Spiritual Petsitting

This week we are visiting two darling dogs, Elvis and Sophie. This is new client, referred by one of our long time clients, and we thank her again for the trust!

As I sat in the cool morning with Sophie the itty bitty poodle on my lap and Elvis the schnauzer guarding the property from evil squirrels, I thought about why I love our petsitting business so much.

Sons and I have been doing this for over 6 years. They grew up with it, first accompanying me on sits, now they do the bulk of the sits on their own. Lots of great memories together and car time to talk.

But, I love it because I feel like I am a caretaker. Caring for these pets who are special in the clients' lives. Allowing them to travel (for vacations, family events, some happy some sad) and knowing their beloved animals are in good hands. Also their house is safe and looks lived in.

But as I sit in a home, am there multiple times a day, I feel I get to know the people. No, I don't snoop, but I see. See photos on the fridge, the coats on the rack, the running shoes by the back door, the dad's shirts pressed in the laundry room ready for work the next Monday, the dishes in the sink or cheerios on the floor.

I spend my lap time with the dogs (or cats) doing my spiritual reading or meditations. It allows me to pray for them as well. There is something intimate about being in someone's home when they are not there. I am so thankful for the trust.

Today as I sat with Sophie in the pool lounge, and Elvis was doing Squirrel Sentry Duty, I felt so thankful and also in awe at the responsibility I had. I also read today's liturgy scripture about the greatest commandment- to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and one another as our self.

I feel I fail so often. What should I be doing? Big things, little things? Well, this is a little thing I can do. Love their pets. Love them.

Good to Great to Humble?

I am listening to the book Good to Great by Jim Collins.

Yes, it is about businesses.. recommended by my husband's business coach. (Yes, he is starting a new business, but that is a different story.)

I started listening, and it was very intriguing, but I felt suddenly like I didn't want to listen to a business book right now. Yes, I have always loved business, ended up with a degree in it, have worked for 2 really great small or start up companies, have our own little pet-sitting business, which we love... and now am going to some awesome coaching sessions with my husband.

But I feel sometimes a book like this- well, it puts one back in the box.. like "Ten Great Tips to Success!" kind of books, or article, or.. you know.

But this guy is a reseacher. He went into this project not with a pre-determined answer he hoped his data wold support, but compared himself and his team to Curious George, even calling themselves "The Chimps". They looked at a massive amount of data and 'looked under each hat' to see if they were surprised by the results and open to what they found.

What they found was the companies that were GREAT, meaning against the tide of the economy or industy or other factors, that succeeded many time over the average had great leaders. Of course, that is what they expected.

But... these leaders had an extra WOW factor. What?

Humility.

That is wow. These were not celebrity leaders and CEOs, they were humble. Now I want to finish the book. That is what his is all about.. I am wondering how much they delved into faith and what is real. Can't wait to see if the book tells me.

Why We (I) Blog

Why we blog. My inspiration for this post came from Leonie. (Hi Leonie!)

I have been AWOL from blogging for a long time. I am not going to post any more dumb, boring, silly wimpy excuses why I did not blog because my life is no more busy and overwhelming than any one who is reading this. It is probably due to my serious faults, egoism (perfectionism) and lack of organizational skills, tiredness of staring at the computer screen and a serious lack of abilities to set priorities.

At this point, I have laid it all out there, so the proof will be if I keep blogging!

But one thing in particular that caught my eye in Leonie's post was

"And blogging helps me. I think and find solutions while writing. While blogging.

Writing about an idea frees me of it. Thinking about it is a circle of repetitions. Mason Cooley

"

That is why I blogged before and why I am back to blogging now.

I have linked my old blogs in the side bar if you are interested. They are full of sweet and sometimes tense and scary days of Homeschooling---metamorphosis---Unschooling our two sons. Most of them were written when the guys were between 8 and 16. They are now 18 and 21. Yup.

So, my life is different. I am on the 'other side' in many ways. But still in the midst and sometimes the muck in many just as poignant ways.

What do I share, what do I not on the internet, which has also leaped into a new stratusphere since my old blogging days? (NOTE: When I last blogged there was no FACEBOOK. yeahh....)

I asked this of one very pragmatic son this question today.

"Easy", he said while chewing pizza, "Just don't write anything that you would not mind anyone in the world reading."

Yeah right. Just like a man. I told him with my best mom's arched eyebrow, I have thinks to say and connections to be made.. I am a female and very relational.

He kept chewing.

Ok, thanks for reading this, if you are. More to come...

P.S. If you read this, could you comment? I have changed my URL so many times I just really am curious if anyone still sees this?