Covid 19. Coronavirus.  Social distancing.   Isolation.    Loneliness.   Who would have ever guessed that, in our lifetime, we would have a time such as this.  The loneliness I have felt since Kenn died has been exacerbated during these past weeks.  I am thankful for my sweet McKennzie, who is a great distraction!

For the past several Sundays, I have ‘gone to church’ in my living room, as I’m sure, lots of people do.  This morning was no exception.  I chose two services to attend and prepared for them both.  The first one was led by Kenn’s Uncle Dean. They were only a few years apart in age, so they grew up more as friends, rather than uncle and nephew.  Dean is the minister of Hopedale Church of Christ in Ohio.  That service started at 10 AM, while the church I attend in LaFollette, First Baptist Church, started at 11 AM.  I knew the first service would have communion so I got that ready beforehand.  I got on Facebook, got comfy, and waited for the first service to begin.  Dean opened the service with the song, Holy, Holy, Holy.  Love that song, and, now that I’ve removed all carpet from the great room, the acoustics are fantastic!  So I began singing along enthusiastically!  And that’s when all ‘you know what’ broke loose.  My sweet puppy, who I love so much, decided it was time to attack.  I guess my singing made her think that a rowdy, roughhousing, play time was in order. She pounced on my face, my arms, my chest. I tried desperately to get her to calm down, and eventually she acquiesced.  So she jumped down, grabbed a plastic toy and LOUDLY played with it during the end of the song and opening prayer.  Next, she jumped back in my lap and went for my communion.  Luckily, I stopped her in time, but she did manage to grab the nose strip I had removed  (that allows me to breathe at night!).  So I retrieved that from her mouth and settled back in to listen to the sermon.  Within a few minutes, I looked up and there she was, carrying a pee pad across the room (unused yet, thankfully!) to her pile of toys so she could begin the process of shredding it.  Finally, she began to settle down and let me listen and partake in communion.  I hoped she would have a long nap during the second service.  But, at the beginning of it, she decided she needed one of my socks to go with her 100 toys.  So she grabbed my toes and started pulling.  I finally got my toes out of her mouth and just let her pull my sock off.  She pranced victoriously over to her pile with the sock, which shortly lost its appeal since I didn’t chase her down to get it.  Next, she found an electrical cord to chew on, and I immediately put a stop to that. I always picture that cat in the movie ‘Christmas Vacation’ when she grabs cords!  So she jumped back in my lap and decided the best place for her was across my shoulders.  I could live with that.

I love my church family and I miss them a lot.  McKennzie has given me yet another reason to love going to the actual building where we worship together on Sundays! Oh, she is now curled up angelically for a nice, long nap.  Sigh!!!!!