Happy Birthday Jake!

Yes, I am writing a happy birthday post for our dog.  ;-)  It's our little man's 3rd birthday today!  Although, "little man" is not the most accurate name for him any longer, as you'll see!  He got excited this morning when I squealed, "Happy Birthday!" & then gave him a bone.  Rawhide, of course.  He was so little when we got him, & it's hard to believe that he's already 3 years old!

Here he is at 4 months old . . .

And now, at 3 years old!  He's a big boy now!

Just as when he was a puppy, I expect that toys, bones, & comfort (& love, of course) will always be at the top of Jakey man's priority list!  He's a good boy, nigh on the perfect dog, & we love him!

Adventures with Josie

Cute, isn't she?  Don't let that face fool you, though, she is not innocent!  She is lovable, energetic, funny, eager to please . . . and has a serious case of wanderlust.  Michael told me when we got her that she was going to break my heart with her propensity for climbing fences.  Today, she very nearly did.  Little Miss Josie is clever enough to wait until I walk away from my back door look-out post to make her escape, as she did this afternoon.  Normally, she's just nosing around the magnolia tree when I catch her, but today, when I went back to check, she was nowhere to be found & didn't respond to my frantic calls.  I fled through the house - trying not to disturb Michael, who was still sleeping off his work night - jumped in the truck, & tore off down the road screaming her name from the open windows.  I was a puddle of tears by the time I stopped to ask some neighbors if they had seen her; they probably thought I was crazy.  Of course, the whole time, I was praying in short bursts.  Pretty much all I could get out was, "Please, God, please!"  As I left the neighbors & turned around, there she was, heading back home.  When she heard me calling, she thought I was home, & she was booking it for the backyard.  But as soon as she realized where I was, she wiggled her way to me, at which point I sobbingly scooped her up & drove her home.  Somehow, Michael had known something was wrong & was waiting on the front porch as we pulled up.  Once I got her settled, I dissolved into tears on his shoulder.  He was none too happy with her for the distress she caused me, but I'm just happy she's home safe & sound, contentedly demolishing a rawhide as we speak.  Silly girl.  We're definitely going to have to do something about that fence.

Meet Josie Elaine

Little Miss Josie was a spontaneous addition to our family.  We spent Tuesday night up at Beth & Chris' to celebrate Kara's 10th birthday.  Becca was looking at puppies available for adoption on PetFinder.  She scrolled through dozens upon dozens of pictures, with me picking out several that I liked.  Even though I've been dragging my feet at Michael's suggestions to get another dog, being the dogaholic that I am, I love looking at them.  So, having no intention whatsoever to actually get another dog, I was still immediately smitten when Becca thrust a picture of this sweet little dog in front of my face.  I instantly knew that she was mine.  Even though I had balked at Michael's offer to stop to look for a dog just the day before.  And even though she was a good 2-hour trek from Beth's.  Unspontaneous person that I am, I for once threw caution to the wind & we all piled up in Beth's van to go get our new baby girl.  I called the shelter & asked them to put her on hold for us, which they graciously did.  Even so, I was nervous that someone would get there before we could after their lunch break, so I jumped out of the car to wait anxiously by the door & was the first person through when they opened back up.  We were led back to her, got to spend some time in a room by ourselves with her, & carried her out as our new baby girl!  She has a super sweet disposition, loves to be held, & smothers everyone with kisses.  She's shown a little playfulness toward Jake, but I think she's a somewhat frightened by his size.  As always, he's the instigator, trying valiantly to get her to wrestle.  She's attempted to show dominance a couple of times - again, I think out of fear for his size & persistence - so that's something we have to nip in the bud.  She also possesses amazing agility!  She speedily pounces on any toy that's thrown, & last evening I had to pluck her off our dining table as she attempted to pilfer our supper!  Sneaky little booger!  I hope she's going to be a good playmate for Jake & a good dog for us.  It's always a little nerve-wracking at first, but I think she will be.  Keep us in your prayers, though!  We're going to need lots of consistency & patience!

Puppy Musings

We never planned on being a two-dog household.  From the moment I first saw Ginger & then brought her home, I've been perfectly content with just her, never feeling as though anything was lacking pet-wise.  Then we received the cancer diagnosis.  I didn't know how long I would have her, but I knew that I had to get another dog before I lost her.  Not to replace her; that can never be done.  But I knew that if I waited until after God took her to get another dog, he or she would always be lacking.  Just as no dog could ever replace her, nor could another one ever compare with her.  If we adopted another dog while she yet lived, memories could be made & love could be forged that would be untainted by her death.  Thus, we got Jake.

I, in case you didn't know, am a dogaholic.  I will leave my home & cross the street & even stop people in public in order to pet a dog.  I squeal with delight when we're driving down the road & I see a dog's head hanging out the window of a passing car.  If ever I come upon a stray, I will bring it home - something that's only happened once, amazingly.  Pounds & shelters are difficult places for me because I just want to bring all of the dogs home with me.

So, Michael warned me earlier this week that we were only looking as we pulled into the no-kill shelter's parking lot.  That was his only rule as he turned off the ignition & walked around to get me out of the car (as all gentlemen should) - don't get attached; we're just looking.  For once, he didn't really have to warn me.  My love for canines is firmly established, but I just wasn't all that excited about possibly getting another one.  Ginger's death hangs over me, casting a gloom over my heart when I consider the possibility of another dog.  And like I said, we never intended to have two dogs long-term.  So, why consider it now?  Well, because of Jake.  As we desired, memories were made & love has been forged, & not just between him & us, but also between him & Ginger.  Michael says that Jake loves me above all, but let me tell you, he thought Ginger hung the moon.  He loved her, & was very attached to her, so we worry that he needs a companion.  He also needs a playmate.  I can throw a ball & take him for walks, but I can't run around & play rough with him because I get skewered by his teeth & claws!  I'm very delicate, you know.  ;-)  I can't help him expend pent-up energy like another dog can.  Even so, I worry.

Right now, I can still enjoy dogs, but can I love another one?  Can I bring one into our home & allow him/her into my heart?  Jake is securely loved & brings me such joy.  But I worry that Ginger - memories of her, my love for her, my sorrow over losing her - will cast a shadow over a new dog right now.  Michael assures me that I will love another dog, & maybe he's right.  At least, I know that in time, I definitely could.  And yet again, I know myself well enough to know that all it would take is one puppy kiss to have me smitten, even now.  Whether or not we'll adopt a brother or sister for Jake right now remains to be seen, but I can promise that y'all will be some of the first to know if/as soon as this happens; pictures - lots of them - will assuredly follow any new addition!

In that spirit, here are a few of the pictures from when we first got Mr. Jakey-man.  He was just the cutest thing ever!  And still is, of course!

Be still my heart!  I love this dog!