A Day of Joy and Sadness

Hey, Mom!

Let's continue our story with a day that was both joyful as well as tinged with sadness - the day I went to my new home with Lynn and Craig.

Lynn took a photo of our house for me so that I would always remember a place that I called home that was full of people and kitties that I loved.

You had packed up all my things for me, and after Lynn and Craig put them in their car, we said our goodbyes.

Lynn, you, Craig, and Dad doing a group hug with ME in the center after we had a prayer together. I am smiling and certainly enjoying all that love and attention!

Lynn and Craig told me that they knew that this was a difficult day for you and Dad, and that they hope you know that they are very aware that their joy comes at the cost of your sadness. They truly appreciate your gift of ME.

Lynn took a selfie of herself in the front seat of the car with Craig and me in the back. I was invited up onto the seat, and am leaning on Craig. He is giving me what became the first of many really good neck scritches. They are smiling, but Lynn says that I look a little bewildered. I was, but those neck scritches and hugs helped me feel more secure.

The drive took them two hours, and then when we got to my new home, I went inside to discover a huge basket of toys - all for ME!

Me lying on the carpet in the living room, head up and big pink tongue hanging out in a huge grin. There is a red kong ball and a white ball by my side.

The white ball has become my favorite. It's squishy for chewing and bounces really high. I love it when Lynn and Craig throw it and I get to dash around chasing after it. The white ball is in my mouth and I am giving it a good chew.

Lynn leaning over from the couch and giving me a big hug. I am trying to smile, but my mouth is full with another toy - a big pink donut.

They put my bed from home in the living room. This photo is of me lying on it with the red kong ball between my feet. My head is up and I am smiling. My favorite window is right by me - every window in my new home is low enough that I can see out them. I love to look outside and check out the weather, who might be walking by, and everything else that goes on in our neighborhood.

Did you know that Craig is a master cook? Every day he makes scrambled eggs, and he shares a bit of them with me. I now know that the clatter of the frying pan means that I need to go supervise the chef at work. In this photo, I am lying on the floor with my favorite ball to hand, smiling and making sure that he remembers me as he cracks those eggs into the pan. Craig says I make him laugh when I do this, and he talks to me the entire time he cooks.

Craig also REALLY loves to play with me. He sits on the couch and I offer him a toy (in this case, the pink donut) and we wrestle back and forth to see who gets it. He must not be very strong because I always win.

Craig and Lynn have six kids, and two of them, Curt and Lisa, live across the river in Lafayette. Lisa dropped by to see me the very first day. Naturally I brought her the pink donut and then flopped into her lap. I felt like I was surrounded by the paparazzi, so many photos of me were taken that first day!

I also discovered that Lisa likes to play, just like her dad. She pulled a rope tug out of my toy basket and we had a great time trying to pull it away from each other.

In this photo she is sprawled on the ground because I was so strong, I pulled her over! She is laughing really hard and I still have the tug in my mouth. 

Lynn, Craig, and Lisa showed me more of the toys in the basket. This cheesy-scented nylabone is awesome! I am rolled over on my back, legs every which way, happily chewing on it.

What a day that was! I stretched out on the floor of the living room after Lisa left and took a snooze. I made sure that I was surrounded by thirteen of my new toys. So many to choose from!

Then I decided to get my pink donut and use it for a pillow. Lynn and Craig say this picture of me is really funny because my ear has flopped into the donut hole as I sleep.

I stayed close to Lynn and Craig that first day that we were a family. They kept reassuring me that I was a good girl and that they loved me. While things were different, they were also good, and I relaxed and started to settle in. Lynn told me that she hoped that I would be very happy with them, and my response was a lick that said, "I think we are off to a good start on that!"

Next letter? I become a snow bunny on Halloween!

Many wags,

Pepper