Rosemary Hines

Life of Riley

March 2, 2013

LIFE OF RILEY

Riley is our second golden retriever. We’ve fallen in love with this breed. Their sweet, playful nature makes them a pleasure to be near. Riley is no exception.

Although Riley and I are good friends, there’s no one he loves more than my husband. Randy will get down on the floor and wrestle with him evoking such response from Riley that he actually sounds like he is talking in some ancient, guttural human/dog language. Randy will typically respond with “I know!”

Recently, we purchased a motorhome so we could include Riley on our getaways. Every trip, he eagerly bounds up the steep steps and takes his place between the two front seats as we prepare to head out on another adventure. Making himself at home in the rig, he has also claimed the couch as his doggy bed. From that perch, he can look out the window and watch the happenings in each campground.

Earlier this month, we joined my brother-in-law’s family and some friends out in the desert near California City. We were basically in the middle of nowhere, camped in a circle of rigs resembling the wagon train camps of the old west. A multitude of dogs of all sizes and shapes romped in the inner circle while we visited or sat around the fire.

Riley had a blast! He played so hard in the dirt that eventually his paws began to bleed. So Randy cleaned them and quarantined him to the rig until some liquid bandage could arrive with another friend en route.

This was a devastating turn of events to our big pal. He simply could not reconcile himself to being contained inside. Crying, pacing, jumping on and off the couch repeatedly, he wore me down with his complaints. Suffice it to say he was driving me crazy. Whenever Randy was inside with us, he’d calm down. But every time “Papa” went back outside, the drama began again.

Finally, it was time for Riley and I to have a little talk.

For those of you who view your dogs as family members, you’ll understand this conversation. The rest of you… well, you may be scratching your heads.

Me: Riley, look at me.

He stopped in his tracks and fixed his gaze in my direction.

Me: How do you think it makes me feel when you act like this?

Riley cocks his head and raises his eyebrows. Hmmm… where’s she going with this?

Me: Every time you jump up on that couch and see Papa out there, you cry like it’s the end of the world. But here I am, right here inside with you.  Don’t I count for anything?

Riley’s head lowered, and he looked sorrowfully up at me with those big brown eyes.

I sank down onto the couch, trying to put on my most pitiful expression of rejection.

He studied me intently. Silently. Frozen in thought.

Then it happened. With one quick leap, a big lump of fur nestled beside me, head on my lap in repentance.

The crying and pacing stopped completely. No more drama. Just a pup fast asleep by his second to best friend.

You know, they really do understand a whole lot more than they let on.

  * * * * *

I wonder how often I create drama in my own life ~ crying, pacing, fretting, and complaining because of something I want or think I need. All the while, God is there with me, just waiting for me to draw close and find my peace in Him. He has blessed me abundantly with far more than I could ever deserve or expect.  Hopefully, next time I’m feeling agitation replacing joy, I’ll snuggle up to my heavenly Father and rest in the gift of His presence.

Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you. ~ Hebrews 13:5

He Himself is our peace. ~ Ephesians 2:14

 

 

In the Word ~ January 4, 2012 ~ Romans 8:28

January 4, 2013

In the Word ~ January 4, 2012

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him... ~ Romans 8:28a

And we know…Do we really?

I’m challenged to ask myself, do I truly know that in all things God works for my good? Or am I just hoping or guessing or praying He does?

Reflecting on this, I think about the things I know. I know I am a wife, mother, and grandmother. I don’t wake up in the morning wrestling with the reality of these roles. I know da...


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Blog Book Tour ~ My Turn!

January 2, 2013

Big thanks to Sharon Cook Leaf for inviting me to join this blog book tour. Today is my turn, and I am answering questions about the first book in my Sandy Cove series, Out of a Dream.

1.     Where did the idea come from for the book?

I spent my teens and twenties immersed in New Age thoughts and beliefs as I searched for a spiritual foundation. When I was almost thirty, my father committed suicide. His death awakened me from the fog of the New Age and began my journey to fai...


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In the Word ~ January 1, 2013

January 1, 2013

JANUARY 1, 2013 

IN THE WORD

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

                                                            ~ John 1:1 (italics added)

I love words. They bring meaning to our lives just as God Himself used them to bring meaning to our existence – to create all we see, feel, know, and are.

How often I gloss over the words in His Word ~ shortchanging my understanding of God. Perhaps you do the same. A familiar ...


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Makeup for a Bride

June 20, 2012

This morning my daughter-in-law, Traci Hines, posted some makeup videos she made. A skilled makeup artist, she has transformed many girls into stunning brides for their special day. Being a follower of Jesus, I know she would agree that the most important beauty of all is inner beauty.

So today, I’m inspired by her videos to write a blog about preparing to be the bride of Christ.

As all makeup artists know, before you apply foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, or blush, you must firs...


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Words with Friends

December 26, 2011

Ever gotten hooked on a game?  Several months ago, my nephew was visiting, and he introduced me to an online version of Scrabble – Words with Friends.  It sounded like fun -- an innocent form of brain-stimulating entertainment.  I jumped in with all ten fingers and began to play.  For weeks on end, my husband could hardly set his briefcase down at the end of the day without me throwing it open to grab his ipad and check on my games.  (Perhaps that is why the Santa in him decided to get me m...


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Remembering Joy

August 18, 2011

This week our firstborn celebrated her 29th birthday.  Early that morning, I went for a walk through our neighborhood and ended up miles away in my mind.  Transported through time and space to a hospital “alternative birth center” in 1982, I was that young mother again. 

In my mind’s eye, I was lying in a hospital bed gazing at my tiny daughter asleep in the clear plastic bassinet next to me.  Her little ...


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Growing or Groaning

August 12, 2011
Since 8th grade, I’ve had a spinal condition called scoliosis.  Basically that means my spine did not grow in a completely straight line.  The muscles on one side developed in such a way that they pulled the back into a curve.  For ten months of my 14th year, I wore a back brace 20 hours a day.  It stabilized my rib cage and helped prevent further curvature.  Thankfully I have suffered relatively little back discom...
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Feeding on His Faithfulness

August 10, 2011
Late one night this week, I found myself out on the living room couch with my Bible in hand.  Another interrupted sleep cycle had my mind in turmoil.  As I prayed, Psalm 37 popped into my thoughts, so I flipped to that passage.  Verse 3 caught my eye.  Trust in the Lord and do good.  Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

For the first time, I noticed a footnote explaining the end of that verse.  While I...


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A Dog's Tale

August 6, 2011

In all my years of teaching, the classic excuse for missing assignments was “the dog ate my homework.”  When a teary-eyed third grade told me that, I’d believe it.  A junior higher or middle schooler – not so much. 

Now I have my own tale to tell. 

Yesterday I received two checks in the mail for orders for my book from friends out of the area who wanted to purchase a personalized/signed copy.  Keeping the opened envelopes and checks together on the corner of my kitchen island, I k...


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