Sunday, December 21, 2008

Merry Christmas

Jesse singing in the school Christmas concert. He is in a white shirt. With the santa hat. All about brusing teeth in French as he goes to a French school (not immersion).



And at home somewhat more confident singing Feliz Navidad. THIS is how Jesse normally is.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

First Goal of the Season




Hay River Novice were due to play High Level on Dec 13th. The temperature went down to -30C so High Level cancelled. Some of the older Atoms made up a team so we could still have the matches.

Jesse #77 scores his first goal of the season. Brad shot and the puck rebounded off the goalie and Jesse put it in the net. One really proud mommy here......

Friday, December 05, 2008

Please Welcome..............


Mottopride Memories of Kizzie

Known to the Karp family as Kiah.

Born Oct 1, 2008
































Kiah was supposed to arrive on Nov 30. She was being flown from Edmonton International on Canadian North to Hay River. The breeder, Sandi, of Mottopride had her at the airport with plenty of time to spare and checked her in. We were ready for her. Then Sandi called to say she had heard from Canadian North that Kiah missed the flight. They wanted Sandi to come back and get her. It was impossible for her to do that due to circumstances. Canadian North then had to find a kennel for Kiah for the night. We were beside ourselves with worry. We needn't have been. The kennel called. They had Kiah in their home. Even sent us the photo below. She was doing great and I think Kiah just took the time to socialise a little more before she came to us.



A huge thank you to Perfect Place Kennels of Devon, Alberta for the care and love they showed Kiah. (Pic of her at kennel)

Kiah finally arrived on the plane in Hay River, Northwest Territories at 10am on Dec 1. She was fine after her flight. Honestly, I think most humans would have been upset after the ordeal she had but she was fine. And she is right at home with us. I call her NO BITE as she is typical puppy and has to bit everything and everybody. But talk about SMART. She has only been with us for 5 days ans she can sit, lie down, stay, come (although not constant yet).

The day she arrived we also had a vet's appointment booked for her and cat. Little did we know that two hours after getting off the plane, she would be travelling in the van to the vets.

There was a really sad part to the vet visit. We collected the ashes of Kizzie. The girls who work with the vet had decorated the box with flowers and a photo of Kizzie. It was so sweet of them. They don't normally do this evidently. I think they really felt our grief. And yes, we still miss her like mad even though we have a puppy in our lives.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Still Sad.......


Added after I posted this. Forgot to say that this photo was taken two days before she passed.

More than one month has passed since Kizzie left us. We all still miss her terribly. The cat still looks for her, our other dog still looks for her and her ears twitch and she looks around at the mention of Kizzie. A wonderful testimonial to her was when the neighbours behind us said how much they missed her too. They said they always knew when somebody was in their driveway as Kizzie would bark. She was not one of those incessant barkers as she was trained not to do that. She just let us know that somebody was there. I felt protected. I am constantly checking to see if doors are locked since she went.



I found this poem and it still makes me cry when I read it.


The Spirit of a German Shepherd Dog

was standing on a hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And the spirit of a German Shepherd Dog
Was lying at my feet.

He looked at me with kind dark eyes
An ancient wisdom shining through
And in the essence of his being
I saw love there too.

His mind did lock upon my heart
As I stood there on that day
And he told me of this story
About a place so far away.

I stood upon that hillside
In a field of blowing wheat
And in a twinkling of a second
His spirit left my feet.

His tale did put my heart at ease
My fears did fade away
About what lay ahead of me
On another distant day.

"I live among God's creatures now
In the heavens of your mind
So do not grieve for me, my friend
As I am with my kind.

My collar is a rainbow's hue
My leash a shooting star
My boundaries are the Milky Way
Where I sparkle from afar.

There are no pens or kennels here
For I am not confined
But free to roam God's heavens
Among my Shepherd kind.

I nap the day on a snowy cloud
Gentle breezes rocking me
And dream the dreams of earthlings
And how it used to be.

The trees are full of liver treats
And tennis balls abound
And Milkbones line the walkways
Just waiting to be found.

There even is a ring set up
The grass all lush and green
And everyone who gaits around
Becomes the Best of Breed.

For we're all winners in this place
We have no faults, you see
And God passes out those ribbons
To each one, even me.

I drink from waters laced with gold
My world a beauty to behold
And wise old dogs do form my pride
To amble at my very side.

At night I sleep in an angel's arms
Her wings protecting me
And moonbeams dance about us
As stardust falls on thee.

So when your life on earth is spent
And you stand at Heaven's gate
Have no fear of loneliness
For here, you know I wait.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Kizzie
1997 - Oct 14, 08
Our loyal protector.