My Little Dog Lost — And Only A Miracle Brought Her Back!

October 25, 2023October 27, 2023 / jrmilson / 9 Comments

Happy Day and Thank You for visiting with us! We’re getting a bit personal today.

The intended purpose of my Writing Pages here, just like my Little Red Bear Adventure story books, has always been to entertain, inform, and educate a bit along the way.

Having been thru so much this year dealing with various health issues and strong encouragement from my family to do so (after sixteen surgeries, one of my sons remarked that I should be an expert in preparing for them), after a good deal of reflection, I decided that perhaps sharing bits and pieces of my personal life and some of the issues I deal with from time to time might be helpful and of benefit to others. Hoping so, anyway.

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) with all that entails (a list in and of itself), Degenerative Disc and Joint Disease, Autoimmune Disease, Neuropathy, Numerous Surgeries for Joint Repairs and Replacements, Dental, and other general issues related to Aging are a few of the things at work here. I consider myself blessed that so far all of my issues have been confined to the superstructure (bones, joints, tendons, etc.) and nerves, with otherwise good organ health overall.

With both hips replaced and many levels of my spine fused together, I am about as flexible as a 2″ x 4″ these days and require the use of several tools and assistive devices to get dressed in the morning and carry out other daily functions. So I thought that talking about those things now and then, along with information on the various tools and implements I routinely use or have tried unsuccessfully along the way, might help and allow others to learn and benefit from my experiences.

Please let me know in the Comments if you think this would be of interest or benefit from time to time . . . . . .

But today, we are talking about my little dog companion, Allie.

Allie is a sweetheart, thru and thru. She loves people, especially those with treats (and there are many here in the Senior Complex where we live!), and on occasion has been known to tolerate other dogs, as long as they have a properly signed sidewalk pass to trek thru her territory. Her “Territory”, of course, being the sidewalks and streets surrounding the seniors’ community where we live.

Allie is a spayed female and is around eleven years old. I adopted her a couple years ago to save her from being dropped off at the animal shelter, bringing her into my home when the living situation with a two-year-old boy became unworkable for her original family. Small dogs and small children are seldom a good match.

Getting back to the story, last week Allie and I were dog and pet-sitting at one of my sons’ homes while he and my daughter-in-law were away on vacation, something I do for them nearly every year around this time. This was Allie’s second tour of pet-sitting duty with me.

My son and his wife have two adorable little Pugs, a black and a fawn-colored one, both neutered males around four and three years old. He also has a fully-grown Blue-phase Tegu Lizard, “King Louie”, and several assorted others including geckos, snakes, tarantulas, African frogs, and others. My duties are limited to taking care of the dogs, the Tegu, and the geckos. They have a fenced backyard where, along with the two pugs, my little chihuahua can run and explore along with them off-leash. A real treat for her since we are required to walk solely on leash here when out and about.

From prior years, I was aware of a small opening in the chainlink fences at a back corner of the yard, where three fence poles come together but do not meet. The opening is too small to be an issue for my son’s chunky little pugs but could be passable for my slim little chihuahua. Right off the bat, the first thing I did both last year and this year was to block off that opening so Allie would not be tempted to go off on an adventure and explore the area. We are a good match that way, always wanting to discover what is over the next hill and around the next corner.

Tragedy nearly struck last Friday afternoon, however, when Allie discovered a new, small opening at the bottom of a wooden, privacy fence gate leading to the front yard that I was unaware of. I opened the back door and called the dogs in after they had been out for just a few minutes. The pugs both charged in as they did, but no Allie. I went into the yard to look for her and searched all over, but she was nowhere to be found. Repeated loud calls of her name yielded nothing. Rushing thru the house to the front, I called over and over again. Allie was nowhere in sight and not responding.

Trips back and forth thru the house, front yard to back yard to front yard to back yard were fruitless. I had no car to drive the neighborhood, and with my health and mobility issues, was unable to go anywhere to search for her. I remembered that I had never gotten around to ordering a dog tag for her. There was no way for anyone to get her back to me.

Panic began to set in! Allie was lost! A tiny little dog out in the big, dangerous world. All alone! Lost and alone, unfamiliar with the sights and sounds in a strange new neighborhood. With absolutely no regard whatsoever for vehicles or crossing the street, how long would she last without me to pull her back and keep her safe?!? There was no way my little Allie could find her way back. Rushing from back to front and back again over and over, if I wasn’t praying I was cussing, and if I wasn’t cussing I was praying! After about twenty or so minutes, I was giving up hope and beginning to reconcile that I had lost my dog. She was gone!

Returning thru the house from yet another front yard calling session, I stepped out the back door and suddenly there she was, racing up the hill towards me from the wooden gate, never taking her eyes off me and echoing the same panic-stricken look that I had on my face.

Somehow, some way, Allie had found her way back from wherever she had been off exploring, remembered the hole in the wooden gate, squeezed back thru, and made it safely into the backyard again. I give total credit and thankfulness to God, because I had reached the point of despair, resolved that she was gone, and trying to figure out how to break the news to others at home where we live. God be praised!

Allie, along with the two pugs of course, immediately received a tasty and yummy Bacon & Cheese flavored treat to welcome her back! Despite my emotional state, there was no scolding, no punishment, no corrections. Simply affection and praise to welcome her back. The story of the Prodigal Son came to mind. Praise God, Allie had returned and was back.

It should go without saying, that the hole at the bottom of the wooden gate was immediately blocked and covered over with concrete blocks, along with assorted sticks and leafy twigs to deter future exploration out of the yard. And — a shiny, new, stainless steel ID tag is on the way in the mail, too!

Sharing this personally embarrassing story, there are hopefully some lessons for us all, at least dog owners, perhaps.

Admittedly, right here for all to see — I am not perfect. I had intended all along to get an ID tag for Allie just in case something like this might happen at some point. I didn’t. No excuse. There was always something coming up to distract me when thinking about it, or at other times it just slipped my mind altogether. Shame on me. I expect and demand better of myself than that, especially when someone else is depending on me to protect and/or provide for them, as Allie does.

Also, after hearing the story, several folks here have asked or commented — “Boy, I’ll bet you gave her what-for after she came back!” Or — “Did you scold and let her have it?” “Did you punish her?” “No treats for two weeks for you, little lady!”

Again, having had and trained dogs for many years, my only response after she found her way back was loving affection. Scolding, yelling, hitting, or punishing a dog at such a time is only teaching the dog NOT to come back next time! And I have found that practice works with children, too. And, employees for that matter. The subject of her disappearance has never come up in discussion since, because Allie would have no idea what in the world I was talking or upset about. That near-catastrophe was on me, not her.

My story character friend Little Red Bear would explain it this way — “If every time you walk out into the barnyard and a duck comes up to you, whether you called it or not, and then you conk it on the head with a stick, it won’t be long before that duck stops coming to you, whether you have a tasty treat in your hand, or not.”

Thank you again for visiting today!

And please, do let me know if you enjoyed this little bit of “life share” and would like to see more posts like this, about true life experiences both health-related and not.

I have always been reticent to share such things from my personal and private life, but if you enjoyed this and think entries such as this may help or benefit others along the way, please do let me know, because helping and benefiting others is what it is all about here.

None of us are perfect, and we all struggle with issues of one sort or another as we journey along the life path set before us. Sometimes, it’s good to know that we are not alone and that we have company along the way.

Sending along best wishes for a Beautiful Autumn and coming months in your neck of the woods.

Until next time — Best Wishes & Blessings! — Jim (and Red!) 🤠 🐻 🍂 🧡 🍎 🌻 🍁

In A World Where You Can Be Anything — Be Kind. Because Kindness Matters!

With children and grandchildren around (and for those of any age who like to color!), we invite you to visit “Little Red Bear’s “Happy Autumn Season!” Coloring Pages”.

Enjoy hours of family coloring fun and time together, all offered Free for our visitors!

If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like — “Happy October — The Gateway To Autumn & The Holiday Season!” and “Wishing You Deep Peace, Love, Happiness, and Joy – And A Very Good Day!”

New Visitors — Welcome! To find out what we are all about, please check out — “Welcome To My Writing Pages!” and “About the Blog, Jim & Little Red Bear” — and sign up to follow and be notified of every new post! Because really, why in the world wouldn’t you?

“Faith goes up the stairs that Love has built and looks out the windows which Hope has opened.” – Charles Spurgeon

“That’s the very reason they put rubbers on the ends of pencils . . . because people make mistakes.” – Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Meet Little Red Bear & His Friends — “Once Upon A Time In A Very Special Woods . . . .”

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Tap Here For A Free Preview!

“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t.” – Thomas Edison

This is a purposefully non-monetized, ad-free site to offer the most enjoyable reading and viewing experience for everyone, with all content freely shared, and generates no income to offset the costs of developing new materials, maintaining, and operating.

If you enjoy your visits and time with us, I invite you to Join our Patron Community today, because together we can do so much!

With the help of patrons, we are able to donate free print copies of “The Adventures of Little Red Bear” stories and books to Senior Citizens, School Libraries, Local Libraries, Classrooms, and those who could otherwise not obtain a copy.

Patrons also help my friend Little Red Bear and me to continue this as a Non-Monetized site free of distracting and questionable advertisements allowing for speedier loading and a more enjoyable experience for visitors, dedicated solely to entertainment and educational purposes while sharing positive messages of Happiness, Inspiration, Kindness, Compassion, Positivity, Environmental Awareness, and Conservation with everyone.

With the support of our Patreon Community, all features here are offered “Free of Charge”. Because that’s just how we roll here. Will you help us keep it going?

We invite you to Join Us Today In Making A Positive Difference In The World!

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” – Soren Kierkegaard

Thank You for visiting with us!

Please feel free to share with family and friends. Likes, Shares, and Comments are truly appreciated and help greatly to expand our reach and encourage new readers and visitors!

Because together, we can do so much!

In A “Back-To-School” Memory Daze — Announcing “Little Red Bear’s Back To School” Coloring Pages!

September 9, 2021 / jrmilson / 6 Comments

Happy Back To School time!

Shareable new materials have been in rather short supply here for a spell while I stepped aside to attend to some pressing personal health (non-COVID related) issues. In the interim though, I have nevertheless been working on background items and new features to be revealed in the near future, so please do stay tuned, as they say.

We will talk about some of those issues that kept me away along with some other things in a coming post soon. But for now, although while still not fully back in the writing saddle quite yet, with it being “Back To School” time and my favorite season of Autumn on the horizon, let’s get it all rolling again with one of those new features I mentioned, shall we?

Now at age 71, “Back to School” in my day many years ago was special. It was almost a season in itself. An abbreviated period as compared with the traditional four seasons, no doubt, but with the exception of the still-hot and humid readings on the thermometer each afternoon, “Summer” had officially been declared “over with” by my Mother, and school preparation activities dominated each day.

There were new school clothes to shop for, along with new shoes and required gym outfits to acquire. (I missed the memo when they stopped calling it “Gym” and began referring to it as “P.E.”, short for “Physical Education.” I simply kept calling it “gym class”, but digress.) In addition to clothing items, there were notebooks, pens, and Number 2 pencils to stock up on, along with erasers, scissors, crayons, rulers, Elmer’s School Glue, and who knows what else.

And not to leave out the mandatory end-of-summer haircut, of course. My best friend Rick lived down the hill in a corner lot about two houses down in the back. Rick, the oldest, came from a family of five kids consisting of four boys and one severely outnumbered sister. The night before school restarted each year, we would watch Rick and the other kids all line up in the backyard as their mother gave one after another the annual Start of School Haircut. Then in for a bath and off to bed for an early rise in the morning.

We had strict dress codes back in the day, even in the public schools I attended. Girls were required to wear a dress or skirt, the shortest of which could reach no higher than mid-knee. Tee shirts, sweatshirts, and sweat pants were not allowed for anyone. For boys, all shirts had to have collars and buttons. Hair on boys was not allowed to touch the shirt collar. Socks were mandatory and gym-type shoes were only allowed in Gym class. At the same time, no soled shoes were allowed anywhere near the pristine wooden gym flooring.

All pants were required to have belt loops and be held at the waist by a belt. Failure to wear a belt resulted in being sent to “The Office” for a visit and attitude adjustment session with the Assistant Principal, or as we kids mockingly referred to him as — the “Enforcer In Chief.” After a stern lecture about how flaunting the rules and not wearing a belt could negatively impact the remainder of a ten-year-old’s life, the beltless boy would be given a length of rope to wear around the waist for the remainder of the day, a clearly visible (and embarrassing) signal and dire warning to every other boy not to forget a belt in the morning rush out the door.

And of course, one could not hide the fact they had forgotten to wear a belt that day, because all shirttails had to be tucked in. The belt omission was clearly obvious to anyone paying attention. A rather trivial issue it seemed to me at the time, although all the teachers seemed inordinately obsessed with it, in my opinion.

Personally, I was never apprehended without a belt, neither wanting to risk a visit with the Enforcer In Chief nor suffer the embarrassment of wearing a long rope around my waist. Always careful to obey the rules and do my best to stay out of trouble back then, I do admit to having contemplated the possibility of wearing overalls one day to challenge the belt rule but lacked the courage to act upon the urge, not having yet transitioned into the independently-minded “Rule-Challenger-For-The-Fun-Of-It” I became later in life and remain today.

Getting back to it then, our Back to School feelings were always kind of a mixed bag. The excitement of seeing school friends we had lost contact with over the summer was mixed with the uncertainty of what new teachers might be like. Everyone seemed to have an ingredient to add to the simmering pot of New Teacher Trepidation —

“I hear Mr. Townsend is a real beast with math homework and has never given anyone an ‘A’ grade. He assigns homework every night. And every weekend!”
“Miss Burns always makes the girls in her English class get down on their knees at the start of every class to make sure their skirts touch the floor.”
“Mr. Grimharsh had a friend of mine in gym class who would not stop chewing bubblegum last year, so after telling him twice to get rid of it made him spit out the gum and then stuck it in his hair. Johnny Jones had to go to the barber and get a crewcut after school. A crewcut!”
“Miss Hendricks only accepts writing assignments and homework in blue ink. She will give you an “F” if your paper is written in pencil because she wants to see all the changes you make and not be able to erase them. Always remember to take a blue ink pen with you to her class.”
“Mr. Miller told the kids in his Science class last year that the word ‘Fire’ begins and ends with an ‘F’. If you set anything on fire in his class it will end in an ‘F’ grade for the quarter. And if you break something you have to pay for it! My weekly allowance won’t cover the cost of a microscope!”
“Why do I have to choose between French and Spanish this year? Miss Burns told me last year it was clearly evident that I hadn’t mastered the English language yet. And now they expect me to learn a second language, too?!?”
Mr. Newchance lets you take any History test you fail over again, but the best grade you can get then is a “C”, even if you get everything correct.”
“My Dad said that if I have over a ‘B’ average at Thanksgiving that he would buy me a new electric guitar for Christmas. But I can’t even spell Triggernumery, much less do it! I am going to start saving up for a new set of strings for my old guitar, just in case.”

On and on the gossip and info-dumps went over the last few weeks leading up to the start of school each fall. Of course, in my time, school always restarted with a half-day on the day after Labor Day each year. Never in early or mid-August as so many do now. And it goes without saying that nobody went to a school with air-conditioning in those days, and school was never called off due to excessive heat.

For us boys sitting in school with long pants on after spending the summer in shorts and swim trunks, we were just hot, plain and simple. Desk papers stuck to our forearms from the sweat running down our arms, and wasps buzzed around our heads, having flown in thru open windows. One large and very loud fan in the front corner tried to cool the classroom but caused us to simply not be able to hear the teacher who no one was paying attention to in all the heat, anyway.

And don’t even get me started about the mile-and-a-quarter walk to and from school every morning and afternoon, regardless of the weather, — rain, snow, or shine. And yes, sure enough in our case, it truly was more or less uphill both ways because there was a big valley between home and school regardless of which way we were heading.

Looking back on it now, it is fair to say we had generally pleasant while at the same time somewhat queasy feelings about the whole “Back to School” thing each year. A goodly bit of eagerness and excitement over new school clothes and the prospect of reuniting with friends was more than tempered by a healthy dose of general apprehension and miserably hot 90-degree temperatures lasting thru mid-to-late-September in our neck of the woods. It is probably fair to say that in my circle of friends, anyway, when it came to the “Back-To-School” thing each year, we could generally take it or leave it. In our minds, there were still too many perfect days on the calendar for baseball and bike riding to waste them all shopping and trying on endless changes of clothes in a hot department store.

But, in the end, mixed feelings or not, we always seemed to find our way back on the first day of school each autumn, didn’t we? Maybe we were a little more excited about the whole “Back-to-School” thing than we were willing to admit or let on in public, after all.

What are your “Back to School” memories? Good? Bad? Or mixed, like ours? Please don’t be shy. Feel free to share them with us in the Comments Section.

To help ease the annual End-of-Summer and Back-To-School transition for older kids and build excitement about the new experience for younger ones, my story friend Little Red Bear has assembled a collection of Back-to-School-themed coloring images with varying degrees of complexity for all ages.

Coloring images are available for unlimited Free downloads simply by ‘Right Clicking’ on an image, choosing ‘Save Image As’ in the dropdown menu to save a local copy on your computer or device, and then printing out as many as you want.

It is our hope that these pages, made possible thru the kind assistance and support of our Patreon Community, provide a means for not only preparing and generating excitement for going back to school, but also for spending quality family time together — reading, coloring, and learning. Simply Tap Here to view them all and get started!

“Thank You!” for visiting and spending part of your time with us! We always look forward to your visits and comments, because YOU are the reason we do it all.

My story friend Little Red Bear and I hope that you and any little ones heading off to school enjoy this post and Red’s new “Back-To-School” Coloring Pages. As always, please feel free to share and pass along to family and friends!

We have a great deal of new material and features to share with you over the coming

months so please visit often. If not yet subscribed yet please register now to follow along and be notified of every coming new post and feature here. — Jim (and Red!)

Please consider joining our Patreon Community today to help us grow and keep freely-shared, family-friendly educational new materials and features coming, helping to make a positive difference in the world!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy “Wishing You Happiness, Peace, Joy — And A Very Good Day!” and Little Red Bear’s growing “Animal Alphabet Coloring Pages!”

(New Visitors — Welcome! To find out what we are all about here, please check out — “Welcome To My Writing Pages!” and “About the Blog, Jim & Little Red Bear” — and Sign Up Now to follow along and be notified of every new post!)

“Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken.” — Bill Dodds

“Anyone who thinks the art of conversation is dead ought to tell a child to go to bed.” — Robert Gallagher

Meet Little Red Bear & His Friends — “Once Upon A Time In A Very Special Woods . . . .”

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Tap Here For A Free Preview!

Find out what readers have to say about Little Red Bear and His Friends!

(Royalties from the sale of Little Red Bear’s books go directly to supporting this site.)

“Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog.” — Doug Larson

Like and Follow My Writer’s Page on Facebook For Daily Inspiration and More!

“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” — Lily Tomlin

This is a purposefully non-monetized, ad-free site to be able to offer the most enjoyable reading and viewing experience for everyone, with all content freely shared, and generates no income to offset the costs of maintaining and operating. If you enjoy your visits and time with us, Join our new Patron Community today, because together we can do so much!

With the help of patrons, each month we are able to donate free print copies of “The Adventures of Little Red Bear: The First Holler!” to Senior Citizens, School Libraries and Classrooms, and to those who could otherwise not obtain a copy.

Patrons also help my friend Little Red Bear and me to continue this as a non-monetized, ad-free site, dedicated solely to entertainment and educational purposes while sharing positive messages of happiness, inspiration, and kindness with everyone. We invite you to join us in making a positive difference in the world!

“Let us remember: One Book, One Pen, One Child, and One Teacher can change the World.” — Malala Yousafzai

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

October 24, 2018 / jrmilson / 4 Comments

Have you heard of the “Teal Pumpkin Project®”? Having a young family member with notable food restrictions, the Teal Pumpkin Project is something we strongly support and recommend for the safety of food-sensitive children and a way to allow all to fully participate and enjoy the fun of Halloween and trick-or-treating.

Prompted by childhood food allergies, the Teal Pumpkin Project is a worldwide movement to create a safer, healthier, and happy Halloween experience for all children, including those with food allergies, which can be life-altering and life-threatening. One in thirteen children suffers from some sort of food allergy today. Among the project’s goals is to raise awareness of food allergies and to promote inclusion for all little trick-or-treaters during the Halloween season.

Halloween can be an especially challenging time for children, parents, and families managing food allergies on a daily basis. Many “mini” or “fun-sized” treats are not labeled with food ingredients and/or contain different ingredients than their full-sized counterparts, making managing for parents even more difficult.

The goal is to offer non-food treats for children dealing with allergies, as well as others for whom candy treats may not be an option. The whole purpose is not only food safety for those with allergies but also kindness and inclusion. Small children confronted with allergy issues will be delighted to receive a small non-food, non-threatening treat alternative, while other children can still receive traditional Halloween treats. No one left out of the fun. That’s the Little Red Bear way!

Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project is easy.

Simply provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
Place a Teal Pumpkin (‘teal’ is the chosen color of Food Allergy Awareness) in front of your home to indicate that you have non-food treats available for trick-or-treaters, or in lieu of a Teal Pumpkin, a sign or poster placed on your door or window.

Where do I get a Teal Pumpkin to put on my front porch?

Obtaining a Teal Pumpkin for Halloween is fairly simple — paint your own! Grab some teal paint and make it a family project. If you have children of your own, it will be a wonderful learning opportunity to involve them to help educate and raise their awareness of food allergy issues. Perhaps they have friends who are affected by allergies, making it even more personal and beneficial to be included in the process.
If you cannot paint a pumpkin yourself, no worries. Teal pumpkins should hopefully be available for purchase both online and in local shopping outlets. As the movement continues to grow each year, they will become readily available.
If painting is not an option and teal pumpkins are not available in your local stores, all you really need to do is display a sign or teal pumpkin printout at your door or in a window, letting everyone know that you have non-food treats available. Tap on the image on the right to download the sign and print out a copy for your home. Participating is as simple as that.

What are acceptable Non-Food Treats?

Children love to do artwork — Pencils, Pens, Crayons, Markers, Stencils!
Children love to do artwork outdoors — Sidewalk Chalk!
Children love to blow bubbles — Bubble Blowers!
Halloween Erasers and Pencil Toppers are really cool.
Children love to remind us that they are around — Whistles, Kazoos, Clappers, and Noisemakers (parents will love you!)
Bouncy Balls (small children never have enough bouncy balls!)
Glow Sticks!
Small Stuffed Animals!
Jumping Ropes!
Paddle Balls!
Stickers!
Small Playing Cards and Games!
Finger Puppets and Novelty Toys!
Simple Bracelets, Wrist Bands, and Necklaces!
Mini Yo-Yo’s or Slinkies!
Mini Wooden Airplanes!
And of course, the perennial Halloween favorite — Fake Dracula Teeth!
Note — When selecting non-food items, it is best to omit moldable clays which may contain wheat products, and to steer away from any items made of or containing latex, for those latex-sensitive individuals.

A quick trip to the local dollar or discount store should provide all you need, and may very likely be cheaper than high-priced candy these days, keeping in mind that if you do go the non-food treat route only one in thirteen children will be seeking the non-food treats, so not talking about a great deal of items. Just enough to include a little something for everyone. Time spent in making an extra trip each Halloween will be more than offset by the warm feeling of knowing that you are doing something not only nice but also beneficial for the kids, and by the smiles and happiness of those receiving your special treat items on Halloween night.

This year, Little Red Bear and I urge you to join us in taking the pledge —

If you would like to learn more about food allergies and The Teal Pumpkin Project simply tap the link to visit the Food Allergy Research & Education page, where more suggestions for non-food treats and other ways to participate and help the movement are available. You can also read more about How The Teal Pumpkin Project Began.

Here is a resource site for downloadable Free Signs, Flyers & More!

Thanks always for visiting with us. We hope that you will join Little Red Bear and me in The Teal Pumpkin Project and helping to make this a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Halloween — for Everyone! — Jim (and Red!)

“Thank God for little children; when our skies turn cold and gray, They come as sunshine to our hearts, and charm our cares away.” – Frances Watkins Harper

“He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.” – Thomas Carlyle

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Tap Here For A Free Preview!

“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” — Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa Lakota)

“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.” – Richard L. Evans

“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” – John F. Kennedy

For Our New Visitors Wondering —

“Who is Little Red Bear?”

Meet Little Red Bear and His Friends in this short introduction to the stories — “Once Upon A Time In A Very Special Woods . . . .”

Embrace Your Talents and Passion — Share Them With The World!

April 11, 2017 / jrmilson / 1 Comment

We hear it so many times going thru life. Nearly every day. And one reason why it is so important never to compare one child with another. We each are born with our own natural talents and flair for some things, while maybe feeling totally inept at others.

“That guy has a natural talent for playing baseball.”
“Her musical ability is a gift.”
“He/She has a natural aptitude for math and science.”
“That person has a gifted eye for photography.”
“That guy has a natural flair for public speaking.”
“She is naturally talented at fashion design.”

What is talent anyway? Generally, it is regarded as a special ability which someone is born with. A skill that someone seems to possess which allows them to do frequently difficult things more naturally and easier in one area than another person might be able to.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say — ‘I used everything you gave me’.”

— Erma Bombeck

Nevertheless, as my parents always reminded me, talent alone is no substitute for hard work. Each of us is capable of doing pretty much anything we set our mind to. We may have to work harder at it and settle for “95% great” compared to someone with “gifted talent”, but great and to our own satisfaction just the same. Hard work beats natural talent every time, when talent doesn’t work hard. And if following our passion and doing something we love, it’s not “work” anyway.

Seek out and discover your natural talents and encourage children to do the same by exploring and trying their hand at a wide variety of activities. Everyone has a gift for something which allows them to be better and to excel in an area — be it sports, music, the arts, entertainment, science, cooking, parenting, teaching, and so many others. Or, simply just kindness and being there with a listening ear for others. Don’t minimize or discredit whatever may come naturally to you — it’s a gift.

Could Mother Teresa cook well or excel at soccer or painting? I have no idea, because no one ever mentions it — only her kindness, compassion and love. True gifts.

“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” — Benjamin Franklin

That being said, never let a perceived or described lack of talent ever stop you or your children from doing whatever it is you or they may want to do. Your heart will always show you the way. If you have a dominant, recurring thought in mind of something you want to do, listen and do it. Not doing something because “I don’t have any talent” is an excuse, not a reason.

“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” — Michelangelo

Talent is nice to have, but it never makes up for heartfelt passion, dedicated effort and hard work to develop and grow the needed skills. Just ask the guitar player or artist born without arms and creating great works with their feet alone. If there is something you would really like to do or try — just do it. And if doing it makes only you happy, that’s all that counts. If it happens to benefit others along the way, even better.

So, if you are gifted with a natural talent, embrace it and share it with the world. But don’t let a perceived lack of talent in an area stop you. Follow your passion, put in the extra effort doing something you love and do it anyway. The world will be a better place because of it all.

Thanks as always for reading and visiting with us! Share your talents and abilities with the world, and be the reason someone smiles today! — Jim (and Red!)

“Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” ― Roy T. Bennett, “The Light in the Heart”

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” — Emilie Buchwald

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Tap Here For A Free Preview!

Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times!

Counting to Ten — Watching Our Words and Actions

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017 / jrmilson / 4 Comments

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Everything we do in life — each action, spoken word, message, gesture, eye roll, sideways glance, or even thought, has the potential to do either great harm or great good for not only ourselves, but also for everyone around us.

Always true, it is amplified even more living in our modern social media world today, having the capability to influence the lives of people the world over.

So we need to be careful, take a moment to catch our breath, and reflect before speaking, acting or responding. I was never aware that my Mother was quoting Thomas Jefferson when she frequently admonished “Count to ten” when I was upset or angry about something.

“When angry count ten before you speak. If very angry, one hundred.”

— Thomas Jefferson

It is especially important with young and sensitive children, whose self-images, attitudes and behaviors may be influenced, molded and shaped by our next words and actions.

Children who are always, always watching and listening — and learning by observing. It’s what they do. It is a lot of responsibility, but no one ever said parenting or acting like a mature adult was going to be easy.

As the old carpenter saw goes — “measure twice, cut once.” So we need to think twice, count to ten (or a hundred, or even one hundred, ninety-eight and three-quarters) and only then speak or act – prudently, thoughtfully, compassionately. Thereby serving as the very best influence and guide for children and everyone else in our lives.

Children learn from the examples we set, intended or not. If we cannot control our own emotions and behaviors, how can we reasonably expect our children, or our neighbors, co-workers, employees, or anyone else to do so?

“… every single act we do has the potential of causing pain, and every single thing we do has consequences that echo way beyond what we can imagine. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act. It means we should act carefully. Everything matters.” ― Sylvia Boorstein

“Words are like toothpaste, Charlie. Once out, there’s just no putting ’em back. They can land with the gentleness of a feather or the force of a sledgehammer. And the effects go out like ripples across a pond, for good or bad.” — Little Red Bear

Thanks always for dropping by, and we hope you enjoy your visits here. Please act gently and kindly with not only fragile young minds and spirits, but with everyone; and be the reason someone smiles today! — Jim (and Red!)

Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times!

Peace — Compassion — Kindness — Love

“The Adventures of Little Red Bear” Short Stories on Amazon.

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!

About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

Tap Here For A Free Preview!

~ Think Globally — Act Locally ~

Family Sundays Together –Celebrate National Mom and Dad’s Day!

November 13, 2016November 13, 2016 / jrmilson / 2 Comments

Happy Family Sunday! Three cheers for ‘Team Mom and Dad’! Today on November 13th, we celebrate National Mom and Dad’s Day!

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are set aside to recognize and honor each individually with their own special day, but Mom and Dad’s Day has been established to spotlight the “Mom & Dad Team”, the combined unit together. And in an increasingly fractured society, isn’t that what we need more of — Moms and Dads working together — to restore family values and home life for our children and the future?

What better way to observe the day in honor of Team Mom and Dad than celebrating it together with the family? Spending time together with our parents, and with our own children that make us Moms and Dads ourselves.

Image Credit — Grandparents.com

And who hasn’t been tag-teamed by their Mom and Dad at one time or another?

“Mom, can I do this?” — “Go ask your Father.”

“Dad, can I do this?” — “Go ask your Mother.”

“Mom, Dad said to ask you again. Can I do this?” — “Well, if your Father says it is okay.”

“Dad, Mom said I could do it if it’s okay with you.” — “Well, it’s really up to your Mother.”

“Mom, Dad said it was up to you.” — “Well, I don’t know, dear. Check back with your Father.”

A time-tested routine that works almost every time. Because sooner or later, most kids just give up somewhere between the family room and the kitchen and just say “never mind.” Another victory for “Team Mom and Dad”. The ability to say “No” without actually saying so. Kind of like a Pocket Veto.

Image Credit — TodaysParent.com

Of course, the strategy for overcoming the tag team defense was to do an end-around and catch Mom and Dad together in the same room. Sometimes it would result in a score. But risking a numbers game, other times the end-around strategy could backfire and result in a brutal rejection, like a guarded basketball net, when they had you outnumbered two to one in the same room.

But since it was the only play in the kid playbook with any chance of success, after the third or fourth round trip to the kitchen it was the only option available other than giving up entirely, which is what the tag team defense was designed to achieve in the first place. Of course, I suppose the object of the game on both sides was to wear the opponent down until they submitted. But in a single contest, parents most always have the numbers on their side.

Image Credit — FamilyShare.org

I speak of this now after having raised four children of my own and having experienced the game from both sides of the field. My parents were accomplished masters at the tag team game. We never quite achieved their level of success in establishing the impenetrable tag team defense with our children, which my parents seemed so easily adept at and able to pull off each time. But then again, they always had me outnumbered, dealing with only one opponent because my sister was much older and already enlisted on their side.

Our four children had the distinct advantage of being able to work in tag teams of their own, applying relentless pressure on the defense. We seemed to invariably get trapped by the vaunted end-arounds by our kids, cornered on the couch and surrounded on all four sides. When the question before the court was not a life or death issue, relenting frequently seemed the only reasonable chance of emerging from the encounter with our sanity and scalps still intact. So maybe it is a numbers game, after all.

“One of the most important things we adults can do for young children is to model the kind of person we would like them to be.” — Carol B. Hillman

So let’s celebrate the dedication and love of Moms and Dads together, and hats off and huzzahs for the Mom and Dad Team! And to single parents who lovingly and determinedly wear the hats of both roles. Parenting is not an easy job and doesn’t come with an instruction book. And no child seems to arrive complete with an operator’s manual. But the rewards are priceless.

Today is a special day to do something nice for Mom and Dad, or to treat yourself and children to a celebration day of ‘Team Family’.

Image Credit — DeeperWaters.us

November 13th is also World Kindness Day. Practicing and Teaching kindness and compassion right in your home is a great place to start. Children live what they learn, and learn by what they see. Moms and Dads — do a random act of kindness for someone, and show the kids how it’s done! And you don’t need to go far. Mother Teresa put it well — ” Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” Start right in your own family — today.

Image Credit — TheDailyQuotes.com

Happy Moms and Dads Day! Happy Kindness Day! Happy Family Day!

Wishing everyone a beautiful autumn and family Sunday celebrating Moms and Dads and Kindness — together!

Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times

Thanks as always for visiting! The special Christmas Story for Little Red Bear and the crew has passed thru the editing stage and coming right along. Please stay tuned for updates soon, and have a wonderful upcoming week! — Jim (and Red!)