Merry Christmas Everyone!!

I hope all of you have a joyous and Merry Christmas filled with peace!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Since this is Christmas Eve, I'd like to share my annual Christmas story with you.

The Night The Animals Talked

In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of all kinds. Into these humble surroundings, encircled by the innocent creatures of God, the Savior of man came into the world.

Now according to legend, at least, Christ's birth occurred at exactly midnight. Inside the stable, the animals watched in wonder as the new-born babe was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. Suddenly, God gave voice to the animals and immediately they began to praise God for the miracle they had just seen. This went on for several minutes and, just before the entrance of the shepherds -- who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there -- the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child.

The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son. Of course, adults scoff at this. "Old wives tales," they grump. "Those children should be home in bed, not out in the cold waiting for the family cow to preach a sermon."

But the children know -- or at least believe -- that animals really do praise God at midnight every Christmas Eve. And who of us -- those who believe in an all-powerful God -- can say that it really doesn't happen?

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

Christmas Friends: Day 19

Today's first Christmas Friend is Bladen. Bladen is another of our Rat Terrier friends from Lovearat.us. Bladen lives with his pawrents in Conroe, Texas. He's such a cutie!

Next is our friends Chip and Ginger. Chip and Ginger are Dachshunds that live in Ohio. They live with their pawrents and kitty siblings, Liffey and Bear. You can visit them at their blog Dachsies With Moxie.

Christmas Friends: Day 18

Today's first Christmas Friend is Eliot. Eliot is a Chihuahua (sweet baby puppy!) Eliot lives with his sisters, Dinah and Bridget and his pawrents in England. You can visit Eliot at the family blog Dip-Dip and The Bridge.

Our next Christmas Friends are Ruby and Penny. Ruby and Penny are 2 beautiful mini Dachshunds. They live in Ontario, Canada with their pawrents. You can visit Ruby and Penny at Ruby & Penny - 2 Mini Dachshunds.

Our last Christmas Friends of the day are Yuri Chan, Lolli-Pop, and Schmedley. They all live in Japan with their pawrents.

Christmas Friends: Day 17

So many friends have sent their wonderful Christmas pictures, that I'm going to feature more than one furiend everyday this week. I want to make sure that everyone gets their picture up, before Christmas Day!! So here we go....

The first Christmas friends are Tucker and Daisy. Tucker and Daisy are two very pretty Golden Retrievers. They live with their feline brother, Leo, and their pawrents in Massachusetts. You can visit Tucker and Daisy at their blog, Two Goldens and a Wannabe.

Our second Christmas Friend of the day is Draco. Draco is a cute little Chihuahua that lives with his pawrents in Colorado. You can visit Draco at Dragon Time Chihuahua Style.

Our final Christmas Friend of the day is Sugar. Sugar is a very beautiful Golden Retriever too! She comes from a long line of great Golden Retrievers. You can visit Sugar at Sugar The Golden Retriever.

Christmas Friends: Day 16

Today's Christmas Friend is Cocorue. Cocorue is a very tiny Chihuahua who lives with her Moms Lilian in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Cocorue too has a very extensive wardrobe and the cutest little face. You can visit Coco at her blog, Luv Being a Chihuahua.

Christmas Friends: Day 14 & 15

Day 14

Funny Frankie Furter is today's Christmas Friend! Frankiw is a long haired Dachshund that lives in Ohio with his pawrents. It appears that Frankie had to take a 2nd job this Christmas season with the United States Postal Service. GRRREAT job Frankie!! You can visit Frankie at his blog, Frankly Speaking.

Day 15

Today's Christmas Friend is Lorenza. Lorenza is a Dachshund and lives in Mexico with her Moms. Lorenza's Grandmother keeps her in fashion with all of the dresses she makes for her. You can visit Lorenza at EL DIARIO DE LORENZA. Isn't she just the cutest Christmas fashionista!! Today's Christmas Friend is Lorenza. Lorenza is a Dachshund and lives in Mexico with her Moms. Lorenza's Grandmother keeps her in fashion with all of the dresses she makes for her. You can visit Lorenza at EL DIARIO DE LORENZA. Isn't she just the cutest Christmas fashionista!!

Christmas Friends: Day 13

Today's Christmas Friends are Chester and Roscoe. Chester is, according to his Mom, "chihuahua/pomeranian/rat terrier/devil mix". Roscoe is, a Yorkshire Terrier. They are friends of ours from Lovearat.us. They live with their Moms, Krystle in Lansing, Michigan. We don't think Santa needs any reindeer with these two on the job!

Christmas Friends: Catchup Days 7-13

I just realized that I've been missing the Christmas Friends posts here. So here's the catchup post!! Enjoy!!

Day 7

Today's Christmas Friends are Nigel and his wonderful pack, Sola and Truffles, from Life With Dogs. Nigel keeps all of us very entertained and laughing. This is a terrific picture, which Nigel's social secretary was kind enough to share with us.

Day 8

Today's Christmas Friend is Bridget. Bridget lives with her pawrents and siblings, Dinah, and baby Elliot in England. You can visit them at their blog, Dip-Dip and the Bridge.

. Bridget

Day 9

Today's Christmas Friends are Reyna and Duncan. Reyna and Duncan are both beautiful German Shepherds that live with their Mom, Janine, in North Carolina. You can visit their blog at German Shepherd Mom. Their Santa picture is PAWSOME!

Day 10

Our Christmas Friend today is Marge. Marge is a rescue dog from Georgia that lives with her Mom, Sam, in New York. Marge is very adept at agility training. You can find all Marge's memoirs at her blog, MargeBlog.

Day 11

Today's Christmas Friend is Becky. Becky is another one of my Rat Terrier friends from loveatrat.us. Becky lives with her pawrents, Sharon and Jonnie, and her brother Bandit in California!! In her picture, Becky's busy looking out the window for Santa!!

Day 12

Today's Christmas Friend is Oscar. Oscar lives with his pawrents in Oregon. You can check out Oscar's adventurs at A Day In the Life 2 and A Joyful Adventure.

Gettin' Ready for Santa Paws!

I guess these guys got tired on waiting for their humans to finish decorating the tree! Looks like they had a great time decorating!

Red/Green Swim Meet

Well, I finally have my very first swim meet under my belt. We had to be at the Maryland Farms YMCA at 6:00 a.m. for warmup. I got everything packed up and ready on Friday night, so I could jump up and go on Saturday morning. Casey was nice enough to drive me there and come out and cheer me on. We left the house at 4:30 a.m.!! Since there was no traffic out that early, we got to the Y by 5:45. They were a little late unlocking the door, but it all worked out o.k. I did about a 300 meter warmup. My flipturns were coming easily, so I decide to stretch some and not wear myself out. I ended up swimming 4 events. I swam the 50m free, the Crescendo Relay, the Freestyle Relay, and the Wet T-Shirt Relay. We were scored by teams. I was on the Red Team. We did really well, but ended up losing the meet by only 2 points. It was a "just for fun" meet, and we all had a really good time. They had really nice snacks and drinks and all the team members were just fantastic. My coach almost has me convinced to swim another meet in January. We'll see. Here's some pictures from the meet.

50m Free

Under water, after my flip.

Crescendo Relay

Wet t-shirt relay.

Happy that I made it through.

Afterwards, I just lounged around the house, but as a treat, I watched the USMS short course yards Nationals. More swimming!! Gotta love it!

Christmas Friends: Day 6

Today's Christmas Friend is Piper. Piper is a Scottish Terrier and lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains for Virginia with his pawrents and siblings Lilly, Carleigh, and Java. Such a handsome reindeer! You can visit Piper and his family at Rocy Creek Scottie Adventures.

Christmas Friends: Day 5

Today's Christmas Friends are Willow and Stella. Willow and Stella are yellow labs and live in Kansas with their Mom. Willow is a guide dog for her Mom too! Smart, clever girl!! You can visit their dog blog at, Dog's Eye View.

Willow

Stella

What A Surpise!

When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, I REALLY got a surpise! When I looked out, this is what I saw.

Unfortunately, I had to work today and couldn't take the dogs out to play. Casey said he would a little later. I hope there's still some left on the ground tonight, when I turn the Christmas lights on. I'm really in the Christmas spirit now! Such a nice Christmas surprise!