It Began With a Fence

Luka, top left snuggling with his sister.

It began with a fence. Our homestead has been in dire need of a fence since we moved onto the property almost five years ago. Growing weary of competing with sometimes thirty-fifty deer, most especially in the summer months as they are foraging for water.

Finally,  after three inquiries into fence builders, the team we hired arrived daily with their seven Australian Shepherds, aka Aussies. Having these super intelligent and loving animals back on our property, ignited a very low burning pilot light. It has been barely a flicker since the loss of our most precious Aussie, Zuke, last November.

Trusting the timing, not even sure how or when to begin a search I sat quietly and was given where to begin. I filled out a contact form on one local site, and didn’t even tell my husband. I received a reply later that same day that said, “Hi, Joanie, we have seven pups. They are gorgeous, This is my last litter.”

Immediately calling the number she gave me I felt such a connection with Toni. She mentioned we could come on over and take a look in just about an hour or so. I inquired as to where they lived? She named the same road that we are on, just a little further down. As Tosha Silver always reminds us, we just can’t make these things up. Oh, how I wish I had captured the look on Richard’s face as all he had to overhear was, puppies, as he walked past where I was engaging in conversation.

Within the span of a weekend we will at the end of March be welcoming, Luka, his name meaning the bearer and bringer of light into our family. He is a blue merle, and simply out of this world. We have been spending bonding time with him, and his personality is popping. He's adventourous, let's us know when he's had enough cuddling, and is a total foodie. Luka had one paw in a water bowl and the other in his food. Our hands will be full, yet most of all our hearts will be too.

Who could have imagined that our fence builders would become the messengers? That I was not imagining, in fact, it felt like a void, and I simply had no idea, yet I continued to offer it over, and ask that if we were meant to have another season with a dog, please make it abundantly clear. With such ease this happening occurred and flowed like a perfectly choreographed dance.

We are nesting, getting as prepared as we can, and can’t wait to jumpstart our puppy brains. Each beloved dog that we have been blessed to have arrives with something very special and unique, which I trust is a divine curriculum specifically created for their person (people.) I sense Zuke funneling important marching orders and carefully crafted instructions for Luka. Zuke loves his people, and no doubt had his paw in this. No one could ever convince us otherwise. Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!

“Because of the dog’s joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

― Mary Oliver, Dog Songs