The Inseparables

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022 ~ Sandi Staton ~ 2 Comments

Dogs have a way of lifting you up when you feel down.

It was at my husband’s lowest when we adopted Bella. It was at Pepper’s lowest when we adopted her.

Bella was not our first choice. Yes, she had short hair and was about the right size, but she wasn’t Rascal, our beloved Australian Shepherd mix of eight years. He loved us both, but he was definitely my husband’s dog. Sadly, we had to lay him to rest.

I didn’t want another dog. I was over it. Period. My heart can’t take kissing another pet goodbye. It hurts. It really, really hurts.

However, Buck didn’t share my feelings. Not at all. He cried and moped around making our house feel like a morgue. Day, after day. Night, after night till I couldn’t take it anymore.

Okay! Okay! We’ll get another dog!

But it wasn’t as easy as it was with Rascal that suddenly showed up at our neighbor’s house one day. Well, it didn’t happen exactly like that. Their little girl found a whole litter of abandoned pups and brought the most handsome one home with her. Soon, the novelty of owning a puppy wore off, and the little guy kept wandering over to our house.

With a little help, from us, that is, and four-year-old Jacob, our youngest grandchild. We all fell in love with Rascal, and to my surprise, he began sleeping on the front porch.

I felt sorry for him sleeping in the cold, so we bought him a bed and blanket. We didn’t want him to starve to death, so we bought him a food and water bowl, too. And of course, we didn’t want him to get bored, so we bought him some doggie toys.

Long story short, we asked the neighbors if we could keep him. We didn’t even have to beg and plead.

He’s family now and family members don’t live outside. We’re people. All of us. Two-legged, four-legged, fur or no fur; we all live together like one big happy family in the house.

For eight, short years, we loved him, and he loved us. Then, one heart-breaking day, he said goodbye.

Now, several weeks later, we’re looking in a cold, dingy cage, at a strange-looking dog, with long, skinny legs, shivering on top of a flimsy, raggedy blanket.

Nope! Not that one!

We keep on looking.

The noise and the smell of all those animals were overwhelming. But, we took our time looking in one cage after another, till we came right back to the first cage. The one with the strange little dog with long, skinny legs.

Hound mix, the sign said.

I don’t want a hound.

So, we made another trip around the dog pound. And another. We were about to leave but decided to take one more look at that strange-looking dog.

Taking a closer look at her slender body and long legs, it dawned on me. She’s a Greyhound mix!

We signed the adoption papers, had her spayed, and within a few days, she was living in our house.

Pepper was dying of starvation. She had been abandoned with fifteen other dogs. I didn’t want two dogs. Never had two dogs at one time and never wanted two dogs at one time.

But, when she put her tiny paws on my leg and jumped on my lap. Well, The rest is history.

Using Paint ShopPro ultimate 2019, I took the following pictures and turned them into art. Our dogs hate having their pictures taken, so we have to sneak up on them. Funny, funny girls.

I Was That Mom

October 17, 2021October 17, 2021 ~ Sandi Staton ~ 2 Comments

My granddaughter wrote the following article and has given me permission to post it on WordPress. Leighton James makes great-grand-baby number eight. We thank God for our healthy, growing family.

Sweet Baby Leighton James, Born October 8, 2021

When Lucas was born, we had no idea what the first several years of our lives would look like. Doctor appointment after doctor appointment, we were left wondering why. Why did our son have all these medical issues? Why can’t l have a seamless breastfeeding journey like all the other new moms? Why does every appointment have to bring new heartache?

It’s hard not to carry those same fears and burdens into this new journey with Leighton. It’s hard to not be on the edge of our seats, waiting for some diagnosis that we aren’t prepared for. It’s hard not to compare our story to someone else’s.

But today . . .

Today was a breath of fresh air. Today was a sigh of relief to know our boy is healthy and perfect. Today is a reminder that God is faithful.

I will always be grateful for Lucas’ journey, that continues to teach us and shape us in more ways than one. But today . . . Today l am thankful for the reminder of God’s love and especially for our healthy baby boy.

Time Out!

August 7, 2021 ~ Sandi Staton ~ 5 Comments

Psalms 127:3
Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.

With my granddaughter-in-law’s permission, I am posting what she shared on Facebook:

My best piece of advice to stay-at-home moms who are stressed out because you feel like you can’t get anything done . . . Put the phone down!

You will be amazed by how much you can get done when you’re not picking up your phone every five minutes to scroll. You’ll also be amazed by how much better you feel when you’re not being interrupted from scrolling by your kids who want something.

As a mom who has literally built her career on social media, this has been one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn. But my anxiety is so much less when I have less things distracting me.

Find a safe spot where your phone is not always right next to you. For me I like to keep it in the kitchen so I can still hear it ring but it’s not at my fingertips to be scrolled on.

With that said, back to the kitchen it goes till nap time.

Nicci Staton- The Makeup Mommy

Look Who Just Turned Three

June 9, 2020 ~ Sandi Staton

Lucas is one of our six great-grandchildren. In spite of his rough start in life and being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, he is our sunshine on a rainy day. And to prove the doctors wrong concerning his learning disabilities, he can talk, write his name, draw and name shapes, recite the ABC’s, and mesmerize an audience strumming his play guitar and singing “You Are My Sunshine”. He is truly a God-send to our growing family and teaches us to look on the bright side of life.

The Great Outdoors

April 16, 2020 ~ Sandi Staton

I finally got my butt in gear and actually did some yard work. The air was cool, just the way I like it. And the sun was shining and the wind was blowing and the birds were singing and the butterflies were fluttering. Corona was not in my world yesterday.

Winter does a number on most yards. The trees are naked, the grass is brown, and everything seems more dead than alive. It’s depressing.

So, it was great being outside giving my flowerbeds a much-needed facelift pulling weeds, and trimming bushes and trees. My back didn’t like it. But I did what I set out to do and I’m proud of myself for that. Usually, I try doing half a dozen things at once creating more work for me and my husband. So, he was proud of me, too.

I’m far from being finished, but I’m making headway, at least. A few weeks ago, when I was feeling depressed and fed up with it all, I told my husband that I’d like to do away with the big natural area in the front yard. Then, the sun came out again and I saw things differently and decided that we put too much work into it to tear it all down. It took hours just to line it with the field rocks we collected. It still isn’t the way I want it, and it’s still a lot of upkeep, but I would miss it if it were gone.

I’ve posted a few pictures of the front yard after I finally gave it a little TLC. We still need to pull a few more weeds and put out pine needles. I haven’t done anything down the driveway, yet. I’m waiting for the Azaleas to quit blooming so hubby can cut them all back. They’ve gotten too big for their britches and I have to trim them constantly.

We were young when we created all these natural areas and more able to take care of them. Now, we’re old and hurt in places we never knew we had. So, it’s rough. But, we’re still hanging in there and doing the best we can till we just can’t do it anymore. And if we decide to stay here, we’ll hire someone else to take care of what we can’t. It’ll probably break the bank but that’s better than breaking our backs.

Left side of the big natural area.

Left side.

Left side different angle.

Right side of the big natural area.

Right side, different angel.

Azaleas line the driveway.

Azaleas in full bloom.

Front of the house.

Left side of the walkway in front of the house.

Along the walkway.

Hosta.

Dwarf Nandina. They turn fiery red in the Fall.

Azaleas and hosta.

Hosta.

Hosta

Natural area at the right of the walkway.

Natural area to the left of the walkway.

Trunk of the Bradford tree that is going to be cut down, It’s too close to the house.

Our Little Ray of Sunshine

April 9, 2020April 9, 2020 ~ Sandi Staton

Lucas, our great-grandson, had a rough start in this world, from being born with an enlarged head, a hole in his heart, and respiratory and swallowing problems. Later he developed muscular weakness, preventing him from walking. Just weeks following his birth came a battery of tests ruling out fluid on the brain, autism, and downs syndrome. He’s had physical therapists, speech therapists, and chewing and swallowing therapists. And through it all, he has never lost his beautiful, contagious smile. Lucas will be three next month. He is walking and talking and knows how to spell his name. He may be delayed in some things, but smiling isn’t one of them. He is truly a ray of sunshine wherever he goes and teaches us many, many things about life. We love you, Lucas!

Mommy’s boy (my granddaughter)

Happy, happy, happy

The youngest of his two brothers

Birthday boy

Watching cartoons and eating popcorn

Little big boy

Sitting outdoors

Growing up

Never stops smiling

Loving on his pup

When a Tree Becomes a Monster

March 31, 2020March 31, 2020 ~ Sandi Staton

in-nature-nothing-is-perfect-and-everything-is-perfect-trees-can-be-contorted-bent-in-weird-ways-quote-1

I love trees. And when we moved here, there were none except for a mighty few. So we planted trees. Lots of trees. Everywhere.

Thirty years ago they were just little twigs. Today, they are monsters . . . especially the one planted right beside the house. A Bradford. With giant limbs stretching across our roof and the neighbor’s house and driveway. It’s a nuisance to us and to them. It’s got to come down. In the meantime, Buck is going to cut off as many limbs as he can. But it’s going to take a skilled professional to take it all the way down.

We didn’t plant trees to cut them down. But we were young and dumb and thought all trees were created equal. They’re not. Some trees are better left in the forest, like the Bradford. It may or may not grow in the forest but if it does, that’s where it should stay.

This is not good.

Not good at all.

Really not good. The tree’s bigger than our house and we have little trees growing in the gutters.

It’s got to come down. SOON!

It was so little when we planted it.

It’s a mighty big tree.

Now it’s way too big.

Too close for comfort.

So, my advice to anyone wanting to plant trees, do your research and find out what to plant and what not to plant. and trust me, a Bradford is one tree you do not want to plant!

Bradford’s in all their glory.

But they are weak and fragile.

One little ice storm can destroy a Bradford and create a big mess.

One of four trees down in one day during an ice storm.

Couldn’t get out the driveway that day. A kind neighbor across the road cut it up for us.

Another tree down during an ice storm.

Close up of the tree pinning us in.

This one came down during a rain storm.

Same tree, different angle.

A Little Birdie Told Me . . .

March 28, 2020March 28, 2020 ~ Sandi Staton

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matthew 6:26, 27

Hear the birds chirping? See them fluttering from the trees? Can you Sense their happiness and peace of mind?

Birds don’t worry about stuff like coronavirus or running out of toilet paper. They don’t fret over empty shelves at Walmart or starving to death. And they certainly don’t get their feathers ruffled over clutter on the back porch.

Jesus knows what a bunch of worrywarts we humans are. That’s why He tells us to look at the birds of the air and observe how lighthearted and carefree they are. They don’t work for anything. They don’t store up anything. Yet, God takes care of them. (Matthew 6:26)

God reminded me of that again this morning as I sat fretting amongst the clutter on my back porch and wondering what the heck I’m going to do with it. How quickly I forget that God is in control of every little detail of my pitiful life. Nothing happens to me that He doesn’t know and care about. I don’t have to pace the floor biting my nails to the quick. I don’t have to beg and plead. I just have to trust Him.

Yep! That’s what a little birdie told me this beautiful sunny morning while sitting on my cluttered back porch.

I captured a few pictures while sitting with hubby and our two girls on the back porch. Pepper doesn’t mind posing for a snapshot. Bella, on the other hand, refuses to cooperate!