The minute we laid eyes on each other we knew we were meant for each other. I needed a companion like him. The only problem was that he wasn’t mine to claim. He was staying with some of my friends.

They were not selfish about him at all. Every time I visited them they gladly shared him with me. He was so cute. He was just a little dog but if I was visiting my friends he would only tolerate being ignored by me for a moment and then he would bark his little bark to get my attention.

I begged them to go on vacation so I could dog sit. They couldn’t afford that so I waited patiently.

Then my friend, Kathy, was called home to be with God. I felt as if my world would never be the same. I loved her so dearly and she loved me with all her heart also. Then soon after her husband left this earth to be with her. Within the span of a year, two of my loveliest friends became inaccessible to me through death.

Within a short amount of time, I got a call from the man’s brother, Ed. He asked if I wanted the dog, Pete. I was overjoyed about that prospect. I said “YES!”

However, God had other plans. Soon after that call, I was disabled with a collarbone fracture. I couldn’t even take care of myself much less a dog at that point in my life.

So again, I waited patiently and in late spring I called Ed to ask him about the dog. He said he would bring him up to my house on June 1st. That was a happy day for me.

Pete has been very receptive to my rules in my house. It was a bit rocky at first when he thought my bedroom closet was a suitable place to deposit his processed food. (Better known as dog poop)I made it very clear to him that that was not an option.

Then one day he refused to eat. I shed tears and kneeled down by his crate begging him to eat. I was beside myself that day. I finally resorted to taking him on a walk. That is when the Holy Spirit got involved. He made it clear to me that my dog was not eating when he had a digestive tract full of processed food. (more commonly referred to as being “full of shit.”) If he refused to eat from now on all I had to do was take him on a walk. Sheesh, did I feel like a goofball after learning that.

So Pete and I have been learning about each other and falling more in love each day. So when I got the call that my dad may be dying I had a decision to make. What do I do with Pete?

I decided to take him along, fearing the worst, that my mother would freak out when I brought a dog into her house. I had mentioned to my sister that I was bringing my dog but had not discussed the issue with my mother yet.

When we got to my mother’s house, I let Pete off the leash and he made a beeline for her. She immediately succumbed to his charm.

He was amazing! Any time she sat down on the couch and he was free to roam he would charm her into picking him up and letting him cuddle with her. It was a stressful time for everyone and there was, unfortunately, a lot of conflict between certain members of my family on this trip. Yet each time a family member would walk by Pete they would say what a good dog he was. My mother even thanked me for bringing him on a follow-up phone call. He was an absolute delight!

On Friday I traveled back to Texas. It was the first time ever I ended the trip wishing it had been longer and it was entirely due to my new traveling companion, Pete. He is the sweetest gift I have ever received from two of the most remarkable people I have met in my life.