Saturday, April 13, 2013

Adding Our Ginger

Since Chaz retired January 19th, our little family has been met with one nasty hiccup after another. We arrived at our home January 20th to find our beloved dog, Arf, in bad shape. The next day we found out his heart was failing and that it was only a matter of time before he passed. We hoped he would just pass in his sleep, but instead we had him put to sleep that Friday. We had closed on our land the day before. Demetria and Ray were kind enough and buried Arf on our land for us that Saturday.

Monday January 28th, after our groundbreaking, the girls and I told Arf good-bye. Do you know Ginger was born January 29th? While that cute little pup was getting ready to come into our lives, we lost our friend Wes to suicide, Chaz developed shingles, then a flesh eating bacteria in his back, then we lost Derek. As Deryn put it one time during these past two months, "Can this crazy stop for a minute?"

All these one-two punches were really getting us down. I only mentioned the top four above, we have been hit with nothing but things that make you go "Grrr" consistently during the past two months and it needed to stop. We needed some sunshine in our lives. I missed my Arf so incredibly bad. One day I found myself looking for dogs. I found two very quickly and called to discover they already had pending pick ups. The third just never responded, so I decided to give up for a while. Then one day I found myself looking at dogs on the P.A.W.S. facebook page and there she was. I immediately took a screen shot of her on my iPhone to show Chaz.



Once Chaz gave the nod of approval, I called immediately and we were in luck she had not been claimed. Chaz and I knew with just her picture that Ginger would work for us. We wanted her for Easter, so we could put her in an Easter basket for our cuties, but we were told she would not be ready by then. We were totally fine with that, so we began developing Plan B.

As we discussed Plan B with our friends and family, we began referring to Ginger as "the laundry." We have an event coming up and Chaz will need a suit custom made for him. We knew the girls had heard us discussing this and we knew we could totally pull off our surprise now. We had a lot of laughs about "the laundry" before it arrived.

Ginger became an Allen on Friday, April 5. Chaz took my niece and little brother and picked Ginger up. I got the box ready. We snuck her into the house and planted her in the box. We told the girls that one of their boxes from our apartment in Maryland had arrived and they needed to come open it. I swear to you the adults were too excited for words. ;) Here are some great pics from our great day!

The box....
Inside the box....
 Girls open box....
 Girls excited to see what is in the box....
 Girls getting a better view....
 The "can we keep her/ is she ours moment"
 Please can we take her out of the box....
 My happy crew...
 Ginger meets the niece and neighbors.

 Too much excitement....she needs one last snuggle, then a nap.

I think you'll agree Ginger has been a great dose of happy for our family. We desperately needed a little bit of happy that only puppy kisses and a wagging tail can bring. Things have just been too serious and too crazy here. We needed to laugh and smile. There's just something about this dog. I truly feel like our Arf sent her to us. We cannot replace, nor will we ever forget Arf. Ginger is bringing so many smiles and laughs every day and I know she is the perfect fit for us.

15 comments:

  1. So happy for you and for Ginger to be in a happy home. Saw pictures with your husband and the dog. I think he loves her too!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. So glad there's some sunshine in your lives now!
    Continuing to lift up prayers!
    Psalms 63:5-8 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  3. Still praying!
    Psalms 69:1-3, 13 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God...But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pour out your heart to the Lord! He hears! Praying!
    Psalms 42:1-5 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  5. Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers!
    Isaiah 43:1-3a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel...
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keep your eyes on the Lord! Praying for you right now!
    2 Samuel 22:2-3, 7 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. (7) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  7. Always praying!
    2 Samuel 22:29-33 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  8. The passage today is a little different. Life itself is a battle and the way the Lord gets His children through battles doesn't change. He was with the Israelites as they headed into the Promised Land, and He's with you, helping you and giving you strength to face whatever lies ahead. Always here praying!
    Deuteronomy 20:1-4: When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lifting up prayers right now!
    Isaiah 12:2-5 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  10. Know that you're always in my thoughts and prayers!
    Romans 5:1-4 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  11. Continuing to lift up prayers!
    2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  12. What words of comfort! Praying!
    Revelation 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  13. Our Savior is saying these words. Know that I'm here praying!
    Revelation 21:5-7 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  14. Always keep your eyes on the Lord! Praying!
    Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete
  15. Been a while since you've written and can't help but think of how different the world was those 15 days ago. A bomb at the Boston Marathon was beyond imagination. So many dead in the explosion in TX. Once again reminding us that life can turn on a dime!
    Praying in Seattle!
    1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
    My email address

    ReplyDelete