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The moral of the story is : bring home a dog and you can become a great husband!

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Sometimes adversity is what we need in order to grow and become strengthened in one-another and the Lord...

Great photo the pooch sure is cute! 

he he, great one Rag!

Mike, that was a sweet story of a dog and a wonderful praise report on your marriage. Thank God that he turned for good that which was meant for evil. Praising His Name. Amen!

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I have always told Jim he can skip the flowers and cards I like animals. bring me a kitten or puppy or something..I even like hamsters which a lot of wives would not allow let alone want. He still hasn't but I won't stop hoping.

My son brought home a puppy for his kids and his wife who is blonde didn't want another pet, but fell in love with Jack because he was blonde like her. lol She said she had never had a blonde dog. Son said he went up several notches in the husband and father role. 

You will go up notches with accepting Sophie. Jim took to Gideon with jokes about my guinea mouse as he refers to this brave and independent hamster who won my heart. 

Rahab, our cat, became Jim's cat more than mine. He calls her the Rehab because of all the medical bills when we rescued her and she is on his lap more than mine by five times minimum.

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Heard a great message this morning about humility.  The preacher used a camera as an example.  Paraphrased VERY loosely:
Speaking of fruit of the Spirit...We take a picture of someone with a traditional Camera (let's say Sophie).  We have the picture in the camera (Just like when Christ comes to dwell in us, we have the seed of the fruits.)  However, to view the pic and share with others, we have to go into the dark room (trials) to DEVELOP the picture (fruit). 

It is through the tough times that see our fruit grow and others see it as well.

Praise our Maker, that through the rough times, He turned what Satan meant for evil into beautiful fruit in your marriage and family.

I wish the "dark rooms" weren't so, well, dark!  But for the glory of God and the promise of His will being done, we enter willingly.

Blessings!

What a sweet wonderful story.

Isnt it amazing that God will put such small things in our life and we can learn such huge lessons by them. Well maybe this time not a lesson but an epiphany.

Angela, you think??? lol ;)

Hi Jade gal! Yep, cute pooch, arrived at just the right time for us!

Megan, I hear ya!! And this pup is woman's best friend. At least, ONE woman's best friend, lol.

Cathy, omgoodness, now that's a cute pup!

Gwen (gojolly), what a wise and true thing to say....THANKS!!

Tabitha, lesson/epiphany both apply! And yes God used something small (7 lbs is VERY small, lol!)

Thanks Gary, appreciate your reading :)

Panda (Arlene), ALWAYS the encourager! 

Cubbie, hehe, you make me laugh! I think you should start lookin for a 130 lb cat, LOL. You would think our cat could handle your Retriever, but he's actually not as brave as he looks. But when faced w/a 7 lb GIRL doggie, he does manage to find enough courage to stand up, lol.

David/Pam, I do have a few. Message me more about what you're looking for!

Liz, you're welcome, LOL. I can laugh with you now, but believe me I wasn't laughing much when we had him. ESPECIALLY when I was in the back yard w/the pooper scooper!

Angie, thanks for adding that neat perspective. I appreciate my brothers and sisters so much, for the encouragement and wisdom shown to us during these times. YOU were provided to us by the Lord. Yes, he was (and has been) with us in the Spirit, but YOU all were with us tangibly, and continue to be. I am ever thankful for YOU!!

ps... Really marvelous illustration! I think I'll remember that one!

Hi Mike and others,

I think my comment has made lighter of the subject though this was a very serious subject. My due apologies to all of you and especially to you Mike. It would have been wonderful to have laura also have her comment here btw.

Lara, yes she is. :) And ya know, there is difference between adversity IN your marriage and that which is outside of your marriage. Sometimes adversity can pull you and your spouse apart, if one or both aren't following the Lord. Fortunately that isn't happening in our case. I'm sooo thankful for my wife!!

Crystal, LOL!! Hubby won't eat dog biscuits, eh? lol!!

Thanks MarJay, appreciate that, sister. :)

Maureen (craftsreen), they can be a stress reducer....or.....not.... lol

Marcia (ihsallthetime), glad to be able to keep you off-balance there, lol. I think Joey's the one who helps me not take myself too seriously, lol.

Mary, a pic of me n Sophie would be....well, nevermind, you ain't gettin one, lol .. I will hug Sherlock for ya. :)

Deb, yours is always a mature perspective, which is why it's so valuable. Thanks for being our friend!

I found out we had a dog 5 days ago when my wife and daughter opened the door to the minivan.  It's good for the family, and can be good the marriage.

Gene, surprise!!!! lol, that's funny. A lot like my case, only I sorta knew. She asked me about Sophie the day before....though she didn't say she would go get her that soon, lol.

She sure is Amy!

Thanks Toni and Mr Banks! (Robin, lol.)

I'd gladly take a "make-up" puppy any day of the week. :))

Seriously, it always blesses my heart to see how God can perfectly work things in such a way that we receive the desires of our hearts in the  most unexpected ways and unexpected timing!  :)  He is Amazing! 

Hi sweetheart! How special...you commented! =)

Sarah, lol! What kind of cat is your husband's? Mine is a Maine Coon. He's big!

Carebear, are you serious?? Laura's is a Havanese!

Cubbie, lol. The bigger they are the harder they fall? lol

Game OVER!! lol! Hey, we heard that some, perhaps many, Havanese can be pretty hyperactive. If that's what you want, great! Odds are in your favor! We managed to get one that is sweet and laid back. She just sighs and lays out on your lap. She's a keeper! Actually I joke, Sophie is quite cat-like! If you can find a calmer one, TAKE him/her!

ps... We read/heard that the breed was developed to herd chickens. Believe that!!?

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hmmmm......   Yup, I'm not gonna laugh because I've been exactly where you've been.  God bless adversity and puppies.
   
Isn't God grand?  Now you know why I leave all these crazy pictures for ya'll.  Keeps me going and keeps ya'll hoppin.

I do love ya, Mike.  You have a great heart, and a great family, a good, good, little girldog.

Your sister in Christ,
Joey 

I neglected to mention that it's been terrific for my marriage too.     hehehehe!!

Thanks Fire n Ice!!

Joey, thanks for your nice comment, and for keepin it light around here!!