The Thanks Challenge

 Maroon, gold, and chestnut brown leaves decorate the earth in the Northwest as trees feel the change of the seasons. As the leaves fall and cover the ground, we are reminded about the grace that fills our lives. These simple gifts cover us and enlist our gratitude, yet why aren’t we more grateful? Why does that gratitude seem so fleeting? Gratitude seems so basic, so simple, and can even be overwhelming when we think about the many things that we are thankful for.

Reviving the gift of gratitude beckons us in this particular time of the year. 

Let’s make a point this month to commit to a lifestyle of giving thanks. 

Ready for something new? Here is a challenge for you.

1. Every day until Thanksgiving choose two things for which you are thankful. 

2. Write them down as a note on your phone, or on an old-fashioned sticky note, or on the bathroom mirror (just be sure to use a dry erase pen) and then make a point to tell someone every day. 

3. Just mention what you are thankful for to a friend, family, co-worker, neighbor, or even the cashier at the Dollar Store.  

I know for myself, when I sit down and really reflect upon all that I am grateful for, it makes me wonder how I ever allow myself to go through life taking so much for granted. 

I bet that if we recognize the gifts of grace that surround our lives and express gratitude for them, we would have more JOY. 

By expressing gratitude for the celebrations, meaningful events, simple pleasures, and even the challenges and difficulties that sharpen us it brings contentment and peace into our hearts. And when we take time to tell others the things/people for which we are thankful, we encourage them to reflect upon their own life, as well. 

Together let’s make a commitment to be bold about thankfulness and allow daily gratitude to revive your heart this entire month of November and into Thanksgiving! 

A Whale of a Tragedy

Today was a shocking and tragic Sunday for the kids and me (my husband was not with us). Our usual routine of church was followed by a trip across Lake Washington to the West Seattle Ferry terminal. The draw of the Puget Sound is strong for us as we enjoy the intricacies of Northwest costal life.

When we got to the ferry the workers immediately told us about a sad event.

A whale had died nearby.

The kids and I quickly got out of our car and ran to the rail of the ferry terminal bridge. It was there where our hearts sank deep - deeper than the deepest parts of the Sound. My son said with vigor, “It’s a real whale, Mom.” Looking out, we saw a beautiful humpback whale that was beached on the shore, dead.

We had seen a dead grey whale in the middle of the Sound on a ferry trip in May. It seemed unbelievable to all of us that another whale would die in almost the same place. In my lifetime I had never seen a dead whale in the Sound and to see two in three months seemed impossible.

Initially, I thought this whale seemed smaller than I would expect for a full-grown humpback. A biologist came by and said that this whale was only about one to two years old. She called it a juvenile whale. It’s beautiful mouth and body with white flippers and black fin shone in the overcast sun.

Later, I learned that before we came to the ferry dock people had seen him stranded, struggling, and later beached. They covered the whale with wet blankets and poured water on it. They tried to get it free into deeper waters, but to no avail.

Fortunately, this particular type of whale is not an endangered species as there are at least 80,000 living in our world. For that we are thankful. Yet, there is no question that my kids and I would have been in the water pouring water on the humpback and trying to lead him to deeper waters had we found it struggling.

The plight of nature is hard and sometimes makes us sad. We fight to make a raw, pure, and clean environment in a world of toxins, waste, and plastic refuse in our waters. We fight for this because we are so grateful for our mutual life together with nature here on earth. 

To say the least, my kids and I looked out at that humpback whale with true ambition for the Puget Sound to flourish and not perish like this beautiful one!

Emily and Her Guide Dog in Training (AKA, "The Guide Dog Blog")

Tarzan at the Pool

As we all know, most thirteen year olds are busy with schoolwork, friends, hanging out at the mall, and cell phones. Emily is not a typical thirteen year old. Her love for animals and the sight-impaired have been coupled together to lead her to raise a guide-dog puppy through Guide Dogs for the Blind. This puppy is going to give guidance and help to someone who needs it.

It all started with a scrapbook. Emily was looking at their dog, Spritz’, scrapbook from his puppy days. Spritz is a guide dog that had a “career change” and moved in with her family as a pet. She thought all of those pictures of her being trained were so inspiring. After seeing that scrapbook, she couldn’t stop thinking that she had to raise a guide dog. She knew that she could raise a puppy and change a life.

Emily and Tarzan in Training

Initially, Emily told her mother what her dreams were. Her mother said, “Oh, sure Honey, we will look into it.” Emily came back again and again saying, “Well, 'yes' or 'no'?” Her parents were hoping that she would forget.

Finally her parents gave in to her pleas and they joined a guide dog club.

Emily's Parents at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Headquarters

It was there that she learned even more about the difference a dog can make. She learned that a blind person is not naturally connected to the surroundings. They are given a second chance at life when they get a dog, because they are able to function in our sight-rich world. Guide dogs are taught "intelligent disobedience." (As opposed to teenagers who often pick up "unintelligent disobedience.") They learn to stop at curbs, turn directions, change speed, and see danger. This is key to survival.

The first four months are the most important months in a dog’s life. Emily got to work right away trying to get her dog, Tarzan, to sit, a basic dog command. 

Good luck right? 

Always Together

Tarzan just wouldn’t sit. Emily was really frustrated. One day the family was getting shoes at Famous Footwear. The shoppers there were commenting on how nice Tarzan was. Emily said, “sit” to Tarzan, and he proudly sat down right away. His fans were thrilled and Emily was flabbergasted! She felt like Tarzan had just won "best in show" at the Westminster Dog Show. "Awe, how cute," they said.  Emily learned that some dogs need a crowd to perform in front of. :) Now Tarzan is a star and proudly sits regularly. All of the commands that Emily teaches Tarzan are relevant to his future life and work.

My Uncle Allan was blinded thirty years ago in a car accident. Soon after he lost his sight he had a trained dog by his side. This dog helped him get around and navigate this fast paced world. Clearly, these dogs are not born like this. It takes trainers like Emily! 

The Guide Dogs for the Blind is an organization that raises and trains sweet puppies to be career guide dogs. I am especially proud of my niece who is making a difference in our world through her guide dog puppy, Tarzan.

A Day in the Life of a Camper

Summer has arrived!!!!!! 

High ho, high ho, it's off to camp we go... 

I recently got to experience Island Lake camp for a couple of days with my family. What a great way to start summer. Life can’t be better when it is structured by meals cooked by someone else, fun-loving energetic college students playing with the kids, and amazing free-time activities like waterslides and skate parks. Now, that is a taste of pure happiness. At camp kids are able to completely enter a new world. Cell phones are left home. Video games are off. (And much to the kids’ surprise, they still live!) Relationships are put on “pause.” Kids explore the great outdoors and try new things and make new friends.

At camp, kids wake up to a hot breakfast with bacon, eggs, sausage, and pancakes waiting for them in the dining hall. They are raring to go! After breakfast, they go outside with their cabins and play games. These are not your normal playground games. Rather, they are goof-off, be silly, and get wet in gross, slippery, fun games. They are games that get them running through fields and over bridges. The kids play team games that build up their cabins and create instant camaraderie.

After game times, the campers hear an inspirational message and sing “the-bear-in-tennis-shoes-song.” Then back to the dining hall where they get another hot yummy meal. (Have I mentioned that I loved the meals!) It is good for kids to eat away from home around a big circle table with their counselors. Their conversation consists of what they just did or are doing and small talk (no long-range planning here). It’s great relationship building, and conversational skill building, too.

After lunch, the cabins have adventure time! 

#Cowabunga! 

In case you are interested, the campers stretch their abilities and learn some new stuff on ropes courses, motorcycles, rock climbing, skate boarding, and the infamous camp skill - "archery" - very very useful life skill:) 

The kids get challenged, stretched, and learn to push their boundaries – all in a safe environment as the camp staff support and teach the kids skills. (They really picked the kids up when they fell and cheered them on to victory.) 

Riding motorcycles at camp will likely be one of the biggest highlights of my summer. 

Adventure time leads to free-time where kids will go bouldering, swimming, get blobbed (see above water picture) or paddling in a canoe. Then the dinner bell rings and they walk to the dining hall for another delicious meal prepared for them by someone other than their parents. You might not want every detail - but I thought that it might be fun for you to get the over-all layout.

On a side note, I find it hard to believe that all of this activity takes place without getting in the car, without mom’s arranging play dates, gear, calendars, and snacks. The campers have a perfect kid-filled day on auto-pilot, thanks to the camp staff. 

After dinner the kids play more group games and sit down for another positive message. Chatting about the message afterwards in their cabins is fun. You would think that that would be the end, right. Time for bed? Not today. The campers return to the mess hall for ice cream and a goofy dance time. Now, finally, everyone is off to bed.

Maybe that is too many details but the truth of the matter is: The life of a camper is so good. A perfect combination of nature, inspiration, laughter, friendship, and adventure brings out the kid and builds confidence. Sure, campers miss mom, dad, and their Xbox but not all that much, because life at camp is great!