Here In This House

Many of you had the opportunity to go to a church service yesterday and receive a blessing - our church didn't do that but we wish it did. While wandering around, Mom found this on Holly's blog and it so perfectly describes how she feels about us.

Here In This House

I will never know the loneliness I hear
in the barks of the other dogs, 'out there'.
I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake
my world will not have changed.
I will never know hunger,
or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat.
I will not shiver in the cold,
or grow weary from the heat.
I will feel the sun's heat and the rain's coolness,
and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.
My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house...

There will be an effort
to communicate with me on my level.
I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,
I can enjoy the warmth of the words.
I will be given a name
so that I may know who I am among many
My name will be used in joy,
and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house...

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.
I will never be used
to improve peoples' images of themselves.
I will be loved because I am who I am,
not someone's idea of who I should be.
I will never suffer
for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity.
I will be taught all the things
I need to know to be loved by all.
If I do not learn my lessons well,
they will look to my teacher for blame.
Here in this house...

I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...
Knowing that, no matter what they do,
they do it for the good of me.
If I am ill, I will be doctored.
If scared, I will be calmed.
If sad, I will be cheered.
No matter what I look like,
I will be considered beautiful
and thought to be of value.
I will never be cast out because I am too old,
too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.
My life is a responsibility,
and not an afterthought.
I will learn that Humans can almost,
sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house...
I will belong.
I will be home.

~ Author Unknown ~

XOXO,
Piper, Carrleigh and Java

PS - We hope Lilly is back with us by the end of the week - we miss her so much.