Seven Years & Counting

photo courtesy of Brandie Scales

This time of year is so special for our family. Last week we celebrated Kai's birthday and that will forever be one of my favorite days every year. Today though has been my favorite day for some time now. Seven years ago today we adopted Wrigley from the Nevada Animal Shelter in Iowa. It was the day we became a family, me, Caleb, and Wrigley. I will never forget that day. We were having a warm spell in Ames and Caleb and I decided to go out for a run on Jan 31st. We were just getting started when we saw someone who lived in our apartment complex with the cutest puppy! We had never seen a dog like her before and stopped to ask what kind of dog she was. The girl told us (Pomeranian mix) and mentioned how she has just adopted her a hour before. I casually asked her where from and how much the adoption fees were because C and I had been thinking about getting a dog for some time but didn't have the funds to pay a $300+ adoption fee like most shelters needed. She told us she paid $35. We were in shock. She told us they had the whole litter of puppies at the shelter as well as the mother. After our run we decided to contact the shelter and ask to see the puppies. They told us there was only 1 left plus the mother but that many people were already interested in the mother. We told them we would like to see the puppy they had left the following day. We impatiently waited all morning to go to that shelter and see this puppy. The second they brought him out and handed him to me he clung to me and I knew I was going to be his mama. C told them right away to get the papers ready, we were going to take him. I write this with tears in my eyes because he is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He has been here for all of it. The very best moments and the very worst. Graduating college, my grandparents passing away, moving to Chicago, getting engaged, getting married, buying our house, road tripping around the country, my pregnancy, welcoming Kai in to our family, my dad passing away, and so much more. All of it. He's been here to celebrate with us and be sad with us. He has seen me laugh harder than ever and has sat with me when I've cried harder than ever. He protects me and loves me more than I thought possible. And we love him beyond belief. 

He is so loving to others, too. The way he has welcomed Kai in to our family is incredible. Everyone kept telling us how he's going to be so jealous and how he better get use to not getting as much attention and it always baffled me. How could the best dog in the world get jealous of his brother? Why would we give him less attention? If anything he gets more attention now. He has another human in his life that loves him more than anything. The bond that has grown between Kai and Wrigley is extraordinary and I love watching them play and snuggle all day every day. Wrigley would go to the end of the Earth the protect Kai and for that I've never loved him more.

This blog was named for him. I call him Tiny. He is the most dapper pup ever. He is my little fox. He inspires me every day to be my best self and I thrive on his love. I hope this space continues to honor him by showing the best side of our little family and inspires others just as he inspires me. We love you so much, Tiny. Thank you for an incredible 7 years.