Celebrating Bella.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

After Jane's touching story yesterday about her difficulty bonding with Stuart, I took a long hard look at how I am feeling about my Bella.

 She started out as a good idea for Murphy really, and we both felt that another dog would be a nice addition, like a second child, we wanted another one to share our love with. We allowed fate to bring her to us when the time was right, and it did and I never questioned the timing or the purpose, she just showed up in our lives when she was meant to.

My expectations of her were that she would be as easy and adaptable as Murphy. That she would never destroy anything, never eat anything she wasn't supposed to, sleep peacefully in bed all night, and ofcourse hardly ever have a potty accident in the house.

Well, my expectations were not met.

We now know that Bella-B will eat anything not nailed down, and even then she will try to eat the nails !

That she has a disgusting inate ability to eat poop faster than it is humanly possible to see her doing it.

And she is up and down all night, wide awake, anticipating our every move.

She has soiled our carpets at least 50 times since we got her and the last time just recently, so this may take longer than we thought to stop. Therefore it's taken me a long time to feel like I just love her like I do my Murphy.

 

What I have since realized and didn't expect though is the sweetness and soulfulness in her eyes that just stirs me when I look at her.

A sense of understanding and comprehension that exceeds anything I ever thought possible with an animal.

A unique level of communication through touches and eye contact that is indescribable to another person.

A feeling of "you don't OWN me, I choose to be here and let you love me, feed me and care for me,

 And in return I will give you the most unbelievable feeling of unconditional love a human can have."

 Today is Bella's Birthday. She is one year old.  But I believe she has been here before and knows how give love and be loved way beyond her age. 

What a gift she is.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thank you ladies. I have a feeling you all know exactly what I mean.

[Linda and Murphy]

Happy Birthday Bella. Thank you for sharing Sue.

[Dori & Rua]

Sue, that was a beautiful story...brought tears to my eyes.  Happy 1st Birthday to bella Bella!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Happy Birthday Bella. What a beautiful tribute and picture of a beautiful girl!!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

OMD, Sue...this is incredibly beautiful and insightful.  She does have soulful eyes and a very special spirit.  Thanks for sharing this with us.