About Leo

I met Leo the day we adopted Prince. D had looked at all of the dogs and there was Leo, an adorable mix, who I think is part Sheltie, but the shelter has him listed as a different type of mix. Anyway, there he was in the very last kennel with his buddy, a huge St. Bernard. The two of them were brought in together as strays. For me, it was love at first sight, but I knew that it would be unwise to suggest to Robert that he try out any certain dog, as I wanted it to be completely his choice. Besides the fact that he chose a kitten. I did not get my heart set on Leo because at that time, we did not have an "opening" in our family. Little did I know the Lord's plan. Leo and his St. Bernard buddy were brought in the day before Malden passed away, and that being two and a half weeks ago now, I have had many occasions to check up on the two buddies because I do not want them to be put down. I have talked to so many people about the St. Bernard, and finally I found somebody today who may go look at her tomorrow! And it is extra neat, because she has had a St. Bernard before!! So I met Leo on a Saturday and I would call every other day to check on them as well as checking PetHarbor.com everyday to see if either of them had success in being adopted. Then the following Friday, I took Tino to the vet and I knew the decision we had to make. On Tuesday, a week ago today, we had him put down for his own well being. Though I know it was best, it was still so hard, having been with him for 12 years. I will spare you all of the emotional details, but the short of the story is that I decided to go into the cat room at the animal shelter to listen to the music and relax and check in on some of my new buddies. Then I decided that I should go visit Leo, and I was able to get him out of his kennel, with the assistance of a very special worker, M. I learned that Leo does pretty well on the leash and is very sweet tempered. He even dealt well with being away from his friend. I still did not really think that we would bring him to live with us forever, but I really liked him a lot and was convinced that I could find him a home. So later in the week, I spoke with the director about foster care for him and if I could become a foster care volunteer, but come to find out, the animal shelter does not sponsor that type of program. In my heart, I knew that I could not leave him to his pending fate, and nobody had been looking at him, though plenty of people had looked at the St. Bernard. On Thursday night, I got online to show him to Don and asked if we could adopt him. I was completely amazed when Don said yes!!! So on Friday on the way to the temple, we stopped at the animal shelter to fill out paperwork and to pay for him. I ran back to him with complete excitement and told him that we are "busting him out!" I have been so excited all weekend to get to bring him home tomorrow after he has his vet appointment and neutering. I took M to see him today, and though we were not able to get him out becuase the shelter was low staffed today, it was good to see him and that he was happy and doing well. I am still praying that his buddy will find a forever home shortly. It would be so cool if they could go home on the same day. So I bought him a collar today, and yeah, it is purple. I am SOOO excited to bring him home tomorrow afternoon and to see what he will think of Don, D, M, Shawnie, Lilly, Prince, and Scraps. And when he is all better from his surgery, I am excited to see if he will enjoy running with Shawnie and I. I am excited to see if he will like going to parks, if he likes water and if he knows how to play. I am excited to know what he has learned and what I can teach him.Looking at timing and my need to heal, I have no doubt that Heavenly Father has not only placed loving Shawnie in my life, but also Leo, whose personality is yet to be revealed. Had both of our well loved dogs not passed within such a short time of each other, I would not now be having this experience: for me or for Leo. There is still so much love in my heart for dog friends: the Lord added to that love during this experience and has protected me from negativity and excessive sadness. Those in my immediate life have offered up so many prayers of healing and protection for me.
I feel like I am writing a book about this experience, so time to move to a new subject: M's hilarious ways!! Last week, we had a crazy hail and rain storm, so D went outside to feel it on his clothes and skin. The water was really coming down as M and I watched from the window. Suddenly he got an adorable smile on his face and I could tell he was about to say something funny. "Mommy, his clothes are taking a bath!!" D's clothes truly were soaked when he came in.
I want to share with all of you this wonderful quote from the April General Conference: this is from Bishop Keith B. McMullin "The prayer of faith bears fruit when such harmony exists, and this harmony exists when prayers are inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit manifests what our petitions should be. Absent this inspired guidance, we are inclined to "'ask amiss'", to seek only our will and not "'Thy will"'. It is as important to be guided by the Holy Spirit while praying as it is to be enlightened by that same spirit while receiving an answer to prayer."

May we all pray for one another, K