Fall is beginning

October is more than midway through and in northern Minnesota, some of the leaves are a beautiful golden color and some are already long gone from the trees. Bare trees, lower temperatures, our first frost last night,these are all signs of present Autumn, and have the feel of the nearness of Winter. I have taken to my gloves earlier than usual this year. I have an aching in my hands that at first felt as though my fingers were broken. My right hand more than my left. If I am to be thankful at least one hand is better than the other!

I realized today that I have only written two posts since starting this blog. Summer swept by in a flurry of puppy care. My husband, daughter, and I have been raising Rough Coated Collies. This is a dream come true for me. I absolutely love animals, my life would be empty without them and our Collie named Abby is truly a blessing from Heaven. I saw a Collie website the other day that had the motto, "Collies are like potato chips, you can never have just one!" If you are a Collie lover, you understand this sentiment. They are such a gentle, beautiful, intelligent breed. I remember my first Collie encounter happened at the age of four or five. I had elderly neighbors who would allow me to come over to their house to play. They had a Collie, I don't remember the name of the dog, but I distinctly remember wrapping my arms around its neck, and feeling the security of its warm, oh so fuzzy body. Collies were first bred in Scotland to herd sheep. This Collie must have thought that I was a little lamb because wherever I would go it would follow and watch over me. A dear Collie breeder, who has since become a good friend, helped me last year to obtain my first Collie. I feel as though I have been waiting for her my entire life. This dog is an answer to prayer. She keeps me company on days that would be so long and lonely without her. This summer she gave birth to nine puppies, one did not live, but the other eight have spent a very lively summer at our home. This also enables me to have a business from home, a way to contribute to the family income that was not possible before because of my health. It is good to do something that you love, and other than a few not so pleasant clean up duties, I do love hugging puppies, and finding homes for them with people who will hopefully love them as much as I do. I am finding that God has placed a new ministry before me with this. I am meeting new people and I am able to share my faith through this. People that I never would have encountered are now in my life.

Here we are headed off to a busy fall. A season of change again lies before us. A time to wrap our hands, especially achy ones, around a warm beverage and take time to dream of what lies ahead, and a time to ponder the past. To access what would we change, if change were possible, and what would we realize we should treasure, if we were to allow ourselves to slow long enough to appreciate what was good?
"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126: 2-3