THE LORD IS A SHIELD

Monday, August 18, Mike and I had the dreaded task of having to terminate one of our employees at the Tigard Sub Shop. While this employee has many good qualities there were things that they were doing that were in conflict with the operations of our shop.

Upon the termination (completely unexpected from the employee) we received an email making derogatory statements about all the other employees (but for one). We had a one-on-one conversation with each employee allowing them to explain the statements that was made about them. Friday the employee that had nothing said about them personally in the email quit.

Saturday everyone seemed so relaxed and ready to "start fresh", without accusations and drama. A part of me wants "revenge".

Monday August 25, Mike was told by a homeless person in Tigard that there were "flyers" on some businesses in downtown Tigard stating to not work/not eat unsanitary, and drug dealing is occurring at the TIGARD SUB SHOP. Now I am really angry and I want to make "trouble" for this person. I know this is not right; but it is what I am feeling. I have so many different directions that I could go with the information that I have.

Marie, STOP, Pray!!!! Pray!!!! Pray!!! not only for her but for yourself.

I arrive back at my office; this is my daily bible reading scripture that was there for me to read:

Psalm 3: THE LORD IS A SHIELD

(Trust in God under Adversity)

O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying to me,
"There is no help for you in God." Selah

But you, O LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
I cry aloud to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.

Rise up, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the LORD;
may your blessing be on your people! Selah

As a side note one of our customers said today "think of it as free advertising, your name is out there and it cost you nothing."

Please pray for our shop, our attitudes, our employees, and former employees.

Mike and Ritz are getting some much needed rest. The boys are a delight to have; we cannot wait to get home and spend time with them after work.

The other day we thought we could let them try to go from the house to the van; we discovered that is not going to work. Ritz is just too fast and JoJo follows him. The only reason Mike was able to catch him was because he decided he needed to relieve himself at a bush. God was watching over them.

Last night I got home early and was doing something in the office. I had been home for nearly an hour when out of the corner of my eye I noticed JoJo across the street. By the time I realized he was out Ritz discovered his way out too (the front door did not get shut completely). Trying to stay calm (I am home by myself in high heeled shoes), I go outside and call JoJo hoping that Ritz will follow. From our prior experience if I call Ritz, JoJo just follows him and Ritz just runs! Well JoJo came to me. I quickly grab him and put him in the house. Ritz has not yet bolted away, with any luck he will just run around the neighborhood. Calling him calmly; I can hear his tags as he sprints through the neighborhood; then suddenly gone, down the street, my heart sinks. Do I go after him in the car, yes best idea. Grab the keys and cell phone. I drive around the block; I have no idea what direction he has gone. He could be up to Boones Ferry by now. I have called Mike and he is on his way home immediately; I continue driving slowly around the block calling for Ritz. I decide I should not be driving in the condition I am in as I am crying and shaking so bad that it is not safe for me to be on the road. I turn into our cul-de-sac; wait I think I hear whistling; hummmm I also hear the sound of tags on a collar. The neighbors emerge from their house and have a biscuit; "will he come to a treat?" I am in disbelief that he has even found his way home. He is off to the backyard. I calmly wait to see if he will come to the biscuit (he is not at all food aggressive), well not the biscuit, but to my surprise he does come to me. Tears streaming down my face we make the introductions to the neighbors who have not yet met our boys.

We are seriously considering an invisible fence. I will be sure to deadbolt the front door when I get home from this point forward.

Hope your week is going well.

Hi there everyone; my name is RITZ. I am 4 years old, and weigh 12.4 lbs. I am a little underweight but I am sure I will gain some weight soon. I am a mixture of Chihuahua, and possibly Greyhound or Whippett, maybe Mini Pin (Doberman Pinscher), and last but not least Beagle.

I adopted my family a couple of days ago but my mom did not get her new camera until yesterday. I guess her old one broke. Whew, she cannot blame me, I was not around.

I do not have a lot to tell you about myself as I have kept that a bit of a secret (mom and dad think I probably escaped). I was housed at one shelter and then for some reason I went to the Oregon Humane Society (where I only had to stay for a few hours) when my mom and dad came by my pad; took my paperwork to review; and summons me to the "get acquainted" area. I just knew that I would be there new companion. How could you not love this mug. Note the "M" on the top of my head, I mean mom and dad being Mike and Marie Marr, it was meant to be.

I will let you in on a little secret; I am fast, and great at getting through very small places to get "away" to explore. Dad let me go out in the back yard to do my business the first night I was home; he found himself chasing me down the street at 12:30 a.m. in his rob. It was so funny. That will probably be the last time I get away with that.

I will be sure to share with you other fun stuff that we do but for now I need to do what a dog needs to do.

My name is JOJO. I am 10 months old, and weigh 12.5 lbs. I am a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frise and am as soft as can be.

While my brother Ritz says he adopted mom and dad so did I. We will not let Ritz know that I was the "pick of the litter". Mom and Dad came out to see me on Monday, August 4th and found that two other people already had put me on "hold". Mom was so sad, I just knew her heart was broken. I tried to tell her to be patient and if God intended for us to be a part of each others lives he would make it work. You see Ritz was not here at the shelter yet so mom had to be patient and wait for his arrival; dad was strong and patient. They went home empty handed; and a little heartbroken. Dad tells me that they hardly talked on the way home. Mom probably would have cried. I am certain when she got home to the "empty" house she cried a little (maybe a lot).

On Wednesday, August 6th, at Noon, mom looked up online to see if I had been adopted; I was waiting for her and dad to come and get me, I knew they needed me; the "hold" was void at 12:30 p.m. Mom called Oregon Humane Society at 12:35 p.m. and put a "four hour hold" on me!!!!!! The only thing that was remaining was to meet my brother Ritz. We got along just fine. Stick around me bro I will teach you not to be so shy and timid.

My brother does not know how blessed we are; but he will catch on. I have some work to do with potty training; after all I am only 10 months old. Good thing mom and dad are patient.

We have found our forever home. You should see mom and dad; they are so happy. They miss Nike and he will forever be a special part of their lives; we get to be there for them now.

Have a great weekend everyone; woof woof.