A Mother's Love for her Daughter

My mother became very spiritual after she became sick. She didn't sweat the small stuff. Meditating, finding peace with her inner self, and accepting things for what they were became the new her. Every time we spoke on the phone she would ask if she could read me a quote, she would say "Do you want to hear this quote?" I would say yes sometimes and the rest of the time say, not right now. She marked those quotes, I found them with arrow stickers in the books she read. 

After my divorce from my ex, I felt hopeless and lost. I was with him for 11 years, from 14 years old. He became my life. I was mourning the loss of "he and I=us", I wanted to go to Florida, mom was worried someone would steal me and she insisted on coming along. We had a great time despite my sour mood most of the time but she understood, she was good like that.

 For the next 2 years, on and off I struggled with alcohol and poor choices. She stood by my side. Even after getting a D.U.I. she was there for me, as was my father. I attended drunk driver classes and some therapy and finally picked myself up. I went on dates by myself and for myself and one ngiht at Barnes & Noble I bought a book, I'll Always Be Your Daughter: A Fable for Mothers & Daughters by Carol Lynn Pearson. I gave it to my mother and she cried. It touched her and my father. I felt they understood me a little better after that. I have that book now, haven't read it since I bought it for her, one day when I am stronger and don't cry as much at the thought of her I will read it. I recommend the book as a gift for any day. It's a fable of how two trees beautifully chronicles a daughter's journey to adulthood and the ever-changing  complex, and powerfully loving relationship between a mother and daughter. A celebration of the love between mothers and daughters.

My dog, my best friend.

The hubby and I felt it was time to take the next step and get a dog. We did not want to buy when there are so many dogs out there in shelters seized from bad homes and puppy mills. Our neighborhood association only allows small to mid-sized dogs so we went to animal shelters to seek out our pet baby.

We found this adorable little toy shih tzu, filled out the paperwork and the day came to pick her up her owners came to get her. It turns out she was a runaway!

We felt down and I made my husband take me to all  New Jersey animal shelters I could find. We finally went back to the shelter where we were gonna adopt the shih tzu and then I found my bella. A young 3-4 year old mini pinscher. She was skin and bones labeled as a stray. It was a long 4 days before we got to take her home. She is like a trojan horse, she will look at you from the corner of her eye to check you out. Barks at any stranger near our home and loves to be loved.

That day we found our pet baby she got lucky and we got lucky. We love her so much. My husband named her Bella, I have to add that he named her or he might get hurt feelings.

Adopt from a pet shelter, don't support puppy mills by purchasing a dog from a store that sells them.

Check out your local city pet shelter. There are so many dogs put up for adoption that there is not enough room for them so most city shelter euthanize.

Donate to reupatable not for profit pet shelters. It doesn't have to be money, some accept rags that are used as blankets. Toys, pet food, leashes. Check with them for what they currently need.