behold, a puppy

The conversations with Jasmine and Margy have been going on for months and months, but taking care of Pouncer and Lucy brought it all to a head: they wanted a dog... badly.

And there were lots of good reasons for their argument. Jasmine would benefit from the added responsibility, companionship, and after the dog grows up, protection. A nine-year-old girl in today's world needs some protection if she's going to walk down a street, even a safe midwestern street.

On my side, I pointed out all the downside challenges I could think of, knowing that one day each of them would wonder in her heart-of-hearts, "What was I thinking when I said I wanted a dog?!?" I made sure they heard my warnings, but the cry of their hearts was for a dog.

Fast forward: adoption day for Esty, our new Brittany, was Thursday the 23rd. Nine weeks old, she's just getting into the gangling puppy stage. Margy and Jasmine were delighted with her. Before the sun had set, she had my heart, too. Jasmine still hasn't fallen out of orbit from the high she was launched into from learning at dinner time we'd be picking the puppy up this very evening to the near-hysterical rush over to her cousins' next door after we got home, announcing "WE GOT A PUPPY!" So what else could we expect?

Some of my warnings that went unheeded are being lived out. Jasmine isn't ready to take all the responsibility of a puppy. But I'm discovering lots of learning opportunities for everyone in the family with this new little bundle of love and life. If only we don't miss them!

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