This weekend we will pile into the car and hit the road on a journey to Beautiful. Beautiful resides in Fort Worth, Texas, and we will be bringing Beautiful back to New Mexico.
A journey that begins in hope, not that most thought of hope, as in “I hope I win the lottery”, but that sure hope that comes when you know that God is doing something.
When I was first asked, to find the beloved veteran a dog, to be a companion and friend, to be trained as a service dog, I asked God to lead us to the right one, to help us find the right dog, not just any dog, but the dog He made for this purpose. And I have asked Him to have His hand in all that follows and I trust that He will do all that I have asked……..and more……..He always throws in the more.
He led us to this dog.
To a dog named Jewels, in Fort Worth, Texas. A dog who is as tough as nails, with a heart that far outweighs her 55lb body, a dog who loves big, and who holds no grudges though she has every right to hold some.
The veteran wants to rename her, which is okay, for they are embarking on a new journey, and what is behind them has past, and that which is front of them is new.......so a new name, for a new life.
While thinking of what the one she was made for might decide to name her........ a still small voice whispered in my heart……..”She is Bella”.
And then the one she was made for confirmed it……..”She is Bella”.
Bella means beautiful.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
So the dog named Jewels, who was tossed from a balcony and suffered great injury, and endured great pain, who was rescued and recovered will become Bella, the service dog, the friend and companion of the combat veteran who has also seen horror and endured much pain.........and she who was rescued will rescue, and she who was healed will heal.
Please pray for them both as they start their journey together.
Update: 10/6/14, The journey down was long, we stopped only for gas and bathroom breaks, all the way to Fort Worth. We stopped to eat an hour out from Beautiful.
Upon arriving, we saw several people gathered in the yard with a white dog. We parked and got out and they released her. She ran straight to him, greeting him as if to say " I been waiting for you, so happy to see you!".
We went inside, and at some point went out to get something from the car. He opened the door and she jumped right in, ready to go. We had to remove her from the car for a few photos.
She was a trooper on the way home, leaning hard into him when he sat with her, and leaning hard into me while watching him, when he drove.
When last I saw her, around 3pm yesterday, she was snuggled on the couch, his arm around her.
They fit well together.
It is good.
Beautiful has arrived in Albuquerque.
10/7/14 Update: They did their first service dog training session today, both did well. The lesson was held at a local Lowe's store. Bella was introduced to the halter, and she did not really like it, but she was trusting and accepted it. He was introduced to the leash and how to handle it, how to communicate gently. He did well. It was a delight to watch them take their first service walk together.
10/14/14 Update: They had their second service dog training session today. About an hour before the lesson they were in a very close call on the freeway. Someone hit the median and spun out, and he had to evade the accident, another car was hit but they escaped. Bella was thrown to the floor, both were shook up. Yet they proceeded to their lesson, and today they went inside the Lowe's store with their two trainers, and their two trainers service dogs. So it was a lot to take in, a lot of new sights and sounds and Bella was stressed. But again she trusted, she listened and she followed him about the store. I was very proud of them both.
6/17/15 Update : Miss Bella is doing great, she has lived up to her name for she is beautiful. She is doing great as a service dog and as Adam's friend and companion. She goes pretty much everywhere with him. Today she attended college classes for the first time and she did great. We are so proud of her, and so grateful to God, and to Sharina the CEO of Astasia's Animal Rescue (they do great work, please check them out and assist if you are able), and Aggie Wasson for saving Bella and for letting our veteran adopt her. She who was rescued has rescued.