Here's Tucker!

70 pounds of pure love

Love is our most hesitant...of course they meet eye to eye and that can be intimidating

Faith loves her Tucker

I think he kinda likes it here

Hope and Big Daddy lovin on our newest addition

Umm...I think we'll keep him ;)

That look on Hunter's face says it all

He had a big day. A new home, a new family, a new routine...he did fabulous! The kids have been playing with him nonstop. We went on a nice long walk with him. He is so well mannered on a leash. He seems like he kinda likes it here.

It is strange to think about how we managed to meet Tucker. The reason is sad. His "mom" is going through a divorce after 30 years of marriage...can you even imagine? Bless her heart. I've been praying for the right dog since we lost our last two. It has only been 3 weeks and the story of our getting Tucker is just proof that God even cares about the small stuff. The stuff that to most people doesn't seem big enough to bother Him with. I am so thankful that He led us to Linda and her dog. I think not only did we get a great new family member but we also just may have a pretty special relationship with a woman we may have never met otherwise. You know something as traumatic as having to rehome your favorite pet can have the goodness of God in it. As upset as she was she was about losing him she knew she was blessing us with a dog. So in her pain of...let's face it, losing what feels like a child to her, she was ministering to our family by allowing us to have him. I am hoping the ministry works both ways. We have already shared his first day with her. She said she was balling but happy tears. I can't wait to see what He has planned for us through this neat little situation :)

Quick Check In

Wanted to drop in for a quick hello and a small update.

Faith is loving her new schooling arrangement. It is Fab-U-lous!! She is doing so well and has had more smiles than frowns...gotta love that! Soccer is back in season...although the last two games have been cancelled because of weather. She also had her very first fender bender, even though she was driving a golf cart.

Don't think I mentioned that those super sweethearts of a dog have passed on. They both came down with distemper their 3rd day home which was horrible to watch...we tried to nurse them back into health, dumped way too much money in trying to fight it, in the end they were vomiting pretty much nonstop, running fevers that were at the level of heat stroke that were no longer breaking and seizing. In the end Bear wouldn't even open his eyes and Gracie would hardly move and if she did she was getting sick. Like I said...it was AWFUL! We had to put them to sleep. Did I mention how hard it was? We are currently the poster family for vaccinating your dogs. It was all completely preventable. Here are a few pics of the girls loving on 'em in the last days.

But...there is a new dog coming. We pick him up on Friday. He is a golden retriever. He is 8 months and already 70 pounds. He is a real cutie. It is a huge blessing out of a not so great circumstance for the current owner. He is her baby. So, we are going to have an open adoption - you think I'm kidding don't you? I'm not. Oh, and he has had ALL of his shots! :)

Here is the only photo we have seen of him

Hunter is ready for school to end. He has had his limit. Tomorrow is the math TAKS and he is not even a tad bit excited. He is looking forward to joining Faith next year. He is excited about getting our new dog and is already searching for him a friend. His idea of a good playmate isn't exactly my idea. He likes the rowdy breeds. Me...not so much.

Hope is full swing in soccer. She is either on or off and to be truthful...we don't really care. If she is having fun - we are too :) She is ready for summer. She doesn't like waking up early and wants to sleep in. She is digging reading though and really doing well.

Love is struggling with allergies. She had to have a pulpotomy (basically a root canal) on her front tooth. Apparently she fell and hit it within the last couple of months and it was dying. She did so well...she is such a trooper. She doesn't really like going but she is brave and gets through it and she gets so spoiled there too! Unfortunately it is necessary even though it is not so fun. I will be glad when she gets through all these issues so that she can just be for a while without doctors or dentists except once or twice a year. Oh, and she is still just as cute as ever ;)

Well, that is all I've got for now...until next time.

It's Gonna Be Long...

Where has April gone? It feels like we just started off this year and here we are nearing the end of April. We have been really busy. I would say personally I have been more emotionally exhausted than physically. Wrapping my mind around situations - dwelling on them - praying about them. Finally what feels like a solid resolution has come. I don't want to get all in depth but I will talk a bit on the biggest issue.

Our daughter Faith has had some "issues" with some girls at school. These "issues" flared up to the point that it included boys. Then the "issues" flared up to engulf her where she had enemies in people that she didn't even know. We fought it through the administration for about 2 months. We stood behind her and encouraged her that it would pass. I was hearing things that were happening on a daily basis. My daughter was unraveling, and we could see it. But, she was not going to let them push her out of the school...she was determined to stay.

One of her teachers told me "I am very aware of the problems she is having with her former friends. I addressed this issue with administration last week. I hate to see that she is having such a hard time. It is very unfortunate that any student has to go through this with their peers." The principal and my husband became quick friends through all their contact over the "issues". In fact, the principal knew it was huge. He knew it had grown into something that was out of control.

The "issues" became more intense and extremely hateful and our Faith was to her breaking point. I am not sure if her mind or heart could have handled much more. We finally decided to pull her from the school, after speaking with the ring leader's father (who was very sympathetic, in fact his daughter had told him they were still good friends), her teachers, the principals, etc. The principal was in agreement that removing her would be in the best interest of Faith. In fact, he allowed her to complete the remainder of her six weeks at home because it was so bad and we wanted a clean break grade wise. Is that sad or what?

How do kids possess so much power? Why are girls especially so mean? You know all this was going on while the suicides from bullying were peppering the news from many directions...two near our own town. Not that I would think that for Faith but she was the most emotionally unstable I have ever seen her...it was awful.

You know I was reading today's daily thought/scripture we have near our coffee pot. Here is what it says:

The greatest anxiety for an adolescent, far exceeding the fear of death, is the possibility of rejection or humiliation in the eyes of his/her peers.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. 1John 4:18

And honestly, if she did not know the Lord, I am not sure how she would have gotten through it. Well, to add to that, I am not sure how Big Daddy or I would have gotten through it either. There is something about someone hurting your child that makes the flesh want to take over and put the Spirit in the backseat.

Since all this went down has the problem gone away? In one word...NO. But, it is only through Internet, cell phones, and the occasional path crossing. Most of these can be avoided. Faith has deleted a lot of things and ignored others, her friends still tell her what is coming through the community sites - but she doesn't have to co-exist with them on a minute by minute basis anymore.

She began her first day with a private tutor who will be teaching her through high school, which she has high hopes to graduate early. It is Christian curriculum, a Christian teacher and the teacher is experienced. She is certified and taught in both public and private school and now runs her own private school. In fact, Hunter approached us about attending and he will be joining Faith next year. He also hopes to graduate early. Big Daddy and I have such confirmation in knowing that this is the right move. So, in a nutshell...they will be avoiding the current atmosphere where attitudes, language and actions are all influencing them to some degree. We are excited about the totally controlled environment. They will be in a home with a teacher, receiving a very small teacher to student ratio....Faith's is currently 1 teacher, 2 students. The school also has an 80% college attendance rate after graduation. If that is what they decide to pursue...and of course, it was Faith's first concern..."How will this affect me going to law school?"

I do know that kids can do well in public school. I was one of them. I enjoyed high school about as much as you can. I'd even say it was great. But, I wasn't in the same place as my children are. I think about the struggles they face and they weren't even there for me. I for one did not have the conviction that my children have at this age...not that they are near perfect. But, they do for the most part know right from wrong and generally attempt to follow the right path.

For those of you who are thinking...what in the world are y'all doing? Well, I get it. I understand. Not exactly mainstream, is it? And, to be honest, I guess that is exactly the point.

Just A Swinging...

Guess who can totally swing - All By Herself!

She is over the top excited not to have to ask for someone to push her.

And sweet girl can go high, high high! :)

LOVE IT!

Catching Up is Hard To Do!

Let's See....

Love had her 8th laser treatment on the 17th. No fun! She is at the age that she totally understood where we were and why we were there. She didn't much care for it. Which totally makes it more difficult to endure these visits. Once we get to a place where we see no improvement...we are done. To be completely honest, I feel sure this is our last year for a while anyway. She is just such a sport. She dislikes all of it but does it anyway and tries to smile through it. She is much better after than before and she had her very first sick free visit. They gave her zofran on top of phenegran and she was good to go...took forever to wake up but she still did so good.

Right out of surgery
About 3 hours later :)

2 1/2 weeks post op....

If only she were a happy child ;)

Which brings us to an unhappy moment. Remember when we added our puppy Blue to the family? Well, let's just say we ended up being foster parents instead of her forever family. I still feel our time devoted to her was beneficial to both sides but....well, the girl was biting. Especially Hunter - and when she punctured his cheek about an inch or two below his eye with a bite - for no reason. Well, we decided it was really more a forced relationship on our part. We couldn't change her, it was more of her nature. Afterall she was bred to work. She needed more than we could give her and I wanted her to live. It was very hard on Hunter. And Hunter's Momma who totally balled like a baby - and I didn't like her much at all. I loved that little pest of a dog but really did not like her. Even Big Daddy teared up. It is just, well, so final.

Which, brings me to my next announcement:

MEET BEAR

and HIS SISTER GRACIE

Two of the sweetest natured dogs we have ever had. They love to be loved on and are learning their manners so well. We are making sure we teach them so that they will be true joys and not burdens. They both arrived home yesterday after an intense pound visit on Friday. There were so many great dogs there that we had a hard time choosing. But Faith spotted Gracie and she would not let up about her. Then when we went through the boy dogs and we spotted Bear. They did not even realize they were siblings. You should have seen her when they brought him out. She perked up and did the equivalent of hugs and kisses. She was ecstatic. Both were "fixed" on Monday and doing great. They just love each other so much.

They are a shepherd mix. We lean toward English Shepherd mix after all we have searched and googled but truth be told they are just a couple mutts. And we couldn't be happier. They were aged at 2-3 years old. So they are done growing and quick learners. So smart. Hunter is on cloud nine and I am not sure if that smile ever did leave his face. And guess who got up at 4 to check on them when the electricity went off? Hunter. And guess who got up at 6:30 to make sure there was plenty of time to play with them...ummm, both Hunter and Faith. They are two pretty good additions to the ole Harris abode.

And don't they just smile so purty?

We have a wonderful weekend coming up with loads of family time....can't wait! :)

Happy Love Day!

Love at first sight

Two years ago today we became a family of 6. Our sweet little one, Love; was officially our daughter. And our world will never be the same because of her. Our world is an infinitely better place with her in our heart and home and forever in our family.

Love home 1 year

She changed our lives...forever. And we thank God for the honor of calling her our baby girl. There has never been nor will there ever be another like her...to say we love her just doesn't seem to tranfer our feelings into words.

Love home 2 years

She is our sunshine.

Not to mention 'bout the cutest thang ever.

She is that living breathing joy day in and day out that makes us so incredibly blessed to not only know her but to be chosen as the ones who hold her hand as she makes her mark on this world. And she will, make her mark-that you can be sure of. :)

If you happen...

If you happen to think about us tomorrow morning would you please say a quick prayer for our little Love? She will be receiving her 8th laser treatment bright and early tomorrow morning. And, of all days...tomorrow happens to be a very special one :) Just for the record, I am so not talking about St. Patrick's Day.