Our Hilarious dog, Detroit Snappenbarker Mendoza is the best example of optimism that I know.. He is not blessed with a high IQ, yet that doesn’t stop him from being willing.. His favorite job is to help with heifers, whether the task is feeding, sorting, or transporting- He’s there providing the best help he can.  It doesn’t matter that he sometimes gets chewed out.. “Hard to understand humans.. Everybody knows that if you stand behind a cow and bark, she can’t see you.. Of course a cow moves better when she can see you..” And.. So maybe sometimes he does get a little eager chasing cows and does a dare devil trick and jump in and take a small nip out of the heifers leg.. And perhaps, caught up in the spirit, of helping- he may have misjudged and nipped one of the boss ladies.. “Hey everyone makes mistakes”.. Ol Detroit.. There he is, happy as can be- no matter what.. Running thru the yard, ears flopping, full of joy, big dog smile on his face.. I love to watch him. He reminds me to relax and smile..

There are people in my life that remind me that too.. There’s a lady in our church that just turned 90.. She is the giver of laughter. She randomly drove out to our place several Sundays ago, came wheeling in with a couple from church that can no longer drive.. Big sunglasses and a huge smile.. She is so full of joy, and love for other people. I’ve been blessed for years, by her stopping and chatting on the way out of church.. I’m inspired..

My Great Grandmother, Stella Good, wrote a poem that Deborah memorized as a little girl.. I like it: