Chemo

I was up early this morning. After being sick yesterday with some kind of GI bug, I realized about 4:30am that I wasn't going to be up to taking Jack (our Ruby Cavalier) to Auburn for his second round of chemo. So, I waved meekly at Paul and Jack as they pulled out of the driveway bound for Alabama.
Since we haven't be able to bathe Jack for the last month I decided to get out the brush and grooming spray to "freshen" him up a bit. Before signing onto write I looked up my friend's blog to see how she is coping with her chemo. Oddly enough she and Jack are both on the same chemo regime. She wrote about her extreme fatigue and her hypersensitivity to smells. Specifically she wrote about a care giver's perfume and how it was difficult to tolerate. AND so now, I'm sitting thinking that spraying poor Jack with grooming spray was a terrible idea. Can you imagine how magnified his doggie sense of smell has become if he is experiencing the same side effects as my friend? If he could only speak, I wonder what he would be saying to me about right now.
And then, of course, there are the other "boys." Robbie and Gus were devastated when only Jack got to go to the car this morning. It's been nearly three hours and they haven't budged from the back door.
As for me, I'm exhausted and need to return to my bed. Time to grab an afghan and a pup and seek the rest my body is requiring.

The Legend Of The Dogwood

The Legend of the Dogwood

In Jesus time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.

'Twas strong & firm it's branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:

"Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so

Slender & twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom's center wears a thorny crown.

All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony."

Spring!

It's Spring in Georgia! Today was gorgeous. Everything, and I mean everything is in bloom. I found myself way too distracted as I ran errands today, because I couldn't help wanting to gawk at the dogwoods, the phlox, the azaleas and the brilliant scarlet cardinals flying around. Bumble bees are buzzing around the patio and the gold fish in the little pond out back are playful. If King David had lived in Georgia during Spring, I'm sure he would have been moved to pen a psalm to the delicate showy beauty that we see all about. Being a Southerner by birth, I can't help but think of the Legend of the Dogwood. What a gorgeous reminder of the incomparable gift of our Passover Lamb!