A Change of Heart

Anyone who knows me now would be surprised to learn that I have not always been an animal lover, but it's true. I didn't want to be around dogs much less touch one. If by some rare chance I had to touch a dog, I was washing my hands immediately. The changing factor for me was a very special "blonde bear". This little girl had the power to change my life in ways that I could have never imagined.

I will never forget that first day I saw her. We lived in Greenville at the time, and I had reluctantly allowed myself to be talked into adopting a dog. As we walked around the Greenville Humane Society, Christian saw several dogs that he felt were a good match. I was a little more picky. Once I laid eyes on this perfect puppy with her fuzzy ears and head that seemed too big for her body, I knew. I knew she was meant to be a part of our family. Someone convinced me to look around a little more, and I was devastated when I returned to her cage to find her missing. Fortunately, they had just taken her out to play.

As we walked outside, she was on this small grass covered hill playing. There was another puppy there, but I could not tell you what it looked like. I only had eyes for this special girl. As soon as she saw me, she came running to me, and the rest is history. This one creature had the power to change my life forever, and that's why this blog is dedicated to her. She is no longer that young puppy, but she is the source of a love I never knew that I needed.

Our sweet Sydney as a puppy.

Starting this blog is something that I had never considered before this week, but events with one of our later additions has brought on the need to reflect on the wonder and beauty of these furry members of our family. I am prepared to laugh and cry as I undertake this journey of our lives that lead to this moment in time.