My daughter. Animal friend. Beautiful soul!

My youngest son with the giant dog!

I just had to add this to show how big this dog is....my son playing with him is over 6ft tall.

My oldest son with my sisters giant dog! He is 6'1" just to give you an idea how big Bruzzi is.

Seeing her smile is everything to me!

Broken Heart

As I am writing this, I am crying. I have been through this before with my oldest son and now it is my daughter. You see, she has just had her heart broken. She was dating a very nice, respectful young man for almost two years until last night at 10 pm. I got a call from him and I barely could understand him but I made out the name of my daughter. I assumed he was trying to call her but he was asking me to check on her. I went upstairs to find my daughter crying her heart out. He had just broken up with her on the phone. He was away for a week at the beach for Senior Week and just returned. She was excited she would see him today but instead she learned he doesn't want to be her boyfriend anymore. I am torn because they are young and he is going off to college and she is a senior in high school so I know these things happen. But he was different (I thought). He wrote her songs, poems and letters of love all the time. He brought her roses all the time (even the day he was leaving for the beach). He was always telling her that he couldn't wait till they married some day and would casually talk about their future. I would hold my breath when I heard these conversations because I know from experience this is not how things usually work out. She is heartbroken. I find myself lost here. I know how to care for a sick, lonely, abandoned animal but I can't fix my own daughters broken heart. I had a similar thing happen to my son when he was 20 (now 24) and all we did was cry together. He got over it and he survived but you never get over not being able to take the pain away from your own child. I would gladly take on all the pain so they never had to feel the hurt but this is something I can't do. You see, my daughter is one of the most caring, loving people you could meet. One of her passions is animals. She stopped eating meat when she was 10. She has a "old" soul that is way beyond her years. Yesterday she demanded I stop the car and she got out to help a turtle across the road because he was dangerously close to getting hit. I was yelling for her to hurry because I didn't want her to get hit by a car. These are things she does all the time. Little things to help animals. She is a lot like me in a lot of ways but much, much better. I know in my heart we all must feel some pain, sorrow and adversity to grow and become stronger but she has had more than her share recently. I always said that my oldest son is my challenge. My daughter is my rock...she has stood by me and helped me through hard times and my youngest son is my comedian. He can make me laugh whenever I am down. These are the hardest things about being a mother. I want to fix everything for my kids and I can't. I can only be there and hold their hands and love them. I am hoping that is enough.

Picky the Goat

On a cold winter day I arrived at the farm and started my routine. As I walked through my Dad's living room I noticed a box on the floor with a blanket folded up in it. My first though was I guess I should see if that is a cat blanket that needs to be washed. On closer inspection I saw a tiny head peering from under the blanket. I immediately went to the kitchen and asked Dad about our new arrival. He explained the neighbor was taking care of a local farm while the owners were away and she found this goat that was near death. Dad said he was just keeping it while she was in school. So as with all the sick ones that arrive it was time to set up the "sick room" where they stay until they are better. The crate, the blankets and the food and water. So as I was taking "Picky" into the room I noticed that she was VERY ill. Her tongue was hanging out and she was very warm. I decided to unwrap her and try to get her to drink. She drank only drips. I was just glad to know that she would not die alone and cold today. As I left the farm that day I was sure that she would not be alive when I returned. Boy, was I wrong. Although months and months passed with a goat living in the house and lots and lots of goat poop later, I am pleased to say that Picky is one healthy, beautiful, ornery critter. I am always amazed what a little TLC can do for a very sick, neglected and frightened animal. As Sonia, Dad and I can attest to a little love goes a long way.