Sometimes the most magical love stories begin when we aren’t looking for them. ♥
That was certainly the case for my mom and Bill. But before I get into that, let me take you back in time to when I was a little girl.
I grew up on a farm where we had a lot of animals and when I was just 11 years old, my sister (despite my mom and dad’s wishes of no more animals) brought home a 6-week old puppy from the pound. She was due to be euthanized the next day and was trembling in the corner of what resembled a jail cell with her eyes half-closed. There was no way we could leave her, so we brought her home.
Two days later we were in the vet’s office after working hours fighting for her life. She had parvo and an infection from being spayed too young. My sister and I scraped our savings together (not much), and with some added help from my parents, she pulled through.
Fittingly, we named her Faith.
She grew to be our family dog and stuck with my mom like glue. She was black-and-white-spotted-all-over and was the only dog I ever knew who could actually catch a squirrel (only one time and it scared her half to death, and thankfully, the squirrel got away).
Faith was loved dearly.
All of us kids had grown up and gone, but Faith remained with my mom for many years thereafter.
As empty-nesters, and after a lot of heart and try, mom and dad decided to separate. My mom started a new life in town with Faith. Faith was always a free spirit (she loved to chase butterflies and shadows) and almost no fence could keep her in.
One day, when mom wasn’t looking, Faith wandered out of sight, and mom was distraught. She looked everywhere and asked everyone to join. Much to her surprise, Faith had gone a few blocks down and laid on the porch of a small bungalow owned by a man named Bill.
Bill returned Faith to my mom later that evening and they immediately felt a connection. Dinner that night turned into more dinners, road trips and memories that will last forever.
As their relationship grew stronger, Faith grew weaker in her old age. We did everything to keep her comfortable and when the day finally came to say farewell, my mom buried her in the backyard where she visits her grave every day.
We frequent the shelter to see any rescues that may capture our hearts, but mom still needs time to heal.
That day will come, and when it does, that new pup is going to have BIG shoes to fill. But I have Faith that he or she will do just that…
And until then, Bill and mom are happy with just the two of them, thanks to Faith.
