Miracle

The kids wanted to help cure Mira of her fear of the laundry basket, so they've been working with her a little at a time.  It was fun watching them, and her, last night.  Their tones were so cute-- they wanted this victory of teaching her so, so much.

But it didn't quite go as planned.  Until Randy decided to join them.

She has always responded a bit better to him.  When he first brought her home, after the five hour drive alone with her hearing only his voice, she was a bit nervous around us all.  Understandable given her timidity and that we were pretty loud in our excitement and surprise.  She plastered herself near him for a good hour.  From that time forward, she showed clear preference for Caden.  Now, she gives us all our own time of feeling like we're her favorite.  But Randy can get her to do most anything.

 We cheered and cheered the first time she even touched the basket.  Look at how adorable that face is as she waited for the small treat.  My goodness, how we love this dog.  How we need this dog right now!

 I'm fairly certain the entire city of Richland thought we were cheering a Gold Medal, our cheers were so deafening when she finally got the treat herself.  Gold Medal Moment, for sure.

We clapped, we jumped, we screamed, we danced.  She did her cute victory whine with a ball clutched in her mouth, wagging her tail while pacing and nudging us for approval.  It felt electric in our home, so joyous were we.  In our excitement, sure that she was "cured," Tyson threw her ball in the basket.  And she would not even go close to the basket.  And we laughed and laughed, pointing our fingers and jeering at our "failure dog."  But in our hearts, this is an endearing nickname.  Because, without her being a "failure" she never would have come to us.  She may not be the service dog she was bred to be used for, but she provides us with the exact services and therapy that we need.  That Caden so desperately needed.  Two years ago February 22nd we found out we were going to get her.  I still cry thinking of the moment we told Caden about her (described here).  This dog truly is a Miracle.  Then.  Now.  Forever.