I’m a certified dog-lover. Perhaps it’s because I’m allergic to cats, but I’ve always had canine cohorts. I grew up with dogs. After I married, almost the first thing I did was drag my husband to the shelter to find us a fur-baby to love. Through my first years of marriage, my terrier-mix Lady was my primary companion during the days. My three girls were raised around dogs and now have furry friends of their own.
As I slowly adjust to my suddenly empty nest, I find myself in a season of major and sometimes severe transitions. My three dogs are once again my primary companions and resident therapists. I’m convinced they sometimes save my sanity. My love-puppies have the uncanny ability to sense if I’m happy, depressed or ill. Whether I’ve been gone mere minutes or several days, they always greet me with happy barks and wagging tails when I walk in the door. Being blessed to be able to work at home means I don’t have a take-your-dog-to-work day. In essence, I take my fur-babies to work every day, enjoying the company of my shepherd/pit-bull mix Sadie, my terrier Missy and my Chihuahua Mea (yes, above is a picture of my adorable mutts!)
In my February release from Love Inspired, Her Valentine Sheriff, my hero Eli is afraid of dogs, stemming from an incident in his childhood. Since I personally have never met a dog I didn’t love, it was in many ways a difficult book for me to write. In the end I realized fear is universal. Everyone is afraid of something. For me, it’s facing the wide, sometimes lonely expanse of an empty nest and learning to adjust to this new paradigm. For Eli it was his dog phobia.
I believe it’s what I do with my fear that counts. Does it send me rushing into the loving arms of Jesus, or do I cave into my frightened emotions and try to deal with them on my own?
How about you? How do you deal with the fearful situations in your life? And please tell me about your pets! I’ll pick one commenter at random to receive an autographed copy of Eli’s story, Her Valentine Sheriff.
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Wonderful post, Deb! My mom had a fear of dogs stemming from a childhood incident where a particularly nasty dog took a bite out of her. Ouch. So, we only had turtles, frogs and fish. NOT the same thing at all. My husband grew up a dog lover, and almost the MOMENT we got our first house (in CA), we picked out a puppy (yellow lab) and that dog grew as my tummy grew with our first child. Fun times. Through the years, we had a couple more dogs, but we have a cat now–Brady, who rules the roost. I’d always been allergic to cats, too, but for whatever reason, Brady doesn’t make me sneeze. Jim actually detested cats yet was the one who “adopted” this cat when he kept coming back to our doorstep. He’d been well-cared for but abandoned, apparently. They really are divas and different from dogs, but we’re enjoying cat ownership (I can see another dog in our future, however). As far as fears, I try to conquer them, within reason. The most recent fear I stared down? Why, I conquered Space Mountain, baby! Love and hugs to you, my friend! Sorry to be longwinded, but well, that’s what I do. LOL… Many blessings!
Hi Deb! I grew up with furry companions, too! My most beloved dog was a cockapoo named “Susie.” Loved her!
Our family lost our dear “Blackie,” a Lab, to a tornado many years ago. Because of that trauma we’d not had a pet since. Until… this year for Christmas we adopted lovely “Miranda,” an 18 mo old cat, who plays more like a kitten! It’s an adjustment again, but fun! I didn’t want to get too attached, but I suppose it’s time to tackle my reluctance head on.
Congrats on your new LI! And I loved learning about your sweet puppies!
~Blessings
Dogs have always been a part of my life too. BIG DOGS! I went a few years without a dog because we kept adding kids to our family, but finally when the youngest of my 5 turned 2 years old, we added Samson to our family – a big, black-lab (something else big) mix.
Isn’t it great to write about what we love?
Hi Deb, besides writing and being apart of this blog, we have something else in common, I too am VERY allergic to cats and am a dog lover. I have a yellow lab named Daisy that is my constant companion. When I write she likes to be nearby. I recently purchased a desk and moved from writing on the couch to the desk. Daisy whined at me all week until I realized she felt abandoned and wanted her bed to be beside my desk. :) Once I moved it she was happy again. :D
Wishing you the best as you adjust to being an empty nester.
Hi JoAnn! I think I would probably have a cat if I didn’t swell up like the blueberry girl in Willy Wonka. And cheers to you for conquering Space Mountain. I love roller coaster! I’m the one that begs my kids to ride them.
Hi Cynthia,
Wow. I’m so sorry about Blackie! I can’t imagine losing a pet that way and i can certainly understand your reluctance to get attached again. It sounds like Miranda may be just the kitty to heal your heart. Love to you!
Hi Pepper!
I can’t decide what size dog I like best, so I have them all! It sounds like you’re super busy with your family. Blessings!
Hi Kimberly,
Ha ha. See? It is, “Bring Your Dog to Work Year.” I literally write with at least one dog draped over my arm, sometimes more than one. And not always the little ones, either. My bully girl thinks she’s a lap dog.
Love all dogs! Have enjoyed canine companionship since I was a kid. Currently have 2 Wonderful German Shepherds, Jazmyn & Tayzor. I enjoy every minute with them!
I’m a new dog mama…in fact, I blogged about my pretty Penny on my blog yesterday. We had a dog a long time ago when our boys were young, but now that we are empty nesters, I needed another one so I had something to take care of.
Deb, your book sounds wonderful! You may be an empty nester, but it doesn’t mean your nest is truly empty. :) Those pooches are sure to keep you company.
I don’t currently have any pets (other than imaginary ones in stories I write), but I’m a dog lover, too. I’ve had lots of pets over the years, from fish to cats and dogs and even stray bunnies that have claimed our yard as our own! (Ok, so I currently have pets–the bunnies. I just let them do their own thing.)
Blessings,
Andrea
Great post, Deb! I grew up with dogs, too. In fact, at one time we had a male and two pregnant females. At one point we had 23 dogs!!! Now I settle for my one, a German Shepherd we rescued from the animal shelter. I also love cats, but they are so different than dogs–such cattitudes!!! My dad always said “you don’t own a cat, they own you.” My take: dogs have owners, cats have staff! :) Thanks again for the wonderful post!
Me, too, Linda. I toyed around with the idea of using a German Shepherd for Eli, but ended up with Bullet, a Dutch Shepherd. They have many similar attributes, and they’re just gorgeous!
Congratulations on your fur-baby Lisa. I’m sure you’ll enjoy having Penny around. And learning to adjust to an empty nest myself, I totally get what you’re saying about needing something to take care of!
Our back yard borders a field, so we see the occasional bunny, as well. (We had one in a hutch when the girls were little, but I didn’t really care to clean up after it all the time. This way is MUCH easier!) I love seeing the bunnies. The mice and snakes, not so much.
Wow, Cathy. 23 dogs at once! And I thought I was overrun with canines.
Found your blog through my dear friend Pepper. :) I LOVE dogs as well, and have two rescued Cocker Spaniels who keep me laughing. Your book sounds so fun!
We seem to be cat AND dog people. At least, I’m the cat person and hubby needs a dog, so we have both. My debut novel, Raspberries and Vinegar, was originally called Domino’s Game—Domino being the Border collie instrumental in the romance. He wanders through the second book, too, but more as a garnish than the secret sauce!
The dog in my book, Bullet, has been described as the real hero of the book. =) I love the name Domino for a Border Collie.
I’m glad you found the blog, Ashley. Lots of great authors here to meet!
I’ve always had at least one dog too, Deb. We now have a 7 month old Golden Retriever, which is in many ways making us realize we aren’t as young as we used to be. But she certainly keeps us hopping. And laughing. Even though I was bitten by the neighbor’s dog when I was little, I never developed a fear of dogs (although I don’t love beagles!).
I love your post, Deb! We are a household of dog-lovers too!! We currently have 5 dogs- Lexie, Holly, Gus, Ginger and Max. HER VALENTINE SHERIFF sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read your book and meet Bullet, along with Eli and Mary!
I hide from most of my fears. :/