DOG STORIES: Rocky 10

The Rocky Story

Rocky came into my life as a puppy.  Somehow , somewhere one of my brothers acquired him.

He was the cutest little puppy. His little rubber tummy and puppy breath captured my heart from the get go.

He was however a little on the, CHEWY side!

Rocky loved to chew bones, toys, shoes, the couch. Yes, I said the couch.

He took it upon himself one day while part of the family was in Washington DC for a little vacation, to chew apart our couch.

Rocky was a sweet dog but on the day brains were handed out in heaven he was chewing the Throne!

He was basically an idiot. But nevertheless he captured the heart of young Jenni and I just loved him through every mess he made.

Until one spring day when I was a Senior in high school and still taking the bus. Rocky had decided that morning to eat my little sisters blankie. Which was really nothing more than a strand of blanket.

While I stood on the corner, waiting for the bus, Dad let rocky outside to go potty.

Rocky, wandered in circles for quite sometime, some are familiar with this process, we call it the poop walk.

Then he was squealing like a pig and my dad went out to see what was the matter. He quickly assessed the situation and realized that Rocky had consumed the BLANKIE STRAND without much chewing involved and was now struggling to……… “eliminate” it!!!! Rocky was frantic. Dad was chasing him, trying to step on the partially “Eliminated” blanket now dragging behind Rocky while Rocky squealed. Dad taking steps forward flopping one foot out in front of him to attempt to catch the blanket strand under his foot to hopefully pull it loose. 

The bus was of course late that day as the 6 of us stood there watching the Rocky and Don Show.

It was quite a sight!

I recall being rather embarrassed as we all disembarked the bus that afternoon after school was over.

As we parted ways one neighbor boy whispered to me quietly, “I hope your dog is ok” and laughed with the others as they walked past my driveway!

Yet another wonderful animal moment brought to you by Hometown Entertainment!

Temporary Technical Difficulty!

In the words of Norwegians everywhere, UF DA!!

Last month I thought it would be fun to change my blog background and design.
DISCLAIMER: This should only be attempted when a professional is there to assist you!

I decided that I want my pictures to be the biggest piece of my blog. Great idea, bad template!

The template that I chose was called Snapshots. It listed all of your posts according to the picture you were telling the story about.



Again, great idea + bad template + Not tech savvy girl = not being able to post since December 28th because I couldn't find the icon to do it and couldn't change it back the original template!
Run on sentence, I know.
I was getting very frustrated as it has been over a month since my last post. I contemplated starting a new blog just to get back on the radar. But my stubborn pride was determined to figure this out. I was in it for the long haul! I even asked my very tech savvy husband just the other day if he could help me and within seconds I took it away because I was determined to figure it out myself.

Well, lo and behold this morning in my devotional it talked about relinquishing control. Trusting that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or even imagine.
Quoting Luke 1:7 FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!

I prayed over my computer and put my hands on my head and prayed for wisdom!
I kid you not, within seconds I realized what I needed to do.
GOD IS GREAT!! DON'T LIMIT HIM TO ONLY BIG THINGS! HE CARES ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS TOO!!
Me and my blog are one again and the pet stories will resume ASAP!

I will be redesigning my blog again but not without a professional next to me to guide and assist.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!!

Let the pet stories begin!

I decided to begin a new series. I am still unsure as to what to title it. Pet Stories or Things you just can't make up! Perhaps both would be best. 

As I was getting my hair done the other day. I started to tell my hair stylist a story from Thanksgiving years ago. She told me, "Jen, you can't make this stuff up. You need to blog it." 

So at the end of this short series of blogs you can either thank Melissa or blame her! 

Either way, here goes nothing. 

THANKSGIVING DISASTER   

I  was thinking the other day about a very special Thanksgiving several years ago.  

I must have been in high school when this blessed event took place.  

It was the afternoon of Thanksgiving and the meal was beautifully prepared as Mom always did. The fixings were all on the festively decorated table and the turkey was just being uncovered from his aluminum blanket as the family was gathering around the kitchen for a Thanksgiving prayer. 

When all of the sudden I heard it and then I saw it! It was like my mind was capturing it happening in slow motion. With the voices in the background speaking very slowly and drawn out,also in slow motion. I believe the voices were screaming, BEN, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ben was our families beloved Basset hound.

Charming dog with strands of drool seeping from his jowls almost constantly. 

Ben had decided he wanted to gather with the family near the table and the Turkey. When, as Basset hounds do, he decided it was time to shake his head to relieve himself of his pearly strands of drool. The sound was similar to you grabbing your cheeks and pulling them in and out rapidly. It's a sort of slurping sound . That's what I heard as I watched the drool strands fly in slow motion toward the food table. I wanted to close my eyes because I knew where it was going to land. But I kept watching as it spiraled through the air and landed on the Turkey, the sweet potatoes, the stuffing and smack dab on grandmas rust colored pant suit. 

My initial reaction was to throw up. But I restrained myself and just stood there gagging. I looked across the kitchen and watched my older brother throw his hands in the air as if to say, screw all of this, and walked away!! 

Drool on just about every good thing on our kitchen table as well as Grandma Phillips back. 

Now that I host Thanksgiving and realize all the work that goes into it, it makes me wonder what my poor mom was feeling. All of her hard work literally gone to the dogs.

Of course none of us were laughing on the day this disaster took place but boy do we all get a good giggle out it now. 

More to come.............

Memory Lane For a Short Trip.

Have you ever noticed how one little smell can take you down memory lane at 80mph?

Today it was ornaments on my tree.

The guilty one is Snoopy. This tiny little wooden, hand made ornament sent me down Memory Lane for a long drive today.

The very first thing that came to my mind was the fact that my Grandpa Swanson had made this little dog ornament. It is made from a thin piece of wood and hand painted.

It doesn't seem like much to you but to me its a piece of my Grandpa.

A small reminder of him. The way he would pretend he didn't see you when he was going to sit down and he would gently sit on your lap and immediately bounce back up!!! He was a funny guy, my grandpa! I miss him like crazy whenever I see this darling little ornament.

Then there's the Jenny Ornament. Flooding my mind with memories of many Christmas's past. All wonderful memories.

Mom and Dad made Christmas very special at the Swanson house. Dad was in charge of exterior illumination, which he did VERY WELL!!!

For a few years we used our old playhouse in the front yard and my dad and brothers would build it into Santa's workshop!! A live Santa (my dad or brother Doug) would sometimes sit inside the playhouse behind Plexiglas and cars would drive by and kids would come up to the window of the playhouse to see if their names were on the nice list!! 

I LOOKED EVERY YEAR!!!

I remember our house decorated outside with all red Christmas lights. I loved the glow of the red lights against the white snow. 

Then there was the inside decor! I am sure although I have not confirmed my source, but sure my mother did all the inside decor!

Our Christmas tree was lit with red lights only.

I recall the red glow of the living room from my bedroom doorway!

I suddenly went back to the night I asked Santa to please bring me a Captain and Tenile record  and a hockey stick.

I got up in the middle of the night to see if my wish had come true and I saw the hockey stick in the corner by the front door and the coat closet. With our stockings tacked to the front door, so heavy with a huge apple and orange in the toe, our Lifesaver book and Sixlet filled candy cane hanging from our stockings.  As I looked past the stockings I saw the tag on the hockey stick read: 

TO: JENNI

FROM: SANTA

(mom always wrote it in all caps and in really neat printing) 

I was elated. Went back to bed and tried to sleep!!

Today as I think about the simplicity of that Christmas it made my heart smile. 

It's funny how a little ornament could bring back such a flood of memory.

But I am sure glad it did. 

Mom and Dad made Christmas special every year. From the Elves in the tree to the bells on the door knobs. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Special people make things special for others.

It is the reason I do what I do for my family. 

Not just for Christmas but I try to do it all year round. 

I love my family and I thank God for the amazing memories my parents have created for me out of Love! 

Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Merry Christmas! 

Here's to many more memories! 

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA BETTELLI 

THAT HAS A NICE RING TO IT!

Alex and Jon are going to have a little Bambino!!! Life is so amazing. Our baby in the family, Kelsey will graduate the same month we become G-ma and G-pa!! I am still trying to get used to the G word. Trying it in different ways to see what works! Truth be told though when that little guy/girl says it it won't matter what words they use it will just be precious no matter what!

Hopes and dreams are already on the rise in all of us. Hopes for a healthy  wonderful pregnancy for Alex and a healthy baby to join us in June.

I just can't help myself. Praying, Dreaming and hoping for this little one whose face I have not even seen yet.

But I know he/she will be brilliant and beautiful and have the cutest little voice we could ever hear.

I am so excited I have already bought things for both sexes. 

I ordered the T-shirts we are wearing about 24 hours after Jon and Alex told us the news! 

I want to go buy bedroom furniture and decorations but it's a bit soon. 

I think I might have a problem. Is it possible to be to excited???

I just can't wait to see his/her sweet little face. I wonder if its a boy if it will look like Jon did? He was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen right from the beginning. Or If it will be a girl and be a little blond toe head like our sweet Alex was when she was born. 

Expectation. That is what we wait in now. Anxious expectation. 

I love my life! I love that I am able to be home an enjoy every moment with my kids. Even as they are having kids! I get to be there when they do! I am so excited to be a Grandma. Not excited about that word we gotta think of something spicier.

 Gigi and Papa. 

Maybe G-squared. I need to stop.

Life is exciting!!! I am so proud of my son and daughter-in-love. They are going to be great parents!

Grandma and Grandpa Bettelli. WOW! THAT HAS A NICE RING TO IT!!!

Celebrating Kelsey Hope!

Then & Now

My sweet Kelsey Hope.

My sweet girl this is your 18th birthday. You are so special to me and dad. You have always brought joy to our lives through your smile. Look at that smile!!! You have always loved your birthday so, so much and truth be told so have I! You make Birthdays fun!

You amaze me with your capacity to love little kids the way you do. Your heart is made for loving. I know that very well. You have a tenderness within you that many people do not have. TREASURE THAT! Protect that as well. Be wise with whom you give your heart. Wait for your prince. Don't settle for any less. Never settle for anyone who does not provide for you and love you like your Dad does. 

You are precious Kelsey Hope and even though we can't really cuddle like we used to anymore cuz that would just be weird. I can still wrap my arms around you and hug you like I never want to let go.

But 18 is upon us and so is the letting go part. I don't like it at all. You are our last baby to grow and go and I want you to know I am proud of you.

Proud of the good decisions that you have made. I am even proud of you for the bad decisions because you learned from them and they have made you the woman of God that you are today.

Always remember that  Mistakes are part of our journey. Lord knows I have made a few. But God allows it and also uses it for our ultimate good. Romans 8:28 says it best: And we all know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

YOU HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE so we know he works all things for good in you!! 

You are dear to our hearts Kelsey Hope and I treasure you. You are beautiful, smart, tender, loving, Kind, helpful, athletic, fun and precious to your dad and I. 

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl. Live in the fullness of His grace and everyday will be a happy one!!!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.  Then you will call on me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart I will be found by you!

Seek him always and you will be blessed. We love you with our whole hearts Kels.

HAPPY  18th  BIRTHDAY! 

Love,

Mom and Dad

BOOT CAMP 2012

Boot Camp was the theme of our state women's retreat this last weekend.
Our retreat is one of my favorite things to do all year.
For many reasons.
 Some people I know think I am enjoying camp as if I were in Jr. High and that would be correct.
I admit it, I enjoy time away from home with friends. I enjoy silly talks and serious time with God. I enjoy hanging twinkle lights over our cabin area and If that means I am Jr. Highish then SO BE IT!
There is something about camp that opens my senses to everything.
Yes, I like to have a good time. It is God's way of pushing my REFRESH button.
Being with people, energizes me. I learn from the older ladies and the younger ladies as well.
 I see greatness in all of them and it teaches me there is greatness with in me as well.
In the silly talks we learn that we are all the same. We crave the same things just in different ways.
So many times women are in competition with each other.
Or trying to pretend like everything is ok.
Camp is like a  therapist couch. Comfy, and safe and neutral. A place to allow you to be you and to let someone else to speak into your life and allow God to do something new.
I love camp for all of these reasons.


Getting there is half the fun!
I often wonder why we go to this retreat each year. As we have to bring everything but the kitchen sink with us.
Sheets
Towels
Bedding
Food
Everything a good hotel would have. But we stay in a cabin.
WHY? Because there is something very intimate about cabins. Something very special about them.

The campy camaraderie  that takes place even with those you don't know. Serious talks in the dark and silly activities as well! People falling off air mattresses in the middle of the night and over 40 year olds trying to climb onto bunk beds. It's all part of the experience.
Yes, you do see a Kuerig in the picture. I have said many times over that I do not have a problem with caffeine I have a problem without it! Turns out I am not the only one. I played the part of Barista this weekend with Hot Cocoa and Coffee, as the temps hovered somewhere near 40 degrees.

It became more important to have coffee than cute boots. All though there were plenty of those as well.




In my last blog post I wrote about making things special for others and receiving that back. That is why I go. That is why I choose these women to go with. They get this concept. Right down to decorating our cabins inside and out.
I am refreshed because God has refreshed me through his Spirit in the services and through his Daughter's outside of the services.
We are all alike. Even with our differences.




Thank you Ladies for a wonderful refreshing weekend.