288 Express December 2020

Alvin, Manvel & Neighboring Communities

Cowboy Church...

Bring Your Horse PAGE 4

DECEMBER 2020 Volume 3, Issue 12

A publication of the Alvin Advertiser

WHAT ’S INS IDE PAGE 4

COVER STORY

Chocolate Bayou Cowboy Church participates in roping team competition as a ministry for teenage and older, both cowboys and cowgirls.

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PAGE 10 & 15

Liverpool Happenings

Guest Columns

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PAGE 12

Behind every real estate agent...

Chamber News

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PAGE 13 & 14

More BC Fair participants

Recipes

Alvin, Manvel & Neighboring Communities

Editorial Writers & Photographers Sheila Rieke • Michael Edmonds Graphic Designer Linda Knight

Advertising Account Executives Sheila Rieke ads@alvinsun.net Betty Crawford classifieds@alvinsun.net

Office Manager Donna Hopkins

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Liverpool Happenings Santa’s coming to Liverpool Santa Claus is coming to the Liverpool City Hall on Dec. 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Cars may begin lining up at 5:30 (please not sooner). Liverpool PD and FD will help with traffic control. Visitors are asked to remain in the car until an Elf comes to your window. One adult and child will be allowed inside at a time to visit Santa and pick out a gift. Photos may be taken with Santa.

The city is asking for donations and candy and toys (under $5.00 and unwrapped).

Town Hall Committee to host Christmas raffle The Town Hall Committee will hold a fund-rasing raffle for a Christmas basket which includes a snowman cookie jar filled with candy plus a gift card to Little Caesar’s, a basket filled with boy’s items and a basket filled with girl’s items.

The baskets are on display at the Liverpool City Hall where tickets are on sale $5.00 for one and $10.00 for three.

Drawing will be Dec. 12 after 6:00 p.m. and it is not necessary to be present to win. All proceeds will help with future Town Hall activities.

LyondellBasell employees donate food, other items The employees at the Chocolate Bayou plant chose to donate collected food and other items to the Liverpool Food Pantry during their 21st Annual Global Care Day. Five employees delivered more than 1,300 items in October to the Liverpool city hall.

Meyer named extension agent Ms. Cassidy Meyer has been named the new Brazoria County Extension Agent for 4-H and Youth Development, according to Eric Zimmerman, District Extension Administrator, and the Brazoria County Commissioners Court. Cassidy assumed her new duties in November.

Ms. Meyer earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Texas State Cassidy Meyer University in Animal Science, focusing on Integrated Ranch and Natural Resource Management.

Cassidy will assumed the position that was previously held by Courtney Latour. “Cassidy is very enthusiastic and is looking forward to working with, and growing the large and involved Brazoria County 4-H Program”, said Zimmerman.

L O C A L B U S I N E S S D I R E C T O R Y

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COVER STORY

Chocolate Bayou Cowboy Church

“Family friendly atmosphere - everyone’s welcome” Story and Photos by Sheila Rieke

Cowboys and cowgirls are welcome to particiate in the roping team which practices under the lights in the arena located on the church property. The roping team is one of several ministries of the church.

It was never Chance Gardner’s plan to become a pastor. He was part of a church that started at the Alvin Youth Livestock Arena Association. When it began to lose members and its leader, on an off chance, Gardner was asked to speak. He had been studying the books of Timothy and Titus; the purpose of those letters was to instruct and direct the setting up of a church. He got up and spoke on what he knew was Bible based and the rest is history.

The current Cowboy Church started 10 years ago when they bought the building and its 40 acres. They have about 250 members. Some of their members come from as far away as Pasadena, south Angleton, Friendswood, and Santa Fe. The majority are Alvin residents. Ask Pastor Chance how he feels about the church and its congregation, he’ll simply say, “I feel like we’re in a blessed spot.”

The Chocolate Bayou Cowboy Church has grown since its early days. Pastor Chance credits their growth to keeping it a Bible-based

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and a nondenominational church. They still reach out to cowboys who aren’t ministered to, guys who keep to themselves and are uncomfortable in a formal church.

“Here at the Cowboy Church they can be themselves and feel welcomed,” Pastor Chance explained.

Over the years, as they’ve ministered to those who are lost, they’ve discovered there are a lot of people who feel the same way. Because of their ‘come as you are, everyone’s welcome here’ approach, they Continued on page 5

COVER STORY Continued from page 4 get people in from all different backgrounds who want an old-time church with none of that fancy stuff. “It’s man making churches

them to feel a part of something and make a contribution to the ministry,” Pastor Chance expressed.

Pastor Chance Gardner and Deacon Kenny Stewart invite you to ‘come as you are’ and enjoy church in a totally cowboy atmosphere. with fancy stained-glass windows, not God. God just want his word shared, he doesn’t care about the worldly things,” Pastor Chance said.

In a nutshell, he describes the Cowboy Church as a Bible-believing old-time type church, not judgmental. “We don’t glorify sin; we accept that we’re all sinners. We’re here to share the good news of Jesus. The truth is the truth, we don’t change that,” He stated.

“We have family friendly atmosphere – everyone’s welcome. Not fussy, you can come in and be quiet or you can socialize. We don’t want people to just be busy, we want

For those interested in being a part of something, the Cowboy church has 12 different ministries to get plugged into including youth groups, women’s groups, and they even have a roping team and a chuckwagon team. The cowboys might not be riding their horses to church anymore, but the cowboy lifestyle is still celebrated and respected.

Besides being governed by elders and deacons, Deacon Kenny Stewart explained how they also use the 3Cs when making decisions for the church. 1) Christ centered: whatever it is, it has to be set up in a way that people will see Christ in what we’re doing. 2) Cost

effective: Do we have the money to do it. Being fiscally responsible is part of the decisionmaking process. 3) Consensus: everyone on the team has to agree.

Pastor Chance credits not shutting down during the Corona virus for their current growth. “I think the virus and these times have people searching, they’re hungry for the truth,” he said. To honor social distancing, they set up a stage in the arena and plugged into a Christian radio station. “It was just like a drive-in movie theater; people drove in, sat in their cars or the back of their trucks listening to the sermon and our band over the radio.”

They’re open now with two Sunday services at 9:00 & 10:30 am. They also have a Wednesday night adult Bible study at 7:00 pm along with a children’s bible school for ages 4-17, and nursery for children 0-3.

He went on to express the importance of a relationship with Jesus for our younger generation. “Their eternal life depends on it.

They need some truth in this word, to search it out and test it out; test the word,” he explained. Then, once they have God in their lives, they pass it on to their children.

Pastor Chance uses his story to encourage others to trust God and not to be afraid to step out in faith. He had never preached, never ever wanted to, and had a fear and distain for public speaking.

God pulled him out of his comfort zone. “If he can do that with me, he can do it with anyone. He’ll be there.”

The Chocolate Bayou Cowboy Church will be hosting their fourth annual Trail to Jesus, December 4 and 5. On horse drawn wagons, the church brings their guests to authentic scenes that depict the story of Jesus, from his birth to his death. The event will also have live music, food (from the chuck wagon), games, cookie decorating and more. There’s never a fee, but love offerings are humbly appreciated. As Pastor Chance and Deacon Kenny Steward would say, “It’s nothing fancy and everyone is welcome.”

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FEATURE

Behind every great Real Estate agent . . .

Story and Photos by Michael Edmonds … Is a great broker leading the way … a real estate broker to be exact.

Not many people think about who all is involved when buying a home or selling a home. You hire a realtor; you go through the process and you close on your home. Sounds simple enough …but there are always key people seldom ever seen, one of those being the real estate broker. Although they are typically in the background, make no mistake, they are definitely there.

The difference between a real estate agent and a real estate broker is pretty basic. A real estate agent is someone who has a professional license to help people buy, sell or rent real estate. There were educational requirements, background checks and the need to pass an exam to get this license.

A real estate broker is someone who has gone beyond a real estate agent’s education requirements with broker education, exam requirements and experience. Course work is more in-depth with knowledge in legal issues as well as how the law applies to operating a brokerage.

A real estate broker can own a real estate firm or hire agents to work for them. They generally offer resources

“JJ”, a local agent, states that her broker is very attentive to her needs, finding solutions to problems that arise, and being available at all times if the need arises.

to their team of sellers such as office space, meeting rooms, printers, fax machines, and even coffee! Being a mentor to new salespeople and their success is an important factor in making a productive team.

Being a leader also comes with additional responsibilities. Keeping up with the latest contracts, agreements, community events, and laws are just a few things that the broker monitors and communicates with their sellers. Maintaining client records is another necessary chore. The more comprehensive they are, the thicker the file will be (think 7-layer cake).

Call them the “Wizard” behind the green curtain, or the conductor of an orchestra, better yet by their first name, but do realize brokers are there by necessity and for a reason. When faced with the decision to buy or sell a home or property, they are there to make the “deal” run as smoothly as possible and to hopefully bring a smile to your face.

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Keeping files up to date from start to finish are one of the tasks Flor Mercado performs as the transaction/closing coordinator for her broker.

More photos on page 7

FEATURE

More photos tell the story

“JJ” shares “desk space” with her colleague, who apparently was not in. Office space is one of the many resources a broker offers when owning a firm.

Files, files, files. This is a portion of one agent’s records that are kept after a deal has been closed.

Another resource the broker may offer is a conference room. Meetings, hosting guest speakers, and training are a just few activities that can be accommodated in this space.

Brokers are constantly looking for innovative ways to assist there team members, such as finding and sharing information that will bring them more in line with their client’s needs.

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FEATURE

Take the ‘Red Kettle Challenge’ Salvation Army virtual bell-ringers needed this Christmas Galveston, Texas (November 2, 2020) - Christmas is fast approaching! Shoppers will soon be greeted by the sound of The Salvation Army bells ringing at stores around Galveston County. The Red Kettle Campaign is The Salvation Army’s major fundraising event of the year and all proceeds support year-round programs and emergency assistance benefiting those in need in our community. This year, The Salvation Army has a new way you can get involved and get into the Christmas spirit – take the Red Kettle Challenge!

The Red Kettle Challenge offers a new, virtual twist to the traditional Red Kettles that raise funds supporting those in need.

“You will still see friendly bell ringers and Red Kettles at area stores,” said Major Doria of The Salvation Army. “However,

we are issuing the Red Kettle Challenge in our community to step up the efforts to help families who are homeless or struggling to make ends meet. This year has been difficult for many in our community. You can be the difference by ensuring The Salvation Army has the necessary funds to help all year long.

We need individuals, companies, schools and churches to accept the challenge of having their own online Red Kettles.”

To register for the Red Kettle Challenge, go to www.salvationarmytexas.org/ GalvestonCounty/. Select “Take The Challenge,” then register your individual or team kettle, set a goal, and get to work promoting it to your co-workers, family and friends.

“With ongoing concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, the Red Kettle Challenge provides a way for people to show their support for The Salvation Army and the many we help, without having to leave the house,” said Major Doria. “Challenge your friends, family and coworkers to support your online kettle and help Rescue Christmas right here in Galveston.”

Salvation Army red kettles will be

again stationed outside of local stores and businesses Monday-Saturday from midNovember until Christmas Eve. “All bell ringers will be equipped with personal protective equipment this Christmas season, ensuring the safety of donors and shoppers, along with our volunteers,” said Major Doria.

“With more individuals and families coming to us for help than ever before, please don’t forget to give to The Salvation Army red kettles this season.”

In 2019, The Salvation Army in Galveston raised $116,000 in kettles. This year’s goal is $250,000. “The goal is based on the need,” says Major Doria. “We missed the goal last year and it hurt.”

Volunteers are crucial to the success of the Red Kettle campaign throughout November and December. It’s easier than ever for individuals, families, groups and businesses to sign up this year! You can select the location, day and time you would like to ring when you visit www.RegisterToRing.com.

We hope to see you at the kettle!

For more information about The Salvation Army, please call us at (409) 763-1691 or visit us at 601 51st St. Galveston, TX 77551.

Secure, online donations can be made there or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. About The Salvation Army The Salvation Army annually helps more than 23 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is doing the most good at 7,600 centers of operation around the country. In the first-ever listing of “America’s Favorite Charities” by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Salvation Army ranked as the country’s largest privately funded, direct-service nonprofit. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood.

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FEATURE

Brazoria County Fair Participants

Blake Bryant and his Grand Champion grey Brahman, Belle

Young participant and her project

Just a few of the young men and women who worked hard to prepare their animals for the big show.

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GUEST COLUMN

Just Another Voice By James Hopkins

Touch

“He Touched Me” “Oh, He Touched Me” “And Oh, The Joy That Floods My Soul” “Something Happened, And Now I Know” “He Touched Me And Made Me Whole” A hymn by Bill Gaither

James Hopkins

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One morning I was reading in Luke where Jesus healed the high priest’s servant after Peter cut off his ear. Luke 22:50-51 “And one of them smote the

servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, ‘suffer ye thus far’, and he touched his ear, and healed him.

I was led by Holy Spirit, as He so often does, to look up the word ‘Touched’. So, I went to the Blue Letter Bible website.

The Greek word for Touch is (G680) ‘haptomai’; it means ‘to attach oneself to’.

If that doesn’t grip your heart then nothing will. This one word has given new meaning to this beautiful hymn.

Here’s what makes it even more exciting, the same word is used when the woman with the issue of blood said, “If I could but only ‘Touch’ (or ‘attach myself to’) the hem of his garment, I will be made whole”.

The same word is used in Luke 7:39 by the Pharisee when referring to the woman who was washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. “Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, this man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that ‘Toucheth’ (attacheth herself to) him: for she is a sinner”.

Here are other instances where Jesus ‘Touched’: • In Matthew 8:15: He ‘attached himself’ to Peter’s mother-in-law’s hand and fever left her.

• In Matthew 9:29: He

‘attached himself’ to the blind men’s eyes; their eyes were opened.

• In Matthew 20:34: Once again he ‘attached himself to’ blind eyes and they were opened.

• In Mark 1:41: He ‘attached himself to’ a leper and he was made clean.

• In Luke 18:15: Children were brought to him that he might ‘attach himself to’ them.

• Etc., etc., etc.

Here are instances where someone ‘Touched’ Jesus.

• In Matthew 14:36: “They brought unto him all that were diseased; that they might ‘attach themselves to’ the hem of his garment: and as many as ‘attached themselves to’ the hem of his garment, were made perfectly whole”.

• Multitudes sought to ‘attach themselves to’ Jesus in Luke 6:19 and we know from Acts 10:38, he healed them all.

Whether Jesus touches you or you touch Jesus, both you and your circumstances will change!

Jesus Changes Not! By the way, when’s the last time that you touched Jesus or allowed him to touch you? Need a change in some area of your life? If he hasn’t touched you lately, maybe it’s your turn to touch him. After all, it’s a twoway relationship.

If what I have discovered here is true, you can expect the same results either way.

LIBRARY NEWS

1,000 books before kindergarten program The concept is simple, but the rewards are priceless! Brazoria County Library System will help lead the way to early literacy by promoting this nation-wide initiatiatve beginning in October! To participate all parents have to do is read books to their little ones, ages 0 – 5, and record the number of books as they read them. There are several simple ways to record the reading. You can pick up a paper reading log at any Brazoria County Library, use the free Beanstack Tracker app, or go to bclstx.beanstack.org and enroll in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program. This program will be ongoing and works in conjunction with all of our other seasonal reading challenges!

By reading a book to your newborn, infant or toddler you will give them a headstart on a lifetime of reading and learning. Research shows that reading to young children every day, is not just a great time for cuddles, but increases childrens’ vocabulary, builds comprehension, and it is never too early to begin!

When reading to infants, choose books with illustrations in black, white and red. These colors are easier for newborns to see. As children begin crawling and moving on their own, choose books with simple bright illustrations and only a few words per page. At toddler age and beyond, children will be able to comprehend more and more, so choose books that are fun and are enjoyable to read.

Do you read your child’s favorite book over and over and OVER again? Great! Children love repetition and each book counts EVERY time you read it.

And, don’t forget to be a little bit silly and dramatic as you read; it makes reading fun for both you and your child. By reading 1 or 2 books a day, your child will have a headstart on learning and your family will have read 1,000 books (or more) before your child starts Kindergarten!

Happy Reading! For questions about this program contact your local Brazoria County Library. ~~~~~ BCLS is a dynamic system of libraries providing convenient access to quality and popular resources to meet the educational and recreational needs of Brazoria County residents of all ages. There are 12 libraries in the system - Alvin, Angleton, Brazoria, Clute, Danbury, Freeport, Lake Jackson, Manvel, Pearland (2), Sweeny, and West Columbia. bcls.lib.tx.us

Love Writing?

We’re looking for feature writers.

Call Donna 281-331-4421 DECEMBER 2020 . . .

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CHAMBER NEWS

Manvel ‘Coffee and Connections’

Alvin-Manvel Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for their October Coffee and Connections which was sponsored by Keating Toyota, 4233 Del Bello Blvd., Manvel. Pictured from left to right: Anson Jones, General Manager/Operating Partner; Miranda Gonzales, Brand Marketing Manager; and Eric Rosenman, General Sales Manager.

Alvin ‘Ribbon Cutting’

A large showing of support was on hand Nov. 4th at the Alvin Manvel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for 1820 Coffee House.

Owners are Jake Starkey and Dorian Strickland who say their slogan is ‘Building Community one cup at a time’. The business is located at 419 W. Sealy St. in Alvin.

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RECIPES

A keeper for holiday dessert trays The holiday season is a time when families across the globe look forward to the traditions they’ve passed down from generation to generation.

Holiday baking is one such tradition in many families.

From cookies and pies to brittles and fudge, there’s no shortage of sweet treats come the holiday season. But who’s recipe collection couldn’t benefit from another delicious addition? That’s just what can be found in “Toffee Cheesecake Bars” from “Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook” (RDA Enthusiast Brands) by the Taste of Home/Reader’s Digest Kitchens.

Toffee Cheesecake Bars Makes 2-1⁄2 dozen 1 cup all-purpose flour 3⁄4 cup confectioners’ sugar 1⁄3 cup baking cocoa 1⁄2 cup cold butter 1 8-oz pck reduced-fat cream cheese 1 14-oz sweetened condensed milk 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1⁄4 cups milk chocolate English toffee bits, divided 1) In a small bowl, combine the flour, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa and baking

soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press in the bottom of an ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch baking dish.

Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until set.

2) In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add the milk, eggs and vanilla; beat until smooth. Stir in 3⁄4 cup toffee bits. Pour over crust. Bake 18 to 22 minutes longer or until center is almost set.

3) Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.

Sprinkle with remaining toffee bits; cool completely. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours overnight.

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RECIPES

Turn your grill into a pizza maker Some say an outdoor kitchen isn’t complete without a pizza oven. A delicious pie straight out of a blazing hot oven can be delectable when dining al fresco, but pizza also can be made right on the grill. This recipe for “The Chicagoan” from Craig W. Priebe’s “Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas” (DK) utilizes grilled beef and sliced potatoes to give this grilled pizza a steakhouse flavor. Use a homemade dough or your favorite premade variety available at your local grocery store.

The Chicagoan Makes a 12-inch pizza 1 russet potato, peeled & sliced 1⁄4-in thick 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 8 ounces top sirloin or strip steak 1⁄2 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 grilled pizza crust 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan 1 cup shredded mozzarella 1⁄2 cup shredded cheddar 1 cup chunky tomato sauce 1⁄2 cup thinly sliced red onions 1⁄4 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives

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1) Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place the sliced potato in a large bowl and toss with two tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper. Line a baking sheet with foil and spread the slices in a single layer. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the potato is golden and tender. While still hot, loosen the slices with a spatula so they don’t stick.

2) Prepare a grill for direct cooking over high heat. Season the steak liberally on both sides with the salt and pepper. Grill the steak over the hottest part of the fire for 4 minutes. Turn and grill for 4 minutes longer, until the steak is medium-rare and well charred. Remove and let sit for 5 minutes. Slice thinly.

3) Brush the grilled side of the pizza crust with the remaining one tablespoon olive oil and dust with the Parmesan. Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar on top. Drop spoonfuls of the chunky tomato sauce onto the pizza.

Top with the potato, red onion and the steak.

4) Grill the pizza with indirect heat. If your

grill is still hot, move coals to one side or turn off one burner and allow the pizza to cook on the side without a direct flame. Grill the pizza for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and brown. The bottom may have a few black spots from charring. Optional: Broil the cooked pizza in the oven for 1 to 2 minutes more to caramelize the top.

5) Before serving, drop teaspoons of the sour cream onto the pizza, and garnish with the fresh chives Grilling the crust To grill a pizza crust for this recipe, roll out to a 12-inch circle and place on a cookie sheet.

Adjust grill to reach a temperature of 400 F. Slide the dough onto the grill. The dough should take about 3 minutes to cook. Watch for bubbles. The crust will be soft at first and tear easily. To check doneness, lift the underside. It should be an even light brown with brown grill marks.

Pick up the crust using tongs and place it on your cookie sheet. Flip it over so the grilled side is face up. This browned side becomes the top of your pizza.

COLUMN The Postscript by Carrie Classon

“Being Blue”

Carrie Classon

Blue had been through a rough patch.

He was adopted from the shelter and then returned for unspecified reasons. That’s when Bill met him.

Blue is an Italian mastiff – which means he is massive, just not quite as massive as an ordinary mastiff. I don’t know exactly what attracted Bill to Blue, but it’s not hard to understand. Blue is a very sweet boy. But he’d been through a lot.

Bill is still working from home most days, but he’s been going in on Wednesdays and that’s what Bill did the Wednesday before last, the first Wednesday after he adopted Blue.

That’s when Blue ate the door frame.

“Well, it stands to reason,” I told my husband, Peter. “A small dog chews up your socks when he’s anxious. A big dog eats the door frame.”

Bill asked if we could babysit Blue the next Wednesday and I was delighted. He brought Blue over and Blue watched Bill’s car drive off. That’s when Blue got a little anxious.

“It’s okay, Blue,” I said. “Bill is coming back.”

Peter distracted Blue by tossing goldfish crackers to him.

Blue was a terrible catch. Every goldfish hit the ground, but Blue was happy to eat them once they did. He kept looking for Bill’s car.

“Let’s go inside, Blue!” I said, and Blue came upstairs to my writing room while Peter got ready for his hike. Blue nervously watched me and then Peter and then me again.

When Peter went on his walk, Blue began to cry. Peter was back a few minutes later because he forgot his phone. Blue greeted him like he’d been gone a month.

After Peter left the second time, Blue relaxed a little. It appeared that people left this place and then they came back. It was worrisome, but maybe it would be okay.

Blue lay down on his bed, and he spent most of the morning watching me, making sure I didn’t go anywhere.

Every so often, I’d reach down and pet his worried forehead.

“It’s okay, Blue,” I said. “Peter is coming back and then Bill is coming back and everything is going to be okay.”

But I wasn’t sure if I was the best person to be reassuring him – because I’ve been Blue.

I’ve been anxious and worried and told myself that everything is going to be okay. Then I’ve replied, “That’s what you say.

But how do I know for sure?”

When I think back on times I’ve been anxious, it’s hard to remember exactly what I was worried about because that is never the point. I’m just worried.

Things don’t seem right. Things might not work out. I might have done something wrong. Maybe people will be unhappy with me.

I know exactly what it feels like to be Blue.

But the next time I feel anxious, I have a new trick I’m going to try. I’m going to picture that big worried dog – who has reason to worry, who has been through some worrisome things – and say, “It’s okay this time.

This time you are going to be fine.”

When Bill returned, Blue ran over to him and leaned his big head against him and wagged his

tail.

“You see, Blue?” I said, “I told you everything was going to be fine.”

Then Blue did something I didn’t expect. He came over to me and leaned his head against me for a long moment. He wagged his tail. Then he returned to Bill.

You can think whatever you like. I’m going to believe that’s how Blue says, “Thank you.”

Till next time, Carrie Carrie Classon’s memoir is called, “Blue Yarn.” Learn more at CarrieClasson.com.

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