Martinez Family Journal

Drew surprised me by asking if he could shop with John for Matty's birthday. Now these two bicker all the time, and I do mean all the time, so this surprised me. He wanted to spend his own money on his brother. Wow, this made my day and then some! Very rewarding moment for me. What a good kid he is, all heart. He mentioned a $50 gift card he has for Target from his birthday least year that he has not used and wanted to spend a portion of it on matty. I asked him if he was sure, for that is a large amount and he said yes. It has always been my dream that they would grow up caring for each other, despite their bickering and arguing.

Our rambunctious puppy rushed by Matty and Matty is not so much bigger than him now. Shadow is almsot 6 mos now and he is getting quite big. And he will keep growing for at least another half year. Anyhow, rushing past matty he accidentally scratched matty's feet. Ouch! Matty complained to me and I felt so badly for him. we have him on a wait list to get into obedience class, so until taht happens net week with the first class, we will have to bear with him and all his massive energy. I said to Matty 'it's rough having a pupy int hehouse, isn't it?' and he replied instantly 'Well, it sure is with HIM - YEAH! Now if we had chosen Zabrina, then it would be all right.'' Sabrina was the much calmer puppy at the choosing of the puppies. they were brother and sister, but Zabrina and she jsut cowered int eh corner, no exaggeration. It appeared that if we chose her to be our puppy then she might never play. She was timid beyond imagination. But loved to be cuddled and held.
So soon, come Monday night, it will be my responsibility to train this terror of a dog. WE are thinking he is Aussie (that much is definite) and probably flat coat retriever... a dog full of energy, boundless energy.
mary

Drew jas jstu had a super super September. Whta a joy to see him happy. Pure joy. He attended the seventh grade retreat whihc was an overnight for two days last week and he talked nonstop about it when he got back. Jsut two days of pure fun, fun, fun. He told of so much fun, I rtealized a huge amount of planning went into this, and of how they stayed up til 2, and he roomed with Cam and Mr. Dutton, the young gym teacher and ten other boys in bunks......and how he watched the principal appear under a towl on a table in a game in which certainkids wer wehand picked to uncov er the towels. It appeared as if the principal's head was on the table under a towel! How fun. ther ewas worship time daily and tons of good food, and Drew did motocrss today. He said it was so much fun!

Drew came home from school last week and told me that his bible class had a discussion about John 3:16. He said that each student had to come up with a story from their own life in which they had to give up, just like God, something that meant the world to them for the greater good. I was most eager to hear what example Drew chose. He told me he chose the point in our lives when we had to make the very very difficult decision to fine our puppy Pepper a new home. That was last year. Pup Pepper was just a wild one and didn't take to training too well. But the real decisive factor was that he was herding Rory to the ground and playing pretty rough with Rory, when Rory was quite old and could not physically defend himself any longer. Pepper did tear the house apart and even ate the drywall, but really to protecting Rory was the bottom line. He did not respond to attempts to train him not to do that to Rory. So we listed him on petfinder and found him a super super home on a ranch in Corrales just across the river. The couple who adopted him were a indly couple, semi retired and the gentleman spent the days on the ranch making custon furmiture and cabinetry. They were looking for a pup to spend his days chasing rqaccoons out at night out ot eh chicken coop. and he would roam the ranch by day on the gentleman's tractor. Sounds like a really special life for a dog. But it just ate up Drew. He was quite attached.

I have discovered of late that Drew likes the finer things in life, as do I. I never expected this of a boy, though. Sure I would expect it more from a teenage girl. but in the last year or two I have seen a remarkable resemblance of Drew's attraction for the more expensive things. I began with a down comforter I bought at a garage sale in mint condition. It had a stain of yellowing tha cqame out superbly and looked good as new by the time I washed it. Drew has trouble staying warm in winter like me, and unlike John and Matty. So he is quite taken with the down comforter. He sleeps on a tempur pedic mattress when he goes to visit Aunt Vicki so he is quite taken with that also. He says his own bed is very hard. I promised I would try to come up with funds for a tempur pedic for his birthday this December.
We were coming home from ice skating rink Sunday where the kids skate with friends Pieper and Penny Holeman. Drew tried on my cherished cashmere lined cotton Lands End gloves. Oh, was he ever taken with their softness. He pretended he was not going to give them back. I bought them when we had very little money two winters ago so I am quite attached to them. softest gloves I have ever owned and warm too. Perfect for carpooling in winter.
Drew likes the ubersoft microfleece blanket I bought for his bed and also for matty's. Never expected to find sons that appreciate the finer things......I love it when life surprises you.