I Am Chosen

I remember the day well.  We were on a quest to find the perfect pet for Maddie.   She just wanted a puppy to love and love her back so badly.  I had spent hours searching for just the perfect one that would be a companion pet and do well with little children, small in size, and non- shedding.  I felt as if my list of criteria was limiting me and would keep us from finding the perfect puppy.  However, that was not the case.  We had found a breeder and were in the car on the way to check things out in person. 

The kennel was clean and the little cage had three adorable pups.   I put my hand down inside to let the one we’d chosen for Maddie to sniff me, and all of a sudden this little black fuzz ball bounded over her siblings to kiss my hand and greet me.  I couldn’t resist and pulled her up and then she woofed at me.  She chose me.  I believe that today more than ever.  Now I know some of you would say she’d have done that no matter who’d have stuck their hand down in that cage, but I disagree.  It was all in the way she woofed….she chose me.  I had to convince Brad of that, and it took a little time, but a few weeks later we brought TWO puppies home.   It was wonderful.   I was hers and she was mine and we loved one another.   Macie Claire brought us so much laughter and enjoyment.  She was so full of energy and was known to steal socks and run off with them. 



Macie's "come adopt me" picture.

Fast forward to about two weeks ago.  Macie started to act different.  She was quieter and slept more.  She started eating less.  We took her in to the vet and discovered she had a rare autoimmune condition that attacked her red blood cells.  We treated her the best we could, but yesterday her levels dropped to a dangerous level where her organs were going to start shutting down.  It was time to make a tremendously difficult decision.  She had no energy to eat or even to stand up anymore.  In the last week she didn’t even have the energy to hop up on our bed.  Even though we knew it was time, I have to admit it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  After all, she chose me and I loved her so.

 


Gracie and Macie last June

In the last few days I have spent time trying to figure out what in the world we were going to tell our children and even looked up on the internet about dogs going to heaven.  I have a degree from Lincoln Christian University.  I have grown up in church.  I know that Scripture doesn’t state if dogs go to heaven.  However, I have read through the Bible several times now and I see where God created these creatures with such love and creativity.  I see places where there are references in animals in heaven.  I’m not sure if I’ll ever see our Macie again.  However, in my childlike, simplistic view I know that God created our puppy, loved her and gave her to us for a short time.  He loves animals or why would he have Noah go to all the trouble to save them in the flood.  He could have just made more.  I like to think of her up in heaven with past childhood pets that have gone before, grabbing Jesus’ sandal, taking off with it barking with her mouth full, and then turning around pouncing and wanting Jesus to come play.  She’s free from the 5 pills we were forcing down her each day, no more pokes, and she has energy again.  While it may not be true, it helps me deal with my hurt and the empty place in my heart right now.



Macie last week.  So precious.

Today in church I was reminded I am chosen.  I am God’s child.  He saw my sin sickness and treated me with the most extreme act of love known to mankind.  He sent Jesus to die for my sin and to cleanse me, heal me, and make me whole.  Being chosen is such an incredible feeling.  I am His and He is mine and He loves me.  Today the Ferris family is resting in that love and we are grateful to our God for choosing us.

Butterflies, Blooms, and Basketball

Spring has been very wet here in Springfield with an abundance of rain.  The front flower beds are gorgeous and we have enjoyed the beauty of our new neighborhood.   Little cabbage butterflies and bees visit our front flower beds daily.  It’s a beautiful time of year with everything so green and bright!


Roses in the front flower bed.  Very pretty!

School is also wrapping up this week here at the Ferris house.  Due to all the moving around it added many days to the end of our originally planned last day of school!  It is safe to say we are all extremely excited for the end of the year.  Much of that excitement is because our June calendar is packed with fun things to do and explore here in the Rochester/Springfield area.  We are eagerly looking forward to checking out the Muni, Knight’s Action Park, the drive in, and a few Slider Baseball Games.  We have been able to go to our first Movie in the Park last week and watch Brave on a big blow up screen at the Community Park in Rochester.  It was a lot of fun!

Movie in the Park.  Was very much like a drive in experience.  We enjoyed the evening.

Something we are participating in this summer is the Rochester Summer Recreation Program.  It is incredible!  This program runs through June and July and is open to not only those in Rochester, but surrounding areas as well for ages Pre-K through adult.  Here are just a few of the classes the 18 page packet lists to choose from:  Tennis, sandlot baseball, cheering, archery, football, soccer, volleyball, karate, gymnastics, dance, and even scuba diving!  Cupcake wars, chocolate confections, classes at a local pizzeria, cake decorating, drawing super heroes, building benches for a local park, drama, how to do nails and French braiding, teddy bear picnic, Legos, visit to local farm, firehouse, and a local stable and saw mill are yet others.  I saw things for girls with Fancy Nancy, Princesses, and Strawberry Shortcake.  Things for boys like pirates and a “boys will be boys” class.  They have a sign up day near the end of May and each class has a fee to cover materials but nothing outrageous.  It’s amazing! 

Madeline was able to go to her first class last week, Butterflies and Blooms.  The hour long class was held in a classroom at Rochester Christian Church.  She had such a good time and created this vase of beautiful paper flowers from punches, stencils, and other materials.  It is so pretty we have it on our fireplace mantle!  Next week she gets to go to a Pajama party where they will learn to make homemade poptarts.  Samuel will go to the Boys Will Be Boys class later this week where they make and play with slime, play in dirt, and even paint with mud.   Sarah also gets to attend a class this Friday, Fun with Science.  Later in July the three younger Ferris children get to go to Razzos, a great little pizza place in Rochester, and take a class, Pizza Science, where they get to learn about using pizza dough for more than pizza.  

Madeline's Masterpiece

Neil has his own activities this summer.  We are excited to announce that God has opened a door for him to play organized basketball at a local Christian School, Calvary Academy.  We have been praying for God to open a door for him to play on a team of some sort for over a year now, so this is an exciting answer to those prayers!  He has been able to participate in some open gyms in the last few weeks and travel with the JV and Varsity teams to Waverly, IL and Lincoln, IL for summer basketball league play.  His first play of a Varsity game left him with a bloody nose and broken glasses for about a half, but after his nose was taken care of he went back in without his glasses and played well…he even scored.  We were proud of him.

Posting up under the basket

His summer league schedule has us doing two games a night, three nights a week.  It’s been something new to adjust to, but we are so excited for him!  The experience he is gaining by playing now will help him later for his first season.  Not playing on an organized team before has him a little behind the others, but they are all so encouraging and have welcomed him in with open arms.  We know with time and hard work he will catch up.

Once I began putting things on the calendar with camps, classes, games, reading program, movies at the park, and activities at the local library, etc…  our June is crazy full!  I’m sure many of you can relate!!  It’s going to be fun.  I hope I can find someone to even take me to the local farmers market in town, too.  (Hint! Hint!)  I’ve heard so many good things about that as well. We also need to find a place to swim, too.  

Summer is almost here!  I can’t wait!!!  It’s going to be a great time!