Two Early Christmas Surprises

Surprise--- it's a new puppy!!!

We had searched and searched until we felt that magic spark with this particular dog.  We had looked at rescuing a few dogs from the shelter.  But when we met them, it just didn't feel right.  We finally started researching goldendoodles and found that is what we really wanted because they don't shed, they are quite intelligent, and they are great family pets.

Last Saturday, we set out with 2 appointments to meet two different puppies at different locations.  They were all very far from our home way out in the country, so it took most of the day.

It was love at first sight for this girl.  She was so sweet, and cuddly, and had that wise old look on her face.  She wanted to chew everything in sight.  Her legs are long and clunky like a baby fawn.  She is energetic and engaged with everything around her.  She's perfect!

But my husband was a little concerned at how big she could get, so we still went ahead and kept the appointment to look at the mini-goldendoodle.  He ended up being a sweet boy, but we just didn't feel the same connection.

So we traveled all the way back to the first place and picked up our new girl.  I could hardly wait to get home and show the girls.

My youngest answered the door, and she just kept saying things like "What is this?!  Mom, what is it?!"  Then it turned to "Oh, she is perfect!" with tears of joy streaming down her face.  I have never seen anything so sweet and tender.  In this picture, you can see the twinkle in her eye, and it looks like puppy is giving it right back.

My oldest then came down and was absolutely delighted as well.

The story doesn't end there…..

The other surprise was early Monday morning, at 5:45 am to be precise, I got up to let her out.  I was talking to my oldest as I was walking down the stairs…. when "Timber!!!"….. I fell down about 4 stairs.  I thought I was at the landing when I really wasn't.

Ouch!  That hurt.  My first thought was, "I think I just broke my foot."

I hurried and sat down and started googling broken feet.  I decided I better get into the doctor first thing.
I am so glad I did because sure enough, after an x-ray, I broke my talus- the teenie-weenie bone connected to the ankle.  When I rolled my ankle, the ligaments pulled that baby right off the other bones.

How in the world do you take care of a giant puppy when you can't even walk?  I had strict instructions not to put any pressure on it, use crutches, and elevate it often.

So the Relief Society sisters came to the rescue.  We set up a rotation where different ladies from church came (often with their children) and let the dog out, ran in the snow with her, then fed and played with her.  They were wonderful and our little pup has met so many people of different ages I think it has been good for her.  And she is already on a good schedule because of it.

I wish I could measure this little dog's IQ.  I taught her to sit in one day, and to lay quietly when we do to the kennel to let her out.  She caught on so quickly.  She piddles the second we take her out, too.  This is a magnificent creature, as my husband said one night.  We are enamored!

In all honesty, I was not feeling all that merry and bright about my foot on Monday.  The timing seemed horrible.  But the song "Where are you Christmas?" captured my feelings so well.  It didn't seem like a good thing to happen right now, especially because this little animal is so dependant on me, as well as the rest of my family.  But as I was stranded on my couch with lots of time to think, and as the service people were giving us began, my spirit started turning around.  I was feeling so loved suddenly. People were grocery shopping for me and running errands, bringing dinner to me, playing with my dog, offering me rides, shoveling my drive way, etc.  Each act brought me more joy as I felt truly loved.  That is when I realized that I had "found Christmas"!  We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of the Jesus, who was the ultimate giver of love.  He was (and is) the great healer.  The one who taught that "charity never faileth."  The wonderful friends in my life were the instruments in the Lord's hands, doing exactly as He would have and doing exactly what He taught each of us to do.  In the stillness I found in my living room, I found Christmas, which means I found Christ.  In all truth, it found me, through the acts of kindness of others.  Christ finds us if we take the time to ponder.  I think this might forever change my approach to Christmas to actually do less (which I have always wanted to do), and make time for stillness.  Not necessarily on a couch, but more time to think, ponder, reflect, talk to friends, serve others, simplify the gift giving- and give of myself as Christ did.