Things are happening here. Not necessarily for the good. But things.
In 2020 I retired and closed my business. I doubt I need to explain why. I did manage to write and publish a book though 😜. THE HOUSE My first fiction book and I used my pen name, Chambray Blue. I LOVE LOVE LOVE writing fiction! Being retired was good, really. I could delve into doing what I enjoyed (writing) and more importantly, I could be 100% THERE for Gracie, who was showing her age.
2021 was me, liquidating - selling - re-grouping, etc. Ten years of All About Hearing. I would miss my clients a lot! I wrote another book, a prequel to THE HOUSE, BLINK. Per my daughter: "I loved this book! It was even better than THE HOUSE." Coming from my daughter, I knew it was a good book. Writing fiction is so much fun. Towards the end of the year, Gracie was failing. Each day I prayed to God, and I asked her to let me know when it was time.
2022 brought the most difficult, sad, heartbreaking time in my life. On May 26 I knew I had to let my girl go. Saying goodbye to Gracie gutted me. I felt like a shell of who I had been, if that makes any sense. My title had been Dog Mom for almost eighteen years. A title I loved. A life I loved. And now, my purpose was gone. Later that year, God ordered my steps to the exact breeder I had got Gracie from eighteen years earlier. Enter, Bubbles. Oh, and one more thing. I wrote another book. This one was non-fiction and the hardest book I've ever written. FROM GOD WITH LOVE
I've left a lot out of the above. Maybe I should write another book. HaHa!
It's 2023 and we are being faced with a lot of change and challenges. Gary's 91-year-old uncle, Vic, lives in the adjoining apartment of what used to be All About Hearing, just off the garage. For a long time, Vic could take care of himself. Several weeks ago we had to pick him up from the floor and call 911. He spent time in the hospital with sepsis and pneumonia before being sent to a nursing home for rehab. Now, just days after the start of rehab, he is being sent home. There is a lot of uncertainty as to whether we can provide him with the care he needs at home. So, a decision may need to be made that will be a hard one. *sigh* I can tell, it is taking a toll on Gary and his own health. This is a huge responsibility.
But GOD provides! He knows just what we need, when we need it. And what we need right now are slobbery kisses, soft snuggles, and a wagging stub-of-a-tail when we walk in the door.
God knew.
We needed Bubbles.