Our 100th Post! It All Began with a Puppy

"You have a blog about your dogs?!"  That's what most people say when they find out we write about our pups.  Their next response is usually, "You're joking." 

In 2010, our family had the worst year of our lives.  Our son, who was a week away from turning 2 years old, had a massive seizure.  He slipped into a coma, and nearly died.  While we were at the children's hospital, waiting for him to return to us from the deep sleep he was in, my mother was at home, dying from cancer. Our lives spiraled down into a deep, bottomless, pit. It seemed there was no return.  Everyday, someone in our home was crying, fighting, tired, or just plain miserable.

In September 2010, my mom passed away.  There had to be an escape from this nightmare.  So what  did we do?  We moved.  Chicago to New Mexico in 5 days.  People often ask, "Why New Mexico?"  Well, why not?  Starting over hasn't been easy.  When we got here, we had no place to live.  We had no friends.  We really were starting over. 

Immediately, my boys loved it here.  The backyard is a mess of dirt and sand.  Who needed to buy a sandbox?!  Things were looking up, a little.  I was still extremely depressed.  It was very hard to pull out of that slump of misery we had been in.

Brando's 1st photo

Around February 2011, a friend of mine in Chicago had called to say she had gotten a Lab puppy.  A puppy? Who's got time for the demands of a puppy?  It's like having a baby all over again....no, thank you! Not me! 

Two weeks later, on February 16, 2011, our family was standing at the airport.....what were we waiting for?  Yes, a puppy.  After a 12 hour flight, from a farm in Missouri, we were picking up Marlon Brando. He was so tiny, and so scared.  It was love at first sight!  Ah! This is what it felt like to be happy.  This is what happiness is!  A warm puppy!  Yes! I remember happiness now!  Oh, my children could hardly wait to get home, and play with him.  He was so happy, and full of life!  And did I say warm?  I will never forget how warm he was.  Charlie Brown was right!  "Happiness is a warm puppy!"

Marlon Brando 11 weeks old

 It all began with a puppy......Who knew that was the secret to happiness? 

Well, here we are at our 100th post.  I can't tell you how much fun we're having.  Our family takes trips, and makes memories.  The blog has helped us find happiness again, too.

Happiness isn't the only thing we found.  We've found friends!  We have made some wonderful friends on this journey.   My boys will ask, "How's Bert today?"  At Christmas, the boys fell in love with a big, black, furry dog named, Remington.  "Hey, what's up with The Emptynesters, Mom"or "Did you see what Oskar is up to today, Mom?"  "Have you heard anything from Katie lately?" (Katie doesn't have a blog, but she's a new terrific friend in our lives!)



"Happiness is a warm puppy."

Friends don't have to live in the house next door.  They can live far away.  Even though we've never met, we love to read about each, and every last one of you!  Thank you so much for letting us share in your adventures, and thank you for reading ours.  Without all of you, there wouldn't be a 100th post!

To all of those who ask, "You have a blog about your dogs?!"
Yes, we do!