Lost and Found

This weekend was quite exciting and emotional! Tom and I tease our poor puppy dog relentlessly about "getting rid of him". Of course we'd NEVER do it, but some days it seems our constant on-the-go family could "go" easier without always making dog arrangements. Well, this weekend we were reminded just how much he means to us...and mostly, me!

On Saturday, Sarge got out of the dog run. You see, our yard is not fenced in, but there is a decent size dog run fenced in on the side of the house. Deer were in the back of the property, eating their nightly dinner. As Sarge emerged from the dog run, he BOLTED into the woods after the deer. I didn't expect him to return immediately, but I did expect him to come trotting up again that night after he had exhausted from deer chasing.
Brock was pretty upset Saturday and I kept telling him Sarge was off meeting new friends and would return soon. We went to bed...without a sign of Sarge. I woke up around 2:30 that morning and went to the back porch...TOTALLY expecting to see him. No Sarge. At that point, my stomach sunk for the fist time and I really started to imagine the worst. I went to bed, cried myself to sleep, and woke up again around 6. I went to the back door again. No Sarge. By this point, I was so sad I would tear up instantly if I thought about him.
I was stunned with how much it affected me. However, when I started thinking about it, Sarge is 10 years old. I'm 31. I've had him nearly a THIRD of my life! I had him before I was married. I've had him twice as long as Brock. He is definitely a big part of my life.

On Sunday, Tom and his brother went into the greenbelt for nearly an hour searching for him. No Sarge. While at the park with the kids, I left my sister-in-law & mother-in-law with the kids and walked a good while into the greenbelt on a trail. Unfortunately, after 15-20 minutes, a rattle snake crossed my path and I immediately turned around!!!

Sunday night rolls around. No Sarge.
Monday morning we go put up posters...knowing, if he's alive, our best chances are that someone kind took him in. Monday afternoon we receive THE CALL!! Someone claimed to have him!
I went to pick him up and was so happy and relieved to see it was him, indeed! The family had found him Saturday. That warmed my heart, knowing he didn't spend a night out alone in the woods. They had 5 dogs, so I know he was in good hands. The crazy thing is...they are not even a quarter mile from our house. He was one street across from us on the cul-de-sac. Thank goodness for great neighbors!

Thank you Lord! And Thank You everyone who prayed for him and thought of us!

Our family is once again, complete!

But Sarge...please watch the deer from the INSIDE from now on...not up close and personal!!