Day Two - Tummy

Tummy is our golden retriever.  Her whole name is Autumn Louise but when Addy was little and couldn't say "Autumn" what she did say sounded something like "TumTum" and "Tummy." 

Jeff and I adopted Autumn four months after we were married.  I remember going to the Humane Society with Jeff one afternoon and not finding a dog that was a good fit for us.  I bawled.  All the way home. 
However, the next Saturday we went and we found her.  She was the one.

Today while I was driving Addison to dance class she asked me a pretty poignant question for an almost four year old, "Mom, when is Tummy going to go to heaven?  Because I will miss her when she does.  I miss Basil a lot."  Basil is my childhood dog that we lost a year ago last November.  Basil was an independent creature.  She loved us, but she let us know when she wanted to be left alone.  Autumn is the exact opposite.  She's the most dependent creature I have ever encountered.  She snuggles, all 60 pounds of her between Jeff and I in our bed.  She meets you at the door.  She never gets upset if we forget to feed her until 10pm.  She manuevers herself so that her head is in your hand.  Whenever we go on vacation she gets so upset that she lands herself in the vets office.  She lets us know that she needs us. 
Dear Father, Thank you for your timing.  Thank you for giving us Autumn.  Thank you for both starting and completing our family with this perfect four legged creature.  I appreciate the lesson that both Basil and Autumn have brought to our family.  Please bless her with good health.  Amen.