Kathy's Blog

Golden Nuggets from a Golden After having Louie as my guide dog for a little more than six months, I have learned some important lessons from him.  Here are some nuggets of wisdom from Louie, my leader and my guide, in his own words: 1.  Taking a nap every...

Wishing you many Christmas blessings! Louie and the Tripcony's send our love to you in this blessed season of Christ's birth.  This is Louie's first Christmas with us as a guide dog, and his exuberance for life is reflected in his puppy-type play and his outstanding...

Release of Podcast Interview I am happy to share the release today of the podcast interview I had with Andrea Constantine on "Community for the Soul".  Andrea was the designer for the interior of my book, Voice of Suicide, Voice of Hope.  She honored me by asking if I...

I am pleased to introduce you to Louie, a purebred 22-month old Golden Retriever, who was specifically trained and matched to my needs and personality by Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California.  If you've been following my blog for many months, you know...

The Packing Begins Here we go, friends! My suitcase is beginning to fill up as I start the packing process.  My flight arrangements have been made. You've been with me for many, many months since I was accepted to receive a dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind.  You've...

What Are You Waiting For? What are you waiting for or on?  Are you counting the minutes before a big event, like a birthday (if you happen to be  almost 5 years old)?  Are you sitting in the waiting room at the hospital as your loved one undergoes surgery?  Are you...

What Does a Hero Look Like? Does your hero wear a cape? If you ask a preschooler what his hero looks like, quite often he would respond, "He wears a cape and runs really fast!"  Is your hero strong?  What makes him/her a hero to you?  Think about that for a moment. ...

 Meet My Brave Friend This week I'm introducing you to a beautiful person, inside and out... but more than that, she is brave.  When I saw her video of her most recent accomplishment, tears just ran down my face.  I had come to know Allie when she attended the...

Prayers for Hurricane Victims Hello Friends! Top priority this week.....pray for those affected by Hurricane Florence on the eastern coast of the United States and also pray for those who are first responders and rescue workers.  So much rain, wind, and water is now...

Anticipation---Can I Trust? September is here, and the anticipation is  mounting! As you know, I'm Harvey, the imaginary guide for this adventure in obtaining a guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind for Kathy.  Knowing that it's only about six weeks away for her...

New Movie! Hi Friends! Welcome back to the adventures of obtaining a guide dog with me, Harvey, leading the way.  Have I got exciting news for you!  The movie documentary "Pick of the Litter", which follows five puppies from birth through their training at Guide Dogs...

Encouragement Harvey, the "Imaginary Guide", is here once again to guide you through another week toward the big day of receiving a real guide dog from Guide Dogs for the Blind.  I want to give you encouragement this week by letting you in on some encouragement that...

Several days ago I received word that my friend, Robin, had passed away.  It was like a punch to my stomach, to think she is no longer in this world, but has gone to the arms of her Savior. Robin's Heart I will forever remember Robin's heart.  She had a heart for...

What does week 7 look like?  I will give the podium to Kathy this week.  She has a few things to say about HOPE, since she's filled with a renewed sense of hope as she prepares for a guide dog in her future.  Wagging my hopeful tail, Harvey. Hope.  Some thoughts to...

Week #6 of  Adventures with Four Paws Harvey here "guiding" you through the weeks before the guide dog arrives.  Kathy just got back from the National LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Conference (my friend, Cubby, also attended)....more than 90 Golden Retrievers in one big room,...

LCC K-9 Ministries The adventure continues getting closer to training with a guide dog.  As you well know, I'm Harvey leading you through this journey, but the blog this week will be short and sweet.  Kathy is at the LCC K-9 Ministries National Conference with over...

Hi Friends!  As you know by now, I'm Harvey, your guide through the weeks leading up to Kathy's guide dog coming to Colorado to provide new vistas and opportunities for her.  This week I'll answer some questions that many of you have been asking about this cute little...

You're back, and I'm so glad!  Harvey here, guiding you along the journey of obtaining a guide dog.  This week....Kathy's expecting!! She's Expecting?? Not in the way you are thinking!  The anticipation of expecting another family member into the household is similar...

Welcome Back to the Four Paws Journey! Glad you can join me once again to walk along side Kathy as she waits the many months to get her guide dog!  I'm Harvey, and I'll be your guide each week to give you some insight (sorry about the pun) into obtaining a guide from...

Together We're Stronger! March is MS Awareness Month.  Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system by disrupting the flow of information from the brain to the body.  It has no known cause and no known cure. I have MS, but it doesn't have...

Sadness or Depression? I am very honored to have Dave Marks, who has experienced depression first hand, join me in answering this question.  He is the Social Media Coordinator for Lutheran Church Charities and speaks from his heart and also offers resources at the end...

Catch up on my adventures over the past 4 months!   Dear Friends, I've missed you at this blog site! It seems like I've traveled to distant lands and have been out of touch with most of you.  Actually I've been right here in Colorado, but my...

Voice of Suicide, Voice of Hope is now available on Amazon Kindle! To order your copy for your Kindle just click here:  Amazon Kindle Book As most of you know, some of the proceeds of the sale of the book, including the Kindle edition, will go to the LCC K-9 Comfort...

Voice of Suicide, Voice of Hope is Here! The book is available to order on Amazon and is there for those affected by suicide as well as for your friends or family that could benefit from words of hope and encouragement.  The launch of the book on Amazon was last week...

Do you need a hand to hold through your journey of grief?  How can you find hope?  Is it possible to go on when you've lost a loved one to suicide?  Voice of Suicide, Voice of Hope can speak to these questions for you. Joining my voice in the book are two other...

Fourth of July Happy 241st birthday, America!  So many memories from childhood, fireworks displays back in the mid-west, to parades, hot dogs on the grill, and bands playing patriotic marches of Sousa songs.  Those memories bring a tug at the heart and a thankfulness...

My Daddy---Our Father It's   Father's Day.  The memories of my Daddy ( I never called him "Dad" or "Father", which was too formal for him), are priceless. He was a giant to me, not in stature with his 5'6" frame, but in character, in compassionate love, and in his...

They Gave Up Their Tomorrow On this Memorail Day weekend we remember all those service men and women who gave up their tomorrow so that others could have their todays.  They gave it all for their country and for all of us.  They gave their lives, so we can enjoy our...

If Your Plans are Derailed---Take Another Train It's spring time in the Rockies, which can be beautiful.  But many times it can derail important plans.  Yesterday, May 18, a huge winter storm blasted into Colorado.  This part of the country really needed the moisture,...

Happy Mother's Day---Not So Sure about the "Happy" Three years ago on Mother's Day, May 11, our son took his own life.  The pain of depression was too much for him to go on living.  He was 36 years old, and today I remember how he lived, not how he died.  With...

Encouragement----the Rock in the slimy pit Life can be a slimy pit.  It can feel sometimes like we're up to our necks in mire and gunk.  Ever feel that way?  Today is my day for getting bogged down in the dirtiness of things I've done, said, or even not done.  Like...

It’s Maundy Thursday, a day to remember what Christ did for us, but also a day to give thanks for His sacrifice.

Share your story of the loved one who is no longer with us. What has given you hope as you continue to go on? Write about that on the “Your Story” page of my blog.

Fire, Ashes, and the Phoenix My heart is filled with pain as I hear the news of the fire at our friends' barn overnight.  Nothing remains but ashes.  Three fire departments fought the flames for hours, but the heat was so intense that their boat, two tractors, their...

  Send Silence Packing Today at Colorado State University more than 1,000 backpacks covered the floor of a ballroom in the Lory Student Center to represent the number of college students who die by suicide each year.  This was a national traveling exhibit, called Send...

How to Deal with Grief—A wise man who has been through many losses shares his advice.

Mourning–It Comes in Different Shapes
Laments of the doves echo my laments over the loss of my son. read more