Ronald Reagan A Soldiers Pledge Listen Learn Remember

VIDEO President Ronald Reagan's Christmas Address,12/23/1981)

Words of Wisdom and Reflection for Christmas~

Merry Christmas from Mama Sue~

I want to take a moment to wish everyone in my High Calling Cocker Family the merriest and most blessed Christmas!  May the joy of the Christ Child ever reign in your hearts, as He has in mine.

I finished frosting the Christmas cookies and have been wrapping gifts,so thankful that this year none of my boys are deployed.  We will spend Christmas together.   Our daughter Jeffie (Jennifer) and her husband and newborn son, Wyatt, are in Louisville.  Sad that we haven't had the chance to visit our new grand-baby as yet....but looking forward to that day.

Another son, Kevin and his wife are expecting a baby girl in June.  And we had the blessing of hearing that our daughter Katie is expecting a baby in August of 2016.  She and Jon live in Hawaii, and we had already planned to go there next August.  Mike and I were married there 50 years ago on August 18th, so it is perfect timing for us to go back for our golden anniversary, right when the baby is due.

I'm a little down because I had planned to get Mike a special Christmas gift.  It looks like it won't get here in time for the holiday, so that's sad for me.  I will say a little prayer for a Christmas miracle.

May the good Lord shine His light down on you all this Christmas...and every day throughout the new year.

And please give my cocker furry kids a hug and kiss from Mama Sue.  I always hold them close in my heart.

Much love,

Mama Sue

Merry Christmas from Chloe and Daisy, Lancaster, New York~

Merry Christmas from Miss Ladybug!!!

Shelby and her new friend, Josie, from Clearwater, Florida~

Shelby and Josie

Shelby Age 8

Hi Sue,

How are you? I was reading your blog and looking at all of the pictures. You look and sound so happy and I am so glad. Especially glad that Mike is doing better. Your new little puppy is just so cute. I bet it is really nice having a cocker spaniel again. Your family is just growing and growing and I love the quilts that you are making.

Mike and I are doing well. He retired a year ago, but went back as a contractor and will probably only work for another year. We are planning on getting an RV and tour the US a little at a time. This is Mike's dream and I am sure we will have a great time especially since we will have the dogs. I have attached two pictures for you to see Shelby and our newest one, Josie. Can't believe that Shelby is 8 years old now. She is truly the sweetest dog I have ever known. As our groomer always says, she is the best dog in the whole world. LOL She loves Josie, but sometimes Josie can be very aggravating to her. Big difference between an 8 yr old and a 1 yr. old. Josie is a much smaller dog than Shelby weighing in at 22 lbs. full grown. But she thinks she is the boss.

It is so good to still see the puppies and their owners on your blog. Everyone seems so happy. Where did you get your new puppy from? We got Josie from C&M Cockers. None of the websites even compared to yours when you were breeding.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and I hope you enjoy the pictures of Shelby.

Take care.

Hugs,

Sue

"Merry Christmas from Sasha", Toronto, Ontario, Canada~

To our knowledge, Sasha had never come in contact with a real Santa-like beard. She was hesitant but, as you can see, he won her over.


Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas and heavenly Blessings for all.

Pat & Ron & Sasha

Miss Bailey Glory from Buffalo, New York~

Happy All Saints Day, Sue! And a happy belated Halloween! This year Curley
went as Eeyore and Miss Bailey Glory went as a bee. They were so adorable.


At almost three and a half, Bailey continues to be an absolute delight to
have. She is wonderful with her special needs big brother and helps us keep him
safe. As you may remember, he came to us deaf and blind in his left eye and at
thirteen, is now losing the sight in his right eye as well. When we go to the
park she helps us corral him and when we come home, she wakes him up to tell
him. If he's sleeping and we leave the room, she brings him to us when he wakes
up so he's not wandering around looking for us.

Last weekend I made an
unexpected trip to Albany, then on NH with my Dad to help him get the dock out
of the lake. Alex and I already had plans to come down again this weekend so I
could get my snow tires on and Dad could take Alex fly fishing. Of course,
Bailey didn't know she wasn't being left behind again, so she set about ensuring
that she got to go by stowing away in my suitcase. She's too cute, Sue!


She's been so good at Grandma and Grandpa's! She did get me up at 4:20 this
morning, but only because it felt like our usual rising time of 5:15 with the
clocks going back last night. My seven year old niece and five year old nephew
came over today and even though they were running around and playing she hardly
did more than watch them. This is great progress over last Christmas! She's
just not used to being around kids- we live a very quiet and sedate life- so for
her to be around these two adorable kids and hardly bark was wonderful!


Tomorrow it's back to Buffalo for us! Next weekend I'll put away the
Halloween decorations and begin my cleaning in preparation for the holidays. I
get it from Mom. She calls it her Advent because when she's doing these
physically demanding, but mind wandering tasks, she reflects on memories from
our childhood, blessings from the past year, what the season truly means, and
what she hopes for all of the family in the coming year.

I hope all
continues to go well with you and that Mike continues to recover. I so enjoy
seeing all of your quilts. You do such beautiful work, Sue, and I'm sure they
will be treasured by each recipient. I'm currently cross-stitching stockings
for Mom and Dad for next Christmas. Mom knot stockings for me, my brother and
my sister, but never made any for her and Dad, so I'm going to and once I'm done
with those, I'll start on the ones for my brother's family and then my
sister's.

Have a wonderful November, Sue! We'll be in touch at the end of
the month after the kids have their annual visit to see Santa!

Love,
Sarah &
Bailey Glory

Note from Mama Sue~

Oh my goodness!  I just noticed the word "draft" after your post...that means it was never published!  I am soooo sorry!   Please forgive me!
Love you,

Sue

Update from Mama Sue

Oh my goodness....!!!!   I can't believe I haven't updated this blog in sooooo long!  I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving!

We are currently in our North Carolina home and had over 30 family members here for dinner on Thanksgiving.  My daughter brought one of her maltese with her, so Ladybug had fun having another doggie to play with.

Mike and I seem to be doing ok, health-wise.  He is doing better, learning to walk on his prosthetic leg.  Of course, he will never get back to where he used to be, but we are so thankful that the foot with the ugly, draining wound is gone, and his leg healed quickly and totally.  God is good.

I have most of my Christmas shopping done, online.  I have been busy making quilts for the family members who asked for them.  Both Kyle and Tyler asked for Army quilts.  David wanted a Syracuse quilt.  I made a lacrosse quilt for my grandson, Steven.  Wish I had gotten a picture of that one.
Mike bought me a new sewing/embroidery machine for Christmas.  I can't wait to try it out.  I'm waiting for some stabilizer paper to come.  Who knows...maybe I'll start a little business for myself, making doggie clothes with their names on them. We'll see.  Right now I want to finish a couple of receiving blankets for our new grandson.  He was born November 28th, and named Wyatt Dustin, born to our daughter Jeffie (Jennifer) and her husband, Dustin.  They are thrilled beyond belief, after having lost their first one last year.  Jeffie and Dustin live in Louisville, Kentucky.  We are looking forward to traveling there soon to meet our new little guy.

I will try to send along some recent pictures.

I hope you are all enjoying this Advent season, in preparation to meet the Christ Child on Christmas Eve.  May we all look up, as our redemption draweth nigh.

Love and all of God's blessings to all~

Mama Sue

Cheryl, Landon and Layla at the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte

Mike and Landon, who always perches on Mike's prosthetic leg.  LOL

Jeffie and Dustin with Baby Wyatt

Update from Cherrie' from Tuckaseegee, North Carolina~

Hi Sue,
I pray all are doing well. The photos of Ladybug are so cute! I can’t believe how much Tiffany looks like her! Everyone looks at Bethany and Tiffany together and think they’re Mother and daughter. I need to send two new photos of the girls. My niece, Carolyne, is becoming a groomer, she’ a natural. Tiffany has Bella’s personality and I can’t wait to get back to her training.

I’ve been so busy packing, seems that’s all I do pack and look at homes. Please pray God will bless the finding of a new home for us, one where we’ll be happy and blessed.

I pray all of you will have a most wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family. God bless all of you and I send all my love.

Happiness and Tail wagging blessings to all,
Cherrie’, Bethany and Tiffany

Tiffany Rose

Bethany Willow