PEPPER CLARA

After coco's death I was lonely for a dog.  One thing about my dad, he believed that children needed animals.  It wasn't long before we had another dog.  It was a schnauzer, grey and white.  We were at this time now living on Hiway 19.  HighIsland Creek ran behind the property and it was known as "Boerners farm" - it had great sledding hills that were called "Boerners hills".  Clara and Ursie spent a lot of time out at the farm with us, butchering chickens, gardening, canning, coming to confirmations, and family gatherings.  I remember Clara wondering why we wouldn't name our dog after her - so we did.  That is how he got his name "Pepper" because of his color and "Clara" because of Clara!
When we first moved to this farm the people who had lived there before us had a St. Bernard.  He stayed with the place until the owners found a new owner for him.
My dad brought home two "coon hounds" one fine day.  Their names were Sadie and Blue.  They were called Blue Ticks and they were beautiful dogs... only one problem...
they were hounds, they were hunters and they had the ole hound howl...
sometimes late into the night.
Thus they had to be tied up at night in the red shed.  One night it was storming out and we didn't know he would be afraid... he jumped right out the window.  I am not sure exactly what happened to these dogs.  I will have to ask mom if she remembers.
We moved to town in 1975.  I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to be in town after all these years.  Pepper Clara eventually died and Emily was born in 1980.  Linda, Emily's God mother decided she needed a dog.  She got her the cutest little tea cup poodle you ever did see.  We got her from Sandy Reviere. She was the town Avon lady and she watched Jeff when he got home from school until mom got off work.  We named the dog Banjo.  She was a good dog, but, if she would get loose she would run and you would have to go find her in the car, open the door...
and she would jump in.  Banjo ended up to be gramma doris's dog as we couldn't have her in an apartment.  She would always sit on gramma's lap and sleep with her.

Pepper Clara at Michaelis farms

By the time Banjo was in the picture and running around Arlington, it was no longer accepted.  Pets needed to be tied up.  It was probably a good thing as Herman had gone to live with the Lord.  I wonder if he found coco?

COCO

Coco and Pam

This isn't the best picture - it was taken about 1967.  There wasn't much time to take pictures, there wasn't the technology there is today - it does however serve a purpose here to write about a childhood memory.
This picture is of a little girl and her dog.  The dogs name was coco and I remember like yesterday how much I loved him.  We lived in town in a trailer house, back then you could let your dogs outside, they would run around and then return to your doorstep at which time you would let them in.
One of my best friends had a grandpa Herman and he was the town cop.  One day Herman drove down the street with coco in his back seat and returned him to our home safely.  This was the day I remember thinking what a wonderful man he was, I remember thinking he must love me to bring my dog back home.  I believe that this experience has shaped how I feel about police men.  I believe they are good honest men, trying to help people live in harmony with one another, and once in awhile they do something wonderful that makes a difference in the life of a child.

Coco traveled with us also  when we went to see the relatives in Lavern and WillowLake.  Once when my gramma Meyer was in the hospital in Lavern we parked in front and left the window open so the dog would have fresh air.  Well, coco decided it was time to check things out in this neighbor hood and see what he could find. When we came out coco was gone... not to be found, no nice cop bringing him to our door.  I remember driving around looking for him and then my dad drove back to the hospital and I'll be if that little brown dog wasn't sitting right there where the car had been parked, waiting for us, tail wagging!  When we stayed in Lavern we sometimes stayed at my dad's sisters house.  My aunt was a little younger than my dad and her husbands name is Ronnie.  He would always bark like a dog and made it more than clear that he did not like dogs.  One time he scared coco and the dog lifted his leg and peed right there on the carpet of his living room floor. I thought for sure it was the end of the dog, and myself.   As I got older I realized that Ronnie was probably one of the most soft hearted men I would ever know, that he really did love me and dogs!  They would always say about him "his bark is worse than his bite!'.  I realize him letting us stay at his house and bring the dog was his choice.  Ronnie was the town barber, stood up for what he believed in and tried to help people live in harmony with respect for one another.  He grew to be a wonderful grandfather, loving his children in away that I don't see from a lot of men in my generation.  I believe he helped to shape how I felt about family.  I believe he is a good honest man, trying to make a peaceful loving life for his family  and once in awhile he did something so wonderful that it made a difference in the life of a child.

In approximately 1967 we moved from the trailer to a farm out on the brewery road.  I imagine that coco was quite happy roaming the country side as he pleased.    I remember being outside with coco and him never being to far from me, inside it was the same story... he usually sat by me on the couch or chair, and sometimes in bed.  As far as other stories I do not remember a whole lot of him, but I do remember when he died.  He had been very sick and was not coming back into the house.  My mom went outside and found him, carried him back in and made him a bed by the oil burning stove in the living room.  It was here that he died.  It was my very first experience with death, being quite young I am not sure how I handled it.  I do know that I remember sitting on the side of the house and crying my eyes out... I imagine I was wishing that grandpa Herman would bring him home again.

Sandy's Grandpa!

Coco and I at Grandma Meyer's house

Praisin'

Praise God with song, with dancing, with tambourines and harps, with trumpet blasts and loud cymbals...
A single grateful thought toward heaven
is the most complete prayer. (GELessing)
Praying we will always have the freedom to lift
our hands to the Lord and give thanks!

    GIFTs TO GIVE FOR FREE

The gift of listening;
   no interrupting, no daydreaming, no
   planning a response...
        Just listen.

The gift of laughter;
   share stuff that makes you laugh
    make up stories to tell each other

Gifts to Give for free

    make someone laugh from their
    toes

The gift of a compliment; 
    A simple and sincere word
    of praise can make some one's day.

The gift of a favor;
    Everyday, go out of your way to do
    something kind for someone.

The gift of a cheerful disposition;
    You can never smile to much
    You can never be to happy
    You can never give to many kind
       words
     You could be what someone else
        is needing to get through the
        day...
  NEVER doubt that -
     GOD NEEDS YOU!

The gift of prayer;
    Let friends and family know
    that you are praying for them...
    and then pray for them.
  NEVER doubt that your prayer
    makes a difference in some one's
life - Never doubt that He hears
your prayer.
-Anonymous, as added onto by me!

p.s.

I remember when I first met him...
my babies fiance...
I remember when they planned their wedding
my baby and the big guy
I remember when my baby sent out her first Christmas letter as her own family...
It talked about what each one of them was doing...
her teaching
and the big guy was busy moving rocks around from one place to another...
as you can see by this picture...
he is still busy moving rocks...
that along with
being a daddy
a husband
an employee
a boss
a fireman
a friend
a son-in-law
a horseshoe champion
a son
a brother
a Child of God!
Happy 37th birthday big guy!
We love you!
p.s. the rocks are lookin' good!

Thank-You!

November 10, 2012
11:30 pm
United Methodist Church...
Invitations written out and sent by Lacey - 
Please join us for a baby shower for Lindsey Johnson.  Josh and Lindsey are going to be mom and dad, approximate date is January 23rd, 2013.  So, we plan a gathering.  I have come to love gatherings of family and friends - it is such a fun time to be together and just love on each other.  To let people know what they mean to you....
Robin and Carol brought California Blend
Gramma and Juliee brought Cheezie Turkey
Gramma and myself brought peanuts and candy corn for the tables
Juliee, Missy and myself brought Salads
Emi brought the "pumpkin fluff" (pumpkin pie filling, vanilla pudding mix, coolwhip)
Amanda brought Cupcakes and a Cake
Lisa and Lori brought Peanut Butter Cake and Butterscotch drops
We had punch with little yellow duckies that wouldn't float,
Decorations of Gold and Ivory - set out by Lacey,
Trivia and a baby game - set up by Emily.
Gifts gathered and handed out by JaciAnna
Written down by Jenna
People came from all over (Liz had a 3 hour drive)
We gathered in that little church in Arlington
And celebrated life!
Thanks to all that helped in anyway, thanks to all that came to help us celebrate the soon arrival of our little
Cassandra Grace.

Whispers

Our first born grand... holding the hand of her conzin... loving life. Lord I pray for them today. I know how Nola loves them... her little hands reaching as they leave...
"I come too, I come.... I come!!"
crying when they backed out the drive way -
and deep down I know this is the way of life, people must leave, they bless each other with good bye's...
but deep down,
I can't help but feel the pain of the leaving,
knowing that feeling comes from God -
I believe His ultimate plan is for us all to be together one day,
no more hurt, diagnosis, judging, fear, tears...
no more little hands reaching into open air...
He will wrap His loving arms around us and gently carry us home.
The sound of good-bye will be a whisper from earth as we pray.
I thank-you sweet Jesus that I am able to feel Your love,
as sometimes the sound of good-bye fills my heart to overflowing...
waiting for the sound to be a whisper...
I am so Thank full  to You for giving me this time on earth to love Your children. 
For the sound of good-bye
and the promise of whispers...
Praise the Lord for all I have been blessed with!