HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY to Faith the Dog! Faith's REAL birthday is unknown but we gave her the date of December 22 to celebrate. We know she was born within a few days of that date and she is truly a "Christmas Miracle." This year Faith hopes to be celebrating her birthday for several days beginning this Friday through Sunday in Seattle, WA where she will be with more than 5000 soldiers in and out of uniform at two bases: McChord Air Force Base and Ft. Lewis Army Base just outside of Seattle/Tacoma.  WOW -- lots of hugs, lots of kissing. Then Faith hopes to make it to Carswell Joint Reserve Base the following weekend!  Nothing like camo colored icing on a big fat cake to make everyone happy!  Thanks to Pat McGhee at Ft. Lewis for hosting us, and for all the personnel you send to us to pick us up, carry us around, put us up and love us constantly. This is the best part about our Armed Forces - - they love us!  Thank a soldier when you see one, and pray for them all.  

Faith loves soldiers, there is NO doubt about it. We had hoped to have a real birthday celebration on December 22, 2009 with Reuben returning on Faith's birthday from the Army.  Unfortunately Reuben has to stay another few more days and won't be home until January 1, 2010.  BUT and HOWEVER, Faith will still be able to see a bunch of men and women in her favorite color of CAMO at the McChord Air Force Base and Ft. Lewis Army base near Seattle, WA. We head up that way this weekend for the parties!!   Faith will be flying American Airlines for the last time in 2009 - - but she will not stop flying with American. She will be happy to show her smiling face up at the cockpit just any time she is invited out. 

Members of the Ft. Lewis PX will be picking us up on Friday, taking us to meet with our new favorite ghost writer Mr. Rudy Yuly, and Faith and Rudy will be happy to make each other acquaintances!  This is a giant thing for Faith really, as Rudy is the other half of her voice in our new book "Faith Walks" which will be out this time next year.

The same members of Ft. Lewis will take us to the base to see the men and women processing Friday to go to war.  We'll welcome the ones coming home, and we'll pray with and hug the ones going out. We'll be at the respective bases for the actual birthday parties on Saturday.  McChord will host Faith between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and Ft. Lewis' PX will host her from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.  THEN  - and this is key - - Faith gets to hang out with some of the best camo dressed people she's ever met for a few hours while Caity and I enjoy the Seattle sound, Pikes Place, the Market, and just take in a little sight seeing. We never get to do that without Faith in tow, which means we've never really gotten to see much. We're always too busy answering questions from the beautiful people on the streets.

Friday and Sunday Pat McGhee, the PX General Manager, has us going to a few base related places such as the VA. Faith is always a hit with the older vets...maybe we can get  them to sport their respective Armed Forces t-shirts and have their pictures taken with Faith for the FAITH TRAIN!!  YEA!  It should be a blast, and we wish to thank Pat McGhee for planning it all out, and for the hotel, the transporation, and that love he and his crew always show us!!  THANKS GUYS!!!

HEY, James Thompson, Editorial Director for Fox News Interactive has just posted a great video and photo blog about Faith at the following LINK:  http://bit.ly/4G6zah  You should be able to see it there, and if you have the mind to, and I hope you do, please re-tweet it on your TWITTER and other social media accounts. Faith's message of love and thanksgiving is a very important one at this special time of year.   Hoping all is well with you and your families this Thanksgiving and looking forward to hearing from you all on TWITTER, FACEBOOK and through the site. http://bit.ly/4G6zah  OH, and Animal Planet is writing up a blog today too!! YES...I'll be sure and post it when I get it.

OMG!  Can you believe it? Faith is going to have her own PUPPY Faith 10 inch plush toy very soon.  The model for the toy is of course the famous puppy picture of Faith standing up in the snow.  It should be out rather soon - - but for more details just stay tuned.  The toy will be an exclusive to Cher Marketing. You can see the products they have already marketed for Faith at www.chermarketing.com  This is going to be so much fun.  Kids can see Faith, hold her, love her, sleep with her, and take her on all sorts of daily adventures! What a way to share my little dog with the world. I love it!    Go to www.boardthefaithtrain.com to play with the Kids Corner puzzles about Faith and try to answer all the trivia questions.  I'll be making up new questions this week!

Faith was featured on the very popular show "Unbelievable" in Japan yesterday (or today if you're in this part of the world). I'm told that over 5,000,000 Japanese viewers watched the four-hour special and it would be GREAT to find out how they responded.  I know that when we filmed the segment where we are speaking live from our livingroom it was about midnight our time and we could hear laughing, screaming, clapping, happy people as Faith was talked about and then when the camera was turned on her.  She was obviously loved and that is so very exciting for us. 

I was able to talk about my book "Faith Alone: Stories of an Amazing Dog", which has been picked up by Uni Agency and published by Village Books in Japan. It is translated into Japanese, so anyone who wants to buy that version can do so through their local bookstore or by ordering it online. I have a few copies, but you know I can't read them! LOL  Laura is practicing her Japanese by trying to read them slowly.  What a great show it was!! Thank you to Creative TopSpin in  NYC for coming out and filiming us.  Mariko is the producer and she was such a wonderful woman. We consider her a new member of the family. You can see their pictures in the PHOTO section of this site. Fuji-TV is the sponsor and/or network for "Unbelievable" and they have been so very kind and considerate as well.  If you have an opportunity to work with these groups in the future, I hope you have the same great experience we did!

I have a great photographer (actually two) in Anthony Tortoriello and Stephen Holman.  They have both been fantasic about taking great pictures of Faith and I want to share their work with you the best way I can. I have decided to ask them to come up with cards, posters, and/or prints that you can purchase through CherMarketing to give as gifts or to share with friends and family. The only thing I ask is that 5% of their profits go to C.A.R.E. in Strawn, TX to facilitate the building of the new animal shelter. 

Now, here is another really good thing -- I'm looking for someone to paint a really good portrait of Faith and to do the same thing.  The money part of it will have to be worked out with CherMarketing Director Norma Palen and/or the CEO Cheryl Maguire. I just want the opportunity to have a beautiful portrait of Faith made and then be made available to others through the site.  Again, please understand that 5% will need to be given to C.A.R.E.  When the animal shelter in Strawn, TX is built - - I'll pick another location. It is my dream to see as many animal shelters built as possible - - what a great legacy (Ironic name "legacy") for Faith!  If you are an artist, a painter, and you want to submit your portrait idea please do - - I will be approving them through October 2009, and choosing one before November 15, 2009.  A sketch can be sent to me at: jude.stringfellow@gmail.com  there is no need to make the full portrait at this time.  Just give me your ideas. 

It may be that I will choose several!   That would be fantastic.  You would be able to redeem profit from the sales as well - - but again, that is between YOU and CherMarketing.  Norma's e-mail is: earthfirst2000@comcast.com  Or you can go to their website at www.chermarketing.com and leave a message on their site for either Cheryl or Norma.  Thank you so much. 

Karla F. Smith:  I will be sure to add your portrait to the mix if you wish. Please contact me. I have enjoyed your portrait of Faith for years and believe others should have that opportunity as well. Thank you.

OMG -- we booked three more places today! (Looking at Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio Rottweiler Rescue, and possibly Puerto Rico.) C'mon Hawaii..do something! Step up! LOL

 You're going to have to get on the train fast if you want Faith and I to appear in the fall at your conference. I have some blackout dates and with those and the dates taken, I'm looking at 4 dates available in September (no Sat. unless OU is playing Baylor) and 3 dates in October if H.H. Backer doesn't come through.  WOW -- I have 3 in February booked already.  Funny, Christmas is WIDE OPEN, but then again, I'm really hanging back on that one because Baby Boy comes home from the Army during that week.  I can't miss my son coming home. I'd probably even tell Sinise he'd have to wait - - and that's saying something! LOL 

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Japanese literary publisher UNI Agency has picked up the rights to translate my book "Faith Alone: Stories of an Amazing Dog" into the Japanese language. It is NOW ON SALE and that makes it great for television and radio coverage both in the U.S. and in Japan. 

Many emails come in every day from readers in both countries who are excited to see Faith's popularity in Japan and other great Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan and India.  Faith's message is world-wide. LOVE is walking right up to you - - wagging her spotted tongue. 

Faith will be filmed in August by Fuji-TV's show "Unbelievable" which will air in the fall 2009!  Can't wait, it showcases stories of unbelievable events around the world. We are so happy to have them coming out to film Faith and stories about people who have met her and they have had their lives changed because of it.  THANK YOU Fuji-TV and its producers.  (Hi Mariko and Miho in NYC)