Blessing of Animals??

Every October in a Catholic Church you will see a parade of "animals" descend on the church grounds to receive their blessing.  This blessing usually coincides with St. Francis of Assisi's feast day of October 4.  St. Francis wrote "All praise to you, oh loved, for all these brother and sister creatures" and is referred to as the patron Saint of animals.

So today I took Cora and Betsy to the Blessing of the Animals....to get them BOTH blessed. Yep you heard right....I needed to get BOTH animals blessed!! 

Before you judge me, let me explain. 

Since my dog Jack passed away, Cora has been asking for a puppy.  I could not deny her.  Every little boy and girl should have one.  I had dogs my entire childhood.  But once Betsy Ross entered our home, the dynamic was a little different than I expected.

First Cora defined all of our "roles" in Betsy's life.  Cora pronounced herself as the momma, Steve was the daddy and I was to be Betsy's Nanny.  The Nanny.....really?  But technically speaking I was the one that was home with her all day.  But what is funny is now Cora refers to me as Nanny and even the Vet calls me Nanny!

However now as Betsy has settled into our house, I would challenge Cora's role as the "momma".  I would define Cora's role as Betsy's SISTER!  Because if you could hear the amount of barking and tattling that goes on in this house, you would know that this "nanny" is in charge of 2 CHILDREN!  Not convinced??  Let me plead my case:

-Cora won't play with Betsy.....Betsy barks until she does.  Betsy does something she shouldn't Cora runs to tell on her.

-Cora gets mad at me and stomps off to her room.  Betsy gets in trouble and hides under the China cupboard.

-Betsy wants all of her toys out so she can choose what to play with.....Cora gets all her toys out and they both conveniently walk away and neither one picks them up and puts them away.

-Betsy sits by the front door waiting for Cora to get home. Cora can't wait to get home from school to play with her.  They are so excited when they see each other but it is only a matter of time until Betsy is barking and Cora is fussing at her.

-After the above mentioned happens, it is only a matter of time before I put the dog outside and make cora go to her room just to have PEACE and QUIET!

-And finally.....I potty trained both of them (well "daddy" did help me with that one)

So while both my "animals" demand many things from me I wouldn't have it any other way.  On April 24th, 2003 a sweet baby girl entered our house and on September 3rd, 2011 our sweet Betsy Ross entered our house.  Both girls found their "forever homes" and I am forever grateful for God's blessings.  But today we went to the "Blessing of the animals" just for a little extra prayer. 

Father gave us a St. Francis medal today as well. I intend to put it on Betsy's leash.  So that St. Francis will intercede and help Betsy to learn to walk on the leash like a normal dog and intercessions for when Cora walks her so that she will quit fussing at her! And for me......I will gladly take any prayers for the caretaker....I mean Nanny of the "animals"!

~Cora's Mom and Betsy's Nanny