Bailey and Ira

Call us crazy, but we volunteered to babysit our neighbor's new puppy today while they're out of town. Her name is Bailey. She's a yellow lab and she is beautiful. And so far she's been very good! Our neighbors have had her a week or so, and I give them a thumbs up for their training technique...whatever they're doing seems to be working!

Will wanted a puppy for Christmas, but his mom talked him out of it. We had a puppy once before (before kids) and it is a LOT of work and a LOT of expense. Apparently, I forgot that a puppy is also a LOT of fun. Agreeing to puppy-sit Bailey may be all the persuasion I need. We'll see! Oh, I forgot to mention that Abbey is terrified of Bailey, and has spent the entire morning in the "red" chair watching a princess video with her toes tucked tightly under her bottom, or playing in her room with the door shut. That's definitely got to be considered if we resume talks about a puppy.

I'd like to ask you all who read this to pray for an 8-month old boy named Ira Hays. Ira spent the first 6 months of his life in the NICU of a New York City hospital. Ira was hospitalized on Christmas Eve after he stopped breathing. He has come down with RSV (a severe respiratory virus), and yesterday his left lung collapsed. His lungs aren't strong to begin with because of a condition he was born with (that's what kept him in the NICU for so long.) His parents are relatives of a friend of mine, and I've felt somewhat of a connection with them because they are a pastor's family. Joe, Ira's dad, has planted a church in NYC. It's somewhat of a miracle that they actually live in NYC where Ira has access to the best medical care available to him. But, if you are so inclined, please, please pray. Their family is so weary. And, while you're praying for Ira, thank God for your own healthy children. It is a blessing that I too often take for granted. Thanks!