Angela, I am a Christian homeschool mom too...always have been...26 years now. I am now a grandma to 4 little ones that are being home schooled by my oldest daughter...she wouldn't have it any other way and I get the joy of being involved...they live right down the road. I have one little girl left at home in the nest, Molly age 12 and a son in the army age 20 and my oldest son, Jimmy...who is 23. He got into some trouble but has completely turned his life around...living for God and is becoming everything I ever dreamed for him. As my children left the nest...as some of them struggled and pushed me and my faith away it was so very painful. It was very difficult for them to have a good relationship with their "mom" who loved the Lord when they were choosing the wrong path. Clinging to the promises in Scripture that "He will restore what the locusts have eaten" and "train up a child in the way he should go and he will return to it" were verses that got me through...as well as many others...but the Lord also used my animals to get me through it all. They gave me tangible unconditional love...they were there for me and they welcomed my nurturing and love.
During the rough spots with my oldest son, my husband chose this period of time to be unfaithful to me and our family and have an affair with another woman. It's funny...but I can tell you the Lord used my animals and His Word to help me forgive, restore and heal my broken heart. We are better than ever now because when the Lord fixes something He does it right and I can honestly now say almost 2 years later that I am thankful for what happened...for all of it. But..it also showed me the Lord is capable of equipping you with exactly what you need WHEN you need it. He knew I needed my animals to get through...and he gave me exactly those I needed. You will find all sorts of similar stories here...empty nesters...widows...the childless...the wounded...the lonely....the broken! And what binds us together?? The fact that we are thankful for what our animals bring us...we acknowledge that gift and we love sharing it with each other and in turn sharing how to improve and create the best life possible for those that have given us so much! There are women here that give of themselves when it doesn't seem rational...some pray...some encourage...some give...some share...some instruct...some teach...and some receive! I have never been in a group like this and I will tell you I have been on groups for over 15 years now. I have been on Christian only groups...animal groups...homeschooling groups...home keeping groups and whole foods groups...I can say honestly that this mixed bag of people? This simple Chihuahua group???... is the most wonderful group of honest, caring, giving women...and a few men...I have ever encountered. Not only will those here understand you and listen to you...they will help you...they will encourage...they will teach...they will become your friends. You don't realize it yet...but you are really blessed to be here!!! Wagging Tails in the Dog Park! Deanna and the Dog Park Gang: Nugget, Shuai Li, Mable, Mouse, Myrtle, Madison, Caleb and Maxine >From the mountains of CA http://swlf.lilyslim.com/v3T7m8.png?h9j6wId9 On Feb 8, 2011, at 6:31 PM, Angela Mose <[email protected]> wrote: > It is so nice to be in a group where I can feel that I can be myself! I am so > excited about picking up my new furry baby this weekend! In my usual group of > real world friends, it seems almost forbidden to have an attachment to pets. > I am a catholic homeschool mom, that struggles to fit in. Not because of my > faith, I love my faith and God, but there's just something there that keeps > me from really fitting in. Maybe that is why I can't wait for the > unconditional acceptance and love that these little guys are so willing to > give. I'm sure I sound like a raving lunatic, but now you all know the truth > (smile). > Even with children, as they grow older, it seems that their love can hinge on > what you do and say and what you can provide for them. My children are really > good children. i love them completely, yet I often walk on egg shells with > them. With a dog, there is no game playing (emotional, that is). > I am wondering though, the second pup that we are getting, is a decision > between Greta's older brother smooth coat, or either a black and white long > coat or a sable long coat. I have read that the long coats can be more laid > back and not as outgoing with children. Plus, they aren't fond of cuddling > with their person, but will sit beside you instead. Has this been the > experience with anyone here? Which would be better suited to a family with > children? I originally was going to look at the black and white long coat, > but honestly, Greta stole my heart right away. She is a regular love, licking > machine! Isn't it funny, I've never before been a little dog person. But my > desire for a lap companion after the family goes to bed has changed my > opinion. We have an eight year old collie/shepherd mix, that reminds me of my > poor husband. Where's dinner, where's the bathroom and is it bedtime yet? > Poor old boy, very patient with the children, but not so much for the sitting > and snuggling (giggle) > Also, I would have loved adopting from the shelter again, that is where our > collie x Alex came from, but in my area, western MD, there aren't many small > dogs available for adoption. Then too, the few that are, our local shelter > will not adopt out small dogs to families with young children, no matter how > the children behave or that the children will be closely supervised. > Thank you all for reading such a long post, I guess I've kept a lot penned up > :) > Peace and Blessings, > Angela Mose > > On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 7:37 PM, Carol Smet <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi Angela, Welcome to the group. I am very glad to hear you say that you are > going to supervise the children and the chi's. I have 2 rescue biters that > came from homes with children. One had several ribs broken the other just > terrified of children. > One of my newest Chi's is a male rescue medium coat and he has a spot on his > back where the hair is wavy and sort of bristly. Not wiry so much as stiff. > I agree that if this is a pet it doesn't need to be perfect, just healthy. > And I also know how much Chi's love company. I have 11 in the house and I > can't imagine only one! lol > > Good luck with your new furbaby I can't wait to see the pictures. > Carol and Crew > On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 7:57 AM, Angela Mose <[email protected]> wrote: > > Thank you Shanna~ > I did do a search and also found the wire x, but nonetheless, she has her own > offbeat charm. The breeder is a small scale breeder who shows from time to > time. I really don't doubt the parentage, I just thought that my Greta was a > bit unique and that makes her perfect for us. I don't intend to breed her so, > being a perfect chi isn't that important. I am also contemplating bringing > home a second older, pup when I get her, because I read that chi's are > "clanish" and do well with two. Is this a good idea or not? I do have > children and we homeschool, therefore the pup(s) will not be alone on a > regular basis, and I thought that if there are two, it will be easier for the > children to *share* without "over"loving one pup. > Just a thought, what does anyone else think? Oh, my children really are very > gentle with animals, but, I will not be letting them play with any pup > without close supervision :) > Peace, > Angela M > > On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 11:49 PM, Shanna Machanpalli <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Hi Angela > > I did a google on wire haired chi's and they came up but described as a mix. > chi x wire haired terrier. you might want to do the same. I have never heard > of a wire haired chi, or even seen one. there is the long hair (smooth not > wirey) and short smooth. you may have seen the parents, but it does not > always mean those really are the parents. Maybe there is a mix in the > background also but not listed as such on the papers. sorry..but some people > are scam artists & some just do not know the background themselves. Now it is > possible the puppy is going thru a long hair freezy day or something... but a > beard?? I think I would have walked away and did research on them. There will > always be a chi puppy available. > Registration papers don't really mean a thing if you do not know the > background dogs on it or what there generic make-up is. > some could be from puppy mills from the background. They do have a DNA test > out now for dogs, to see what they are made up of. :) > If you are looking for a real purebred chi, you might want to look around a > bit more for breeders and do homework on what they should look like etc. If > you do not care about if its a purbred or not... then its no big deal. > And... there maybe someone on this list that can tell you that sometimes chi > puppies go thru this stage of coat hair! > > Shanna > > > > > Shanna & Ricky > Las Vegas Nevada!! > > My Chi Ricky... Is A HeartBeat At My Feet > > Kavis Christening n Communion Store > > Visit my eBay Store: > http://stores.ebay.com/Kavis-Christening-n-Communion-Store > > > --- On Tue, 2/8/11, Angela <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Angela <[email protected]> > Subject: [Chihuahuas] New here and a question > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 3:25 AM > > > > I am bringing home our chihuahua puppy this weekend. She is a pure bred with > papers and I have seen both of her parents. My question is... I am not new to > dog ownership and I am aware of the two coat types for the chi breed, > however, I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that my little Greta is a > wire-coated chihuahua. I "know" that that is not supposed to be and I also > know that she is pure bred. So, is this a spontaneous mutation and are any of > you aware of this? Her mom is a smooth coat and her sire is long coated. She > is desribed as a medium coat, but she has a rougher texture and she most > certainly has a beard! > She is adorable nonetheless, but again much different looking than her > littermates. I will post pictures when I figure out how all of this works :) > Peace, > Angela M > > > > > > > -- > Carol > Muchacha, Bella Rose, Chibbie, Blue, Cooper, Ruth Anne, Gracie, ChiChi, > Granny, Holly Noel and Maxx > > >
