Morning Gratitude: My Top Three Puppy Loves

My pets are important family members. Our family suffered two very tough losses within a year: Cooper died about a month after his cancer diagnosis and Laila suffered an untimely death about a week after we added our puppies, Marley and Shiloh to our family. Puppies are cute and when they turn 12 weeks or so, they are little terrors. Even though our days revolve around them, there are still more things to love than to dread. Here are my three top puppy loves:

1. Puppy Kisses

Marley and Shiloh save the very best kisses for me. I am the mommy. We adopted them when they were only four weeks. I knew I needed to fill the gap and do some of the things their mother would have taught them. Pits are very rough players, so one of the first things I had to teach them is appropriate play. My reward: I get the best of the best kisses!

2. Puppy Cuddles

There is nothing better than puppy cuddles. I love when Marley rests his paw and head on my shoulder or when he burrows between the couch and my back. Shiloh, my chocolate pit puppy, loves to cuddle with me. Nothing makes them feeling more secure than to cuddle with mommy and nothing makes me feel more loved!

3. Puppy Eyes

OMG the puppy eyes! It melts my soul! These eyes say:

• I love you.
• I am sorry.
• What’s wrong?
• Please?
• How can you tell me no?

… and so much more!

New puppy owners do not understand the amount of work that goes into taking care of a puppy. It is a lot of work! Still, I have done it over, and over again. The unconditional love and trust they give me remind me that every day I need to be the person they think I am. I am thankful for puppy love, cuddles and eyes —it continually molds me into the person that God expects me to be.