Paisley

August 26th was National Dog Day, in addition to Lorelai's birthday.  As I was snapping pictures of Lorelai I realized I hadn't taken many of Paisley lately.  She's funny...she strikes the most awkward faces/poses when the camera comes out.  It's like she's that teenager who is sick of mom taking pictures.  But, every once in a while I catch a gem that either makes me smile, or laugh...or just reminds me of what a gentle giant she is. 

Samson

We're now the family with three dogs.  Three...it sounds like sooo many.  But, honestly, in the last few days I just feel as if my heart is fuller, and not frazzled about having three dogs in the house.  Why three?  Why one more dog?

Brian and I had been talking about (aka joking about) getting a third dog for a few months now.  Wouldn't it be funny if we had THREE dogs?!  BWAHAHAHAHA!!!  Can you imagine?  Then laughing became looking, on my end.  We met with a Golden Retriever Rescue...SO many hoops.  And hoops can be good...but I don't have time for hoops right now.  Then we looked into several German Shepard rescue dogs...they all seemed to have an aversion to other dogs.  And then I thought...why not just another good ol' mutt?  We've had two purebred rescues and two mixes...and all of them have been wonderful.  So, I kept my eye out on Facebook for any updates from the Rescue groups I follow.  Heartland Lab had puppies...hmmm...could I do a puppy?  Nah.  We don't want a puppy.

And then Thursday morning I noticed a friend of mine had liked an adoption event for the OKC Animal Wellness Center.  Free adoptions on Saturday.  Interesting.  So, I looked, figuring nothing would strike me.  But one did...a little brown puppy...a German Shepard mix.  I emailed it to Brian, and he said it was cute.  I showed it to the kids, and they said NO PUPPIES, MOM!  

Later in the day Brian texted asking if we had another dog yet.  I laughed and texted back.  Before I knew it the kids had changed their tune, they were cleaning up their toys and racing to the car, snacks in hand...for them and the potential new family member.  As we drove I told them not to get their hopes up...the puppy may not be for us.  It has to feel right.  

We got there, inquired about the puppy, and while they tracked it down they said we could look at the other dogs if we wanted.  Sure...why not?  As we walked to the back, trying to escape the group gathered at the front of the room we saw Lucky.  He was cute, friendly but reserved, and he looked like a Lab/German Shepard mix.  I almost wanted to abandon ship on the original pup we came to see, but I figured it's best to follow through.  And then fate stepped in.  We went to the front and the volunteer apologized profusely that the puppy we came to see had been adopted and the computer hadn't updated yet.

Not even a tinge of sadness...

"Actually, we saw a dog we liked more anyway.  Can we please meet, Lucky?"

That was it.  He had to be ours.  He sat and cuddled.  He was shy, but curious.  He sat in a circle of three eager humans petting him simultaneously, speaking in high pitched voices, and he just soaked it all in.  He basked in the attention.

We brought his form to the front and patiently awaited our turn to officially "make" him ours, and came up with a name.  Samson.  (Well, if I'm being honest...we were torn between Samson and Hamilton...Daddy was the deciding vote.)  

Paisley took to him right away.  Gilbert is moving from indifferent to friendly.  And now we have our own little pack.  It's just as it should be.  And I guess, in the end, that's why we have three dogs.  Samson was meant to be a part of our family.