Life with Kiki and Dolly – TidBits from a Pet Lover
Updated May 22, 2009
Kiki and Dolly recommend the following:
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/
Updated October 15, 2008 -KIKI LOOKS A FRIGHT
Remember that old “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy wants to go to a women’s meeting or something, and Ricky has her on a budget, and she has to make her own dress, and give herself a hair permanent. Remember that funky hair?
Well Kiki has that kind of hair-do right now. You see I am on a budget like Lucy, and decided to clip Kiki’s hair “all by myself”! How did it turn out you ask? Well if this gives you any clue, family members are asking “What happened to Kiki ?” In my opinion, this makes him look even cuter and more huggable. A few days later I picked up the scissors to try to form his coat into the “poodle cut” I had envisioned, and Kiki hid under the bed. Well, I never!
But in all reality, Kiki needed a few places to be clipped, just like there are some things that need to be cut away in us. Have you ever resisted God by hiding “under the bed”. Thankfully God is the Master Cutter so he does not leave us looking “straggily”, we do that all on our own by resisting.
God isn’t finished forming “our coat” either. Sometimes we have a stray “curly” that needs clipping. Perhaps like Kiki who is known to wander into the ivy down the block, and come home with ticks and fleas, God needs to “clean the infestation” from where we have been straying.
HE is not finished with us becoming who we are through and in Christ. God is trying to show us who we are despite the image we are trying to create on our own. The only one that can bring the image that we were made to be is the Master Artisan, who can give us “form.”
God really does the best thing for us, so if you are feeling the shears a little to close to the skin, remember you are being “conformed to the image of his son” (Romans 8;29) – New American Standard Bible - “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Don’t run and hide away from the scissors, instead turn around and see that through Christ, God is forming a beautiful you. Maybe you think your “coat” is too old, too short, or too long, or too frizzy. Let him cut away the ugly tangles. Don’t let the un-mastered hand, the things of this world form you and define you. God has a vision for you. He does his best work when we have created a mess. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Amplified Bible – “Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.”
Another point, when our other poodle Dolly, came to us, she had the worst hair, mangled and dry and brittle. She had an image of being unloved, hungry, beaten down and alone. People rejected her, and she had been abused and had her ribs cracked. She bore the scars of her former life. She seemed like an impossible mess. Then she went under the Professional Groomer (not me), and was “adopted’ and given the same love as Kiki. Dolly blossomed, and has uncommon grace with people.
God can do an awesome work on us. Make an appointment and let the “grooming” begin.
Updated October 8, 2008
James 4:2 “….yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Kiki sat and looked at the closed door. Then he went and scratched at it, it didn’t open. He looked at the door and whimpered. Nothing happened. He got Dolly’s attention, and they both tried blowing under the door with their snouts, they huffed, and barked sharply at the door, but it did not open. Dolly grew tired easily and went back into a curled position to sleep. Finally, with a long forlorn look at the door, he turned away, then he stopped dead in his tracks, and by golly, he said to himself, I will ask, I have the no, I will go in for the yes, and he marched over to me, and held out his paw as asking to go for an extra walk. I had to admire his asking out of turn, when he expected a no. As I got up to get his leash, I reflected so it us with us…we have not, because we ask not. God has so much for us, and we have not even begun to tap into the treasures he has stored up for us. Kiki frolicked about in much expectation, as we made it to the door, and then the door was opened, and he stood there, taking it all in, contemplating the paths open to him.
Just a Thought: how much have we missed open to us because we have not asked it of the Lord ? Such a simple lesson.
Our washing machine is on the blink. I found myself talking to Kiki and Dolly as they looked at me inquisitively while I configured the contraption my brother had set-up to allow the washing machine to run.
After the struggle of pushing the machine back into place, I grabbed a cool glass of water, and the phone book to look for a repairmen specializing in washing machine electrical cords.
As I patiently waited on hold, and Kiki and Dolly waiting expectantly for some crushed ice, I got to thinking that we get people to fix things which are broken in our homes. We take our car to the mechanic, etc., and we call the repairman to fix our appliances, and we even have warranties.
Why then don’t we use our warranty that was purchased with a great price on our behalf. Why don’t we call the Restoration Advisor when our lives, dreams and futures are broken? We don’t need contraptions; WE are made to run successfully.
Also, so many people have emailed this inspiring story on “Faith the Dog”… follow the link..
http://www.faiththedog.net/index.asp
Updated June 9, 2008
Dolly ran away today. She saw greener pastures and made a run for it. There I was in my pajamas in the early morning, chasing her down the street.
As I held her close under my arm, I thought “what caused her to run from the safety and surety she had been given?”
Let me tell you that Kiki is housebroken, and we rarely have a problem with him doing his business inside. My mother had him trained in one week’s time when she got him at the age of three months. For example the times that my mom has been in the hospital, I would take Kiki out early in the morning, and he would wait all day until the evening when someone was there to take him out.
Dolly, on the other hand is another matter. Since she is a rescue doggie, we don’t know her habits, and it seems that she is not trained. I am happy to report that is changing one step at a time. I have to thank my nephew Andy who in two months has cleaned my carpet three times.
Well I have figured out if I take her out as soon as I open my eyes, (which she and Kiki are always on the look-out for –(I kid around that they are little secret agents watching my every move-other dog owners will understand this), well if it is early enough, she will be content to go out on the front lawn while I stand over her, and when done, she quickly runs back in the door. As soon as I am able to change and look decent, I take both Kiki and Dolly out for their morning walk and they do their “business” or as my brother calls it “numbers”, they do their numbers, you know 1 and 2).
On this morning though, Dolly began dancing around my feet as I brushed my teeth, as if “you had better take me now or be sorry”. Without having time to change, I scooped her up and carried her outside and set her down on the lawn. I was surprised when she looked at the lawn, looked down the street and then looked back at me, as if to say, “I just gotta try it, it looks so much greener, so many more opportunities.”
Well as I started out this post saying, Dolly ran away today. She saw greener pastures and made a run for it. There I was in my pajamas in the early morning, chasing her down the street, and luckily no one saw me, except maybe for those peering out their windows.
At first I signaled with my hand to her, and whispered loudly to her to ”come here” trying to be inconspicuous at the same time. This only made her run farther as she looked over her shoulder. She was so busy running away from me that she ran smack into a tree, which propelled her straight against the gate where a big black mixture of a dog lives. He has a menacing growl and sharp bark and bares his teeth. This scared Dolly so much, she stood frozen for a minute, then I saw her knees buckle, and she sort of “faints” when she is scared, and falls into a submission position, and that’s what happened. Then she momentarily recovered and made a run for it while looking over her shoulder, and ran smack right into my arms.
As I held her close under my arm, I thought “what caused her to run from the safety and surety she had been given?” The Lord gave me some insight on the parallels between us and God, and this little poodle’s relationship with me.
God is our covering. God wants to do good things for us. We might sometimes say, “I don’t know God, it sure does look green over there. I know you put me here, and provide for me here where I am, but there seems to be more opportunities over there”. As we sneak a look back at the Lord, we step out thinking, ‘I’ll just go take a look, what harm can that do after all?”
Then God calls out giving us a gentle reminder or nudge saying, “hey over here, focus on this, this is what I have for you, this is a safe place, this is a place of sanctuary, a place where you are provided for, a place where you are being prepared for greater things, when you are ready. Ultimately, God has to ‘speak loudly” in our face kind of thing.
But no, just like Dolly, we think of the “what we are missing” stuff. How many times have we stepped out of God’s will, when we were just going to take a “taste”, no harm no foul, and come up against the enemy, the darkness, the harshness of the world. How many times has that little “taste over yonder” cost us. We have been brought to our knees, and have fainted, and when we have found our legs, we have taken off running without direction, only to have God waiting there to bring us home again.
Once back home you know, Kiki looked at Dolly as if to say “are you crazy – what were you thinking” then barked at her, until she lay down in a submitted position, as he towered over her, “giving her the eye.” Kiki does this when he finds her behavior intolerable. She lies there until Kiki feels she has “gotten the message”. God is not this way with us, he takes us back with loving arms, yes we sometimes have to be disciplined, and set straight, or we wouldn’t have learned the lesson.
My friends and family, I don’t share this without having known what it is to “go astray”. The ”taste” was not worth the cost. I urge you to stay in your place in God. The Word of God says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
The Holy Spirit speaks to me that Dolly is a symbol of the youth in our families. There is much to learn from Galations 5 and Ephesians 5. The youth motto seems to be: “Because I Can…It feels good…and let me be who I really am, etc”
How do you continue to believe when the children you love, and you know were not raised to walk down the path you see them walking are looking over their shoulder, and saying like Dolly, “the place I am in, is not enough for me, it is not where I want to be !”
Let’s go to the Word:
Here are some key scriptures from Galatians – Chapter 5 (New American Bible)
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from following (the) truth?
8 That enticement does not come from the one who called you.
13 For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions,
21 occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
26 Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.
Here are some key scriptures from Ephesians – Chapter 5 (New American Bible)
Let’s go to the Word:
1So be imitators of God, 1 as beloved children,
2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones,
4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving.
5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.
7 So do not be associated with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,
9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,
12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;
13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
15 4 Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,
16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Please join me in making it our prayer that the Holy Spirit fill our youth and that his Spirit be upon them to “stand against these things.” To withstand the enemy from robbing their future and their hope. Family and friends, prayer still works, prayer still changes situations. Intercession is a gift. Pray for the young people in our lives. Take them back from the enemy!
With Love, Purpose and a Hope…Alma
Updated May 2008
We recently had a sweet little poodle enter our lives. She is a stray. I have named her Dolly. Do you know that five different people told me the same thing, basically this, “Did you ever stop to consider that God put her under your care?” Well, Kiki is very challenged by her presence, and is not accustomed to sharing us. I remember looking into Dolly’s frightened eyes and promising I would protect and care for her until I found her owner. She is very attached to me in particular, and no one seems to be looking for her. She was in bad shape when Maria Z. (family, mom to my neices and nephews), found her and brought her to me. In the one month that she has been with us, she has been to the groomers twice, and had a complimentary vetenarian look-over. She is “needy’, and I feel such compassion for her since I can only hope that if a horrible thing happened to Kiki, and I could not find him, that someone would open their hearts to him. I know the Lord provided for Dolly, just as he provides for the birds of the air. Psalm 36:6 reads, “Oh Lord, you preserve both man and beast.” This is the ad I posted around town, in emails, and on internet dog sites:
Found in Alhambra, California on or about April 5, 2008. Near Atlantic Blvd, and Alhambra Road. She has already been seen wandering by neighbors. Medium poodle female (20 pounds or so) white / Tan with yellowish-brown fur on ears, face, and back. Has a clip style that has grown out. She has a stumpy tale. Brown eyes. No tags, collar or leash when found. No micro-chip found. She is a friendly dog with a sweet nature. Sometimes gently nips on people as sign of affection. Nuzzles your hands and works her way onto lap. Likes to rest her head on chest or stomach gazing upward into faces. Sometimes acts scared and curls up into a ball then lays down on her back in submission. She also likes to be petted on her tummy. She has some old healed skin lesions. Missing hair on some areas. Seems to be an older poodle. She also pulls off hair which is in knots. Will eat as many times as you put food out. Drinks a lot of water. Easily frightened by noises. She is potty trained and listens to commands, but has a tendency to dash out when doors open. My own poodle is keeping her company, but you can tell she is looking for her mommy, when we go on walks. She misses her loved one!
In my search across the internet, I came across this rescue site for poodles, and found many humurous stories. Visit them at: http://www.poodleclubsocal.com/poodlejokes/
This is Kiki!
Here is a picture of Dolly! 
http://www.christianblog.com/category/pets/
http://christianforums.com/f121-pets-animal-friends.html
http://h.webring.com/hub?ring=christianpetowne
http://bibleforums.org/forum/archive/index.php?t-59892.html
Tweet, Tweet Said the Lord First OccasionI came out before mid-day and saw my mother feeding the birds and caring for them, and just fawning over the birds. Now this had been an especially hard morning with some financial issues and just a hard morning in general. I looked out the door at the birds, and opened the door a crack and saw the little wrens that fly about, stopping to eat of the seed that had fallen to the ground from the caged birds.I peered out at the blue sky and I said in a sigh, “Lord I know that you are the one that provides for these birds, and just like your eye is on the sparrow, and you watch over them, watch and provide for me Lord.” Well as I walked away to go back to work, my inner nature came up and I said, “maybe I’m not as important as that bird Lord, but keep me in mind anyway”, then I went about my business. Later that same day, as I went out to walk Kiki, our poodle, about 7:45ish, our usual walking time, and as I stepped out onto the porch, I saw from the corner of my eye, a little wren swoop down from the roof top to a low branch of the avocado tree. I remember I briefly acknowledged that the bird was there, and thought it odd for a little bird to be out near dark, when they are usually snuggled up somewhere.Well, as I walked along, the little bird chirped, then he chirped out loudly, and swooped down near my head, as I left the walk from my house, and turned left to walk down my block. This also caught Kiki’s attention, and he stopped and looked at the bird for a long time. As I urged Kiki along, the bird chirped out loudly, and jumped from tree to tree, following my path right beside me. You should know, I live on a tree lined street, some small, some large, but most have branches at my height. Well the bird chirped his way down the block, and followed me along, getting louder along the way, until he swooped down and lightly fussed my hair. Well Kiki stopped and looked at the bird, and then looked at me, as if to say, did you see that? Well, it was already getting darker, and was close to eight by now, and it was obvious this bird meant business with me. Well Kiki wouldn’t budge, until I acknowledged the bird, so I said in a sort of kidding way, “is that you Lord”, and the bird chirped, and as he looked at me from a distance of an arm’s length away at eye level, he turned his head inquisitively from side to side. I looked around to see if anyone was witnessing me, the crazy lady with a poodle talking to the little bird, but the street was quiet and you could clearly hear the bird chirping. Well, I sort of shook myself off, and said, “okay Kiki, let’s be on our way”, and made to cross the street, some seven to eight trees down our block. Well as we crossed, the bird swooped across the street to the tree, and looked toward me and practically screeched at me. I stopped in amazement, and this had Kiki’s attention too, he wasn’t pulling forward on the leash as usual. I said, “Okay Lord, is that you trying to tell me something”, and then came the strong scent of roses, which is my usual sign that the Lord wants my attention, and immediately my words from earlier that morning came rushing back to me, and as I looked back up at the bird, he began to chirp as if singing, you know bird singing, like tweet, tweet, tweet. And as I humbly acknowledged the Lord, and praised him and just worshiped him as I walked slowly along, the bird followed along from tree to tree, all the way down this side of the street too. When I came to the place where I cross the street to come back home, the bird chirped loudly and flew overhead as I crossed the street. I turned to Kiki and said, Kik, “that was the Lord”, and Kiki wagged his tail as he looked at the bird sitting on the roof of the porch.Second OccasionI was walking Kiki one evening, about a week later from the first incident, and was about a block away from where I usually walk, and as I turned a corner, a little bird looking suspiciously like that same little bird, swooped in front of my face at about two hands length, which caused me to pull back suddenly, as birds don’t usually do that. Well, Kiki again acknowledged the bird, and I said in a whisper, “Hello Lord, is that you?”, to which the bird chirped as he sat on a tree branch slightly above head level. I thanked the Lord for using the little bird, and reminding me that I am his, and that I abide under the wings of the almighty”, and continued on my way, with the bird following me home, and as I reached my home, I said “Thank You Lord for accompanying me on the way”, the bird again sang out a tune, and flew and came to rest on the roof over the porch area.Third OccasionTwo weeks after that, on a Friday, after having delivered reports, Kiki demanded I walk him, and as anyone who knows Kiki, I mean demanded. So out we went on a walk, and as I spoke to the Lord, and thanked him for the week of work that he had given us and enabled us, I also told him of how discouraging a day it had been, and asked his favor over my life, and of course from a tree down the street, I saw a little wren, swooping and gliding down in my direction, stopping close in a nearby tree and chirping at me, as he seemed to be looking at me, and moving his head from side to side. I thanked the Lord for his care, and for watching over me, and I quietly sang the hymn, “his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me”, the little bird flew along, until we made it home again.
From Newsletter #2
If you read the first newsletter you read the story titled “Tweet, Tweet said the Lord.” Well the Lord has continued to bless me with awesome truths from his word as I walk our pet poodle Kiki. That’s Kiki to the right. This will be a regular feature in our newsletter. As I was walking with Kiki, the Lord brought it to mind that a cell phone has functions that are very much like the Holy Spirit. You see cell phones have internal functions such as leave a message, page or instant message, text message, etc. Have you ever tried to ignore your cell phone, when your call comes in, then you ignore it, and you know the call is for you, just as you know the Holy Spirit is impressing something upon you, well it is the same thing, unless you answer it, or check out the number, that thing will keep alerting you to the fact that there is a call or message waiting to be answered. Has it happened to you that you are in a sticky situation and a verse comes to mind, well that is the Holy Spirit text messaging you. Likewise, the directory of important numbers saved to the cell phone’s memory, you can access them any time you want, same as the scriptures stored in your heart and mind. John 14:26 – But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Is that your cell phone or mine ringing?
From Newsletter #3
I was having “one-of-those-days” and was hurrying Kiki along as I walked him. I learned two great truths that day as I scurried on. The first happened as I mentally made a note to slow down, and asked God to show me the “small things” near the end of a crazy day, which despite all I had tried to do, there were still things left undone. I had tried hurrying things along, and instead the process turned out longer. The Lord showed me that on that day, I was doing much as Kiki was doing at the moment I was walking him. You see, Kiki gets distracted on his walks, and he is busy looking from side to side, doing his own thing, despite my gentle prodding, until he falters, sometimes falls off the curb or bumps into a tree or spiny bush, and then it is, that he looks up for deliverance….sometimes he looks up as if to say, “you knew that was there, but you let me walk right smack into the middle of it”, other times, he looks sheepish, and embarrassed, much like me. I had to call on a lesson learned by the Psalmist: Psalm 121:1 – I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.(KJV) The second truth I learned on that busy day was the “what do I make for dinner” dilemma. I thought about how I was going to have to get a “baked chicken” and “surprise” myself. Then I thought about the difference when you have a take out dinner, and that which you slow-cook. The aroma envelopes you, and you experience the fullness of the blessing in all your senses. So it is with “take-out” prayer, a quick “Hi Lord, you are great, this is what I need, how I need it. Praise your holy name. Amen.” The “snack-type” did not really fill you, and you go hungry throughout the night. How different, when you slow cook, and all of your senses respond to the blessing. I have really found that slow-cooking prayers that include worship, praise and meditation before the Lord are more pleasing and filling. The aroma is so much sweeter to those who partake of the meal, just as the essence of praise reaches the Lord. I gave Kiki a great big hug for reminding me to slow down, and letting the Lord direct my path before I run into a “tree” and make enough time to set the atmosphere for myself and others. Just a note: The Old testament mentions God’s nostrils and sweet smelling aroma’s quite often, so I know he appreciates sweet smells like the rest of us. Also, consider this verse: 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV) “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
October 7, 2008
