Treasure Pregnancy: Day 61

As Easter Eve and Day 61 draws to an end we are another day closer to the arrival of Treasure and Bullets puppies but alas! We are also right on schedule and I do suspect at least another 24 hours of waiting because her temperature is neither rising nor falling.  There is nothing unusual and there is nothing wrong in fact, everything is perfectly normal.  The key word which seems to be surfacing a lot in conversations between Maine and New York today has been 'patience' and how it is a virtue.  The saying goes that one should never ever actually pray for this particular virtue because oft times the result is an increase in trials!  So while I do not feel this is a trial of any type, I concede that the John needed to remind me that I do have a tendency to 'jump the gun' when we get to this point of waiting for pups to be born.  And I hate to admit it when he is right about a subtle yet constructive bit of criticism. Such is the fruit of being married for 37 years!
Dear, sweet, beautiful Miss Treasure is doing wonderful all things considered here at all things Brittany.  She is especially cute as she seems to be flirting much more with John whenever he is around her. We had another 'woo woo woo' episode of her singing to him today.  Treasure just about spins her little liver tail and butt completely off for John.  With her rotund abdomen and ever increasingly pointed looking rear she does appear quite comical as she performs her typical antics, antics which are usually demonstrated with such grace and dignity.  Not so much now.  Poor girl!  But her fun loving spirit is not dampened one iota despite her clear and obvious discomfort. When we are together alone in the puppy room she quickly settles into either her whelping box or underneath the cot.  The whelping box is just perfect for her to stretch, dig, and roll around in.  Treasure received a very special gift several weeks ago when Julie replaced her beautiful bedspread with a brand new one, giving her old and well loved spread to Treasure to use.  True friendship understands a gesture such as this which needs no words to interpret the meaning behind it.  (Thistle was named "Sisters of the Heart," Pippin named "Heartfelt Legend" and True named "Keeper of the Stars" for reasons such as friendship as well as faith.)  Suffice to say, Treasure enjoys her bedspread tremendously. In a few more days, she will be sharing it with her new litter of puppies.  Sooner than later.  Just not right now.

EASTER REFLECTION
Tomorrow is Easter morn, the morning in which Christians all around the world will celebrate and rejoice in the Good News that "He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed".  Each and every day of our life is a reason for all of us to rise, celebrate and rejoice regardless of life's circumstances.  It is easy to rejoice in the glad times but it can be challenging to do so when times are hard.  I think life in general for all people in these times is difficult and hard.  The economy tops the list of concerns, the political climate of the country, the war which we are engaged in overseas where brave young men and women sacrifice their lives for the well being of this great country. And it is a great country. But each one of us in our own personal life has our 'own thing' going on.  No one is exempt from difficulty, disappointments, challenges, heartache, or sickness at some level.  But we only have to look as far as our heart to know there is always a void of some kind there, a void which causes us to ponder 'is there something more' to all of this?  That void is filled when we realize that the One who created us, has always loved us, will always love us and offered an eternal solution through the life, death, and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. Everyone needs a Savior.  And that Savior is Jesus Christ who always stands at the doorway of our hearts - knock, knock, knocking persistently each and every day of our life. That is until we open that door to Him to enter in to our life.  I know a lot of you who follow this blog understand this and live the reality of that decision, just like I do. And I know there are a lot of you who follow this blog who do not 'yet'.  Either way, all of our lives have come together and our paths have crossed for a reason and in some cases, just for a season. Surely this happens all for the love of the dog, both given and received... but also all for the love of God, both given and received.  Our prayer is that your Easter will be blessed with the reality of the greatest love the world has ever known in your heart. 
Happy Resurrection Sunday! John and Ann Short and All Things Brittany