Fingerprint Friday: Colors of Fall

By MAD21

Fall is my most favorite season. I love everything about it. The cooler weather, the smells, and of course, the colors. Where we live, in the last few years, the colors have not been very vibrant. I've heard people blame too much rain, not enough rain, or too cold, or not cold enough. But for whatever the reason, the leaves just turned to drab colors and fell fast. We still had a lot of fun playing in the leaves, but we've missed the pretty colors.

This year was different. I'm not sure what changed weather-wise to make it happen. But this fall has been one of the most spectacular color shows I've seen since I've lived here. Just beautiful. Every time I look out my window or go on a drive, I thank God for giving us such amazing things to enjoy. Something as simple as color. What would we do without it?

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Fingerprint Friday: Flowers

By MAD21

I am ashamed that I don't know more about them, but I love flowers. I am allergic to most of them, especially the ones that have a strong fragrance. But I love looking at the many different variety of flowers that are around us all the time. At first, they look so simple. Easily unseen in a busy day. But if you take a moment to really look at them, you will see how complex they are, they come in all shapes and sizes and every shade of the rainbow. Few things can compare to the beauty and color like flowers. I've heard them referred to as the paintbrush of God, and I can understand why.

So as the season of flowers ends in most regions of our country, we will take a moment to stop and look. And praise the God who created them.

Fellow blogger Beki at Pampering You has a really great weekly post she does every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday." We are to look around and see where we can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Anywhere? Go find out where Beki saw God this week, and be sure to check out the other bloggers who linked their stories as well.

Fingerprint Friday: Our Puppy

By MAD21

Several years back, my hubby and I realized our lives were lacking something. This was before we had, or were ready to have, children. We had both had dogs around most of our lives, and we missed having one of our own. Our friends knew we were looking for a lab-mix puppy, so the hunt was on...

We got the call in January of 2003. A friend's cousin's dog had just had puppies on Christmas morning. NINE of them. NINE beautiful Chesapeake Bay Retriever (mom-pure bread)/Lab mix (dad-mutt) black puppies. We were so excited. We drove a few days later to go and see them, and fell in loooove. A few of them already had homes to go to, which helped to narrow down which one we would choose. The really cool thing is that during this process, a friend of ours, plus the family of one of my students decided they wanted one, too. We chose the little girl who was all black except for some white down her chin and neck, and a cool mark on the bottom of her neck/chest that looked like a wishbone. We named her Bailey, after George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life since she was born on Christmas.

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Fingerprint Friday: Our Beloved Teddy

By MAD21

Years ago, in another lifetime one might say, I managed an arcade as a second job. It was easy pay and I could do my college homework while working. They loved me there because I actually didn't like playing the games, therefore I paid more attention to my job (as if there was anything to do anyway except unjam the machines and give out change).

On one particular day, it was really slow. Some friends had come to visit and were all playing around. I was standing by the 'claw machine,' you know, the big machine where you move the claw in hopes it will land on something, hold it long enough to then drop it into a shoot where you can retrieve it.  Knowing first hand how things in this machine are crammed in specifically so people can't get anything, I had never once even tried it. Big money waste.

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Fingerprint Friday: Our Little Furballs

By MAD21

I know that not everyone is a "cat-person." But quite honestly, I think most people who don't like cats have never been loved by one. Now, before you get all wound up over the "Cat vs. Dog" thing, know that my family are also "dog-people." We have a wonderful puppy, too, but I'll save her story for another day. Personally, my home just doesn't feel complete without one of each.

When my hubby and I got married, I brought two cats with me. They were brother and sister, but acted more like a married couple. It was quite entertaining. They were both given to me right after my previous cat had died. They were awful as kittens, I cannot say that strongly enough... AWFUL kittens. Most people, my parents included, would never have kept them. They tore everything up. But they became the most loving pets, but they were most assuredly, my pets. The girl cat, Emmy, didn't like anyone but me, and she let you know that if you got anywhere near her. She eventually accepted my hubby, but she would never had admitted it. They boy cat, Oscar, was like a little kid.. all the time. He was very mischievous, loved to play, and liked just about everyone.

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