The Lady and her Tramp.

Sitting on the back porch savoring the warm April sun with eyes closed I hear my husband coming up the sidewalk.‘you have got to see this.’ Walking towards me with his hands cupped I thought he had an injured bird or the likes. He was all smiles. I chuckled, he reminded me of a small child showing off his find. Sitting at my feet he opened his hands. Out came a tiny blonde puppy and all legs. She was all of 4 weeks old weighing maybe one pound. She was adorable. I picked up her shaking body and she calmed down. She came from the neighbor’s home a few doors down. The momma was precious, a small dark and curly haired peekapoo or the likes of and the dad a long legged blonde chiwawa. Clearly she took after dad. The puppies were for sale for $300. Well that took care of any nudge or temptation I may get for a puppy dog. David had no work for three months we were busted, like in broke. Two years ago I made a resolution no more furry friends for this lady after I had to put my beloved Bengi down after 14 years of friendship. My heart was settled I did not want to go through any more dog deals especially a puppy dog. Nope too much work for me. I was grateful she was for sale or I could easily be swayed. Most anyone can easily fall for a puppy dog.

Over the next a month I would see the pups on the lawn playing. I would stop in to play with them a few minutes. One by one they would leave for their new home. I was surprised the tiny blonde one was still around. She would probably have been my choice. Those big brown eyes spelled mischief.

Praise the Lord. David landed a job out of state. He would be leaving in a day or so for about three weeks. He and his friend would earn much needed income. I was standing on the porch thankful spring was in the air. David had been gone for several days by now. Headed up the sidewalk with one puppy in hand and a bag of dog food comes the neighbor girl. She spoke and seemed very upset. “I must move today and I cannot take the puppy with me, I want you to have her. I know you will give her a good home. I would rather you have her than take her to a shelter.” I was stunned to say the least. I really did not want a puppy, did I? I started to speak and she pushed. ‘I really do want you to take her. She is yours. You do not need to pay me anything. I know you really like her and she you.’ With that being said she literally handed me the food and the puppy and off she fled. There I was dismayed holding a puppy and dog food. I called my husband and his reply was, ‘congrats on a new puppy dog. It seems like a God thing to me.’

Zoey is one year old tomorrow, March 22, 2014. This is a good day for me to complete, ‘the lady and her tramp.' Bless his heart; my dear bro Romeos Quill suggested a title when he inspired me to write this hub. I am a few days late but we will keep it a secret. Nothing new and different in my world JK,not. Well my little tramp, Zoey is all of 4.9 pounds and is sweet and precious as can be. I tell you there were a few weeks in there at around 3 and 4 months old I made plans to let another family have her. Cleaning up her pee and pooh messes. Putting away the underwear she took from the drawers or looking for hidden shoes and all the puppy thing was too much. Darling as she was I felt I was not equipped for a puppy. My dog days were behind me. I put an ad on Craigslist,'free puppy dog to loving home.' I got well over fifty calls. I ended up telling everyone she was already taken. When push came to shove I could not bring myself to give her up. I removed the ad after two days. I decided to give time, time. Maybe in another week or so I would put on another ad. You can go figure that did not happen again.

I felt awful if I had to leave the tiny thing alone. I would hear her inside crying. I could not get her in the crate. She fought it. I read all the crate rules but none applied to Zoey. JK I am a softie and not a real crate person. So I would let her alone but I could hear her cry all the way to my car. So I set out to get a dog purse of some sort. And how blessed I was when I found it. Led to Pet Smart I landed on a dog purse. Zoe's name was on the one left. They had stopped selling the brand so dropped the price from fifty eight dollars to thirteen dollars. I ended up taking Zoey everywhere with me in that purse. Into the stores, banks, shops, errands, even the restaurants, to work on many occasions and few ever knew the better. If someone did get a glimpse inside they stopped for a peek and visit. Recently Zoey got too tall for the purse. She is one long legged puppy dog. She looks similar to a small and prancing, deer. Know anyone that needs a dog purse? For fun I did try and stuff her into it the other day and that did not go over real well. She is much to mobile to be confined. God is so good and amazing he loves to bless not only his kids but all of his creation.

One day not long ago I went in the bedroom and got on my knees to pray. The humbled will be exalted and the exalted humbled. Soon Zoey found me she leapt onto my neck. David saw us in this position and how he laughed. He captured the picture.. It was like God was saying to me, ‘do not take your-self so serious.’ There are days Zoey is so glad to see David when he gets home. David will sit down and Zoey will leap onto his neck and settle right in. She is a good heating pad. When we look we can always find the good in the small things, Amen.

God knows us all too well. He does not give us more than we can deal with. Zoey is like a shadow around me. If I leave and she is not with me my husband has a shadow that follows him. If my grandsons are here Zoey is a built in playmate. What a joy to see them play and play and play more.. She loves children and they love her. The kids around the neighborhood knock on the back door and ask to take her for a walk.

Zoey is so small I had to get her a guinea pig harness. Her neck so tiny no way one could pull her on a leash. Her tiny bones could break. She sleeps in our bed with us and goes undercover. With her me-me and a chew bone. She will chew for a bit until she drifts to sweet slumber.She has a very good friend named Peanut. A dark hair dachshund, two years old and he weighs in at about 10 pounds. Zoey holds her own on the wrestle matches they have. She wins most times with Peanut on his back, submissive. Then comes round two, there, four and more. They are good buddies. I made sure Zoey would not be interested in parenting. If Zoey manages to escape and she is a good escape artist I know where to find her. She is three doors down. I will get a text. ’Zoey is here playing and all is well.’

So what do I know? I do not know the good news from the bad news. God truly sent Zoey our way. He knows more than any about each detail of our life. He knows our desires and goes above and beyond blessing us in good things. I am so blessed. Me wretched sinner, not worthy of His gifts. I am so grateful for God’s grace and favor. If you are His child you know how amazing God is. There are times we need to look. Times we need to count our blessings. When we do that we can get back on track. God is in control and it makes the days much smoother. Praise softens our hearts and points us to Jesus who gives us all good things. All things that are pure and lovely. You do not give bad gifts to your children. You want them to have the best. How much better does it get on planet earth? We have a Heavenly Father that gives us favor even when we do not deserve favor. How much more does He give to those that acknowledge and love Him? When we murmur over the world or are situations or how difficult life can be how can God give us more? Can we believe by faith He is for us and not against us. Are we ready to go from glory to glory. God knows and He does meet us where we are at. \If I regretted one thing about my life it would be that I did not ask Jesus as my Lord much earlier in my life. Do you know young people how much goodness and blessings belong to you already. God is faithful.

Zoey reminded me I am not it. God is it. He sits on the throne. He woke me up to the fact, God had for me my little ‘tramp’ and I whined. Oh God thank you that you have delivered us from our mistakes. Thank you that you allow us to go through difficulties in them we grow in understanding, effectiveness and wisdom. I can be like the children wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Stiff necked and rebellious. God is the heart softener. He delivers us and redeems us. Our part is to renew our faith each day. In the Word of God. Times are much more difficult and challenging each passing day.. We need to really hear Gods word. He talks to us and He walks with us and tells us we are His own. One day I can be thankful the next day, murmur. Praise God for His mercies and grace are unending and new each day. God has our names written in the palm of His hand. He will cover us. We only need to trust. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Not resting on our faith but each day renewing our mind by hearing. The proud will be humbled the humble exalted.

Do you have a pooch or a furry friend? Please check out the poll above and vote! Do not forget.

My Love to all, Skye

In Christ Jesus

© Copyright Skye Tudae 2014