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| Philippians 3:10 "That I may know him..." v. 14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." |
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Dear Pam and Gene,
Thought you would like to hear about Sofie's ministry which she began at only six months of age. (But we all lknew she is
remarkable.)
Our church participates in WIHN, Wake [County] Interfaith Hospitality Network. We are a downtown church and along with three
other downtown churches we take one week a month and provide food and shelter for homeless families and women and children who
often have no shelter. Sunday school rooms in the education building are converted into apartments with beds and linens and there
are shower facilities in the gym. A warm dinner is served every night and breakfast in the morning.
The coordinator of the program, Don, who is a friend of ours used to take his rescue collie, MacTavish and the children especially
loved to pet and play with him. Sadly MacTavish died in November. Don has met Sofie and this week when Leewyn suggested she
bring Sofie to the church one night he was thrilled.
So off Sofie and Leewyn went with tennis balls and a soccer ball and treats. Now Sofie is very friendly; she just doesn't like other
dogs. But she's never been around a bunch of children so I was nervous. Well, I shouldn't have been. She and Leewyn stayed until
the kids had to go to bed and Leewyn said the kids - and Sofie - had a blast. Sofie "herded" the tennis ball down the long hallway and
"dribbled" the soccer ball. (She brings the tennis balls back and will bring the soccer ball back after she has put enough tooth holes in
it that all the air has come out.) She gently took her favorite treat - Cheerios - from the children's little hands and generally had
everyone eating out of HER paws.
The very next night I had a message from Don begging me to let Sofie come back as many nights this week as she can. For these
children - and adults, but especially the children - she provided a break from the stress and strain of being homeless and for just a little
while the kids forgot all of that and were, well, just kids like everyone else.
I am so proud of Sofie!
I have spent a couple of hours printing out two pictures of Sofie on each sheet of paper and then putting them in plastic sleeves and
putting a label on them with Sofie's name, breed, and age so the kids can have something to take to remember her by. I believe this is
only the beginning of Sofie's ministry.
I have owned a lot of dogs in 40 plus years but I have never had a dog like Sofie before and Leewyn agrees. She is uncommonly
intelligent in addition to being beautiful (check out that fluffy tail). She is incredibly loving nearly standing on her head when she sees a
perfect stranger. She embodies some of the different quirks and personalities of other dogs we have had and then combines them in
her own unique way.
Lest you think she is an angel, ha! For example: I had three large pots of zinnias on the table on my deck. Now I have two. How she
got up there and got it down and out into the yard where she could "recycle" (her term) it is beyond me. If it's outside and that includes
the siding of the house, the wooden privacy fence, the wrought iron chairs, it is fair game.
She does not like other dogs and is not friendly which may be a problem with getting her therapy dog certification but I am hoping not.
She is not aggressive toward them but if they come to close she snarls and sometimes snaps. She is, I think, an alpha female.
She and Charlie exchange words at times but usually over a toy or food so I try to keep those things separate. No blood is drawn but it
sounds awful. Meanwhile, of course, she adores Sage and Sage plays with her and when she gets tired tells Sofie to quit. Often I will
see Sage curled up somewhere and Sofie lying either next to Sage or between her front paws.
Sofie would rather play ball than eat, even treats. I take a tennis raquet outside and hit tennis balls for her and she never gets tired of
it. I do! She sleeps in her crate and rides in the car in her crate and is the perfect mixture of tomboy and diva.
March 9th was the one year anniversary of Zack's death and also the day Slash's litter was born. It was in April, I think, that I called you
the first time. Then I realized I wasn't ready. I didn't know that Sofie was waiting for me. I love her more than words can say and
Leewyn is even worse and admits she is smitten. Everyone (human) who meets Sofie comes away in love with her and with a big smile.
She came through her spaying just fine. I was a nervous wreck. And then I had to keep her quiet for ten days. Ha! She stayed in the
house and only went out on a leash. The second day she jumped up on the sofa and I realized I had my work cut out for me. But we
got through it and I think are even closer. For example, I can put a line of Cheerios down and say leave it. She will stay at it intently
and then look at me and wait for me to say "okay". I've used "leave it" for everything from Sage's food to bothering Charlie and she is
so smart. Sometimes if it is something particularly tempting and I say leave it she gets up and, well, leaves it. And she's only six
months old!
I don't know if I have sent the pictures above. It's so hard to get a picture of her because she doesn't stay still.
Well, I have rattled on and haven't even had my first cup of coffee. I knew you all would want to hear about your grandpuppy and just
how grand she really is love. I will forever be grateful to you for bringing her into this world and for trusting her with me and my family.
She has brought more joy in the past four and a half months than I have experienced in the past four and a half years. She is just too
precious for words.
Love,
Evelyn and the kids and Charlie, Sage and Miss Diva herself
