It's Almost Over!

The year 2-thousand-10 that is! I cannot believe it. It was fun, dreadful, sad, lonesome, tearful, exciting, and full of other emotions that I cannot even begin to remember.

For the past several years, I have been keeping the calendars so that I can remember when something happened because I generally write those things on the calendar. It's neat to go back and see what might have happened that isn't in the blog, or on facebook, or in a photograph. Like, going to the hospital to get stitches, taking my mother to the many doctors, or on a field trip. Those things I might not take the camera with me but it's on the calendar. Or vice versa. I blogged about it, posted it on FB, or I have pictures but forgot to write it on the calendar.

I am thankful to God for what He is doing in the McCrory household. He is growing each and every one of us, young and old. But, God isn't stopping just at our household. He is growing our church with faithful members. He has also blessed us with numerical growth so we will officially meet in our new building on January 2nd. Well, it's not actually ours- it's borrowed. Still, it will be bigger and exciting to see how God will grow us. Even if He doesn't grow us in numbers, I pray He grows us in our Spiritual walk with Him. God Speed to you all! I pray you were as blessed as we were this year!

Creature Feature

So, I told you all how Precious, our black lab, was surrendered to animal control whom we expected to put her down.  WELLL!!!! The lady who came out, the animal control officer, said that the wound wasn't bad enough to put her down and told me not to get my hopes up but she would speak to the vet and see what he says.  I recieved a phone call the very next day and Ms. CeCe told me to not tell Caleb but it looks like Precious should be fine.  They were going to keep her for a while, give her a check up, update her on her shots and see how she does.  It hurt so bad to not tell the children but I didn't want to disappoint them again if she didn't make it. 

Well, God must have given dogs 9 lives instead of cats because Precious is one tough doggy!  Last week, I called Ms. CeCe to see what was going on.  She told me I could pick up Precious on Wed (the 22nd).  I told the children we were picking up Precious' blanket that they took with them when they picked up Precious.  The kids didn't want to get out of the Jeep so I had Ms. CeCe come out to the vehicle to make them come in.  They reluctantly came into the building and we made them sit until she could bring Precious out.  I had a lady who worked at the shelter to video tape the scene.  When Ms. CeCe brought out the dog, Caleb's eyes got big and he looked rather stunned.  He told me later that he was thinking, "That dog looks a lot like Precious!" 

Ms. CeCe said, "Merry Christmas! This is Precious." 

Her wound was still open and ugly and Caleb was having (and still is having) a hard time looking at the boo-boo.  But, she is healing quite well with the medicine that I am putting on her twice a day which reeks of betadine.  We took her today to the animal shelter for the vet to check her out.  She had been wearing an Elizabethan collar to keep her from scratching open her wound.  The vet said she could go without the collar unless she begins to scratch at her spot.  YAY!  No stitches needed. 

I guess the Lord does care for His animals!

For The Love of Animals

Monday was a sad day for the McCrory family.  But, before I begin that story, I believe I must start from the beginning.

On Friday morning, my son let his dog, Precious out to go potty.  She had been running off and I asked him to go out with her.  He decided she would be fine.  Well, guess what?  She ran off.  She is DEATHLY afraid of thunder and when it started raining and thundering on Saturday, I expected to see her.  During the night, the temperatures dropped and I again expected to see her on Sunday before church.  But, no Precious.  Mid-morning, Monday, I went to get my backpack that had the syllabus from Caleb's classes so we could start on school before we went to the pantry.  Lying in the grass was a black lump- our black lab.  I called her name.  She didn't move.  My heart sank.  Oh my!  I can't tell Caleb.  I called her name again.  She lifted her head.  Oh, good!  "Come on, Precious!"  She usually comes at that, because it was bitterly cold and she would want to come in to warm up.  I had to go to her because something was going on.  As I got closer, I noticed a large wound in her neck.  Now, my heart started racing.  I had to call David.  What in the world are we going to do?  I couldn't take her to the vet- we didn't have the money.  We have too many other bills to pay a vet bill.  David and I decided to call animal control and surrender the dog.  They picked her up that afternoon.  We said good-bye to Precious. 

Why does God give us the ability to love animals more than we can take?  Why does it hurt as much as it does to lose a human?  They don't have a spirit.  I have often struggled with the fact that God made the animals, does He not have room in heaven for our furry friends?  I have read in scriptures where there are horses.  Are they literal or figurative?  I would love to know that those warm-blooded creatures that we love so much, who sleep with us and keep us warm, will someday be able to give us their wet, cold kisses as they only know how!  Only those of us who love our animals can understand what it's like to lose "one of our own".

Publicity Coordinator

I can't remember if I have told you all but I have been asked to be the publicity coordinator for the Olive Branch Food Pantry.  I have already had the priviledge of using that position.  As a homeschool mom, as well as a volunteer, during the week of Thanksgiving, several homeschool families helped out at the pantry because a local newspaper was willing to run an article about the need. 

My new priviledge is tonight.  The Olive Branch High School is putting on a concert and they have asked that a representative from the pantry be there to accept the donations of food.  You see, the admission for the concert is a can of food and that food is being donated to the pantry.  Since I am the publicity coordinator, I get the priviledge of accepting the food- in front of all those people.  WHAT??  What have I gotten myself into?  Publicity coordinator?  Have I lost my mind?  No.  I pray the Lord will use me in whatever capacity He so chooses.  If that means speaking to the audience at First Baptist Church in Olive Branch for the Olive Branch High School, then so be it!  Use me, Lord.  I am your willing servant!

Happenings at the McCrory House

This is gonna be a hodge-podge of information.  What's been going on in your life?  Mine has been busy.  The classes the children are taking are still taking up much of our time.  The classes aren't but the homework is.  The food pantry is still a big part of our lives. 

Thanksgiving celebrations went well.  We ended up having 2, one on Thursday and another on Friday.  The one on Thursday was with our church family and the one on Friday, the children and I spent it with my father and his family and with my sister and her girls.  I was thankful that my sister was able to come spend the weekend with us.  Her car needed an oil change and she is without a job so we were able to help her out by David getting the stuff and changing the oil for her.  Glad that we could do something for her in her time of need.

Can you believe it's 3 weeks until Christmas?  I have said it once, I will say it again- TIME FLIES!  We started our shopping today.  We are doing something different this year.  I am buying my daughter's gifts, daughter is buying mine.  Hubby is buying son's gifts and son is buying my husband's gifts.  Let's see how this works and how we like it! 

Well, that's about all I have to say right now.  Hope each of you are having a great holiday season. 

Merry Christmas!  Let's keep CHRIST is CHRISTmas.