A few years ago, Abby dressed Luna up as Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas...
Greta is a German Wirehaired Pointer cross of my friend veterinary assistant Katelyn Clark. She is ten years old. Isn't she gorgeous?? And so sweet! Merry Christmas Greta!
Onyx is my niece Kylah's kitty. Isn't he gorgeous?
Merry Happy Thanksgiving Christmas from the always dapper young man Onyx!
New comic every Friday!
Oh Freebird!
Freebird says "Ain't nobody got time for this reindeer nonsense!"
That's better! Good job Joe!
Buttercup <3
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
One of my favorite client families has the last name "Fox." They gave me this wine and fox wine topper for Christmas last year. I love it so much!
Today's post is a radiograph (x-ray) of a miniature ornament. I do not remember why we took the x-ray. Either to compare to the contents of a dog's stomach who may of eaten an ornament or just for funsies. I think it was the first one.
Anyways, I thought it was a pretty picture and wanted to share it with you!
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23, NIV
"Don't harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:8, NIV
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know.”
― A.A. Milne, The Pooh Story Book
Things I have been told during my career:
"You need to toughen up."
"You can not be so emotionally invested."
"You need a harder heart."
No, no and no.
When there is grief, I need to be gentle, I care deeply and I need a soft heart. The payoff has always been that I am emotionally steamrollered. One sad case can flatten me for days and have lasting effects. It has always been worth it. I would rather be there in the midst of the sadness than anywhere else.
But what if instead of our hearts becoming hardened or remaining completely vulnerable to destruction, there were a third option?
We are instructed in the Bible to guard our hearts, but not to to have hard hearts. How is that possible?
I think the key is in developing a stronger heart.
How?
Some of the strengthening of a heart is supernatural. It is not something we can will to happen, but it is something we can allow to happen.
When the next appointment is a euthanasia or a quality of life consult, do you open the door and walk in prepared to be fully emotionally engaged? Already, with each experience your heart grows stronger.
Our hearts can also be strengthened through repetition. Keep walking into difficult situations over and over. Not that we have a choice as veterinary professionals. Guard your heart. Do not let it become hardened. Let it grow stronger with every experience.
You are already stronger than you know and becoming even stronger.
"Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened" by Petra
Don't let your heart be hardened - don't let your love grow cold
May it always stay so childlike - may it never grow too old
Don't let your heart be hardened - may you always know the cure
Keep it broken before Jesus, keep it thankful, meek, and pure
May it always feel compassion - may it beat as one with God's
May it never be contrary - may it never be at odds
May it always be forgiving - may it never know conceit
May it always be encouraged - may it never know defeat
May your heart be always open - never satisfied with right
May your heat be filled with courage and strengthened with all might
Let His love rain down upon you
Breaking up your fallow ground
Let it loosen all the binding
Till only tenderness is found
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Milo belongs to my veterinarian friend Miranda Thomassen and her family. He is the cutest dog!
Oh Milo! You are so cute!
Gulliver's Christmas photo...
Have you ever seen anyone so beautiful? Me neither! Thank you Jaime and Ross! Beautiful photo by The Pic Chick Photography.
From Mom, Jaime...
I honestly have no idea how she even got that picture of Gulliver because he was totally wound up that day and wouldn’t sit still. We had to shake treat bags for an hour to get him to focus for a moment at a time and he got so many treats that he barfed once we got home.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND
New comic every Friday!
This particular stranger-than-normal comic strip could use some explaining. It was one of the first "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet" strips, published in November 2011, but is not a part of the chronological story line. I drew it as my small contribution to Blogathon 2011, an online blogging event held in November 2011 to raise money for several animal charities. The "unofficial" theme of Blogathon 2011 was zombies, thus the zombie giraffe of this strip.
The comic strip is based on a terribly disturbing short story that I probably should not have read in junior high, but I did. I have not read it again until this week, when I read it to see if it is as creepy as I remember. It is. Anyways, the comic is based on my memory of that story, with the happy twist I believe Dr. Vet would have given it as a kid. The story is The Monkey's Paw, written by W. W. Jacobs and published in 1902. If you click the title, the entire text is online. Awful, huh? And awesome.
Happy reading! If you get scared by The Monkey's Paw, sleep with the light on...That is what I did both times I read it.
Happy 9th Birthday and a day Joy! We love you so much!
These cutes belong to my veterinary technician friend Erika. They would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!
Frank is the cat of my veterinary technician friend, Allison Parker. I love Frank and his cute face so much!
Merry Christmas from Frank!
Frank in dog and cat vision!
Remember Toski the Corgi? He has a new trick he would like to show you!
Toski Sends His Letter to Santa...
He also hopes you have a very good holiday season!
Photo from Christmas Time 2016
From the Omaha Police Mounted Patrol, "Santa was out with Blaze and Eastwood accompanied by Officers Waller and Vansickle."
Thank you to the Omaha First Responders (and of course Santa) for all you do! We appreciate you!
Merry Christmas from Hannah and Charlie!
This is my friend Hannah's cat Charlie. Once a year, Charlie dresses in her Christmas best for a picture. You are such a good sport, Charlie!
Dog and cat vision!
New comic every Friday!
