Wordless Wednesday: Hello, Kitties!!

Wordless Wednesday: RIP Elsa

A sad goodbye leading to a happy new beginning....

If you read our multitudes from yesterday, you would have noticed that we had one less body in our house this week.  Our 1-1/2 year old labradoodle, BJ,  had to be put to sleep due to complications from aspiration pnuemonia caused by megasophagus.  It was very sad and hard for all of us - tears were shed from all but Pookey.  But, we were thankful that this was a life lesson that God allowed, in that we were learning about death through a pet rather than a person.  

BJ, and Bingo before him, were our big teddy bear dogs, who served our families as guard-dogs.  And, knowing that we have a need for that still, but no dog, leads us to our new addition to our family today.  First, I wanted to share that Melody won a book from our library's summer reading program a couple weeks ago and her book was about a dog named "Goldie".  She fell in love with it even before she started reading because of a cute blonde puppy on the cover.  Little did we know when she got this book, we would be shopping for puppies in just a matter of a couple weeks.  

Since our last 2 labradoodles were black and male, we thought we would change things up a bit with our next dog and try to get a blonde female.  Of course, we go right to the local ads...  By golly, there were several different ads for labradoodle pups.  In making phone calls, were blessed enough to find a breeder that even had some blonde females available, just like we were hoping for!  Praise God!!!  I made that inquiry phone yesterday and we picked up our sweet, little (not for long!) beauty this afternoon.  We know it'll take lots (did I say LOTS?!!) of work to train this little girl and get her ready for her duty to be on guard for our Young bunch, but it is SO worth it!  Here are pictures of Goldie's first day home from our first meeting 'til right up to bedtime.... 

Mario and Melody and Goldie

Goldie's mom, Rose (labradoodle)

Melody, MJ (the breeder) Goldie, and Mario

My turn!!! 

Goldie saying "goodbye" to his dad, Max (standard poodle)

getting ready for the car drive home

My Goldilocks holding her Goldie pup

showing off Goldie to the crew at Grandma's house

the special book that led us to our pup's name

Melody posing by the book and crate with Goldie

playtime in the kitchen before bedtime

my 4 girls...  Sophia, Ariel, Melody and Goldie

 

Graces from above...

"Because eucharisteo is how Jesus, at the Last Supper, showed us to transfigure all things - take the pain that is given, give thanks for it, and transform it into a joy that fulfills all emptiness.  I have glimpsed it:  This, the hard eucharisteo.  The hard discipline to lean into the ugly and whisper thanks to transfigure it into beauty.  The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because He is all good." 

-One Thousand Gifts

Normally I try to post our family's "Multitudes on Mondays" on Monday, but I have had other things that have kept me away from sitting down to do this until now.  We lost a pet this past week.  Yes, I know, it was only a pet.  And, I am so thankful to be learning these life lessons right now as a family through this type of loss (an animal instead of a person).  Giving the confirmation to euthanize a pet that is so loved is such a sad, hard thing to do. That and seeing him sick and him being gone forever now was our hard eucharisteo this past week.  Yet, there are things to be thankful for surrounding all our sadness.  God's hand was in it all, and we still took time to whisper our love and thankfulness to Him.  This sadness and emptiness can be transformed into joy, and it can only happen when we turn to Him.

Thanks be to God for these and all graces received the past week....

#590 - a few sugar snap peas, peppers and tomatoes ready to pick and eat from our garden
#591 - Max sharing his first 20 hearts prize with his sisters willingly and lovingly 

#592 - walking by the girls' room and hearing them sing "Immaculate Mary"
#593 - the cool scanning machines at the library
#594 - Fone's enthusiasm
#595 - splashing and playing in a big puddle after our church's VBS program
#596 - Melody's pretty long braid
#597 - good vets who are also compassionate
#598 - tears of sadness from all of us Youngn's = tears of love for BJ
#599 - great VBS at our church this past week
#600 - messy, fun water play outside after VBS, this time in the sprinkler
#602 - peace and love and forgiveness - that we are called to do and bring to others, despite our feelings inside
#603 - a wonderful faith-filled dinner guest
#604 - Father Tom playing the guitar and singing for us after dinner

#606 - Pookey's belly giggles
#607 - lovin's and snuggles from Neil and the kiddos
#608 - sharing our talents for God's glory
#609 - joy found in the simple things in life
#611 - Pookey's flashlight

#613 - daily Saturday morning Mass to be fed and filled with the Life of World
#614 - my father-in-law helping Neil in our basement renovations
#615 - the love our kids have for our pets

#616 - communication and choosing to be understanding
#617 - my beautiful, hard-working wife falling asleep on the couch before 10pm
#619 - piano tunes played all throughout the day
#620 - days at home
#621 - kids who are always willing to help in the kitchen
#622 - the time we had with BJ and the hard, sad goodbye  :(

#623 - hugs, lovin's, snuggles from all 6 kids plus Neil to help ease the sadness
#624 - our new small fuzzy Young'n

#625 - fun, outdoor playtime
#626 - a cute, smiley girl with a bucket for her belly-ache