Welcome to the family Chester.

We promised our kids that we would get them another dog when it turned spring. They have missed Jack horribly, but I didn't want to get another dog with the weather being so cold outside. 

My friend Michelle called me and said that a stray dog had been dropped off at her house and wanted to know if I wanted it. My first response was, "No, thank you."  Then she said it looked like a black lab and sent me this picture. 

So then I wasn't as quick to say no because how cute is this dog?  It was a lab and a puppy. The 2 main things our kids had been asking for. Plus, Michelle reminded me that technically it was spring time. 

We went a few days later to look at the dog. 

If was love at first sight. 

We wrapped up that wet, dirty dog and brought him home with us. 

I'm not sure who was the dirtiest in this picture. Josiah or the dog. 

Josiah held on tight while maynard ran in the store to get a chain and collar.  We discussed dog names while in the car. Some of the names we debated on was Jasper, Flynn, Ryder, Brownie, (yes, the dog is black), Buddy (Amelia always chooses Buddy. She said I killed Buddy so she needed a new Buddy. Kill a kitten one time and you get a rap for life.) Of course some other crazy names I can't remember. I happened to spout out the name Chester and everyone agreed. He has brown and white on his chest and it just seemed fitting. Oh how I love to win at anything, even if it is naming a dog. Ha ha

They stayed out in the rain and played with him for several hours. (Possibly why they have ear infections right now)

Of course he was a stray so he had to have some special treatment to get him all feeling better. 

This probably felt as good to him as it would us at a day at the spa. Ha ha. I've never seen a dog enjoy a bath quite like Chester did. 

He also loved being brushed by Amelia. 

She is a bit apprehensive because Chester is still a puppy and so he jumps on her and has scratched her a few times. At first, if he barked or made a quick jump she would take off running. She got bit by a stray a couple years ago and so she's a bit squeamish of dogs if she doesn't know them. 

Chester is already feeling better and he eats like a horse. We've had him almost 2 weeks and he has grown so much. Hang with the Parker's very long and it don't long to gain weight around here. 

We are in the process of teaching him how to sit, fetch, come, and hopefully to stay in our own yard. We do keep him chained up for now, but have started letting him run awhile each day to exercise and play with the kids. We all have that one neighbor if ya know what I mean. I wish we had a fenced in yard  maybe one day.........

Less than 2 weeks of having Chester and he's proving to be a smart dog. I can get him to sit and give me his paw now. 

https://youtu.be/9E7li1uaGOA

Hopefully we can keep this dog alive and well for many years to come. 

"Mom! Is my name in God's special book?"

On March 02, 2015 Amelia was doing her Preschool work, through Abeka academy, when her teacher began to ask the students if their names were written in God's special book.  Some of the students began to raise their hands and tell their teacher that they knew their names were in that book. 

Amelia knew that she had to be saved in order for her name to be in that book. (The Lamb's Book of Life)

She paused her school and told me she wanted saved. I talked to her for a few minutes to make sure that she was serious. I could tell she was and she had tears in her eyes.

We went to my bedroom and kneeled down at my bench and we began to pray. (Yes, I stopped to get my phone first. I had to get this on camera!!)

 I was pretty impressed with her prayer. I say Kudos to not only her Abeka teachers, but also to all her teachers at church. My five year old knew how to pray and ask Jesus into her heart. 

My heart was melting. 

http://youtu.be/dH3Tvv86BUs

I listed the YouTube link above of some of her prayer. I didn't want her to know I was videoing her. 

After she got done praying I asked her if she felt like The Lord had saved her. Her reply was, "Yes!  I feel happy in my heart."

I asked her to raise her hands and praise Jesus for saving her. 

She was so bubbly and happy all day. 

She called her Daddy to tell him the good news. He was really excited for her. 

Titus?????  Not so much. Ha ha

His response was, "I pray and ask Jesus that stuff all the time and He won't do it!  I guess he will for Amelia though."  He scrunched up his nose and pouted. 

I'm going to have to work with Titus now. He is not happy about being the only one not saved in this family. Maybe he'll get serious now and actually get saved. 

Amelia has thoroughly enjoyed her salvation. I was in the back of the house when I heard her pray for her lunch. At then end of the prayer she thanked Jesus for saving her. It was so sweet!!

This morning when I woke her up I asked her if she was still saved. 

She grinned real big and said, "Yep!!  I didn't punch my brothers last night or this morning."  Ha ha

We are all excited that Amelia's name is now in God's special book. 

Is your name there????