Today did not go as planned – and Vince handled it very well. We were here this morning & then we needed to take dad into Anchorage to pick up a van (it has front end damage) that he got for parts for my van….All this went fine & there was 50/50 chance he could start the van and drive home. The animal hospital had my cell # and was to call me when it was time to pick up Hickory, we knew we had until 5:30/6 to pick him up. We got to the junk yard & got the van – the guy started it & drove it out to dad, no problems! It was just 3:15, we were doing really well on time & very happy about this. I was supposed to stay right behind dad – easier said than done, but I was managing. We got on the highway & weren’t even to the Muldoon exit when I noticed dad was smoking from the left side, but the exhaust was on the right…so I called dad & told him. The heat gauge was fine & he couldn’t smell anything so he decided to keep going — he ended up taking the Arctic Valley exit & pulled over. We hoped we could make it to Eagle River to get some water. …. not so …. Dad took off down a frontage road (? I don’t know we were parallel to the Hwy, but couldn’t see it) & was following but there was a large work truck between us. A couple miles down the road I saw dad pulled over again.

The only usable fluids I had were a gal of windshield washer fluid & the kids’ water bottles. As fast as he poured those in they poured out on ground on the opposite side of the engine. Dad called Zach & he was able to drop what he was doing and bring the truck & trailer in to pick up the van — Zach to the rescue.

As time ticked away it became obvious I was going to be taking Vince by myself to pick up Hickory….we were all nervous & it was a very quiet ride from the Ft. Rich exit to Palmer. But we did it, I didn’t get sick when she was telling us stuff, we got him in the van and drove home all by ourselves. For those who don’t know me – this is huge! We got home, Dad & Zach were here and Jane & the kids were here – so Hickory still got a grand welcome. 🙂

The kids checking out Hickory in his kennel. Vince is in the kennel with Hickory while he checked out all the corners.

We spent 15-20 min with Vladimir outside. He was very calm, but we had intentionally decided before going we’d check him out but not do anything until we’d ‘slept on it’ & my dad came home on Sat afternoon & could give us his opinion. It was very hard to leave him. We went to Anchorage to pick up something for Matt, went to Bear’s Tooth to watch Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian movie, then to Barnes & Noble for an hour to read all we could on Husky’s. We did buy a collar & leash, to make it seem more real. When we got home I was checking different listings again & found a another dog – a light colored sheperd/lab/husky mix…but it was female & a 5 month old puppy! I called on it, but someone else was set up to look at her, I gave my name & number – they’d call if the others didn’t take the puppy.

So, we set up to meet dad at the pound on his way home from the airport – 6pm. Vince had decided he didn’t really want Vladimir, but wanted to show Bumpa what a nice dog he was. He was leaning towards holding out for a Golden Retriever & being able to name it himself, but not sure he wanted to wait that long either. Vince was getting concerned that I’d change my mind or we ‘just wouldn’t get around to it’ – ‘it’ being, getting him a dog. He had to come to grips with the fact he had no reason to not trust me for my word & sometimes it’s hard to wait for God’s best, not what we think is best. We had discussion on how I’ve been praying about this & I knew without a doubt God had the perfect dog waiting for him. How we’d have to not jump & grab just any dog out of fear of the idea going away, but to really be deliberate about what we really wanted for life. When we got to the pound, Dad had gotten there a couple minutes before us. (Now, if you know my dad at all you’ll know why we responded the way we did. If you don’t know my dad, just know we have a lifetime of good reason.) The first thing he said was “Why didn’t you tell me about the Golden back there?” I answered with, “because there isn’t one”. He said “no, seriously there is a 1 yr old, male, white Golden back there, I was just there & saw it.” I thought – yeah, right a ‘white’ golden?! come on, I’m not going to fall for that! Well, after a bit of convincing on my dad’s side & me deciding it must be because he must not be available for adoption (I’d checked the system again to see if there was anything just before leaving to go to the pound) – he took us to the white Golden Retriever…. A 1 yr old, male, not named, Golden Retriever…oh, how I wish I’d had my camera. I have a mental photo, but couldn’t ever begin to describe the look on my boy’s face. I should have known…my dad has gone to the pound 3 times to get a Golden Retreiver & there’s been one each time! The story on this dog – someone had come & dropped him off in the pound’s night drop box. They’d called & asked why it wasn’t listed on the system & the pound was saying they didn’t have him. Finally, the original owners said “we put him in the green night drop shed, behind your building”, but that isn’t the night drop anymore so no one had gotten him out, so this puppy was without food or water for 3 days. They’d just gotten him on Friday & we have to wait 5 days before he becomes available for adoption (why he wasn’t in the system yet), but we were able to put a deposit on him & tomorrow we’ll go pay the rest. Since it was the owners that brought him in & called to get him found, we’re figuring they won’t come claim him… Thursday he’ll go to be neutered & we can pick Hickory up Thursday afternoon. Dad & Vince have started working on where the kennel will be and know where they’ll be putting the run. This is real – in just 48 short hours, Vince will have his own dog. I’m sure this a process he will remember for the rest of his life & he will always know and be convinced – God is in the details of our lives, big & small.

I have come a long ways, there was a day I wouldn’t have let this go. It was truly ugly, in a cute kind of way…I loved Mary’s explanation – it’s a stone washed, well-worn label! Once I had that in mind it was OK. I am blessed, I feel younger now than when he was born. Life is good & my boy has successfully turned 12!