Jazz and Toby

Jazz and Toby, originally uploaded by safjazz.

Back in the olden days, Sarah took this picture of Jazz and Toby when she was taking care of him while I was out of town.

But even longer ago than THAT (in July of 2000), Jazz adopted Sarah... I mean Sarah adopted Jazz.

In November of 2001, I adopted Toby.

Toby and Jazz are best dog friends. As his first act of friendship, Toby shared a nasty stomach virus with Jazz.

Now they share a mitral valve disease diagnosis. Toby got his on November 26. Two Mondays later (December 10) Jazz received the preliminary diagnosis, which was made official today.

Sharing is important in a friendship, but this is ridiculous. :)

So although it stinks that we both have a dog with mitral valve disease, it's nice that we have each other with whom to compare notes and commiserate.

And amid the Mitral Valve Adventure, we'll continue to enjoy living life with our wonderful dogs (Fox, too, of course). After all, almost everything is better with a dog.

Indian Springs, Weekend 2

Ed, Toby, and I had a great second trip to Indian Springs.

A sampling of the photos:

Elizabeth and me.

Elizabeth is always so proud of herself when she pulls herself to a standing position. :)

Sarah hanging out in the golf cart the family uses to travel around the campground.

Jacob checking out Toby. (It was hard to get pictures of Jake this year.)

We all went to Indian Springs State Park. The kids played in the creek. Toby and Ed hung out in the shade. Smart dog and human.

I absolutely love this picture of Ben.

This is the best picture I got of the three older kids together. In some ways, this is best. This is Jacob, Ben, and Sarah in their "natural" environment: busy, busy, busy.

Family Portrait 1 (Sarah is hiding.)

Family Portrait 2 (There's Sarah!)
I'm going to have a Photoshop master "blend" these photos, so we get the best expressions of all family members. Ah, technology.

I'm sad we likely won't see this great family again until this time next year, but I always value the time we have together. Leslie and Bryan are the only non-local (to me) college friends I stay in close contact with. They are forever friends... to both Ed and to me.

Indian Springs, weekend one

Each year I, and now Ed, go to Indian Springs Holiness Camp Meeting to visit with Leslie, my best friend from college, her husband Bryan (also a college friend) and their four kids. I met their youngest, Elizabeth, for the first time yesterday.

We had a nice visit, but I'm beat.

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures.

Elizabeth Grace

Sarah the Jumping Bean

Leslie and Elizabeth

A blur: this is what life feels like when I'm with Leslie and her family. I can't imagine what life feels like for them. :)

Next Saturday, Ed and I will go back for the day and take Toby.

Toby

I hope the presence of the dog as a "prop" will allow me to get some pictures of the boys.