The dogs and I loaded up the van and headed over to our new home to explore and clean. I stopped and checked the mail as we headed out and noticed one of our forest friends had a rough night.
God gave us a beautiful day! We walked around the backyard. We will use their black collars and learn the yard boundaries. We headed inside for a drink.
Time to sweep and mop...
It is amazing the things I was sweeping up! The sellers left a messy place and several pieces of furniture. My goal was to get the nasty piles of dog hair and dirt swept up and floors mopped. Ted came at lunchtime and we hauled the bed out in pieces. On one of the trips, I did not get the door latched and the dogs wandered out and started exploring the yard. They wandered sniffing all the new smells. Less detail here...Chica fell as she heard Ted's call. Ted watched her and scooped her up and told me to take her to the vet. I cried as I drove and talked to our new vet who sent me to an ER.
We pass this place every time we drive from Corryton to Morristown. I pulled up and a gal came out to meet me. I loved on Chica as we sat and waited for the paperwork, and then I sent her in to get help with Dr. Brown and her team.
The lobby is under construction, so we waited in the van...thankful for the beautiful day...and I just couldn't stop the tears. The doctor came out to tell me that Chica's fall caused her to be paralyzed in her hind quarters. Time was of the essence if we wanted to take her downtown Knoxville for surgery, but it wasn't guaranteed that it would help her walk. We could try a medicine, but only time would tell. She would have to be on cage rest for 3-4 weeks or more. She asked permission to give pain medicine and do an X-ray so we could be sure. I sobbed and called Ted. We gave permission and Ted drove to be with me.
We waited for the results that confirmed the suspicions of the doctor. We talked through the options and cried knowing that there would be no quality of life for our sweet, bundle of energy. We made the hard decision together. As I type this even now, the tears fall.
Poor Ted witnessed the fall. I feel terrible about the door not being latched. This was a new adventure to share, and we found ourselves in shock and sadness. I have gone through all the thoughts...asking why this had to happen right now...anger at the sellers for leaving junk to deal with...thankfulness that it wasn't a person who fell...deep sadness for Velle...frustration over something happy turned sad...
We went back to the house and worked till about 7:30pm. I was able to get all the floors cleaned and we were ready for the movers to come in the morning.
God met the desire to own a home in Tennessee with some acreage. We are an hour from each of our children...and from time to time...they once again fill the chairs around our table. The house on the hill is a gift! Four large oak trees provide shade and a visible reminder that our roots must be planted deep in God's Word, so when the unexpected, hard days come we can still stand strong. The sunrises on the back deck are gorgeous. The sunsets on the front porch are serene. Both reminders that He holds our days in His hands and He does all things well.
