Phone call from Barb, Maria & Brandy

Brandy was our beautiful chocolate puppy born to Spotts and Zoe Rose. Her 2nd birthday is almost here, and Barb called to let us know how she's doing -- They love her to pieces and cannot imagine how they lived without her!

We're hoping they can drive up from Pittsburgh next Sunday for a visit. What a nice surpirse! We love all of these girls ~ can't wait for Sunday.

Am I French or Green Beret?

I think I want to be both ~ French and Green Beret (maybe red)~ I'm young - just six weeks old . . . I can pretend to be anything! I'm still looking for my forever home. Please click HERE to visit me at Stonebroke Cockers.

David John Skowvron 1950-2009

This is a picture of our dear friend, Dave. He grew up in the house next door to Ralph, and they reamined close friends for over 50 years. I guess that makes them "golden" friends.

Ralph actually took this picture a few years ago. It was the picture his son chose to use with his obituary. He was 59 years old. He fought cancer for over a year and lost. I could type all day and not be able to express who he really was, but we were honored to have him as part of our lives. Very few people have a friend this great for so long. We were blessed ~~

Hope you had a Good 4th!

Some very dear friends of ours spent the 4th of July with us. Mike and Kahty. Of course, the dogs were in on the fun too! Spotts and Smoke think Mike gives the best neck rubs! They wouldn't leave him alone. Kathy is holding homemade fireworks (made by Ralph). These were the rockets (I told him they look like marshmellows on a stick in this picture. Good food + good friends = good time!

We also took time out to visit our friend, Dave - more than a friend - closer to a brother to Ralph. He's been fighting cancer for a long time- always in our prayers - we love you!

A miracle and Jerome Bettis

You probably know I work for a Christian Foster Care Agency. Every Tuesday we have a staff meeting that includes devotions and prayer requests and praise. We were asked to pray for a young boy who had a severe head injury. This is the e-mail that we all received a few days later.

Subject: Miraculous praise report

Here is an update on Mike Kirila, the 15 year old who fell headfirst out of a hayloft on June 17:

The surgeon who removed part of his skull and a couple blood clots from his brain when he first went to the hospital said his is ‘the most remarkable recovery she has ever seen in 22 years of practice.’ She sent the interns in to see him again because of his amazing progress.

They initially planned to replace his skull piece in about 6 months depending on his progress, then when he did so well on Sunday as they brought him out of the induced coma, they were saying maybe 6 weeks. Now they are saying 3 to 4 weeks.

Mike has to wear a protective helmet until they do replace the skull and he was feeling sort of self-conscious about it until Jerome Bettis stopped by the hospital (it’s something he does regularly) and signed Mike’s helmet. That was when Mike was about to be RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL, so Jerome just carried him to the car. Mike is a football fan, so you can imagine how special that was to him. He’s still on cloud 9.

Instead of being hospitalized or in a rehab center as the doctors had expected, Mike is home now. He has to go back to the hospital every other day for a while so they can watch his progress. He walked down his driveway yesterday. He is walking and talking and functioning normally. His short term memory is improving rapidly.

Mike’s father asked Paul to thank everyone here who has been in prayer for Mike. The family recognizes that this is, without doubt, a miracle and it has built their faith. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as Mike finishes up treatments, gets his skull restored and heals from that surgery.

Glory to God. All things are possible with Him.

Man's best friend

A friend of ours just sent me an e-mail with some great pictures - no cocker spaniels - but - none the less - cute pictures! I thought I would share. Okay, this looks like Lassie - maybe . . . I remember watching Lassie with my family every week. One of my favorite shows. Unfortunately, when Lassie ran away and was lost, I cried so hard my parents told me I wasn't allowed to watch the show any more. I was six years old before we got a t.v., and everything just seemed so real. Now, we have "reality" shows - just not the same.

We're just home from church softball. Thunder and lightening all around the field, but our team managed to win two games. There's something to be said about 'God fearing people"! It's raining here now - stay dry!

Meet Rain's half brother

This is Jack. He's Rain's half brother. Yes, they have the same mother, Pansy from Stonebroke Gardens. He's a brown (chocolate) merle born 2009. His left eye is china blue just like our Rain's left eye. I know Rain would love to play with him. She thinks she's "top dog" - maybe not!