Becca Cherise: March 2013-Oct 2013
Becca was my true first dog. She was supposed to have a long happy life and she was perfectly healthy. She was so joyful and the moment I laid eyes on her I felt a connection that I’ve never felt so strong with any other animal I’ve ever owned. I felt like a piece of me that had been missing all my life had been found. I adopted her a few days after her spay surgery and trusted a friend, my best friend at the time to be exact, to watch her for me during the week since I was still in school and lived somewhere that I couldn’t have her yet. I was in the process of getting things worked out with my landlord so that I could keep her at school with me, and my friend and I had an agreement. The first day I had Becca she and I bonded extremely. She was so good, not one accident, and very sweet. She was me in dog form. When I left her with my friend she howled, barked, and cried desperately. I grew concerned as she tried to follow me out of the door, desperate to stay next to me.
Luke Bryan: January 2014 - April 2018
Luke Bryan, who goes by Luke, is very much like my first child/son. He is my first dog that I actually got to live with and watch grow from a puppy to an adult. I got Luke the summer before my senior year of college, two days after July to be exact. I gave myself a while to grieve the traumatic loss of Becca and was ready to open my heart up again that summer. I am very glad I made the decision because choosing to adopt Luke was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I can see God’s hand throughout the entire time I’ve owned Luke, beginning from the moment I spoke with his foster mom. It all started with a text asking about his personality. I then told her I was a college student looking for a companion to call my best friend. She texted me back saying that she wanted me to meet him asap and that she wouldn’t let anyone else see him until I got to. She said she thought I was meant for him and that my age wasn’t a concern since I was 21. I met him the next day and I fell in love with him the moment I met him. He chewed all over my hand because he was teething when I walked in, but I could tell he liked me. Just after a few moments with him I knew he was the one. He followed me around her house as I signed the papers and gave her the adoption fee. She was nice enough to keep him an extra three weeks for me because I was going on a trip the first few days of July. Luke has taught me so many lessons already and we have shared so many good memories. Luke has taught me patience and to forgive even if I was still mad. For instance, as a puppy he had a bad bladder and he also chewed a few important things, such as my laptop cord and phone cord(both unplugged thankfully). We spent every moment we could together my senior year of college and he enjoying going all over college campus. He helped me when I had to deal with a scary ex that tried to stalk me years after the breakup and hurt me. He has been there for me for some special moments such as me getting engaged and married. He also was there for me when I graduated undergrad and began grad school. He was there for me a few months ago when I found out I have a disease that could render me infertile. He loved playing with my husband so much as a puppy and still now. He is extremely attached to me and seems to get me well.
Whiskers 1
Whiskers 1 was a white cat that we gave milk and food to when we first moved into our house when I was 4. Whiskers loved being petted and rubbing against our legs. My dad once saved him from loose dogs that came into our yard before we got a fance. He was a gorgeous white cat with stunning blue eyes. He taught me at a young age that animals are precious and something that God desires us to cherish.
Whiskers 2
We were given a grey tabby kitten when I was about 6 years old. It was a cute kitten and I was determined to take care of it. I dutifully cleaned the litter twice a day and fed it. Unfortunately it was a very sick kitty so I had to return it to the lady who gave it to us. God used that cat to teach me some responsibility and give me a glimpse of the blessings he had for us in the future.
Plants
The first cat that was truly ours was a male buff colored cat I found in the plants out back when I was about 8 or 9. I was allowed to feed him and play with him everyday. I was even able to give him a flea bath and let him live inside until he wanted to go back outside. He was a huge cat, the biggest I’ve ever owned and he was a gentle giant. He could get a little grumpy sometimes, but he never scratched me. He loved to follow me around and cuddle me. God used him to give me an animal friend I longed for.
Nema
About a year later we found a stray Russian Blue cat that didn’t have an owner. I found her the same day that I saw the movie Finding Nemo with my grandma and sister during spring break, which is why I named her what I did. Since she was a girl I changed to the o to an a. She was nice and loved my dad. She jumped on his shoulder everyday and is what changed him into a cat lover. She gave birth to my Dusty another year later.
Simba, Dusty, Karlie, Jacob and another black kitten were Nema’s kittens. I kept Dusty, Karlie and Simba. Karlie became my mom and dad’s kitten and the other two were mine. They’d run all around my bedroom and loved a scratching post I bought for them. Unfortunately Simba died at 12 weeks due to escaping and getting hit by a car. Dusty ended up becoming my first cat that was mine alone.
Dusty Marie: June 2005 - Feb 2017
Dusty was my first pet that I owned and cared for on my own. She was the sweetest brown tabby cat full of personality. She liked to be naughty and jump on the table or climb up the Christmas tree, but she was also highly trainable. She learned what go back into my bedroom meant and always obeyed that command. I bottle fed her because she was the runt of the litter and her momma cat would run off for a day at a times sometimes. She began purring before her eyes opened whenever I held her. I have never had a bond with another cat as much as her. She purred and slept next to me every night until I went away from college. She loved to play and mice with feathered tails were her favorite. She would let me carry her around all the time and trusted me. She never hissed at me, except for when I also gave her a brother cat haha. She was very jealous of all other cats except her older sister Ginger, who is my dad’s cat. She is the reason my husband loves cats now, despite his allergy. He loves how affectionate she was. I miss her meow and her purr everyday, but I know I will see her again someday soon.
Jonathan Randall : Born July 9th 2006
Jon was one of Karlie’s kittens(she got fixed shortly after) He was my favorite out of her litter, although I love them all. Tiger and Ava my father and I shared. Serena was his cat alone. Jon is another one of my heart cats. I cannot explain the bond I have with him either...but I get a sense of peace and joy like no other around him. He is a miracle kitty because he survived getting into antifreeze when young and he recently came back to my parents home after being gone for years. He is a very easy going cat that loves being around other cats and loves to be petted 24/7. He has the most unique white stripes on his black legs. I am so glad he is still alive and that he gave me a Christmas present by showing up the week before Christmas this past year. When he was a kitty he used to play with myself and Tiger in the backyard. He also liked to nibble my sister’s and I’s toes. Jon came to help me during my dad’s first stroke and to help me through middle school and I am grateful for that. Now he’s back to remind me that God is good all the time.
Chloe: June 4 2016
Chloe is a beautiful buff cat that looks like my first family cat Plants. Chloe is very sweet, outgoing, loving and of course mischievous. She is my third “heart” cat as she and I share a special bond too. We got her as a kitten after two months of being married and she fit in perfectly. Her fear of Luke quickly dwindled as they became besties right away. They loved to play and sleep together. Chloe loves to play with any toy even now as an adult. As a kitten she would jump high in the air and entertain us with her funny moves. She also could sense when I was about to have a panic attack and would lay on me while Luke also helped. She is the calmest cat I know and nothing bothers her. She acts like one of the dogs and gets jealous if they don’t let her in on the fun. She loves to lick my fingers too and my cheek like a dog haha. When we moved she was the only animal not stressed haha. She doesn’t mind what goes on as long as she has her family. She is a huge blessing from God because she is ready to help my our depression or my anxiety and she is so sweet. She taught me that God can heal us of our allergies because nothing is impossible with God. My husband is no longer allergic, and while I developed an allergy to cats after Odin, he has allowed my allergy to Chloe to be tolerable.
Update March 2019: My allergies took a turn for the worst and were actually causing me more migraines, so I made the hard decision to rehome Chloe. Thankfully she now lives with my former neighbor where she is so spoiled and only 15 minutes away. I miss her everyday but I am so thankful she is loved.
Odin : September 2017
We got Odin a week after Leia the pom found a new home because we missed having a third fur baby. Odin was a Nebelung cat and had a handsome long coat. Odin and Chloe were enemies at first, but became besties. I’ve never had two inside cats get along, so it was really a gift to watch them play. Odin was extremely attached to me to the point that he didn’t like me playing with other animals. He would still be my cat if it weren’t for the allergy I developed to his urine..and no matter what he kept peeing on the couch and carpet. We tried several methods before realizing that he was making me very sick. My throat began closing around him so we had to find him a new home. He taught us that sometimes things in life don’t go as we plan, but that God has a sovereign perfect plan regardless. He helped me through some winter depression and would cuddle next to me while I had bad migraines.
Ginger
Gingerale was my first indoor childhood cat. We got her from a pet store the year before Dusty was born. She was always a very mean cat growing up but she loved my dad. As she grew older she became more friendly and now even enjoys my dogs.
Update March 2019: Ginger will be 15 in two weeks, however she has sudden taken a bad turn healthwise and may not make it to her birthday. I am praying this is the last animal death we have for a long time because it is a lot for my heart to handle.
Unfortunately the next day of me writing this she passed away peacefully at my parents place. It's been hard she died just less than a month after Mimi.
I’ve had more cats than what I mentioned, but the other ones were either my parents cats or shared cats. I don’t have the time to list them all as that is well over 5 other cats haha. What I will end with is saying how rich my life has been thanks to each of these animals mentioned. My life would be so empty without the love of animals and I am thankful for a God who gives us these animals as a gift. I’m thankful that he blessed me with a heart toward his creation. <3 Also, I will continue to love more animals throughout my life and as I do, I will update this blog post with my future furbabies.
Something didn’t feel well when I left her and even my mom said "maybe we should go back and get her". My mom said something in her spirit felt something was wrong...I wish I would have listened! That night my so called "best friend" and her family began berating me about the name I chose for her. They told me it was too “human” and that they were changing it. They talked down to me and said she was their dog now. I was very upset, but I chalked it up as them having a bad day or something, because I had never had my best friend treat me like that. Her older sister always talked down to me, but never her! Well fast forward a few days... My landlord was going to drive to Columbus to get her since I didn’t have a car and he knew the situation was urgent. When I explained everything to him, he said that we needed to get Becca out of that environment ASAP. He was willing to drive almost two hours without accepting any gas money from me. I was so grateful and thought everything would be okay, until I got the worst call I’ve ever had to deal with a few hours before he was set to go get her. I had a vet call me saying that my friend’s sister brought Becca in and that her spay incision had came open. Becca was in excruciating pain and would need to be put down. It was believed that she had been neglected for a few days, which led to her opening her stitches(they didn't keep her e-collar). My heart sank and I sobbed. I called my parents to see if there was anything we could do but surgery would have been too hard on her. I still feel the pain from this today and it still surprises me that someone i used to call my best friend would do this to a precious animal. What I learned from Becca was that God gives dogs to show us his love for us through them and that his precious creatures should only be allowed around people who will cherish them as much as he did. I forgave my friend and her family, as that is what Jesus calls us to do, but I am very strict on who gets to watch my animals to this day. Also forgiveness doesn't mean acting as if something ever happened, it just means letting go of the anger and giving it to God. Only my husband, parents and one or two friends that I know are genuine can be alone with my babies. I know that I will see Becca again because she was so special to me. It just breaks my heart that she had to leave the world so soon because someone I trusted betrayed me.
Luke Bryan: January 2014 - April 2018
Luke Bryan, who goes by Luke, is very much like my first child/son. He is my first dog that I actually got to live with and watch grow from a puppy to an adult. I got Luke the summer before my senior year of college, two days after July to be exact. I gave myself a while to grieve the traumatic loss of Becca and was ready to open my heart up again that summer. I am very glad I made the decision because choosing to adopt Luke was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I can see God’s hand throughout the entire time I’ve owned Luke, beginning from the moment I spoke with his foster mom. It all started with a text asking about his personality. I then told her I was a college student looking for a companion to call my best friend. She texted me back saying that she wanted me to meet him asap and that she wouldn’t let anyone else see him until I got to. She said she thought I was meant for him and that my age wasn’t a concern since I was 21. I met him the next day and I fell in love with him the moment I met him. He chewed all over my hand because he was teething when I walked in, but I could tell he liked me. Just after a few moments with him I knew he was the one. He followed me around her house as I signed the papers and gave her the adoption fee. She was nice enough to keep him an extra three weeks for me because I was going on a trip the first few days of July. Luke has taught me so many lessons already and we have shared so many good memories. Luke has taught me patience and to forgive even if I was still mad. For instance, as a puppy he had a bad bladder and he also chewed a few important things, such as my laptop cord and phone cord(both unplugged thankfully). We spent every moment we could together my senior year of college and he enjoying going all over college campus. He helped me when I had to deal with a scary ex that tried to stalk me years after the breakup and hurt me. He has been there for me for some special moments such as me getting engaged and married. He also was there for me when I graduated undergrad and began grad school. He was there for me a few months ago when I found out I have a disease that could render me infertile. He loved playing with my husband so much as a puppy and still now. He is extremely attached to me and seems to get me well.
He became my service dog my first year of grad school right after he turned 2. He did good with public access training and task training. He learned to assist with my anxiety and eventually my depression. He even can detect when I am going to have a migraine about 10 mins before it happens, and he makes sure I stay seated so I don’t fall over and hurt myself. We’ve shared many walks and fun play sessions together. He has always had some fearful/anxious behaviors due to being abused in the past, but for the most part I have been able to rehabilitate him with love. He is silly, mischievous, agile and very smart. Very cautious, a bit neurotic and very loyal. Loves to dance on his hind legs and learns new tricks in a matter of minutes. I have grown so attached to him that I can’t imagine life without him. He has shown me that like him, God is a loyal friend who will never leave his children. He is the reason I can’t imagine life without a dog ever again because he has loved me well and been a constant source of love, support and fun. It pains my heart that he may be going to heaven soon because of kidney disease due to a genetic defect, but I am honored to have shared my life with such a great dog. I am honored that God would give me such a precious gift. God must love me a lot if he gives me such great gifts like Luke <3. Luke has showed me that God’s love is infinite.
update: I lost Luke the second week of April 2018. He was doing so good until his health suddenly took a turn for the worst. I tried to prepare myself the best I could for the pain I'd feel losing him, but I wasn't aware how bad it would hurt. I miss him every day, but it comforts me knowing I will see him again. I haven't been brave enough to pick up his ashes yet, but I am thankful the vet will hold onto them until I am ready. Check out my post I made in honor of him <3
Leia(the first)
Leia is a border collie my husband and I rescued from an owner who just wanted to get rid of her asap because her kids abused her. She was around one and we kept her for a week before giving her to Wayne, a man who rehabilitated and re-homed animals in Athens, Ohio. Le was really loving and she was really attached to my husband. She loved playing with Luke but also liked to be the dominant dog. The reason we couldn’t keep her is she had aggression tendencies toward the cat and would lounge at anyone that came near Robbie or myself. I just knew living in a small apartment complex with numerous dogs and other college students would be a recipe for disaster. I am thankful for the week we had with her because we helped her find her permanent home and she was so loving toward my husband and I. Wayne helped rid her of aggression and she went home to a couple that had a lot of land. She taught me that I border collies is a breed that I adore and because of that we will get one in the future as soon as we get a house with a nice yard so we can play frisbee.
Leia (the second lol) (born June 4th 2013)
We got Leia the pomeranian from a breeder in Kentucky. Leia was a retired breeding dog and was going to be re-homed, and since my husband in particular wanted a white pomeranian, we decided to add her to our family. Leia was very mild mannered and gentle. She also was ditzy and goofy haha. Our favorite thing she did was howl. It was so cute and I have a video of it somewhere on Facebook. Leia would not potty outside but loved to use the carpet...we found out later on why this was the case. She also loved to run around in circles and lay with her belly up for petting. She loved to bark a ton and even barked at the wind haha. She loved Luke at first but eventually was scared of him wanting to play with her. We had her for a few months and she still never got comfortable around Luke, so we decided to rehome her with the approval of the breeder. I miss her goofiness and her howl, but it makes me happy to know that she is very loved as the only dog in her new home. We also found out that the cause for her potty incidents was due to an unfortunate anesthesia accident that happened when she was spayed a week before we got her. Her new family had tests done and it caused damage to her brain. Poor girl. It was due to a veterinarian accident and not just a spay surgery to clarify. Thankfully her new family loves her anyway and I can always get updates on my sweet girl who has a human baby little sister now.
update: I lost Luke the second week of April 2018. He was doing so good until his health suddenly took a turn for the worst. I tried to prepare myself the best I could for the pain I'd feel losing him, but I wasn't aware how bad it would hurt. I miss him every day, but it comforts me knowing I will see him again. I haven't been brave enough to pick up his ashes yet, but I am thankful the vet will hold onto them until I am ready. Check out my post I made in honor of him <3
Leia(the first)
Leia is a border collie my husband and I rescued from an owner who just wanted to get rid of her asap because her kids abused her. She was around one and we kept her for a week before giving her to Wayne, a man who rehabilitated and re-homed animals in Athens, Ohio. Le was really loving and she was really attached to my husband. She loved playing with Luke but also liked to be the dominant dog. The reason we couldn’t keep her is she had aggression tendencies toward the cat and would lounge at anyone that came near Robbie or myself. I just knew living in a small apartment complex with numerous dogs and other college students would be a recipe for disaster. I am thankful for the week we had with her because we helped her find her permanent home and she was so loving toward my husband and I. Wayne helped rid her of aggression and she went home to a couple that had a lot of land. She taught me that I border collies is a breed that I adore and because of that we will get one in the future as soon as we get a house with a nice yard so we can play frisbee.
Leia (the second lol) (born June 4th 2013)
We got Leia the pomeranian from a breeder in Kentucky. Leia was a retired breeding dog and was going to be re-homed, and since my husband in particular wanted a white pomeranian, we decided to add her to our family. Leia was very mild mannered and gentle. She also was ditzy and goofy haha. Our favorite thing she did was howl. It was so cute and I have a video of it somewhere on Facebook. Leia would not potty outside but loved to use the carpet...we found out later on why this was the case. She also loved to run around in circles and lay with her belly up for petting. She loved to bark a ton and even barked at the wind haha. She loved Luke at first but eventually was scared of him wanting to play with her. We had her for a few months and she still never got comfortable around Luke, so we decided to rehome her with the approval of the breeder. I miss her goofiness and her howl, but it makes me happy to know that she is very loved as the only dog in her new home. We also found out that the cause for her potty incidents was due to an unfortunate anesthesia accident that happened when she was spayed a week before we got her. Her new family had tests done and it caused damage to her brain. Poor girl. It was due to a veterinarian accident and not just a spay surgery to clarify. Thankfully her new family loves her anyway and I can always get updates on my sweet girl who has a human baby little sister now.
My favorite memory of Leia is definitely sharing our first Christmas married with us. She did phenomenal on the road trip to my mother in law’s house and did good at the hotel too. She didn’t potty on the floor and went each time I took her out. Maybe she was meant to be a travel girl haha. Leia taught us that some gifts given by God are for a season and sometimes they are meant to be shared with others. Sometimes we have to let go because God is using us to bless someone else. The new family loves her and they were wanting a Pomeranian they could afford for quite a while. My heart is happy knowing she is being a blessing to them <3.
Update March 16th 2019 Leia is now living with another friend of mine because my other friend had to move somewhere that didn't allow animals. I wanted to take her back so badly but I had to focus on Mimi's sudden onset of kidney disease. Leia is still doing well and she remembered me when I got to spend an evening with her <3
Mae: (Born October 1rst 2014)
Precious Mae is the sweetest dog ever and weighs all of five pounds! We adopted Mae this past October at the Mingle with the Mutts adoption event. She is a purebred long haired chihuahua around 3 years old. I never thought I could find a dog I bonded with as much as Luke…..but I was wrong. I adore Mae and I am praying she lives a long healthy life with me. Mae is very calm and not a barker. She will occasionally bark if she hears a noise at the door, but otherwise she is pretty quite. She has a cute whine growl she does when she wants to be petted and she will paw at your hand. She gives me this special look of love whenever I pet her. Mae loves everyone and doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body, yet she is mommy’s sidekick. Her favorite place is either to be in my lap or my arms. She is very silly too and she and Luke have the cutest friendship. They love to play and wrestle together.
Update March 16th 2019 Leia is now living with another friend of mine because my other friend had to move somewhere that didn't allow animals. I wanted to take her back so badly but I had to focus on Mimi's sudden onset of kidney disease. Leia is still doing well and she remembered me when I got to spend an evening with her <3
Mae: (Born October 1rst 2014)
Precious Mae is the sweetest dog ever and weighs all of five pounds! We adopted Mae this past October at the Mingle with the Mutts adoption event. She is a purebred long haired chihuahua around 3 years old. I never thought I could find a dog I bonded with as much as Luke…..but I was wrong. I adore Mae and I am praying she lives a long healthy life with me. Mae is very calm and not a barker. She will occasionally bark if she hears a noise at the door, but otherwise she is pretty quite. She has a cute whine growl she does when she wants to be petted and she will paw at your hand. She gives me this special look of love whenever I pet her. Mae loves everyone and doesn’t have an aggressive bone in her body, yet she is mommy’s sidekick. Her favorite place is either to be in my lap or my arms. She is very silly too and she and Luke have the cutest friendship. They love to play and wrestle together.
Did I mention Mae is fiesty? If Luke is too rough or the cat tries to take her bone she will scare them with her annoyed bark haha. When playing she does this silly thing where she lays on her back and kicks her legs at her head while rocking side to side...and the best part is Luke will mimic that while they are playing. It’s hilarious. She is laid back but she can rip and run. She is very brave and will accept her challenges head on. For instance she will run up to the vacuum cleaner and bite it, while Luke cries and runs away from it haha. She is calm and Luke is neurotic/ high strung but they balance each other out well. She is perfect...except for being stubborn when pottying in cold weather. Eh, we’re working on it. She will hopefully be my next service dog once she gets the cold weather down haha. Mae has taught us that some of the biggest blessings come in small packages. She also has taught us to be gentle due to her tiny size, and she has shown us a glimpse of God’s sense of humor. Her desire to please us is a reminder that we should strive to please God everyday. Her unwavering obedience to us is a reminder that we are to obey our heavenly father. I love my Mae xoxoxox.
Update Sept 2019: Mae is as sweet as ever and she is a daddy's girl for sure. There is no one else she will jump three feet into the air for hahaha. She is doing well and we've had her almost two years now. My favorite thing about her is her sassy personality. She hates to get wet and she will lick her paws and kick like she is so offended. Oh and when she has had enough of her younger fur siblings she climbs all the way to the top of the couch and curls up. Out of all of my dogs she is the one that loves guests, strangers, etc. the best. Everyone is her friend and sometimes I forget she is a chihuahua hahaha.
Update Sept 2019: Mae is as sweet as ever and she is a daddy's girl for sure. There is no one else she will jump three feet into the air for hahaha. She is doing well and we've had her almost two years now. My favorite thing about her is her sassy personality. She hates to get wet and she will lick her paws and kick like she is so offended. Oh and when she has had enough of her younger fur siblings she climbs all the way to the top of the couch and curls up. Out of all of my dogs she is the one that loves guests, strangers, etc. the best. Everyone is her friend and sometimes I forget she is a chihuahua hahaha.
She loves to play with all of her dog siblings and once she is done playing she will watch the two most energetic, Mikki and Petra, play while cuddling next to me or her daddy. She also loves hiking and travel.
Milky Way aka Mikki: (Born June 3rd, 2017)
Where do I even start? Milky Way, also now as Mikki or Milkie, is my dream dog in literally every way. She
is such a blessing from God, and everyday I am amazed at how awesome she is. God put it on our heart to
get another Pomeranian from the breeder that we got Leia from since what happened to Leia wasn't her fault. In January, we knew Luke would only be with us at the most another year, so we thought it would be a good idea to start looking for another dog to be my service dog, and figured it would be easier to add another dog while Luke was still hanging in there. At first, I was going to train Mae to be my service dog, but she was too stubborn with pottying and way too distracted in public settings. We originally were going to get another retired breeding pom, until I saw the breeder post that she had decided to home on of the puppies she was going to breed because she believed the puppy would be happier in a home where she got more attention. The minute I saw Mikki I knew she was meant to be mine. When I looked at her, I thought about her fur representing the stars in the dark sky at night, which is why I named her Milky Way, after our galaxy. I also knew I had to have her, so we put a deposit on her and brought her home valentine's day weekend. At first I was concerned she would take forever to learn how to potty, or that she wouldn't be what I needed her to be.....but she proved me wrong. The second day I had her she learned she was supposed to potty outside(she used to use a litterbox) and she was very eager to please. I knew right away that she was really smart like Luke was and that she was going to be a special dog. Mikki is a very gentle dog and in fact, I haven't met a dog that is as sweet as she is. She is happy when she is by my side, whether that be out in public, at the park, or in my arms on the couch. She bounces back even if I have to correct her sometimes(because every dog has a little mischief in them). She is very confident, yet calm and easy going. She became the leader out of the dogs because she knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to take charge. Yet when it comes to people, she knows her place and isn't concerned trying to challenge our position as the ultimate leaders of the household. Somehow she managed to get Luke to give up his bones, something he wouldn't ever let Mae do.
Milky Way aka Mikki: (Born June 3rd, 2017)
is such a blessing from God, and everyday I am amazed at how awesome she is. God put it on our heart to
get another Pomeranian from the breeder that we got Leia from since what happened to Leia wasn't her fault. In January, we knew Luke would only be with us at the most another year, so we thought it would be a good idea to start looking for another dog to be my service dog, and figured it would be easier to add another dog while Luke was still hanging in there. At first, I was going to train Mae to be my service dog, but she was too stubborn with pottying and way too distracted in public settings. We originally were going to get another retired breeding pom, until I saw the breeder post that she had decided to home on of the puppies she was going to breed because she believed the puppy would be happier in a home where she got more attention. The minute I saw Mikki I knew she was meant to be mine. When I looked at her, I thought about her fur representing the stars in the dark sky at night, which is why I named her Milky Way, after our galaxy. I also knew I had to have her, so we put a deposit on her and brought her home valentine's day weekend. At first I was concerned she would take forever to learn how to potty, or that she wouldn't be what I needed her to be.....but she proved me wrong. The second day I had her she learned she was supposed to potty outside(she used to use a litterbox) and she was very eager to please. I knew right away that she was really smart like Luke was and that she was going to be a special dog. Mikki is a very gentle dog and in fact, I haven't met a dog that is as sweet as she is. She is happy when she is by my side, whether that be out in public, at the park, or in my arms on the couch. She bounces back even if I have to correct her sometimes(because every dog has a little mischief in them). She is very confident, yet calm and easy going. She became the leader out of the dogs because she knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to take charge. Yet when it comes to people, she knows her place and isn't concerned trying to challenge our position as the ultimate leaders of the household. Somehow she managed to get Luke to give up his bones, something he wouldn't ever let Mae do.
Mikki learned how to walk nicely on the leash within a week of having her and she was potty trained by the end of the first week. After having her a few weeks, I knew she had what it takes to become a full service dog and she also had my heart. Similarly to Luke and Becca, I knew she was going to be a dog that had an extra special bond to me. Mikki loves to run around and play with Mae, but she always is ready to assist me if need be. She leaps into my arms every time I come home or whenever it is time to go somewhere. She is literally one of my best friends. She is loving toward everyone, but she has made it known that I am her world. She is so adorable, so precious, so perfect. She is my other heart dog and I am so glad that God gave me another one. He knew I needed Mikki and I believe having her is what has helped me handle the loss of Luke. She will never be Luke, but she is special just the way she is. She has learned each service dog task she needed too and I am grateful. She can alert to cortisol rises and low blood sugar drops. She can respond to sensory overload and panic attacks before they become full-blown. She can alert to nervous scratching and has helped save my arms and legs. She loves to play fetch and play with her sister Mae. She loves going for car rides, going to the park, going to the stores as she does public access training, etc. She is always happy, bubbly and so in love with me. She did great flying to North Carolina two months ago. She loves to explore and go anywhere, as long as it is with me. I am excited to see our friendship continue to blossom. I cannot express enough how much I love her. She is the first dog who will always put me over herself, so I try my best to give her the best life ever, full of love and joy. She is going to help me experience a new found freedom as God continues to lead me down the perfect life journey he has for me.
update Nov 10, 2018:
Mikki has exceeded my expectations infinitely. She has learned to alert to my migraines 15 mins or so before the migraine kicks in, and she does a different alert for anxiety and migraines. She loves to make me happy and she is the happiest dog I've ever known. She is attached to me in such a special way! She is definitely another heart dog because she is just amazing and such a great friend and fur daughter. Lately she has been doing a new behavior before I have a brief minute where I cannot recognize where i am, or when I am going to have an episode that causes me to briefly lose consciousness. These are not related to my anxiety and are either part of a rare type of migraine called basilar migraines, or something else, as epilepsy and other disorders are twice as likely to happen to people who have migraines since migraines are neurological. I haven't gotten my results from an EEG back yet, but whatever it is I am so thankful for a service dog who helps keep me safe. When I had a spell where I almost fell recently from briefly losing consciousness, she would not divert her attention and gaze from me. She wanted me to stay sitting and she refused to potty until she knew I was okay. I just adore her <3 and she is why the Pomeranian is my heart breed.
Update Jan 2019:
I recently got diagnosed with epilepsy and Mikki has proven faithful yet again. She can alert to them so I am working on shaping her alert into something consistent. She is so perfect in every way. I've never had a dog that loves to please me and help me as much as she does. Definitely my soul dog <3
Update September 2019: Mikki has adjusted to being a big sister and she loves it. She is the mama of the group even though she is the second youngest. She loves to groom everyone, and she will break up playtime if she thinks anyone is playing too rough. She may be the smallest, but she still is the leader of the dogs. Petra has challenged Mikki a few times and each time she has whined and backed down because Mikki takes nothing from anyone. She is such a good girl for me and she loves to help mommy stay healthy/ aware of impending seizures and/or migraines. She and Luke are 100% my two heart dogs. Mikki feels like a mini me. I'd say my favorite things about her is how nurturing she is and how she loves to be held like a baby by me. She will stay laying in my arms for hours if I let her. I just can't believe I am blessed to be her mommy.
Update August 2020: Mikki is still my biggest doggie blessing. She is my mini me and still the leader of the dogs. She leads them firmly but gently. She also is always by my side ready to help alert and assist with any of my illnesses. Even with Covid and not being out in public for a while, she still goes good if we go somewhere and I need her. She too loves adventure, traveling and surprisingly I learned this summer she doesn't mind getting wet and dirty sometimes.
Marina aka Mimi: September 24 2014- February 26 2019
Mimi is a long-haired dachshund that we got this past August as we realized we missed having three dogs after Luke passed. Mimi is unique in that she has both a brown eye and a blue eye. She was a bit timid at first but she has come a long way! When I first got her she was instantly "my" dog. She respected me as her leader and she was attached to me. She would growl if someone we didn't know tried to approach us at night in my apartment complex and I appreciated having a watch dog again. She is super smart too. She had never been house broken, but within a few days she would only potty outside. She used to take forever to potty ugh..but I was patient and patience pays off. I knew I adored her the minute we brought her home, but my fondness for her continues to grow each and every day. Mimi is my cuddle buddy. She cuddles me whenever I am on the couch and she affectionately grooms me. Whenever Mikki grooms Mimi, Mimi begins to groom my arm or leg. She also is a natural alerter. She knows when I am about to get a migraine too she will begin to lick my leg and want to remain close to me. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body, contrary to what most people think when they hear dachshund. She may bark as an alert but once she gets to meet you she wants a tummy scratch. She is my only dog that loves to lay on my lap for hours at a time and I really appreciate that on days when I am sick with migraines, loss of consciousness, ect. because I feel loved.
I love seeing her get to experience things for the first time and seeing the excitement in her eyes. She loves going for walks and she does a happy trot as she walks nicely on her leash next to me. She tends to be scared of men but is learning to trust Robbie and my dad. Now she demands belly rubs from them both! Once I began letting her sleep on the bed she has become more trusting of us and is the perfect dog too. She doesn't whine anymore and she doesn't have accidents. She may not listen quite as well as Mikki does, but she isn't really stubborn either. She and Mikki are my dogs through and through and they look after me. Two weeks ago I fell halfway down my stairs and did not recall what happened between my fall and landing other than I felt the impact and realized I had fallen. Mikki ran down to me and Mimi whined and howled before running down to make sure I was okay. They both licked me and followed me as I got up and walked back up the stairs. I was fortunate to only have a scrape. Mimi has taught her that patience and hard work pay off. She also taught me that sometimes we have to go through things to get the bigger blessing and that the end result is always better. Like in life sometimes God wants to refine us to bring us to a bigger and better place, and to become more like Christ. So he will have us patiently go through something and in the end we are so glad we did it. Mimi was never a hard trial or anything, but I did have to be patient when she was skidish at first. I could have given up and gave her back..but I made a commitment and I knew she needed me. Now I have such a good bond with her and I have learned a life lesson too <3
update Jan 2019:
She is still a little scared of men but has come a long way. Just yesterday she gave her daddy kisses and wanted to be held in his lap for a good 20 minutes.
Update March 2019:
With a heavy heart I am writing to inform you that I lost Marina two weeks ago. I had only had her a few months and the most heartbreaking part of it is that she passed less than a year after I lost Luke. She seemed to be extra thirsty like Luke did when I first found out he was ill, but unlike with Luke she unexpectedly passed away one day. Honestly I am still in shock. The only thing taking my mind off of it besides prayer is watching my favorite show Jane the Virgin.
Maui
Maui is the newest addition to our pack. He is a brindle colored Pomeranian and I love how exotic he looks. Maui was one of my Christmas gifts this past Christmas as we have always felt we needed one more dog to have an even number and with all the diagnoses and health battles, we wanted something exciting to add to our lives. Maui is a very sweet dog and he is attached to my hip lol, although he loves his daddy too. He loves living with ladies but he is still a bit shy so he plays with them just for a second. He is pretty smart like his sister Mikki, which is awesome. I am convinced that the Pomeranian is the best breed of dog out there lol. Maui is really knew to the family but he has taught us that it is okay to love another boy dog after Luke passed and it's been healing having him. He will never replace Luke, but he will be another special dog in our lives. He has the potential to be a heart dog of mine like Mikki and Luke are. Maui is really chill and loves to cuddle in the lap. He did amazing with all the Christmas hustle, bustle, and traveling. I thought he would be super stressed but he was resilient and happy. We are hoping he likes to travel like his sisters Mikki and Mae do <3. Mimi doesn't like traveling as much but she has a special place to stay when we travel for vacations as she stole the heart of my former neighbor Karen :). Maui so far has reminded us of the beauty in the differences between males and females. Luke had aggression issues from time to time, so we were convinced male dogs always have worse temperaments. However, Maui has proven that males can be sweet and gentle too. Male dogs tend to be a bit more needy and cuddly, and a bit more mischievous. Females tend to be more independent and easier to train, but also are very sweet. He also is a reminder that all good gifts come from above. We prayed for a good fit and were originally going to get another pom, but upon meeting the other one we knew he was a bad fit for our pack. Maui stole our hearts and his calm yet playful demeanor is the perfect additional zest we needed. Oh and the fact that he escaped my fence just like Mikki escaped her harness when I first got her, proved he was meant to be lol. God is good all the time <3.
Update March 2019: Maui is such a crazy hyper boy but I love him even when he likes to test the limits lol. He is a love bug and I am very glad we have him. He has also learned so much and he is just amazing.
Update September 2019: Maui went to my friend's house with the plan of him being in a different environment while we pinpointed what triggered his sudden bouts of aggression with his fur siblings. However, the minute he got to her house he escaped her fence and was gone for two weeks. We looked daily, had the whole small town helping and everything. I thought he was a goner when someone spotted him again and thanks to the rescue team working with me, he was caught in a humane trap. It's been a few days since we have been reunited and he has been great. Hemp oil is doing wonders for his anxiety disorder and he has been getting along w his fur siblings like old times. During the scary experience of him missing, many thought I didn't love him as much as my other dogs because I always talk about Mikki being my favorite dog. Well I am telling you now I love all of my dogs the same, but everyone has one or two dogs in their life that are just more special than any dog. Maui is a great dog and I love him dearly, even if he isn't my heart dog. What I love the most about him is how I am the only human that matters to him and how much energy he always has. It's so funny watching him bounce around all the time. As traumatic as losing Maui was for two weeks, what made it even more traumatic was the judgement I got for something that wasn't my fault. Makes me appreciate those who truly value me in their life.
Petra Yael (born September 23rd 2018)
Petra is a pomchi puppy that we adopted from the shelter a few days ago. She was found in California running the streets after someone dumped her, and she had an awful case of pneumonia. She was taken to a shelter where she was going to be euthanized because it was already over populated, but a rescue transported her to Ohio be saved. The moment I saw her photo in the oxygen cage at the animal hospital, I knew she was for me. Like I've said before, I just know when someone is going to be a part of my life the minute I lay eyes on them. I really believe that is because of the spiritual gift of discernment that the Holy Spirit has gifted me. Many people commented on her post, but the shelter gave me the app. What makes it all the more special is it's the same rescue that I got first dog Luke Bryan from, so it's like getting Petra was a special way to honor my late Luke as well. I was a bit nervous at first because I have a picky pack (Mae is prissy w new dogs, Mikki can get jealous, and Maui is scared of everything unknown), but I prayed with my husband and we felt that if we had a bond with her when we met her she would be the one. Her foster mom was super nice and had like 15 dogs at her house lol because 5 were hers and the rest were rescues. We met Petra (formerly Lila) and a chihuahua puppy named Itsy. Itsy was cute and she clung onto my husband, but she had some major jealousy aggression toward the other dogs at the ladies house, so I knew that was out. Plus, Mae our longhaired chihuahua is my husband's dog and he is her person. She would not like another dog stealing him away from her. Petra was sweet and a bit shy but also very chill so we decided she was perfect. We did a deposit and waited for the vet to give the okay for her to be spayed because she was still healing from pneumonia.
Petra and I had a bond from the start when I met her. She was the only dog that wanted to be near me and she licked my foot. My heart was stolen and I needed her. The shelter thought she was two, but I actually believe she is much younger. Her teeth are perfectly clean(rare for a two year old dog that is small) and she is definitely all puppy. I actually think she is about 9 months, around the age I got Mikki. She is a very well behaved pup but she is very outspoken, outgoing, and confident. Mikki was a bit taken aback by her at first and made sure to establish that she rules the house. Mae surprisingly took to her quickly and only two days in she began playing with her. Maui was naughty and wanted to mark my beanbag the first days so he got time out. But now he wants to sleep in the same crate as her at night. Everyone seems to be getting along nicely. Petra is very smart and seems grateful to have a home of her own. It's so funny because she will play with every toy she seems, even the ones the other dogs didn't like. She also is good at entertaining herself with the ball. She will throw the ball and chase it herself hahahaha. Oh and she loves to eat stuff off the ground *rolls eyes* a tale tell puppy sign because Mikki used to do it too. Robbie is crazy about her too as if my family. She looks like a cute little tiny yellow lab. She has already been used by God to teach me some lessons and I've had her about 4 or 5 days.
The first thing she was taught me is she demonstrated how it feels to be adopted into the family of God once we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior. She was once lost and heading toward death, which is all of our fates before we accept Christ. She was unwanted, sick, in need of healing. The devil wants us to believe we are unwanted, and unworthy. But God loves us oh so much and longs for us to accept Christ so that we can become joint heirs with Jesus and so he can work on healing us and blessing us. He wants us to have a great life and has a plan for us. Petra's end wasn't going to be suffering. She instead is cherished and will live a long happy spoiled life. She also gave me a glimpse of how God must feel when we accept Christ. I was overjoyed to give her a happy new start and I can only imagine how joyful God is because he loves us all so much. She also is teaching me not to be afraid of taking chances and to be open/vulnerable. What I mean is I struggle a lot with trusting people I don't know, especially other Christians because I am instantly sure they will hate me or judge me(based on some past experiences). I was afraid to get another dog after losing two of mine to the same disease, but I am so glad I took the chance again. I am hoping I can learn to take more risks with getting to know people at my church and making more friendships. Don't get me wrong, I adore my best friends, but I do believe that I am meant to make new friends too in every phase of life. I am so excited to see what our journey has in store and I couldn't be happier with our sweet Petra named after my favorite JTV character and my beloved favorite actress Yael Grobglas <3.
update September 2019: Petra is almost 1 and I can hardly believe it! She has been such a great addition to our family. She plays well with all her siblings and always keeps them on their toes with her puppy playfulness. Petra is the goofball of my bunch and I say her sense of humor is definitely my favorite thing about her. She knows how to wave her paws in the air on command thanks to her daddy and she just is silly. Sticking her nose in your ear, making snoring noises for attention, tossing the tennis ball herself and chasing it lol, I could go on and on. She makes me laugh so much every day and she loves everyone and every dog she sees too. Oh and she likes to chase cats so we are working on that as my parents cats are not too thrilled about that haha.
P.S. I think she is actually a chiweenie (chihuahua dachshund mix) and she has potential to maybe be a third heart dog if it is even possible to have three of them. We shall see ;)
Coconut aka Coco (March 3rd 2013)
Coco is a chocolate and tan Pomeranian that we got recently from a lady in Michigan. 2020 wasn't the year we expected it to be or the year that any of us have expected it to be, so we figured it was the perfect time to add some more joy to our lives, especially after having a rough end to 2019. Coco was actually a belated birthday gift to me from my husband and some other family, she has been planned since my birthday in April but due to Covid we patiently waited to bring her home at the right time, which as after she weaned her puppies and was able to get spayed. We picked her up almost two weeks ago and she has fit in perfectly with our pack and little family. I will admit, we were both nervous at first because Luke died so young due to being born with kidney disease and then Mimi having to be put down only a few months after owning her. And all of hte struggles I have had with Maui. But, we prayed before we got Coco and when we picked her up we knew it was meant to be. We took Mikki with us and I have never seen her so excited to add another dog to the pack. She actually whined when I pulled her away for a sec to grab the carrier for Coco because she thought we were leaving Coco behind. She licked Coco all over and Coco returned the affection. Coco loves EVERYONE. I mean she wants everyone to pet her and she knows no stranger. I don't know who is more outgoing her or Petra and Petra is quite outgoing and outspoken. She is also very sweet. She loves to cuddles and be petted and she will demand to be petted which is funny because Petra is still jealous of her so they are competing for their spot in the pack as Mikki is still top and Mae Mae has moved up to second place for now.
Coco instantly learned how to walk on a leash and was okay with walking down the sidewalk even with cars going by as soon as we got home, which is incredible because she has never been on a leash. But each of my girl dogs have always been fast learners. Mikki was house trained in two days, Petra was too. Mae Mae was a quick learner as well. Coco has a silly side to her as well. She likes to shakes her butt and hips from side to side and pant in a silly way and she also likes to roll around. So now I've got two outgoing goof balls in the house haha, Petra and Coco and a house full sweet dogs. They have their moments of playfulness, but then they all calm down and just want to cuddle us. It's perfect. I am so thankful and even though it's only been almost two weeks, I have already learned something about God from her.
Coco is originally from a different breeder than the woman I got her from. She was bought as a young adult and then bred a few times before being retired. However, the first breeder who has her debarked her. I find that sad because she such a sweet dog and has been so easy to train, so I just don't understand. It just reminded me of something I struggle with. A lot of my life I have been told my value is dependent on whether or not I mess up, and if I make the slightest mistake I am not forgiven. Or I have been told that I am worthless, stupid, etc. I still struggle to see myself as who I am in Christ... loved, cherished, fearfully and wonderfully made, forgiven, and with a purpose...especially when I have disabilities. I have been rejected by some strangers, friends, ex's, and even family and it made me begin to think maybe even God felt the same. But as I heal my new dog and how I feel toward her reminds me of how God feels toward me. I think she is so beautiful and I love her personality. I love her even if her bark sounds small and funny since she was debarked. She has some skin problems and things that I am working on fixing as I put her on a better diet and I am so excited to see what some love does for her and I know that has to be what God thinks when he is planning good for me. I have a special purpose for her as I do all of my dogs and that reminds me that God has hope and a purpose for me too.
AND now onto the cats I've had
Whiskers 1
Whiskers 1 was a white cat that we gave milk and food to when we first moved into our house when I was 4. Whiskers loved being petted and rubbing against our legs. My dad once saved him from loose dogs that came into our yard before we got a fance. He was a gorgeous white cat with stunning blue eyes. He taught me at a young age that animals are precious and something that God desires us to cherish.
Whiskers 2
We were given a grey tabby kitten when I was about 6 years old. It was a cute kitten and I was determined to take care of it. I dutifully cleaned the litter twice a day and fed it. Unfortunately it was a very sick kitty so I had to return it to the lady who gave it to us. God used that cat to teach me some responsibility and give me a glimpse of the blessings he had for us in the future.
Plants
The first cat that was truly ours was a male buff colored cat I found in the plants out back when I was about 8 or 9. I was allowed to feed him and play with him everyday. I was even able to give him a flea bath and let him live inside until he wanted to go back outside. He was a huge cat, the biggest I’ve ever owned and he was a gentle giant. He could get a little grumpy sometimes, but he never scratched me. He loved to follow me around and cuddle me. God used him to give me an animal friend I longed for.
Nema
About a year later we found a stray Russian Blue cat that didn’t have an owner. I found her the same day that I saw the movie Finding Nemo with my grandma and sister during spring break, which is why I named her what I did. Since she was a girl I changed to the o to an a. She was nice and loved my dad. She jumped on his shoulder everyday and is what changed him into a cat lover. She gave birth to my Dusty another year later.
Simba, Dusty, Karlie, Jacob and another black kitten were Nema’s kittens. I kept Dusty, Karlie and Simba. Karlie became my mom and dad’s kitten and the other two were mine. They’d run all around my bedroom and loved a scratching post I bought for them. Unfortunately Simba died at 12 weeks due to escaping and getting hit by a car. Dusty ended up becoming my first cat that was mine alone.
Dusty Marie: June 2005 - Feb 2017
Dusty was my first pet that I owned and cared for on my own. She was the sweetest brown tabby cat full of personality. She liked to be naughty and jump on the table or climb up the Christmas tree, but she was also highly trainable. She learned what go back into my bedroom meant and always obeyed that command. I bottle fed her because she was the runt of the litter and her momma cat would run off for a day at a times sometimes. She began purring before her eyes opened whenever I held her. I have never had a bond with another cat as much as her. She purred and slept next to me every night until I went away from college. She loved to play and mice with feathered tails were her favorite. She would let me carry her around all the time and trusted me. She never hissed at me, except for when I also gave her a brother cat haha. She was very jealous of all other cats except her older sister Ginger, who is my dad’s cat. She is the reason my husband loves cats now, despite his allergy. He loves how affectionate she was. I miss her meow and her purr everyday, but I know I will see her again someday soon.
Jonathan Randall : Born July 9th 2006
Jon was one of Karlie’s kittens(she got fixed shortly after) He was my favorite out of her litter, although I love them all. Tiger and Ava my father and I shared. Serena was his cat alone. Jon is another one of my heart cats. I cannot explain the bond I have with him either...but I get a sense of peace and joy like no other around him. He is a miracle kitty because he survived getting into antifreeze when young and he recently came back to my parents home after being gone for years. He is a very easy going cat that loves being around other cats and loves to be petted 24/7. He has the most unique white stripes on his black legs. I am so glad he is still alive and that he gave me a Christmas present by showing up the week before Christmas this past year. When he was a kitty he used to play with myself and Tiger in the backyard. He also liked to nibble my sister’s and I’s toes. Jon came to help me during my dad’s first stroke and to help me through middle school and I am grateful for that. Now he’s back to remind me that God is good all the time.
Chloe: June 4 2016
Chloe is a beautiful buff cat that looks like my first family cat Plants. Chloe is very sweet, outgoing, loving and of course mischievous. She is my third “heart” cat as she and I share a special bond too. We got her as a kitten after two months of being married and she fit in perfectly. Her fear of Luke quickly dwindled as they became besties right away. They loved to play and sleep together. Chloe loves to play with any toy even now as an adult. As a kitten she would jump high in the air and entertain us with her funny moves. She also could sense when I was about to have a panic attack and would lay on me while Luke also helped. She is the calmest cat I know and nothing bothers her. She acts like one of the dogs and gets jealous if they don’t let her in on the fun. She loves to lick my fingers too and my cheek like a dog haha. When we moved she was the only animal not stressed haha. She doesn’t mind what goes on as long as she has her family. She is a huge blessing from God because she is ready to help my our depression or my anxiety and she is so sweet. She taught me that God can heal us of our allergies because nothing is impossible with God. My husband is no longer allergic, and while I developed an allergy to cats after Odin, he has allowed my allergy to Chloe to be tolerable.
Update March 2019: My allergies took a turn for the worst and were actually causing me more migraines, so I made the hard decision to rehome Chloe. Thankfully she now lives with my former neighbor where she is so spoiled and only 15 minutes away. I miss her everyday but I am so thankful she is loved.
Odin : September 2017
We got Odin a week after Leia the pom found a new home because we missed having a third fur baby. Odin was a Nebelung cat and had a handsome long coat. Odin and Chloe were enemies at first, but became besties. I’ve never had two inside cats get along, so it was really a gift to watch them play. Odin was extremely attached to me to the point that he didn’t like me playing with other animals. He would still be my cat if it weren’t for the allergy I developed to his urine..and no matter what he kept peeing on the couch and carpet. We tried several methods before realizing that he was making me very sick. My throat began closing around him so we had to find him a new home. He taught us that sometimes things in life don’t go as we plan, but that God has a sovereign perfect plan regardless. He helped me through some winter depression and would cuddle next to me while I had bad migraines.
Ginger
Gingerale was my first indoor childhood cat. We got her from a pet store the year before Dusty was born. She was always a very mean cat growing up but she loved my dad. As she grew older she became more friendly and now even enjoys my dogs.
Update March 2019: Ginger will be 15 in two weeks, however she has sudden taken a bad turn healthwise and may not make it to her birthday. I am praying this is the last animal death we have for a long time because it is a lot for my heart to handle.
Unfortunately the next day of me writing this she passed away peacefully at my parents place. It's been hard she died just less than a month after Mimi.
I’ve had more cats than what I mentioned, but the other ones were either my parents cats or shared cats. I don’t have the time to list them all as that is well over 5 other cats haha. What I will end with is saying how rich my life has been thanks to each of these animals mentioned. My life would be so empty without the love of animals and I am thankful for a God who gives us these animals as a gift. I’m thankful that he blessed me with a heart toward his creation. <3 Also, I will continue to love more animals throughout my life and as I do, I will update this blog post with my future furbabies.
