that is what they desire.

I really think Finding Joy is the purrfect name for the class. I know you mentioned last time to see if anyone had known Hope and Winnie and I have some news. They both live in Gobeithio, which is the town next to us here in Hyfryd. It was Telewyn, who found out where they are. When Telewyn first arrived, he lived there for a short time before settling on Hyfyrd. He knew of a group of horses here and that is why he moved. What he told me was that he first came over, there were many horses who lived in Gobeithio and one horse in particular named Summer, who kept the company of two Border Collies,  Winnie and Hope! They must be the ones you are looking for, right? You never did say, but I am thinking those were perhaps Victoria’s dogs? Well, when Telewyn was interviewing potential students, guess who showed up – Yep! Both of them. They totally qualify and have already been informed that they are in. They seem very connected to Victoria already, but Telewyn thought they should be in the class as good examples of spiritual connections and how they can be made even stronger. I assume you will let Victoria know. Personally, I have yet to meet them, but I am looking forward to it. What a story I have to tell them!  “T” says they are both very sweet and I am looking forward to having them in class. I am sure they will have some messages for Victoria as well.

So that is as far as we have gotten. We did more than 100 interviews so far and we have about 150 more to go. Never did I think this class would be so popular. People are coming from town far away just to take the interview!  We have room for 125 at the most for this first year. I am very happy that people want to learn – that is exciting.

By the way I felt you and Joy at my Tree today – did you see me rustle those leaves! I cannot believe how big that tree has grown since Fall, but then I can, because it is so symbolic of you and I. We may be apart but we just keep growing together day by day. I love you mommy! You taught  me all the right things and I am so proud to be yours. Snuggle my little Safari and give Joy a kiss for me and tell her not to be so jealous of other doggies – there is enough of all of us to go around and do good things

Yours Furever and 4-ever,

 

Your Sweet Bailey Girl