Share a Story

[Bubbi]

Do you have grandkids? or other children whos lives you touch?
Share a memory of you and them

 

[Bubbi]

Grandaughter number one shows up with a newly hatched sparrow that she rescued from the neighborhood nest raider.

This is the story of "Grace"--so named because she managed to survive! The nest raider was determined to get "his" bird back while the stepfather was equally determined to toss her to her death.
That is how this helpless baby landed at my door step along with a frantic grandchild.

Not having much experience in the rescue of wild birds and really not expecting it to even survive--I began to prepare my grandchildren for what I was sure would be her fate. I lectured on the fact that wild animal pets are not a good idea and in fact are agaisnt the law.

Four sets of eyes just stared at me, silently saying ,"Bubbi, you can save her", please try".
Off to the internet we went--learning everything there is to know of how to rescue and release back to the wild a baby bird.

Grace needed to be fed every hour from sun-up to sun-set. What did we feed her? Moistened dog food (who knew!). Hot water bottles to keep her warm and kleenex as a nest--we where in business.

For four weeks we watched as Grace went from naked baby to fledging, learning to fly from make shift perchs in a safe room. (we had to help her learn)
From nesting box to bird cage--Grace spent each day out side in a cage learning the songs of her species.

Then the big day arrived! Time for Grace to return to the wild. Would she go? Had she learned enough to survive on her own?
With much trepidition and a squashing of the desire to keep her--Grace's cage door was opened.

The book said it might take her 30 minutes to leave but they assured us she would go. We were instructed to leave food out for her as well.

Armed with video camera and having said our goodbyes--we waited. Sure enough, at exactly 30 minutes Grace flew away. We watched as she went from tree top to tree top singing her song of joy.

Smiles mixed with tears could be seen all around. "WOW," exclaimed the kids, "We did it"! "Awesome"!

Except Grace did not completely leave--the next day we were all outside when down swooped Grace picking at the heads of her "family". Grace was hungry--we had left food out as instructed but just as a wild baby--Grace returned for the easy meal

Grace continued to visit for about 3 weeks for a meal or two but as we had read, the visits would become less and less. I have to tell you that to walk outside with my coffee in the early morning and simply call out "Gracie" and watch as she flew down to visit with me was such a gift.

This experience could not have been better--more than saving an orphan baby bird this gave the kids a respect of animals in the wild. (Gods creatures)

For me personally, I cherished each little visit knowing they would soon end. I do not mind sharing that I miss my little friend but not more than the kids.
Grace became the highlight of the Summer for us all.

A scripture came to mind during this time..................Matthew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

 

[Big Dave]

That was such a great teaching and learning experiance Bubbi. Thank you for sharing

 

[nanajojothatsme]

AWW!!! thanks for sharing your experience. just a wonderful story . (((hugs)))

 

[bcauser]

Great story!!

 

[Bubbi]

Id hoped that others would share a story as well.
Anyone?

 

[Springrain]

I really enjloyed that a lot....Thanks for posting

 

[Bubbi]

The Pom and the Mutt



My two buddies, Kazz, a young Pomeranianand Lily, a Terrier mix that I rescued 5 yrs ago.
From the minute that Kazz joined our little family, Lily bonded with him. Some long forgotten motherly instinct kicked in and she was Kazz's guardian, a job Lily took seriously.

Until yesterday, I had no idea how inseparable the two of them are. Yesterday was VET day! Always an event LOL--one that causes my dogs to completely loose their minds before we even get in the car.

Now how do they know that is where we are going? Do they sense the time of year? A ride in the car is not it---they go all the time. Here I am, one dog under my arm while the other one (Kazz) is running away from me. Any and all obedience training is totally forgotten!

Ok--Lily is in--howling of course. Get Kazz--hes in and now Lily is out. Kazz is screeching! I am now chasing Lily! Lily can not go to far--she has to see to Kazz who is sounding really pitiful now. Ha! Lily is in (she caved).

Ah, back together again and on our way--the two dogs howl in turn their extreme dis-pleasure with me.
I find myself talking to them as if they were a couple kids who know they are getting a shot....good grief!

Thankfully, the vet is not far. Not so good is that the doc is running way behind and that means waiting which increases stress levels for all of us.
Kazz thinks he is bad and wants to beat up the German Shepard, while Lily sits and shakes. (leashes--a wonderful invention).

Once in the exam room, I found out how things have changed, Kazz had taken over the role of protecter. No way would he stay on the floor while Lily was being seen. "How cute" the techs thought--until Kazz became the pest only he knows how to be. LOL

However, this was serious and I tell you--I think they know it. For Kazz, this was a simple check up with boosters. Lily, on the other hand, is much older and is now suffering some painful conditions, osteoarthritis in her spine to name one. So they had to take Lily to the back--in order to run some tests and do a spinal adjustment.

Kazz--literally went nuts--so much so that one of the techs picked him up and took him to the back so he could at least see Lily.
This is not the first time the two have gone to the Vet together--Kazz is now 2 but this is the first time I have ever seen this reaction.

At home I had noticed that it was always Kazz that would make the call for them to be let out but I never thought anything of it. I knew Lily had slowed down and was not surprised by the DX from the Vet. It now appears that it has been Kazz who has been pushing Lily to get up and move--go outside etc....

Are dogs able to sense what each other needs? Now I know that Poms (the breed) are very in-tune to their enviroment and the people they bond with. I know that dogs are pack dogs and leaders are chosen etc... I know all that but in all my years of having dogs I have never seen this type of devotion and apparent "sense" of what each other needs.

After 3 hours at the Vet--we left with Lily on AX and pain meds for arthritis. Seems the pain has been casuing her to hold her bladder way to long (she doesnt want to go down the stairs) and thats why Kazz jumps all over the place to make me take Lily out even when Lily is not asking.

I am so glad this is only once a year---It is cute the devotion the two have--they both show me the same. But Lily is much older and I worry what will happen when that final day comes...............................

Now I do not want to end this on a sad note--because yesterday was hilarious
I find the world of our domestic animals fascinating---in fact--I am going to be watching closer and even getting some on video.

 

[bcauser]

Bubb love this thread! I have a story or two to share just didn't have time when this first came out.

My first one is short then tomorrow I will put on the other one (if you want?)
This is a true story about my two cats

baby kitty and mama kitty.

Baby kitty was one of the kittens from Mama, understand so far?Then we let her have a few more litters and then we had her spayed. Baby kitty for a long time never got pregnant until she was about 3yrs. old!I noticed she didn't get very big even though her time was near. At one point I took her to vets to make sure all was well and he said oh ya she was going to have a small litter. So one day I came home and low and behold she hid real well, finally found her behind the washer with one kitty!!!! Well the baby was healthy and I didn't think any more about it so I let her start to be a Mom.
One day I came home from work and found Baby kitty outside, thought boy that's strange hope she didn't take the baby outside some place. Went in the house and Baby came in and just stayed with me which is usuall routine before she had the baby. I thought ok how come you're not taking care of your baby??? Looked and

looked for the baby and then looked in the closet where Mama kitty was nursing her last litter of kittens and thought boy something looks different here. Counted the kittens and she had one more!! Baby had decided she had had enough and gave her baby to Mama kitty! It never bothered her and she never tried to get it back and she and the kitten were well and healthy.

Well that's it!! The only thing I can figure is Baby kitty had always been spoiled rotten and she just wanted things to get back to her normal spoiling. She was also very small and the vet said maybe with her only having one baby she might have known she didn't have enough milk to nurse her the way she should have.
Well only she and the Lord knows for sure, but all I know is animals are sometimes smarter than people.

 

[Springrain]

Another story.....so sweet.

 

[Springrain]

Here is a good story I have learned to live most especially just this past six months of my life. Wish I had learned it sooner.


CHOICES

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant in America. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs; they would follow him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood. I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life."

"But it's not always that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Jerry said, "Life is all about choices When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. It's your choice how you live your life."


Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business: he left the back door of his restaurant open one morning and was robbed by three armed men. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Want to see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything." 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'.

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that everyday you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it. The only thing that is truly yours - that no one can control or take from you -- is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

 

[Bubbi]

Bonnie
I love that story! God can use animals to teach the most simple lessons sometimes. If nothing else--he is their creator and reminds us how awesome he is

Look forward to your other story--I hope others will post a story too--thankyou for posting--I thought this thread was dead!

 

[Bubbi]

Here is a good story I have learned to live most especially just this past six months of my life. Wish I had learned it sooner.


CHOICES

Jerry is the manager of a restaurant in America. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would always reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" Many of the waiters at his restaurant quit their jobs when he changed jobs; they would follow him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was always there, telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! No one can be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, I have two choices today. I can choose to be in a good mood or I can choose to be in a bad mood. I always choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I always choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I always choose the positive side of life."

"But it's not always that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Jerry said, "Life is all about choices When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. It's your choice how you live your life."


Several years later, I heard that Jerry accidentally did something you are never supposed to do in the restaurant business: he left the back door of his restaurant open one morning and was robbed by three armed men. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to the hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Want to see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, after they shot me, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the Emergency Room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything." 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Please operate on me as if I am alive, not dead'.

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that everyday you have the choice to either enjoy your life or to hate it. The only thing that is truly yours - that no one can control or take from you -- is your attitude, so if you can take care of that, everything else in life becomes much easier.

Awesome and oh so true! This is an area I work on each minute of each day!