New beginnings

So I've been thinking a lot about the puppy - go figure.

All my life I've been pretty much anti-dog. My best friend's family always had a dog, and I hated her. Him? I can't even remember the name (how sad is that, Corey? I keep wanting to say Charlie, but no, that's your Dad... really, it's right on the tip of my tongue... oh well.) We never had a dog - just cats growing up. All the neighbors had dogs, and they always seemed stinky and slobbery.

But we're getting a dog. A really cute dog.

I've been walking around the house thinking of all the things I need to do to puppy-proof... move all the shoes, put the shredder somewhere else, buy baby gates, clean out the cupboards, organize the closet... wait - I don't have to do that - it's just a puppy. But - I have this urge to accomplish accomplish accomplish... the little mundane tasks I've been putting off are now in the forefront of my mind, and I'm just itching to get busy.

I think I'm nesting.

No, seriously.

I realized awhile back that our lives were pretty darn settled. Compared to the first ten years of marraige, with Asia's schooling, moving several times, changing jobs, having babies, buying houses and working through all the developmental things with our little ones, this second decade of our lives together has been pretty hum-drum. It's like you go from major change after major change to this much more settled rhythm... life pulses away and you concentrate on just maintaining some sort of harmony. The tempo ebbs and wanes, sometimes accented with sharp staccato and sometimes dipping into interludes in minor keys, but in general, the song stays the same. We're not introducing any new instruments into the orchestra.

Until now.

Here's what I picture: Our song has been playing peacefully along. The audience has perhaps grown a little bored, as have the musicians. When suddenly, from the wings, in runs a crazy, dreadlocked cast member from "Stomp". He's banging his trash can lid with gusto - over and above the sustained notes from the surprised orchestra...

That's Gracie.

She's come to upset the rhythm for awhile.

Give us a breath of something new and fresh and interesting.

And as she learns to play along with our little ensemble, we'll adjust the cadence until we're all composing a new song altogether...

Isn't that just beautiful? (said only semi-sarcastically...)

I know, all you dog owners are laughing at my romaticizing... I know in a week, when I haven't slept for days and I'm stepping in piddle every other time I go into the kitchen, I'll maybe have a more realisitic and gritty take on the whole dog-coming-to-live-at-our-house thing.

But for now, I'll wax poetic and daydream about our walks together and all the love we're going to share.

For now, I'll go clean out a closet and be thankful for the fresh, excited air that's floating around my house... I'm sucking it up with gusto.

Oh - and the name... some of you have asked about the name.

"Gracie" is just because I see even little things like fresh air and new songs and puppies as a poignant reminders of God's grace... Grace that is doled out lavishly, abundantly - sometimes when we least expect it and in this case, in a way I'd never have guessed I needed.

That's why we named her Gracie.