Our New Addition

Introducing Beckham Kotowski!

It's funny how God works. His timing is perfect even though in the moment it feels as if we're running our lives all on our own. Our journey to bring home Beckham did not originally lead us to where we ended. As many of you know Chris and I have lost both of our four legged children this year and had not mutually agreed that each was ready to start the journey of bringing up another animal. Individually we had scanned the Internet for hours looking at shelters and dog websites for the "one" only for it to end in sadness and a longing for our babies to be back. Slowly we began sharing about dogs we saw. We talked about this one and that one only to go to bed at night still not sure if this was what we were supposed to do. Finally, after looking for days I found the "one". She was a brindle Boston Terrier named Roxi and she was going to be shown at a local pet store that weekend. It was perfect and most importantly...Chris was on board. That is, until the next morning. We got up and I could tell his mood was not good from the time the alarm went off. He was on edge, short and not too pleasant to be around. I on the other hand had dreamed about my new dog and all the little girly things I could dress her in. The morning drug on. Chris filled his time with everything other than what I thought he should be doing...GETTING READY! Finally, after dragging his feet we were out the door and LATE! I was so mad, I just knew he'd messed up my chances of getting my dog. Funny how God takes your "my's" and just throws them out the window and into the wind. When we arrived it was like destiny, she was there and beautiful and perfect and connected to a leash that was in her new owners arms! I was heart broken. If only we had been on time. If Chris wouldn't have drug his feet. Blah! Blah! Blah! But, wait there was hope! The couple that had Roxi was just taking her for a test run. It turned out that the rescue center that she was handled by did interviews to make sure "you" were the right match for each dog. Que happiness! Chris and I were perfect. We win and get everything. I mean look at us, we scream GREAT PARENTS across our foreheads. Just show me where to sign and we'll do it. Insert frustration...again. Turns out that most everyone there was for sure that Roxi was their "one". Seriously, how many people go online looking for dogs everyday? Not wanting to fight and push someones hopes aside, we left. In the car was nothing but silence with the exception of Chris' attempts to ask me what was wrong. To which I quickly replied "nothing!" Every women knows that "nothing" means something, too bad every man doesn't. So we rode home, me crying and Chris mad that he was responsible for blowing our shot of having the "one." Again, we're running our lives...aren't we? After several loud words, finger pointing and bad name calling we decided we would have lunch and discuss our new plan.

Looking at the shelter was not what we had originally planned to do that morning, but sitting at the table in our discussion that was the plan "we" made. Chris and I are both products of the Disney era. We are most certain that animals talk and the ones in the shelter were all going to be screaming "Pick me!" "I'm good!" "Look at me I pee outside!" so going in was a huge step. When we walked through the doors to our surprise there weren't many dogs. What a relief! This particular shelter had a pod system that wound you through the dog room which allowed you to see each dog on a one on one basis. There were a few that we stopped at and talked with the, but none that we felt like really getting to know. That is until we came to "Wankas" cage. There sat this little black and white guy who had these huge brown eyes and immediately he was Chris' "one." So we decided to take him out into a viewing room to see how he was and to make sure this was what we wanted and in that room he became "our" dog. He was gentle and sweet and loved to be hugged. After signing a few papers and waiting for him to get ready our little guy was ours to take home. As we walked outside I started to cry, like a weight had been lifted and when I looked back at Chris and he was doing the same thing. It's amazing how much a pet came bring you back around to your old self. Here's the kicker though, Roxi the dog that we were certain would get a home and that we had no chance of getting didn't go to anyone that day. I got an email the next day at work stating that she would be at the next dog fair the following weekend. Funny how God leads in the most gentle ways. Becks was meant to be our dog and to bring sound and love back into our home. I am proud to say he is doing well and I know that both of his brothers played a role in Gods decision. He looks like Cobi and is fussy like him too, but hogs the bed and slops water like Jack! We are so excited to have him. I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures to follow his journey in our lives.