Happy 3rd Anniversary, Gracie

Three years ago, I picked her itty bitty self up from a breeder (March 17th, 2005) exactly one week after my near death/conversion experience.  I had gone eleven months without a dog in the house and, suddenly, it was imperative that I not wait a minute longer.

I saw an ad for pug puppies and they stated that they only had two males left for sale.  I really wanted a female dog but was willing to get a boy because I wanted the companionship of a dog so much.  Now that my depression had lifted I wanted to go on walks and snuggle in bed and share all my time with a new puppy. 

So I emailed the breeder and she informed me that she had just sold the last male that morning but, if I was interested, she had a female still available.  She had planned to keep her and enter her in shows but she, herself, was five months pregnant and she realized hauling a new baby to dog shows probably wasn’t going to happen.   She emailed me a photo of “Lilly” and it was love at first sight. 

Don’t ask me why but I thought she was the most beautiful puppy I had ever laid eyes on.  “I’ll take her,” I told the nice woman.  We agreed on a price and I met her at a nearby hotel parking lot halfway between our two cities.  The rest, as they say, is history. 

As a puppy she “teethed” on my toes, peed on my carpet and ate the corners off of a few choice pieces of furniture.  As an adolescent, she ran from me whenever I was in a hurry to bring her inside and leave for work.  Now, as an adult, she chews and beats on Petee and I get all the good stuff – like the sweetest little doggie kisses whenever I walk in the door at night.  And there’s just nothing like waking up in the middle of the night and hearing her walk from one end of the bed over to where I am, nudge my neck to get me to move and let her in, and then feel her collapse next to me, already asleep as her head falls against my chest. 

I have seen myself in her more times than I care to admit.  I wonder how God could ever forgive me for some of the things I have done in my life and then Gracie would eat my paycheck or poop on my favorite afghan and I’d totally forgive her – and then I’d smile because I knew God was in every moment of that thought process.  She’s mirrored His love for me for three years now and she is a blessing in my life like no other. 

Because I am starting a week-long series on Holy Week tomorrow I wanted to set aside a little space to reflect on what all God has brought into our lives by bringing the two of us together.  When I go to count my blessings I have no further to look than the ball of fur sitting below my chair.

Momma loves you so very much Miss Lilly Grace.