Introducing...

Maggie Mae!

I wish that I could actually capture a still shot of her, but I have not mastered that yet! Maggie is a honey colored cockapoo. She is hypoallergenic (for us allergy sufferers, Emily and I, achoo!) Maggie joined our family two weeks ago and we could not be happier. Rob and I have always been dog people and it feels really good to have a puppy running amongst us.



The girls began saving their money months before our German Shepherd and Poodle passed away (Fall 2008). Emily was determined to have a dog "of her own". She wants a doggie to talk with and snuggle with, to sleep next to and love on. It has been her dream for as long as she has been able to speak. Hannah was in on this master plan and so the two of them devotedly saved every penny in the "dog fund". Just after Christmas, we counted the money and discovered we had enough...paired with the right litter of dogs being available, Rob and I felt completely convicted the Lord was opening the gates for our home to be the safe haven for a dog once again.



I won't lie. I liked the clean floors and being able to eat at coffee table level if we wanted to. I was getting used to my ultra tidy laundry room, used only for well, laundry. Swiffer and I were only best of friends once a day as opposed to now, when we interact far more times per day than I care to admit. And freedom, we had so much freedom! BUT, we also have a relatively responsible seven year old with the deep rooted desire to be mommy to her own puppy. And we have a three year old, who despite what we might have predicted absolutely ADORES the new puppy. She surprised us all by her sheer joy over Maggie.



January and February are always really hard months financially for us. We had the jar. Filled. We did not want to dishonor the girls by using that money for anything other than the puppy, so we agreed, if the puppies were healthy and the time was right, we would move ahead. Rob and I planned a date for a Sunday afternoon to "see" the litter of puppies. I don't even need to explain what happened to me when I held Maggie. No words were exchanged. We did not take the puppy right then. We went home and prayed about it. God confirmed for us, this was the puppy, our puppy!




The following Thursday, Rob left work a little early, headed to the farm, picked up Maggie and we surprised Emily. It was an added blessing that Emily was playing that afternoon with her dear friend, Gabrielle. They got to share those special first moments together. Hannah happened upon the scene a few minutes later and it has been love, love, love!