15 October 2007

Very dirty, but safe

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luke 15: 4-6)

My Lord had one hundred sheep
One of them did go astray
And that left just ninety-nine
Go to the wilderness, seek and find
If you find him bring him back
'Cross your shoulders, on your back

Tell the neighbors all around
That lost sheep has done been found

Done found my lost sheep
Done found my lost sheep
Done found my lost sheep
Hallelujah!


We got the call from a woman named Diana this morning as we were sitting down to breakfast: "We've got your dog." They live just on the other side of our own neighborhood. Izzy nosed open their front door last night and walked right in on the two women and one small child. "This isn't the first time this has happened," Diana said. "It's like they know somebody here will take care of them." God bless those women, they checked Izzy's rabies tag and made the necessary calls till they tracked us down.

We left our breakfast to get happily cold on the table. I grabbed whatever I could find to cover my body, and out the door we flew to retrive our pooch. There they all were on the porch, waiting for us, the rough and lovely women still in their bathrobes, the child with blender hair, and wide-eyed Izzy, wrapped in a blanket. It took him a moment to register that his family was there. I think he was in shock. He looked like Pigpen from the Charlie Brown comics, but I didn't care. He was in my arms, smelly and shivering, all the way home. There was a strange short makeshift leash tied to his collar; he barged in on Diana and company with it trailing behind him, so I'm guessing some kid or possibly one of the many homeless people in our area chummed around with him for a while. I wish I knew where he spent the rest of the weekend, but the main thing is he's safe now, if a little nervous and urpy.

I feel blessed and loved. We prayed so hard for our old pup to come back to us. I'm grateful the Lord said yes. Today will be a much better day than yesterday was. Now I can finally begin to unpack my bags, literally and figuratively, and ease back into my good life, my life at home.

Thanks for your prayers. And very special thanks to my tiny niece Daffodil who prophesied that Izzy would "make good choices" and come home, and to my thoughtful sister-in-law who fasted(!) for Izzy yesterday. That was some pretty quick turnaround time on the divine intervention. Whoosh.

22 comments:

Rynell said...

I'm so so glad that you found Izzy. What was lost is found. Yea!

And I hope that your sabbatical was what you needed.

paperseed said...

I am so glad you found your little dog! I read the prior post and felt stricken on your behalf. I wanted to comment but I wasn't sure how to word my thoughts. Something along the lines of how it didn't seem fair. Anyway, I'm glad you had faith, and were rewarded for that.

Geo said...

Yea, indeed! Thanks, Rynell.

My sabbatical was 100% the right thing to do.

Geo said...

Hi, paperseed! Thank you so much. AND THANK YOU for the delightful pay-it-forward gifties that were waiting for me when I got home from my trip. I love them. I am already using the cards and the note pad as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jennifer B. said...

Welcome back and congratulations on your happy reunion! (I should have read all your new posts before commenting.)

Geo said...

jennifer b.—Thanks! Don't worry, you're not the only one who reads old news first. I'm forever in catch-up out of order mode, it seems.

Lois said...

I'm so glad you're back and that you found your dog. I've been checking your blog every day to see when you got home.

I was going to say that I have Izzy's toothprints on a Dr. Seuss book from his "Jasper" days in case you needed it for identification purposes.

Did I ever tell you about the time I was dog sitting three dogs and all three of them ran away one hour before the people were expected to come home? Luckily, the dog came bounding back just minutes before they pulled up. Oops!

Geo said...

Thanks, Lois-of-the-brand-new-blog!

Toothprints wouldn't help so much now that he's lost half of them. He's getting older, you know.

Did I ever tell you about the time Anna Adams went out of town with her family and left her sister in charge of their dog, Toby the poodle? The sister never showed up I guess because one day we found Toby wandering around loose and hungry looking, and so we kept him at our house for two weeks till Anna got home. Never saw or heard from the sister. Toby was the dog who was scared of linoleum; when you put him on the kitchen floor he wouldn't do anything but stand there, paralyzed, trembling, and crying. I just don't love little poodles.

Anonymous said...

Soooo happy over Izzy's safe return!

Anonymous said...

*big exhale* Oh, good.

Geo said...

Me too, c-dub!

Emily, you might want to be careful about inhaling while you're here—this little dog came home RANK and we've been letting him rest today after his big adventure. That means no bath till tonight. Ecch!

mirjam said...

So much happiness here at our house at the news that the little guy is back!!! and that you are back...

Carina said...

I am so pleased, pleased indeed.

Kalli Ko said...

Welcome back Geo.

Glad you are all safe and sound.

Elizabeth said...

I am glad he made it home. My heart kind of fell when I was reading that you came home only to realize that Izzy was gone. I am so, so glad that everything is okay on that front.

So cute about what Daffodil said. Isn't she the sweetest?

Geo said...

Thanks, all. Mirjam—I'll see you at YW tonight. It's been a long time! Elizabeth—What a combination, huh? Cute AND prophetic.

Author said...

Welcome Back! I am SO GLAD your dog was found! (I had visions of Ellen DeGeneres as I read the story of your missing dog and was so sad and worried for you....)

liz said...

yay!

glad I reade this one before the sad lost post!!!!

Geo said...

olivia: Iggy, Izzy, purebred doggies far from home—it's a sad business. But at least I didn't have to bawl on television to get mine back. I might've though.

liz: It's happy news!

sue-donym said...

Glad you are home and so relieved that Izzy is home safe.

My grandma's last name was Izzy.

Geo said...

sue-do: Her LAST name? What nationality is that?

sue-donym said...

She married an italian. When he dies, do we call him wuzzy?