tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189398133067929102024-02-08T00:22:42.738-05:00Homesteading & Homeschooling: My Blessed & Busy Life!This is all about what my life is like being married, raising 3 wonderful children, homeschooling, living on a farm, caring for our menagerie of animals, juggling our families activities, owning & running a home based business, going back to school and working in a vet clinic as a vet tech student.EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-75610124160763398072011-01-02T13:48:00.010-05:002012-11-08T19:18:15.626-05:00Blogging addiction? Who...me?<style type="text/css">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some women have an adiction to shoes, clothes, chocolate, shopping. I think I may have an addiction to blogs! I love finding fun and interesting blogs to follow. There are lots of creative ideas and inspiration out there in the blogisphere! I have spent over an hour today adding new blogs of note to my list of blogs that I'd like to follow. I am up to over 200 blogs so far! Well hey, I justify it this way-if my addiction were to material things, I would have spent a lot of $ to get my fix....blogging is FREE! </span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Now, following over 200 blogs may seem like a lot of blogs to you, but when I consider all of the things that I accomplish in a given day:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wake up</span></span></div>
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<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.28in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Care for the kids</span></span></div>
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<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.28in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Care for the animals (We have 2 horses, a goat, 4 dogs and 3 cats)</span></span></div>
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<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.28in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Housework</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Barn chores 2 times a day</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Homeschool the kiddos</span></span></div>
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<li><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.28in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Coach gymnastics</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Run a home based business</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Train our dogs in obedience and agility & train and ride the horses</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shower, eat and sleep at some point</span><b> </b></span></span></div>
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…<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">......It's easy to see why I should be allowed thirty minutes or so to cruise around the blogisphere each day to read about all the interesting things going on in other people's lives and to gather creative ideas as well as inspiration! I am so thankful for the blogisphere and to all those who create blogs to reach out to connect with and inspire other people. Many thanks to all of my blogging peeps!</span></div>
EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-15135987476015768152010-12-24T08:23:00.004-05:002010-12-24T08:25:01.140-05:00Merry Christmas Eve everyone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfRjBS4688F4HRNuHu9COZVOF8_t9I2TRW9MRjTA0Hb6W2jB7Hp16ZOfyvRww5JHytUdN0HrE0sFBv27cjUTD-FIbcqooCiEr414vnIZnc5sBDvTsqfW9M8b4q0-fxC7WfIcmFPWM7eTT/s1600/58041_10150105695896942_582311941_7255974_2071477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfRjBS4688F4HRNuHu9COZVOF8_t9I2TRW9MRjTA0Hb6W2jB7Hp16ZOfyvRww5JHytUdN0HrE0sFBv27cjUTD-FIbcqooCiEr414vnIZnc5sBDvTsqfW9M8b4q0-fxC7WfIcmFPWM7eTT/s320/58041_10150105695896942_582311941_7255974_2071477_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
Poinsatte Family- Fall 2005<br />
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I am so happy that I get to spend the next three days with family, friends and of course all of my furry menagerie. Truly blessed for all of the gifts in my life. Especially the most important of all-Jesus Christ! We are going to spend the day today reflecting on our many blessings! We'll spend time in prayer and reflection on all of our blessings over this past year and hopeful for future blessings in the coming year! We'll also watch Christmas movies, baking (of course!), making our annual Nickers n' Neighs homemade horse treats for the horses and Almonzo, Christmas Eve mass and then making our annual Christmas Eve dinner (palachinka-"crepes"). Blessed to have such a large, loving family to celebrate the holidays with!EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-85270326877036314402010-12-15T14:11:00.000-05:002010-12-15T14:11:34.783-05:00Belle's impersonation of Puff the Magic Dragon.........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxCTZMloBh2YuOiPZt4cfRpoj12lruv2a4wiyCaWyK736_Pe0m86bSGsdBT176Aysjt2oubMcCcZVySh1MnZg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody">When I first turn Belle out to pasture she will snort like she's Puff the Magic Dragon.........</span></span></h6>EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-21333708578681397882010-12-13T11:45:00.001-05:002010-12-13T11:46:19.666-05:00Sudsy Sweet Treats celebrating the holidays with great new sudsy creations!<h3 class="post-title entry-title">To celebrate the upcoming holiday season- Sudsy Sweet Treats has created some holiday themed soaps that make great gifts! </h3><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkb39YZfrGzUm1ASY4sx3K4aVRnwXyNdCPpUgg6MblDD8Xi3_xP0qYs736mp5P_Lg7EYs8NXJ1McLKkGh8zTwludvcc0NbKtWmtl9nNWdFtAv2b3NUb-A9Oyyew1jhFFhZ8Silk5rzNEsI/s1600/IMG_1792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkb39YZfrGzUm1ASY4sx3K4aVRnwXyNdCPpUgg6MblDD8Xi3_xP0qYs736mp5P_Lg7EYs8NXJ1McLKkGh8zTwludvcc0NbKtWmtl9nNWdFtAv2b3NUb-A9Oyyew1jhFFhZ8Silk5rzNEsI/s320/IMG_1792.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is a link to Sudsy's blog:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://sudsysweettreats.blogspot.com/2010/12/sudsy-sweet-treats-celebrating-holidays.html%20%20%20">http://sudsysweettreats.blogspot.com/2010/12/sudsy-sweet-treats-celebrating-holidays.html </a> </div><br />
Enjoy & have a sudsy day! <br />
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</div>EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-90943780333265018662010-12-13T11:30:00.002-05:002011-01-02T14:04:07.867-05:00bad....bad blogger!When I started this blog, I intended it to be a sort of online journal, diary that I could chronicle my life with my family, friends and business adventures. But as usual, life got in the way and I just didn't devote the time to updating it as I had originally intended. I'm going to give it another go and really try to devote a few minutes each day to sit down and blog about what's going on in this crazy life that I call mine.<br />
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Today I woke up to a winter wonderland outside. Snow as far as the eye can see. AND COLD!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscM8tzP0IlBCWsKmOCVwozZ86IpxtaPuaw8h3CgO3yrnENdkosdAOg_CIvWLs7xcWxdO4V-uFw6yKQpwp9T7txhV4aPKSe_H9HL8hdJP40FF71tBGLtv3M3VLZOdPC45dnqNtpgxUyGIH/s1600/IMG_2356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjscM8tzP0IlBCWsKmOCVwozZ86IpxtaPuaw8h3CgO3yrnENdkosdAOg_CIvWLs7xcWxdO4V-uFw6yKQpwp9T7txhV4aPKSe_H9HL8hdJP40FF71tBGLtv3M3VLZOdPC45dnqNtpgxUyGIH/s320/IMG_2356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Many schools canceled for the day. But since we homeschool, I decided to let the kids sleep in and we will start school after lunch.<br />
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Then Anthony has his 4 hour gymnastics practice and I coach my prep op gymnasts tonight. We'll also have our team Christmas party tonight. I made each of the girls a pretty snowflake soap scented with Sugar Plum Fairy fragrance oil. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto1crVaCHlJ0PLByzHKoWTZGZkguGug6cQrO-BQc3xtc0JBQVqFK8YrPEaPiQo24dxqtSsc7-jrvOJWAC4H2Dx_DWqTbyTmLCTwtzr58AyrBycSQFhn34lzvhCFpqXn0twRhoMwI2Co5h/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto1crVaCHlJ0PLByzHKoWTZGZkguGug6cQrO-BQc3xtc0JBQVqFK8YrPEaPiQo24dxqtSsc7-jrvOJWAC4H2Dx_DWqTbyTmLCTwtzr58AyrBycSQFhn34lzvhCFpqXn0twRhoMwI2Co5h/s320/IMG_2188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I hope they like it! I will sure miss seeing them for the 2 weeks that the gym is off on holiday break!EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-42617760186585610462010-08-31T17:49:00.002-04:002011-01-02T14:04:44.238-05:00My daughters creative creations..........So-another reason I love homeschooling my kids is the fact that after they finish their schoolwork, they can choose how they spend their afternoons. Today, the girls chose to create saddle pads, horse turnout blankets, fly sheets, etc for their Breyer horse models. I love that they love to sew-a skill that has unlimited uses in the real world. I intend to show them how to sew and create their own clothes, purses, blankets, etc. Here are a few of their creations........<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDdYudmGKxnYqWEJDGHWP237an4wd3rRtwAzcdQlH-WMrrNMGQK8KMz-Mm47a8Q86qWjZHyF5Qc2736-PVkrVAGOfmBwrhcRdbKsKBPn4eWrRZTvG3AS5GS7MbMnbuWaq_MMN6BqHIINi/s1600/IMG_1012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDdYudmGKxnYqWEJDGHWP237an4wd3rRtwAzcdQlH-WMrrNMGQK8KMz-Mm47a8Q86qWjZHyF5Qc2736-PVkrVAGOfmBwrhcRdbKsKBPn4eWrRZTvG3AS5GS7MbMnbuWaq_MMN6BqHIINi/s200/IMG_1012.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqA1u2kTUU8h1L7ifcColLfGcajAfbqOTeUfrhdX6pbOuPPI_f06OAucZ10ZyW5Cy7n3omMFKL9c7nPKf9nXufpAOoVWIEtYobLoH4QSBOvdZUGwg4JUHHMpgfttr6e9-KsKrJjRIT09j/s1600/IMG_1001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqA1u2kTUU8h1L7ifcColLfGcajAfbqOTeUfrhdX6pbOuPPI_f06OAucZ10ZyW5Cy7n3omMFKL9c7nPKf9nXufpAOoVWIEtYobLoH4QSBOvdZUGwg4JUHHMpgfttr6e9-KsKrJjRIT09j/s200/IMG_1001.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSZYC57qcI1r77E3Gd9EoMA8T69Q2mDSgmkU2vt06R18Es0YOuS2Z9dfkAZaaeAPpabhAV8Na3rWu6Hk0mcQUKHshyOD7SLG0b7erzpLjtNYvJgIMEgCYlcSYYgqtBQuEqgjJIEXUC1lA/s1600/IMG_1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSZYC57qcI1r77E3Gd9EoMA8T69Q2mDSgmkU2vt06R18Es0YOuS2Z9dfkAZaaeAPpabhAV8Na3rWu6Hk0mcQUKHshyOD7SLG0b7erzpLjtNYvJgIMEgCYlcSYYgqtBQuEqgjJIEXUC1lA/s200/IMG_1013.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf8pVioD-WW3DGrqJ7pbr6P5j2toiDUU46D0WY-xYxol2fQulS3mSylsTZHNvDHyMl_ri5b8vnPhPQBnlYyO0ucCZ9l6xPcGGBoAzzGiLVjzdCI53stKf1a85aYY11k7N10Bil4pfE7hI/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf8pVioD-WW3DGrqJ7pbr6P5j2toiDUU46D0WY-xYxol2fQulS3mSylsTZHNvDHyMl_ri5b8vnPhPQBnlYyO0ucCZ9l6xPcGGBoAzzGiLVjzdCI53stKf1a85aYY11k7N10Bil4pfE7hI/s200/IMG_1014.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgul_JvJvLHEnOlhu0Q1Rz0heU0SR1xj-Y092NrBKPnO1fJ6aElF4f4X0VAtuEFXxLzB_01Mi6uzv9KQG-0zWxOrSKeCakuY-Ntjzi5JN3gVOYsliwP3IkYzBICVluH47bSELt3KJ-L4l/s1600/IMG_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgul_JvJvLHEnOlhu0Q1Rz0heU0SR1xj-Y092NrBKPnO1fJ6aElF4f4X0VAtuEFXxLzB_01Mi6uzv9KQG-0zWxOrSKeCakuY-Ntjzi5JN3gVOYsliwP3IkYzBICVluH47bSELt3KJ-L4l/s200/IMG_1015.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-65635125832199005032010-08-26T22:28:00.003-04:002011-01-02T14:06:36.739-05:00Horses heal the soul..........Horses heal the soul. I know this to be true. This evening was perfect riding weather and I just had to spend time with Belle. We had a fantastic ride and I could just relax and contemplate about things that have been weighing on my mind as of late.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY8QCm8oD8x_q3aVKuFHL9RtHukgCI5qEkhsM7C4TkfNxsGoqQn71d7i2J5BONb_zWOBiTAZMZ77Oqe1RkjAqSWisecHfHAGCl3c8nnp1mrZgjEIA3BWtAGMec6aT2lbuqhEqIzI_xvBu/s1600/Ellie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWY8QCm8oD8x_q3aVKuFHL9RtHukgCI5qEkhsM7C4TkfNxsGoqQn71d7i2J5BONb_zWOBiTAZMZ77Oqe1RkjAqSWisecHfHAGCl3c8nnp1mrZgjEIA3BWtAGMec6aT2lbuqhEqIzI_xvBu/s320/Ellie.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Recently a dear horse friend (Belle's former owner) needed to find a new home for her beloved horses. She found herself in a place in life that she could no longer have them. She desperately wanted to keep the pair together but had no prospects that she knew of that might take them. She called me in hopes I might know of someone. By chance I did and I along with another good horse friend connected my friend with a fellow horse enthusiast who was interested in taking the pair. This lady had just experienced the loss of her horse and needed to find a new horse. She decided that my friend's horses would be a perfect fit for her family. I am so happy that during what must be an unimaginably difficult time in my friend's life that healing is taking place. She can rest assured that her horses are now in a good home and she no longer has to carry the burden of finding them a safe and loving home. <br />
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This whole situation has been on my mind lately. I cannot imagine if I ever had to make the same decision about my horses. I have always been indebted to my friend because she thought her horse Belle would be a perfect fit for our family. Belle came into my life at a time of great personal loss for me and she was a source of healing to me in a way I had never experienced before. I will forever love her for letting go of Belle and giving her to me. I am so glad to have returned the gift of healing and peace of mind that she had given to me through the gift of Belle. I wish the gift of a horse's love to everyone!EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-56406815467531398542010-08-25T23:09:00.000-04:002010-08-25T23:09:06.522-04:00http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/<a href="http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/">http://www.thehomeschoollounge.com/</a>EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-55129608739094710662010-08-25T22:33:00.010-04:002010-12-13T09:52:03.001-05:00Give an older dog a second chance at life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBEwZXIsYOd6bQo2VI1wx1wgyRckoOUa8ufX7sjXCC1eFr5f7c6J1__J1sc7olVnF8Ki9-swrxehY0Clf1H3oGWWVa6g8Gp2pHpIidJFpbjPrRZg5xTDf_Ed3WSg9UtNe6lJSLcc2VLY/s1600/11808968_200.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509541688135128418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgBEwZXIsYOd6bQo2VI1wx1wgyRckoOUa8ufX7sjXCC1eFr5f7c6J1__J1sc7olVnF8Ki9-swrxehY0Clf1H3oGWWVa6g8Gp2pHpIidJFpbjPrRZg5xTDf_Ed3WSg9UtNe6lJSLcc2VLY/s200/11808968_200.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
So I have been thinking about my daughter's dog Styder lately. We had to euthanize him due to cancer a few weeks ago. He was the best dog. And one that had been passed up for weeks in a shelter and then a rescue. To his former owners and society he was a “throw away dog”. At first glance he was not much to look at. He was extremely underweight and he had bad fly strike on both ears. He was collar shy and would try to bite anyone who tried to hold him by his collar. And to complicate matters, he was old. We knew he was an older dog-probably older than 8 but that didn't matter to us. We fell in love with him and wanted to give him a great retirement home. Stryder taught my daughter so much about unconditional love, forgiveness, trust, patience and responsibility. We never envisioned that we would only have him in our lives for two short years. We had to say goodbye to him sooner than we thought. Even though his story ended way too soon, we would go on this journey for Stryder all over again without question!<br />
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We adopted Stryder-a Norwegian Elkhound/Siberian Husky mix through Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue in July of 2008 after her 14 year old German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix dog Rolf had to be put down due to laryngeal paralysis. Through Stryder, my daughter found healing and love again. And Stryder got a second chance at life. He was found as a stray in Evansville, Indiana in 2008 and was due to be euthanized when the adoption coordinator by chance found him. He was sent to a volunteer boarding facility in Anderson, Indiana but 6 weeks went by and no one was interested in him. Then we found him and made the trip to visit him. We decided to adopt him but had to wait a week until our adoption contract was approved. The day we were to make the trip to pick him up we learned that he had tested positive for heartworm. We adopted him any way and had him treated for heartworms and kept him on crate rest for 6 weeks while he recovered. He was a very timid, shy and loner dog when we got him. We have since learned (through diagnostic xrays to detect his cancer) that at one point in his life he had been shot by a shotgun and had a bullet lodged in his pelvis all this time! He had such a hard knock life before we found him. But through Caroline's love he became a loving, loyal and trusted friend.<br />
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Over the past year my daughter and Stryder took many obedience and agility classes. In the fall of 2009, Stryder passed and received his AKC-CGC title. They were training for their first AKC agility competition this October with FWOTC dog club. They also trained with the Allen County 4H Dog Club and were able to compete in obedience and showmanship at the Allen County 4H Fair. Not bad for a “throw away senior dog”! Unfortunately Stryder became very ill, very quickly. We discovered that he had apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma that had spread throughout his body and organs very rapidly and silently. We decided to humanely euthanize him to spare him any more suffering.<br />
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I recently came across this poem about adopting older "senior" dogs and I wanted to pass it along to everyone to encourage people to give the older dogs a chance at a second life:<br />
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A little old man, arthritic and sore,<br />
It seems I am not wanted anymore.<br />
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I once had a home, I once had a bed,<br />
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.<br />
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Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.<br />
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?<br />
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My family decided I didn't belong,<br />
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.<br />
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Whatever excuse they made in their head,<br />
Can't justify how they left me for dead.<br />
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Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,<br />
The younger dogs get adopted away.<br />
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When I had almost come to the end of my rope,<br />
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.<br />
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You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age,<br />
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.<br />
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You took me home, gave me food and a bed,<br />
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.<br />
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We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,<br />
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.<br />
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I may have lived most of my life with another,<br />
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.<br />
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And I promise to return all the love I can give,<br />
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.<br />
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I may be with you for a week, or for years,<br />
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.<br />
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And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,<br />
I know you will cry, and your heart, it will grieve.<br />
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And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,<br />
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.<br />
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And I will brag to all who will hear,<br />
Of the person who made my last days so dear.<br />
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-Author unknown<br />
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I always felt that Stryder was so thankful to be in our home and to have my daughter's love and attention. I bet he thought to himself often “how did I get so lucky to be with this new family that just adores me?”. I know that even though he had such a hard-knock life before he found us-we packed a lifetime of love and great memories in the 2 short years that we were blessed to have him!<br />
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We love and miss you Stryder!!<br />
EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-12972814761582526872010-08-25T20:49:00.004-04:002010-08-25T21:55:00.083-04:00Another try.......Okay-here goes attempt #2 to try to blog about my life. I am finding it very difficult to learn how to do this!<br /><br />I think it would be a great idea to blog each day about what goes on in my life-sort of like an online diary, gratitude journal. I don't want to forget all the little things that seem important in the moment, but can easily be forgotten a few days later. <br /><br />I also would like to blog about our homeschool accomplishments "Providence Homeschool Academy" to track our progress. <br /><br />My business "Sudsy Sweet Treats by Elle" is really taking off and I have created a blog for that as well-<a href=" http://sudsysweettreats.blogspot.com/"> http://sudsysweettreats.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Well see how this goes!EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-40169694030698221392009-03-15T16:39:00.001-04:002009-03-15T16:54:26.616-04:00A Beautiful SundayToday has turned out to be a beautiful day! It's Sunday afternoon and the temperature is in the mid 50's. I spent most of the morning cleaning and catching up on things-getting ready for the day. After I did the barn chores, I re-organized the tack room in my horse trailer. I then set up all the jumps in the back field where we ride in. I was so hopeful that the ground would be dry enough to ride today but it still feels a bit soggy...:-( Rob took the kids to the school next to us to play on the playground. I am contemplating doing some reading and homework-but I'd rather not. Sometimes on beautiful, sunny days like this-I get a bit resentful doing homework. Sometimes I question going back to college again at this point in my life. I wonder if it's too much to juggle:managing a marriage, being a mom, housework & barn chores, homeschooling 3 kids and caring for all our animals. In addition to this my school work and working in a vet clinic. I'm thankful that I only coach gymnastics six hours a week. Most days I manage just fine. Just every once in a while I get a bit overwhelmed. That's when I need to take a step back and just offer a prayer up to God. I know he will point me in the path I need to take........EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2818939813306792910.post-71701764697764475292009-03-15T11:00:00.001-04:002009-03-15T14:06:47.100-04:00First Post......Today, I decided to start a blog. I figured this would be a good way to journal and reflect on the people and events in my life. I have been so blessed in my life. Sometimes I wonder what I could have ever done to deserve all the wonderful people, animals and blessings I have been given. It really amazes me. I try not to take any of it for granted. I never know what the next day will hold for me so I try to live in the now but have an idea of what to do tomorrow. I am excited to start this new venture in my life. I expect I will grow in wisdom as I reflect on all of my blessings that God has given to me. Let the journey begin.....EllieBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00048913190122539388noreply@blogger.com0