Captain

Seriously!!!

 Yep it's true and I'm still baffled by how it happened!!!

About a month ago my sister Emily came and stayed with the kids while Sam and I went on the 4th year hike for Girls Camp. Emily was super nice and took the kids to the animal shelter to walk dogs (my compensation for not letting them have one is going there weekly to let them get their fill).

When Sam and I got home Sarah said she had gotten an adoption paper all filled out for one of the dogs they walked. I said absolutely not (just like I've been doing for about 10 years now) but Sam convinced that just going and looking for Sarah was the least we could do for her (fine throw that in there!!).

The kids and Sam have been wanting a dog for ages and I am just not convinced. I just don't need something else to pick up their poop, feed them, pay for them to be taken care of while we are gone, love them, etc. But Sam thinks it's a right of childhood to have one and now that the kids are older they should have one.

The girls even presented a "dog plan" at FHE one night with how they were going to take care of a dog (and it was pretty detailed and amazing if I say so myself). But I still didn't give in.

Anyway, the following week just Sam and I went to see this dog. Sam was smitten. He was completely and totally on board. Me still not so much. Sam, after many hours, finally convinced to take him on a trial basis. At our animal shelter, you can take a dog for a week and decide if you really want him.

I said yes so off we went. I mean really, I'm sure he wasn't going to live up to everything on my list that I have crafted. Surely not because this list is extensive and totally dog proof.

1. Doesn't bark all the time.

2. Good with kids.

3. Doesn't chew/rip things up.

4. Leash trained.

5. Can go running with Sam.

6. Kennel trained.

7. Older.

8. Calm.

9. Doesn't dig.

10. Stays out of the garden.

11. Doesn't come inside.

etc, etc, etc

OH!! MY!! WORD!!

We had him, Captain, one day and I knew I was in trouble. The kids were completely in love and this dog fit every single one thing on my list. I was shocked. Completely shocked!!! Sam says that Heavenly Father knew that I wouldn't let us have a dog unless it was perfect so that's why he sent Captain to us.

Seriously, he said that, and I think it's probably true. I am not an animal lover. Never have been. But everyone on my kids are and so is Sam. Everyone is still in love with him. He LOVES getting in the car and I haven't ever heard him bark once. Sarah loves, loves, loves him the most. She spends hours with him everyday and Captain returns it. He loves to lay his head in her lap and cuddle up next to her. He loves to go running with Sam and Sarah and it doesn't even wear him out. 

So now I have to admit that we are now one of "THOSE" kinds of people and it worries me still a little bit, but the kids are in love and I haven't had to feed him or pick up his poop once. So here's to make that true for the rest of his life!!!