This article is about their Guardian and best friend Noreen McCubbin. Noreen has been volunteering with Desert Ministries for three years now and rarely misses a week. She does however feel that the "boys" steal the show. When she walks into Hillcrest with them everyone looks down. These guys can't be over 10 pounds each, soaking wet. They are quiet and gentle, loving little dogs.

          They have to know that this is how they get so much attention. Noreen has trained them well.

          Not only does Noreen visit several friends while at Hillcrest, as she cruises the halls everyone stops to say hello, and of course, they stop and pet the little guys. Noreen has a disability that makes walking painful but that doesn't stop her. Hillcrest now has a motorized cart in the office, so Noreen walks in with her cane and picks up the cart, which the residents call her chariot because she has two fine young puppies on leashes leading her. It really does look like they are pulling the chariot.

           The first stop is Elizabeth, but no one is home so on to Barb's room. The nurse is with Barb so as Noreen waits outside the room, there are four little girls that can't wait to get their hands on these little dogs. The "boys" are in their glory with all the attention.

The nurse is through and invites Noreen and her little four-legged friends into Barb's room. Barb is confined to her bed most of the time and has a feeding tube. Noreen knows that Barb loves Elvis, and she just happened to have an Elvis video with her. There are little reminders of Noreen's love for Barb around her room. Barb also loves lighthouses and many of them are from Noreen. Barb is very happy to see Noreen and loves to discuss all the current events and the lives of all the movie stars in the news. She also has a dog that her family brings once in a while, so loves to see Noreen's little boys.

            After saying goodbye to Barb, Noreen swings by again to see if Elizabeth is back. She is out in the sitting room with her daughter and son. Her son has to leave and leans to kiss his mother goodbye, and oh, if you could have seen the joy in Elizabeth's eyes.

           Elizabeth doesn't talk much but she pets the puppies and smiles. A few other residents joined the group to say hello.

          One more stop to see a friend that is just at Hillcrest for rehabilitation, so will only be there a few more weeks. Her stories will have to wait for another time. Running out of time, Noreen makes her exit only to run into the kids cart from the daycare, taking a stroll through the halls.

          The looks on the children's faces when they see the little guys are priceless. They point and say, "Can I pet them, can I pet them?" Their caregiver is so sweet, she un-belts all six passengers and lets them go.

          After a few more stops Noreen does go home. She has had a full day but a very blessed day. She has shared her life with the residents and staff and daycare. Noreen says, "I think they'd rather see my little boys than me." I don't think that's true. The puppies do get a lot of attention but Noreen's faithfulness to her friends at Hillcrest is very evident. She doesn't always take the little guys with her and the people at Hillcrest still love to see her. She is a bright light to all who see her.

          Noreen knows that she has been sent to visit the elderly and values her time there. A man visiting his mother, approached Noreen while visiting, and asked about Desert Ministries. Noreen said, "I get so much more out of my visits with my friends here than I put into it. I feel this is time very well spent."

          Thank you Noreen for your faithful service to God's older children!

          And do thank those "boys" too!