Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: I'm a Pushover

Saturday, March 22, 2008

I'm a Pushover

Look what happens when I say "no".

Here's Brandon's new puppy. She's a German Shorthair/Chocolate Lab mix, which means she was free. (That part is good, at least.) She is like our dog, Molley, who we got when we were in Newton. Hopefully she acts more like Molley and less like Trout and Max.

She doesn't have a name yet, but we were thinking maybe we should follow the tradition of using Hannah and Jake's girl's names, and name her Annie. ;) In our defense, Hannah told us to name our last girl dog Molley, and it was long before her Molly was born. Cooper thinks we should name her Olley.

They're so cute when they are little. Too bad they grow up to be big naughty dogs that I have to take care of.

You know how hard it is to get Brandon to smile for pictures? He smiled in every picture today. I'm glad he's happy. Lynda, take note for future family pictures.... have Brandon hold a puppy.

She has three perfect spots, right in a row. It's kind of funny.

11 comments:

Brenda said...: Very cute. But did you know dogs poop?; 8:00 PM
Jason said...: Looks like a cute dog. I like dogs, but my cats are so much easier to take care of.; 12:58 AM
Leisha and Tanner said...: I love the puppy! see you soon!!!; 5:12 AM
Leisha and Tanner said...: Mercy...i just saw that melissa and landon got a puppy too...they looks simular....wow; 5:16 AM
Mindy said...: I know! Can you believe they got practically the same dog on the same day?; 1:13 PM
V and Co. said...: oh so cute and so happy it's yours and not mine! i already have too many children to take care of! did i hear that you were thinking of comming the quilt retreat here this summer?! :); 4:58 PM
Lisa said...: absolutely adorable. john would be soooooo jealous. good luck with the coming months of training and all that other crap. it will be totally worth it in the long run. dogs are so great for kids. and dads.; 11:29 PM
leslie mae said...: So what happened to Trout?! I love having a dog during the summer but I hate it during the winter. Yuck! Looks like a cute puppy too!! And you can't beat free!!; 2:22 PM
Karey said...: I have a husband and a daughter that I won't be showing this blog entry to. They ask me to relent constantly. I feel like I've had my share of dogs during our marriage, so I'm trying to hold firm, but its hard. Have fun. She is a cute dog.; 6:41 AM
Anonymous said...: I want a dog soooooooooooo bad. As soon as we get setteled into our house I am so getting one! They have dog training classes at Pets Mart.; 9:24 PM
Leslie said...: i love it, love it, love it.
congrats. it makes me miss ode. i know he is just right up the street at aaron's parent's house, but i miss him living with us in OUR house.
have fun with your puppy. she is so cute.; 2:55 PM

To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche