Service with a Smile

One of my friends is moving this weekend and I thought it would be great to go help her pack.  So Friday night, the kids and I went over to help box up her kitchen.  I thought this would be a great opportunity for service.  It really was, for me and Amelia that is.  We wrapped bowls and plates for a while.  The boys decided it would be better to go and play in the yard.  That was fine with me because we really were overcrowding the space when they were inside.  Unfortunately, what was outside was an overfriendly black lab by the name of Onyx.  He was having  grand time chasing them around and sniffing their bums, etc.  I could not convince them to stand their ground.  Seriously, he's a nice dog and all he really wanted was a good belly rub.  But the kids insisted: If I hold still he will MAUL me!  At one point, the kids came inside to get away from the dog, but the Onyx followed them in.  So Jonny got the brilliant idea that he could lure the dog into the yard by going outside and then sneaking back in and locking the door.  Unfortunately, when my friend saw the dog in the yard, she was quick to close and lock the door leaving Jonny out in the cold.  We had no idea he was out there and finally some one asked where he was and we looked outside to find a very miserable Jonny and a very happy Onyx.  So we let Jonny back in.  Onyx followed.  So the boys ended  up making a baracade out of boxes to protect themselves from the dog while Amelia and I wrapped dishes.  After about an hour, some men from the church came to help and I decided that the kids had had enough and we headed home. 
The best part of it is the unintended service we received: the kids are no longer asking for a dog.  That's enough to make me smile.