retreat
At this time next week I'll be sitting in on the training for the volunteers at family retreat. Or maybe if it nice I'll sit outside and read. either way I'll be down in Oregon at the Joni and Friends retreat. I'm eager but nervous. One of the big things I'm nervous about is Flora. I briefly entertained not taking her, but feel we are at a point in our partnership where we should be together more time off not working would not be good for her. So she coming to a place where there will be other service dogs and lots of kids. Both of which are big distractions for her, dogs more than kids but she will choose to follow and be extra social towards kids if she can as well as dogs. The volunteers are all told not to interact with the dog and to keep kids away from the dogs, but I'm going to be giving the presentation on blindness on Monday and will be reminding them yet again. I may even explain about Flora's distractions since that might help.
I have no idea how she'll do in cafeteria situation.
Another situation I'm a bit concerned about is the worship time. The children are encouraged to move any way they want in the room and are given instruments (at least they were last year) so it can get a bit crazy. Flora might want to get up and join the fun. I've been advised by a long time handler to sit near the door in case Flora is just to hyped up and I want to leave.
Also on the subject of kids some of them have behaviors they might be frightening for Flora.
This is the first time I will be asking F to be in harness for long periods of time. Usually we do a route or go to volunteer for a couple hours and then she has the rest of the day off, so this will be different for her.
So there are just lots of things I'm unsure about.
I can leave her in the cabin during parts of the day if I choose too and we'll have an hour in the afternoon when my volunteer will have time off that we can both go back to the cabin and chill. I have a feeling we'll both need it. My volunteer will be thankful for the time off too I am sure. Poor them they have to spend a whole week with me! LOL I hope they like dogs. I did mention that in my interview.
I have a feeling the teaching for the week will be challenging for me as well. It is on the verses from Ephesians that say that we are created by God to do good works which God has prepared for us to do. I've not heard teaching on these verses before but assume it will go down the path of God has a wonderful plan for your life. That is often a struggle for me to believe. I often don't feel like He does. I felt this way a lot this summer as I have no idea what this Fall holds for me. This struggle can often cause depression and anger. I wish that it didn't. I wish I could just say "okay God I'll just wait for what ever it is You have." But more often I say "Hi God I'm bored wrestless frustrated and stuck would You mind doing something like today!" Anyway, I'm just hoping I don't have to hard a time down there.
So, like I said, nervous but eager for times of worship, for meeting new people, eager to just be somewhere different doing something different. And because if there's 1 place where I feel completely safe being my uncertain, some times angry, sometimes depressed self is retreat. Because people there are not judging or if they are they keep their mouths shut LOL. Its a very accepting place. Its what the church should be like, but that's another post for another day.
I have no idea how she'll do in cafeteria situation.
Another situation I'm a bit concerned about is the worship time. The children are encouraged to move any way they want in the room and are given instruments (at least they were last year) so it can get a bit crazy. Flora might want to get up and join the fun. I've been advised by a long time handler to sit near the door in case Flora is just to hyped up and I want to leave.
Also on the subject of kids some of them have behaviors they might be frightening for Flora.
This is the first time I will be asking F to be in harness for long periods of time. Usually we do a route or go to volunteer for a couple hours and then she has the rest of the day off, so this will be different for her.
So there are just lots of things I'm unsure about.
I can leave her in the cabin during parts of the day if I choose too and we'll have an hour in the afternoon when my volunteer will have time off that we can both go back to the cabin and chill. I have a feeling we'll both need it. My volunteer will be thankful for the time off too I am sure. Poor them they have to spend a whole week with me! LOL I hope they like dogs. I did mention that in my interview.
I have a feeling the teaching for the week will be challenging for me as well. It is on the verses from Ephesians that say that we are created by God to do good works which God has prepared for us to do. I've not heard teaching on these verses before but assume it will go down the path of God has a wonderful plan for your life. That is often a struggle for me to believe. I often don't feel like He does. I felt this way a lot this summer as I have no idea what this Fall holds for me. This struggle can often cause depression and anger. I wish that it didn't. I wish I could just say "okay God I'll just wait for what ever it is You have." But more often I say "Hi God I'm bored wrestless frustrated and stuck would You mind doing something like today!" Anyway, I'm just hoping I don't have to hard a time down there.
So, like I said, nervous but eager for times of worship, for meeting new people, eager to just be somewhere different doing something different. And because if there's 1 place where I feel completely safe being my uncertain, some times angry, sometimes depressed self is retreat. Because people there are not judging or if they are they keep their mouths shut LOL. Its a very accepting place. Its what the church should be like, but that's another post for another day.