Exciting News!
Shep, the Life of a Farm Dog
is now available on Amazon.
For many more years than I can count, I've been working on a story I want to tell, and it has finally been published.
It's the story of a lost, hungry puppy who longs for a home where he would be loved. Along comes Jay, a kind farmer who is known for rescuing lost and injured animals, and Shep's story begins. With the help of Sam, a big Clydesdale, Jay takes the bedraggled puppy home and starts transforming Shep into a mighty sheep dog to help him protect and guide the sheep.
But it's not an easy task, and the lively sheep dog gets into plenty of misadventures along the way. He meets other rescued animals on the farm, has a run-in with the farm cat, and encounters mean dogs who try to lure him into disobedience.
Will Shep ever learn to obey? How many times will Jay forgive him before totally giving up? What motivation can help Shep concentrate and follow the commands when tested against gigantic odds? Has he found the forever home he longs for?
You can now find out, because Shep is finally published and is available on Amazon!
For many more years than I can count, I've been working on a story I want to tell, and it has finally been published.
It's the story of a lost, hungry puppy who longs for a home where he would be loved. Along comes Jay, a kind farmer who is known for rescuing lost and injured animals, and Shep's story begins. With the help of Sam, a big Clydesdale, Jay takes the bedraggled puppy home and starts transforming Shep into a mighty sheep dog to help him protect and guide the sheep.
But it's not an easy task, and the lively sheep dog gets into plenty of misadventures along the way. He meets other rescued animals on the farm, has a run-in with the farm cat, and encounters mean dogs who try to lure him into disobedience.
Will Shep ever learn to obey? How many times will Jay forgive him before totally giving up? What motivation can help Shep concentrate and follow the commands when tested against gigantic odds? Has he found the forever home he longs for?
You can now find out, because Shep is finally published and is available on Amazon!
Excerpt from Chapter 1:
“Well, what have we here?” sounded a deep, booming voice, as a young man dismounted from an old wooden farm wagon and bent down to examine the tiny ball of fur huddled against the cold. The puppy looked up at the man, who was big and strong with kind, smiling, eyes. Dark, curly hair peeped out of a tweed flat cap, and a soft woolen scarf enveloped his neck. A few flakes of snow had fallen onto his thick, dark beard. The farmer was dressed for the cold in a plaid flannel shirt, sturdy work pants, farm boots, and a heavy leather coat with a warm, soft fleece lining. Behind him stood a giant chestnut-colored horse, patiently waiting, stamping his white feathered hooves, and snorting clouds of steam into the frosty evening air. The man’s big hands, strong and rough from farm work, tenderly lifted the limp puppy and brought him up close to his face for examination. “Looks like you could use a warm meal and a good cleaning up,” he said. “Let’s take you home, laddie. You are mine now,” then he opened his coat and gently placed the puppy inside, buttoning it back up so that just the dog’s nose, eyes, and ears were peeping out. Immediately the puppy could feel warmth coming from the man’s body and the rhythmic thump thumping of his heart. For the first time in his life, the puppy enjoyed safety, warmth, and maybe even being loved and wanted. It was a delicious feeling.
Chapter 2 The Farm
There across the farmyard was an old, stone barn, filled with animals being sheltered from the cold. Through the open barn door he could see cows, chickens, a yellow tabby cat, and a huge horse. That must be Sam, the one who helped bring me home, he thought. Beyond the barn was a pond and then low stone walls that climbed slowly up gentle, rolling hills dotted with wooly sheep. In the distance, purple mountains crowned with misty clouds met the horizon.
“I must be in heaven,” sighed the puppy in complete contentment.
There across the farmyard was an old, stone barn, filled with animals being sheltered from the cold. Through the open barn door he could see cows, chickens, a yellow tabby cat, and a huge horse. That must be Sam, the one who helped bring me home, he thought. Beyond the barn was a pond and then low stone walls that climbed slowly up gentle, rolling hills dotted with wooly sheep. In the distance, purple mountains crowned with misty clouds met the horizon.
“I must be in heaven,” sighed the puppy in complete contentment.
Afterword
This story has been growing in my heart for many years. It is the story of our life with Jesus. He took us from being hopeless, lost creatures, forgave us, redeemed us with His sacrificial death, and then started sanctifying us to be more and more like Him. And along the way we continue to mess up, disobey, or go our separate ways, ignoring His commands and forgetting how very much He loves us. Yet He is always there to pick us up, remind us that we are His forever, He will never leave or forsake us, and He has big plans for us, both in this world and the one to come.
I hope this story of a lost, hungry, hopeless dog who is redeemed by a kind and loving farmer will fill your heart, as it has mine, with love and appreciation for our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us,
that we should be called children of God;
and such we are.
I John 3:1
This story has been growing in my heart for many years. It is the story of our life with Jesus. He took us from being hopeless, lost creatures, forgave us, redeemed us with His sacrificial death, and then started sanctifying us to be more and more like Him. And along the way we continue to mess up, disobey, or go our separate ways, ignoring His commands and forgetting how very much He loves us. Yet He is always there to pick us up, remind us that we are His forever, He will never leave or forsake us, and He has big plans for us, both in this world and the one to come.
I hope this story of a lost, hungry, hopeless dog who is redeemed by a kind and loving farmer will fill your heart, as it has mine, with love and appreciation for our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us,
that we should be called children of God;
and such we are.
I John 3:1