Cypress & Sage - Hill Country Living

MY FAVORITE

I have a favorite child.
She's super smart, uniquely beautiful, and affectionate.
Her name is Tessa, and she is a rescue dog.
My adult sons know Tessa is my favorite.
She's a tri-color Australian Shepherd with 
a shaggy tail, an amber eye, a blue eye, and a gimpy leg.

My kids have dogs, so I have granddogs.
​Bailey, Lucy, Barney, and Ruby

I've had a dog most of my life. One family dog we had growing up was a
red dachshund named Oscar. (Oscar Meyer Weiner. Not original.)
Back then, dogs were free range from breakfast until suppertime.
Oscar spend most of his days waddling around town from 
pool hall to playground with his best friend Cocoa. 
Oscar hated the garbage truck and barked at its tires.
(Sad spoiler alert)
One July morning, while my siblings and I watched The Lucy Show, 
we heard the garbage truck, the barking, the brakes, 
and the sudden and short yelp of Oscar.
We buried his crushed little body in the backyard.
Our 90-year-old neighbor delivered a Mason jar with
giant magnolia blossoms for his grave.
Oscar had been a frequent visitor on her front porch.

To this day, the fragrance of magnolias tugs me to
a mound of dirt under the apple tree next to the white picket fence.

The worst thing about having dogs is losing them, 
but I believe dogs will be in heaven.
While dogs are with us on earth, they teach us through
their nature how to have a relationship with God.
Dogs want to please, spend time with, and learn from the Master.
Cats want to be served and live life on their terms.
(Concept from Cat and Dog Theology by Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robinson)

The Bible has may representations of dogs and cats. Here's one.
Ten lepers recognized Jesus and asked Him to have mercy on them.
Jesus told them to show themselves to the priests. On their way, the leprosy faded from their skin. They were transformed from societal outcasts
painted with a disease until death to restored healthy citizens
with a second chance to live.
Only one former leper ran back to find Jesus when he realized he was healed.
He shouted praises and fell at the feet of the Master,
overwhelmed with gratitude.
You can read this miracle story of Nine Cats and One Dog in Luke 17:11-19.
There's a surprise ending for the rescued dog.

Speaking of rescued dogs . . .
Wimberley Adoption Group & Rescue (WAG Rescue)
comes to the aid of abandoned, neglected, unclaimed, and surrendered dogs
and puppies in and around the Wimberley area and western Hays County
regardless of their age or condition.
Check out their website, adopt a dog, volunteer, or donate.
​https://www.wimberleywagrescue.org/

Comfort & Joy

Anyone who is among the living, has hope –
even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
Ecclesiastes 9:4 NIV

I love dogs so much I have three Pinterest boards dedicated to them.
https://www.pinterest.com/peggytidwell/puppies-and-doggies/
https://www.pinterest.com/peggytidwell/best-friends/
​https://www.pinterest.com/peggytidwell/nlk-barking-up-the-wrong-tree/​

Dogs are in all my stories.
Meet a Border Collie named Ronald Reagan who runs the beach
with his master to the Donut Station and
instigates a meeting that changes a life and affects a murder investigation
in my novel All In For Life.

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