WOW,  what a Saturday afternoon.  We were busy cleaning so we could get our showers and head over to a friend's house to enjoy some much needed fun.  I had made my list and checked it twice (I am a big list person) we were right on schedule.  I went to pick up my 10 year old from a sleep over and was headed for the shower when she stopped me and asked  if I had seen Angel, her dog.  We have an underground fence and Angel never leaves our yard, when she is not outside enjoying herself she is inside with us.  I didn't think to much about it, just figured she had found a nice sunny place and was taking a little doggie afternoon nap.  Before I got to the shower, Alyssa came in crying hysterically, her dog was no where to be seen.  I said a quick prayer and assured her she hadn't gone far. She hopped on her bike and rode through the neighborhood. I jumped into my car and drove up and down the roads that lead to our subdivision, NO ANGEL.  Now I was crying and praying, praying and crying.  I stopped and asked the neighbors who were outside if they had seen a cute border collie/lab mix dog with a white heart shaped spot on her chest...no luck. 

I have never seen my 10 year old cry that hard.  She is our animal lover (esp. dogs).  She wants to own a farm where she can rescue dogs that are neglected and abused by their owners.  She is also very persistent, not in an annoying way, in a good way.  She asked us for a dog for two solid years.  A dog was all she asked for on her birthdays and every other holiday (including Easter).  She didn't just ask us, she faithfully prayed and asked God.  Two years ago on Christmas God answered her prayers and rewarded her persistence with a precious 3 month old puppy, which she fittingly named "Angel". 

It's funny I have never been a true "animal lover".  God changed that on a dime.  When I thought Angel was gone, my heart was broken and I cried as hard if  not harder over the situation than Alyssa.  Of course part of it was because I knew how heart broken Alyssa would be if Angel didn't return.  A big part was also because Angel has become a part of our family.  She sleeps in my room every night, is obedient and sweet, yet very protective over our family.  She wouldn't bite a fly but if she doens't know you and you pull up in our driveway, you might think she means business, of course, all you have to do is stomp your foot and she will run to the back yard, some guard dog. 

Oh yeah, back to the missing dog story...we had looked everywhere, even my 20 yr. old son who sometimes can be somewhat selfish joined in on the search, everyone in our family loves Angel.  After searching we all ended back in our yard at the same time, all shaken up and saddened.  Something told me to check in the storage shed attached to our house, I though to myself ...that is crazy, why would our dog be in the shed?  I went to the shed and opened the door and guess who yawned and stretched her way out into the yard....OUR Angel!We were ecstatic.  I thank God for that dog sent from heaven to my little girl and God used that day to remind me to not take for granted even the "small" blessings he sends our way. 

Trusting Him,

Renee