Take The Time To Listen To The Sighs

[mlg]

I wish I could include the pictures that were sent with this email, but even without them it will tug at your heart.

Puppy Size

This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know

precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you'll

want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)!

'Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to

This animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since

we started all of this,' the mother told the volunteer.

'What is it she keeps asking for?' the volunteer asked.

'Puppy size!' replied the mother.

'Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for.'

'I know.... we have seen most of them, ' the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

'Well, did you find one?' asked her mom. 'No, not this time,'

Danielle said with sadness in her voice. 'Can we come back on the

weekend?'

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

'You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's

always a supply,' the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. 'Don't

worry, I'll find one this weekend,' she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.

They both felt she was being too particular. 'It's this weekend or

we're not looking any more,' Dad finally said in frustration.

'We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,' Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday

morning . By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the

section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of

the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could

see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to

take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held

each one.

One by one she said, 'Sorry, but you're not the one.'

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.

The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up

the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

'Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!'

She screamed with joy. 'It's the puppy size!'

'But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the

last few weeks,' Mom said.

'No not size... The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,' she said.

'Don't you remember?When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!'

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't kn ow

whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did

a little of both.

'Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home

from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the

right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,' she said.

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, 'Mom, he loves

me. I heard the sighs of his heart!'

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you

sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the

caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of

cool air on a hot day.

They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will

be surprised at what you hear. 'Life is not measured by the breaths we

take, but by the moments that take our breath away.'

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!!

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Life is too short and friends are too few.

[kath]

Dear Mary Linda,

Thank you so much for posting this. I keep coming back over and over to read it. I can hear them...the sighs of my husband and my dog. It was the sound that meant "All is well and couldn't be better." It was the sound of comfort, relaxation and security all in one. How I miss those sighs! I can guarantee, if and when I'm ready to look for a new dog, it will be "puppy size!"

Kath

[kath]

Just wanted to share this with you...

We got a new collie pup 3 weeks ago. She's like the "little girl that had a little curl..." "when she is good, she is very, very good, when she is bad, she is..." Her name is Sassie B. Grace. (I had to please everyone, you know.) The B. stands for everything and nothing. In the beginning, it was Buddy, Belle of the tennis Ball, Budda Belly, Baby, etc. Then we discovered Biter, Bobcat, Bonkers...(you get the picture.)

She didn't exactly "sigh" when I picked her up, but she did sit quietly, looking at me and listened when I talked to her. (I was hoping I'd have one in the family that would listen to me.)

We are all thrilled!

[MartyT]

Congratulations, Kath, and welcome to your new little one: Sassie B. Grace ~ I love it

[mlg]

Is it a regular or a boder collie?

Isn't it wonderful to have that unconditional love greet you when you come home? I'll bet the kids are just loving this.

My daughter still says if she believed in reincarnation she would swear her dog was Tom because of the way she gets so excited when she sees me. Maybe Sassie is a part of Bob too.

It was funny when you said the name because my sister has a black lab mix and her name is Sassafrass and they call her Sassie.

Enjoy your new family member and hopefully she will bring you many years of enjoyment.

[kayc]

Yes, Kath, we are happy for you! I am so in love with my puppy, Arlie, I can't imagine life without him, already! He is exactly right for me, as I'm sure your Sassie B. Grace is for you and your kids.

[kath]

Sassie is a regular collie and she has filled our house with laughter. She was so small when we brought her home and she is growing like crazy. We can't believe how cute she is. Caitlin is keeping a daily diary of what she does and what she learns. She's a smart little pup and I miss her dearly when I have to leave for work. I know Bob would have been crazy about her. He was a Dr. Doolittle from the start and I have no doubt he could talk to animals. Sometimes the way she justs sits and listens to me ramble on about stuff, I wonder if she doesn't have a little bit of Bob in her! (We thought about the name Sassafras, but Bob called Lassie "Sassie" so that's how she got her name. The Grace came from Mike and like I said earlier, the B. just fit for all the rest of the things we call her.) She has definitely lifted the mood around here!