Just. Hello

Hello from Bubbles...

TEARS SOMETIME

While we were waiting outside at the vets office yesterday, to be called in, I watched a mom walk out with her little girl.  Mom was carrying a small paper bag.  An all-too-familiar bag. She wore pain on her face.  I watched as she drove away in her SUV, wiping her face with her hand.  I wiped tears of my own.

When I picked up Gracie's ashes there, five months earlier, I wore that same pain.  It's a feeling you never forget.  A sad, sick feeling.  I did not want Gracie to become ashes, yet I had nowhere or no-one to bury her.  I will always be sad about that.  And I will always be sad that she is gone.

But we have Bubbles now.

And she is sweet.  A distraction from that sadness that remains from losing my beautiful Gracie girl. 

Bubbles is 8.2 lb. of happiness.  When she came to us she was 5.5 lb.  She is smart, fluffy, loves to be cuddled, and is a perfect angel.  

Most of the time.

She had the last of her puppy shots yesterday and she was a very good patient.

There's a Possibility

Life with Bubbles is... rather busy.

She is a good girl with a lot of energy! I have learned a lot from TikTok videos on puppy training.  Some of the things I have actually used and have been successful with.  Like potty training.  From the first day she was here, I have taken her outside just about every hour, religiously. Treats are offered, no matter  how small the tinkle. Within days she was 90% potty trained. Now, she is about 98% - however - she leaks when someone she loves surprises her and she gets excited. That's not real often, but still.  Gary said maybe I should return her since she leaks.  

No way! I'm sure he was just kidding.

I was nervous about starting the winter of my life with a puppy being a part of it.  I convinced myself that I'd never sleep again. My life would not be my own. I would be servant to another dog. Forever.

But the emptiness left by Gracie's absence gnawed at me and I knew - be it as it may - I had to have a dog to love.  God knew too.  It's why this little girl came to us at exactly the right time.  I am amazed at how God works in my life, though I should not be at all surprised.  He knows me better than I know myself. 

Bubbles disposition can be described as: Bubbly, loving, sweet, cuddly, smart, and ornery.

Going to the vet with her first ear infection

She is totally attached to me! She can be in a deep sleep, and if I quietly leave the room she is up and ready to plop down wherever I end up, so she can watch me.  I cannot hardly believe that she allows the separation at night, as I put her in her living room 'pen' which we call Bubbleville, and she stays there without a whimper through the night. I had better be ready at 5:30 - 6:00 AM to be up and ready for the day, because by then she is needing to potty. 

So the question remains.  Do angels have 4 paws?  There's a possibility.

Puppy Love

Bubbles 'says' she looks nothing like her sister, Gracie.  In looking back at Gracie's picture at the same age, I can see that there are some differences.  The first picture is Gracie, all the rest are Bubbles.

Gracie had longer ears and oh, those big brown almond shaped eyes! 

Bubbles ears are shorter and her eyes are smaller and more round. 

It looks like Gracie had more Cocker Spaniel than poodle, and it's visa versa for Bubbles.  

It's till strange though, seeing Bubbles take over Gracie's spot on the couch and watching her run in a yard that was once owned by Gracie.  We do some of the same things with Bubbles, and in doing so, it hurts to know Gracie is gone.  But Bubbles is giving us plenty of love and laughter. 

Bubbles likes to collect leaves

 

LETTING GO

When we chose Bubbles for our next pet, it was because of her strong resemblence to Gracie.  As she grows, I see Gracie in her more each day, but then again, I don't see Gracie at all.  

Gracie had longer ears, probably more cocker spaniel than poodle.  But Bubble's color is almost identical to Gracie's.  Bubbles is a bit fluffier and curlier, and a bit smarter than Gracie was too.  Once again, more poodle.  I hope her ears grow longer!  

Gracie was brave and bold, a fighter!  Bubbles is scared of her own shadow.  She must have eyes on me at all times or she whines.  She's such a baby.  

She had her first vet visit last week and she did very well.  I was surprised since every other place we introduce her to, she seems afraid.

Today we took her for a walk on the tracks, like we used to take Gracie.  Finally Bubbles is fitting into a small harness.  Birds chirping, bikes passing by, cars going down the road...  all of these things were scary to her.  We try to introduce her to new stuff almost every day.  It doesn't take too long till she's over her fears, but still.  I don't remember Gracie ever being afraid of such simple things.  

I try not to compare too much ---  but it's hard.  Gracie's absense in my life has left quite a sting. She was my heart dog.  I learned so much from her.

One thing I had to do before moving on to life with Bubbles, is that I needed to share my journaling and thoughts from my time with Gracie.  Writing the book was theraputic.  Formatting the book was a pain, and I never did get it just right.  It will be available soon.  It's just a simple small book, somewhat flawed,  that I needed to write in order to honor the beautiful dog God gave me for almost eighteen years.  

My work in progress:

 I must go now.  Bubbles needs a belly rub...

LEAVES

Revelation 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

I have had an obsession with leaves all my life.  I will pick one up, examine it, and sometimes take it inside and write on the back in remembrance of that day.  Weird, huh?  I am especially intrigued by the beauty of a fallen leaf this time of year.  It wasn't until yesterday when I was doing research for my next book that I had that moment where it felt right that I should appreciate the beauty of a leaf. 

Anyway.

Today I cry for the loss of my beautiful girl on May 26 of this year. How I loved that dog! She would have been celebrating this, her 18th birthday, by enjoying the coolness of the day.  She loved fall and cooler temperatures.  We would have likely taken her for a nice walk, got her some cake, and fed her her favorite Roy Rogers roast beef for supper.

She would have loved this day.  But.  It was not meant to be.  She no longer suffers.  On the other hand, I still cry for her absense.  Totally heartbroken!

She taught me so much.  This is what my new book is about, the things I learned from my beautiful senior dog.  I'm having a real hard time formatting though, so it is a work in progress.

Meanwhile, our distraction has arrived and is settling in quite nicely.  She sleeps beautifully at night, is 3/4 of the way potty trained, and is a bundle of energy.

She looks almost identical to puppy Gracie.  

We are so grateful for her.  God knew exactly what we needed and when.  That is why this little fluff-ball was very likely CREATED the day Gracie left this world.  And then, He purposed our steps to find her.  

Revelation 22:2

   ....  and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

~~2 Weeks~~

 Thank you, friends, for the sweet comments regarding our new family member.  Bubbles will be with us in 2 weeks - when she is old enough to leave her mama.  

Gracie loved fall so much.  With the crisp, cooler air and beautiful falling leaves, my heart is reminded of how broken it is, that my girl is no longer with me.  I feel so sad without her here to enjoy autumn. Bubbles will be here just in time to distract me from my broken heart.

Thank you, Patty Mcdonald ~ we are in our late 60s and are apprehensive about raising a new puppy.  Your comment helped my anxiety.  So now I take a deep breath and trust God!

Soon

 I'm counting the days.  Soon.

Meet Bubbles