February began with a really fun event that I had looked forward to for quite a while. Periodically, there are a group of us that have the opportunity to learn from a world class trainer of border collies, Kathy Knox . Kathy has been training these dogs for twenty years and is excellent at communicating with both dogs and humans.

HOPE worldwide Community Service Brigade – Guatemala
It is hard for us to imagine the emotional and physical pain many people endure each day. However, HOPE worldwide volunteers encounter hundreds living in the midst of the most painful poverty and disease daily. In Guatemala, we met Lizeth a very charming, intelligent and outgoing 11-year old despite the fact she was unloved by her mother and given to her aunt.

As I rode into work today, I listened to a local radio station talking about Marriage. I was prepared for them to be unable to do it justice as all four anchors are less than imitable in the marriage department. The topic of their discussion was "Men looking to brag about their marriage".

Delhi is a wonderful but tough city to live in. It is polluted - they say that living here is like smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. I believe it. I can smell and SEE the pollution. The weather is extreme, 120 F in the summer. Air conditioning is a luxury afforded by few. There is an acute shortage of water. Chaos reigns everywhere. Traffic looks and feels like a video game. Human life is cheap. People die in traffic accidents, of diseases, in childbirth, etc, at a much higher rate than they do in more developed countries.

Obedience training has begun. My husband is working with our little pup, teaching him four basic commands - sit, stay, come and no. These are the commands, that when fully trained, Denver should respond to immediately – and always. I look forward to his increased obedience as he matures. He will not only be pleasant to live with, but he will be much safer.