New Beginnings in a New Year

Every year people make New Years Resolutions. They make resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, drink less, keep in touch with loved ones more, etc, etc, etc. While these are all well and good (and I could certainly benefit from the first 2) they don't really make a difference and most of the time only last a week or two. I won't lie. I do this, too. I think last year it might have been to be more positive. (Which, if we're being honest here, and I am, is a silly thing for me to do because I really am a pretty positive person. I do truly try to see the bright side of things and I try to do good for others when possible.)

In the Bible (Luke 6:31) it says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I really try to keep that in mind. I try to help others just like I would want help and, sometimes, end up being much nicer than others are to me. Whatever. I want people to be nice to me, treat me kindly and with respect, and so that's what I give them. Am I perfect? No. Do I fail sometimes? Yep. (More than I care to admit.) Sometimes I find myself in the middle of a sentence and realize it should have never started to come out of my mouth and, unfortunately, many times it is at Jake when I am upset about something completely unrelated to him that he has nothing at all to do with. 

The point of this entire post is that there is a big problem in America. A problem that breaks my heart. One that hurts me deeply. One that I want to do something about. That problem is the large number of homeless animals. I know I have written on here before that I want to do something to help. I do cross-post things and try to help places network for their animals. People think I am crazy because Milly and Shelby have a better life than a lot of people I know. They have an awesome life. Why? Because I believe in doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. I believe that my parents raised me to love others regardless of their social status, race, religion, or (in this case) breed. Milly and Shelby were not pound pups. They were given to Jake and me by his parents. If we didn't take them they would still have had loving homes and would still be happy and healthy. However, there are many animals out there who don't get that chance. I have come to the conclusion that I cannot have another dog right now. That is not fair to Milly and Shelby. I have accepted that and am trying to be a "big girl" and put them first. And, being perfectly honest, that wouldn't even put a dent in the problem I'm talking about. 

Of course, you could argue the story of the starfish which I believe fits teachers and animal rescuers alike. You can make a difference for one animal at a time and that makes a difference. I am a teacher. I spend my day working that way. I try my best to make a difference for the 18 people in my room every single day. It is tough, but I truly believe in what I do and I put my heart and soul into it. There are many things I would change about teaching if ever given the chance, but there is nothing I would change in my room, because I am able to do the most good in my room with my kids every day. I love my job. 

I know to truly make a difference for these animals, though, you have to start at the top. There are so many people "in the trenches" so to speak working (much like I do) every single day to make a difference for one. To get that one a home. To work for that one to get out of the shelter and into foster, rescue, or a home. They work hard. They give their heart and soul to that job. I am amazed by people like that. To say that I don't have the stomach for it is an understatement. It would kill me (and I mean that) to know that if I didn't find that one a home it would be put to sleep. Goodness. I think I would turn into a cold hearted person. Not them. They just keep going. They just keep doing. Because they know they have to. They know if they don't no one will. They know if they don't then none of those animals will have a chance. Here's the thing. There needs to be someone who has the time (and they certainly don't because they have to keep working to find the animals a way out) to make a change. There has to be a change. I am not saying the entire country is going to make a change. I know that is a silly, unrealistic thought. What I am saying is that I want to find a way to change the laws in South Carolina. We still have gas chambers for these animals, for goodness sakes! That is ridiculous! We need to find a way to better educate people about having their animals spayed and neutered. We need to find a way to have more no kill shelters and less homeless animals. I know there is way to do this. Many countries do not have this problem. If they don’t have it, we shouldn’t either.

I know that this all sounds like what we need to do, should do… you know, shoula-coulda-woulda stuff. But, it is important and something has to be done. I don’t know what yet. I don’t know how. I don’t know when. But, I do know that my resolution (along with keeping my house clean) is to work on this. I am going to research and become better educated myself… and then I am going to form some ideas… and then I am going to figure out the next step. I tend to bite off more than I can chew in my day to day life, but I am taking this seriously and in small steps. We shall see. So, for now I am starting a new blog to tell people about things I’ve learned and am finding in my research.

The new blog can be found here: http://milshelbmomsknowledge.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 26th (holy cow) birthday!

I am looking forward to spending it with friends, family, and my MilShelb!

Merry Christmas MilShelb Dad

Jake,
I just read the Christmas post I did for you last year. I am so glad that things are changing for the better for us every single day. We have truly come a long way. We got married jobless, penniless, and were truly livin' on love. Kind of funny when you think about it. You know, the thing is that we have always had the things that matter most. We have always had each other. We have always had a strong mutual love and respect for each other. We have always had our MilShelb. We have always had awesome family and friends.
This year our lives have changed drastically and for the better. We're both working (just like last year) and we've bought our first home together. We're both busy, but happily busy. We've learned to paint, fix toilets, tubs, sinks and patch walls. We've learned to rip out carpet and put down laminate flooring. We've learned to stretch our dollars to make the most of what we have. We've learned a great deal about working together and working towards common goals. We have truly become a team.
I am so proud of us. I am proud of how much our hard work has paid off. I am proud of you. I am so proud to be married to a hard-working, loving, generous man. I am proud to have a husband who leads his family and loves his family. I am proud of you.
You know, when we got married I loved you so so so much. I knew that the love I had for you then would change. It's supposed to. However, I didn't realize that the love would grow and turn into a truly deep love, respect, and admiration for you.
You are a good man, Jake. A real good man. You are amazing. I love you. I choose you. Every single day. Don't you ever forget that.
~Maggie

Merry Christmas, MilShelb!

Merry Christmas, MilShelb! You make my life interesting. I love you. I am so glad you are my MilShelb babies! You make my life better just by being who you are. Thank you!
Love,
~Mama Llama

I Laughed So Hard I Cried

You Know You're In A Dachshund House When.... 

1 Every purse and coat pocket is rifled when you walk through the door. 
2 The bed has sausage shaped lumps under the covers. 
3 The doggie door is only 8" high. 
4 You're face gets licked by a dog standing on the back of the couch. 
5 When you come into the house after being away only minutes and you are greeted like you've been gone for 10 years. 
6 When someone hands you a tennis ball as soon as you walk in the door. 
7 When the owner's introduce their Dachshund as their oldest son/daughter. 
8 Footstools are placed strategically around the furniture and bed. 
9 The house is decorated with Dachshund items. 
10 The owner is decorated with Dachshund items. 
11 Gates are placed in each doorway. 
12 After the doorbell rings, you can't hear a thing for 10 minutes. 
13 The alarm clock is set for HIS wake up time. 
14 Dachshund "nose art" is proudly displayed on each window. 
15 There are at least 45 balls laying around the house. 
16 All socks, underwear, and shoes have holes in them. 
17 The sign outside the house says, "Dachshund Lovers Parking Only." 
18 You have to look before you take a step. 
19 All squeak toys no long have squeaking ability. 
20 The doors to many rooms must remain closed. 
21 The owner's bed never remains made. 
22 Rugs and furniture are all dark colors. 
23 The cat litter box magically cleans itself. 
24 You will find dogs instead of clothes in the laundry basket. 
25 When you arrive, you find the living room covered with chewed up tampons, toilet paper rolls, Kleenex, etc… 
26 All snow is shoveled from the yard to protect the "Ta-Ta's" of male Dachshunds. 
27 You notice small fox holes in the yard. 
28 You are kindly told not to eat the green beans and carrots because they are for the dogs. 
29 Toy boxes are bone shaped. 
30 All waste baskets and trash cans are elevated at least 3 ft. from the ground. 
31 There is a Bissel Green Machine always within reach. 
32 A cupboard is full of tiny clothes that were purchased before the owner realized that Dachshunds would rather remain nudists. 
33 Company doesn't come around much anymore. 
34 The owner talks a lot about getting a super king-sized bed. 
35 The living room looks like it's covered with snow due to the batting which came out of de-stuffed toys. 
36 Blankets cover each piece of furniture for better burrowing purposes. 
37 The owner had no food yet his Dachshund has plenty of premium dog food. 
38 The mailman is warned, "Watch out our he'll bite a hole in your sock." 
39 The mailman passes a brightly colored card to other mailmen saying, "A dangerous animal lives inside. Do not use mail slot." 
40 Bricks are placed inside trash cans so they don't get tipped over. 
41 The Dachshund gets kisses before the owner's significant other. 
42 The owner runs around looking for a "sitter" if they're going to be gone for more than a few hours. 
43 It is too dangerous to walk around the house without shoes because of partly chewed up Nyla-Bones. 
44 Little blue pee-pads are placed by the back door. 
45 You notice that The Dachshund's receive more Christmas presents than human kids. 
46 All the owner's computer "favorites" are Dachshund relate. 
47 The grass is mowed very very very short. 
48 There is always plenty of toilet paper to pick up poops. 
49 The owner's bed is covered with no less than 4 gutted toys, 3 balls, and 2 nyla-bones. 
50 You are immediately told not to sit in the dog's chair. 
-Unknown Author


Found HERE.

Amazed

Wow! What a day.
Yesterday was a good day, but then I came home and saw that a horrible tragedy had struck in Houston to some of Milly and Shelby's blog friends. My heart broke. I cried. It amazes me that I do not know these people in real life, but I suppose I feel a bond with them- a pet lover's bond. I know that people who are obsessed enough with their pets to sit around and blog about them... those people are alright in my book. I understand them. I understand people who truly care about their animals. I understand people who put pets first. I understand people who love their pets and treat them with love and kindness and respect. I respect people like that.
I know some people think it's one of my quirks. You know, that I am MilShelb-obsessed and have a blog about them and they have their own blog. I send our Christmas cards for them. And, just you wait, Christmas this year is BIG for the MilShelb. I love those two little dogs more than life itself. It is crazy? Maybe. Or maybe it's the one thing that keeps me from going insane!

I say all of this to come to this point:
Dear Fellow Pet Bloggers-
You rock. You are an awesome group of people. You remind me daily that there are people in this world who are good. Good, strong, respectable people. I am truly blessed by your presence in my life- even if it is only through the computer. I am blessed to know you and your fur babies. I feel lucky to have been brought into your lives and your homes. You love Milly and Shelby. You care about them. You keep up with us. You are awesome. Thank you.
I am amazed at the outpouring of generosity that you have shown to the Pittie Pack. Wow. I just cannot put it into words. I am humbled by you.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Truly Happy and Blessed New Year.
~Maggie (MilShelb's Mom)

Sweet Shelby

I am sitting here on the couch with Shelby on my lap and a thought popped into my head, "What would it be like to love and trust someone so much and not be able to understand them?" Shelby has no clue what I'm saying, but she trusts me and loves me. Then it occurred to me that I love and trust Shelby and I can't understand a single thing that comes out of her mouth. So, I guess love and trust isn't just about words... but feelings and actions. I hold her, pet her, talk to her, feed her... she trusts me. She kisses me, cuddles in close to me, runs to greet me... she loves me. I love her, too. She's a sweet sweet Shelby.