From the furry side
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Goodbye to my Lady Lady was my Christmas miracle dog. My previous dog had died while I was visiting my father in St. Louis, the Christmas of 1995. At the same time, unknown to me, Lady showed up on a rural St. Louis back porch, on Christmas Eve, in a snowstorm, very pregnant. I love the symbolism … pregnant and homeless on Christmas Eve … The family took her in, kept her while she had and raised her puppies, and then asked their neighbor, “Isn’t your brother a vet? Could he help us get rid of all these beagles?” And the vet-brother turned out to be my father’s vet, who phoned me to ask, “Are you ready for another beagle?” What an example of God’s perfect timing!
All Lady has ever needed is love. (And food, of course, because she’s a beagle.) Going for a walk meant wonderful smells but, much more important, it meant finding beagle-patters. Everywhere we stopped on our travels, Lady found people who had driven across the continent just for the pleasure of patting her. By my side or, better yet, in my lap—that’s where she wanted to be.
Lady enjoyed my bouts with pneumonia. What more could she ask than to have her mama lying on the sofa all day? She loved our old cat Cassie, and would have loved Dolphin if he’d been willing to do more than tolerate her. During laughter and tears, anxiety or loneliness, at home or in the RV, Lady’s been my companion since 1996. I will miss her desperately.
So, what do I want for her? I’m not positing any doggy heaven. I don’t know for sure what the Lord does for His animals, especially the ones who are loved by His people. But, as the David Crowder song says, You make everything glorious! I am Yours … what does that make me? And He made Lady, so she is glorious also, precious to my Abba as well as to me.
Doggy heaven, for a beagle, would involve new people to greet, fresh smells to sniff, and rolling hills to run through. And supper waiting, and her loving mama.
I think, really, she wants what I most want: a warm, comfy lap … strong, safe arms to hold her … a gentle, comforting touch … kind, caring words. Beyond that, to be surrounded by loving friends, who gladly see our good points and sweetly don’t notice the flaws.
Lord, I trust You to take care of my Lady, in whatever way you feel is best. She’s been Your gift to me, and I give her back to You.
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Posts
tune: from “The Mikado”
Christmas is coming!
just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water …
Guardian beagle?
Beware!
Let’s get this show on the road!
Camel riding
Ah-whoo and sniff!
How to take your cat’s picture with Santa Claws
Trick or Treat?
Sallie’s note to PetSmart
BCBC retreat (1)
song of a wandering beagle
for all dogs
Suppertime (parody)
I’ll show her!
Hmph!
Popular doggie!
Friends along the way
Emus—ah-wooooof!!!
graduation
Our morning elk
“puppy crack”
God and Dog
Sallie’s viewpoint on the flu
GOOD cat!
Dolphin the Dragon
Dolphin’s comments
Go, girl!
Barking
Sallie’s rabbit
RABBIT
Writing conference
Bark! Bay! Bark! AH-WHOOO!
Click!
Lion and lamb?
Daily Barking
Obedience class
Leashes
Dear Aunt Hillary,
“and don’t come back!”
Jingle beagle
Graduation
Sallie’s deer
Hide and seek
Sick-room beagle—not!
Lady … I mean, Sallie, come!
Where’s my focus?
Dear Santa,
More clicker training
Clicker training
photo
Settling in with a new dog
Meet Sallie!
Beagles galore
Beagle Rescue
Missing Lady
Goodbye to my Lady
Thinking about dogs …
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
Why we’re glad to be home
Hero
pant … pant …
Up and down
My attitude …
Do not!
Huh?
Bunny ears
Uno, the winningest beagle
We are sorry to report …
Dolphin’s 15 minutes of fame
wags and purrs
cough … sniffle … whimper …
Purrr-fectly delightful!
Lots of little praises
My Lady
Lion and the Lamb …
Don’t believe it!
Escaped cat
thoughts from Lady
A warning
My old Lady
Ha!
Wags from Lady
Dolphin, here
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