Monday, July 18, 2016

Meet Donatella~



It was a time of remembrance in the town of Bull Head City Arizona...
My mother, sister, and I were there to mark the one year
anniversary of dad's going on to glory.
Bull Head City is along the Colorado River, a place where dad enjoyed
sitting on his scooter with his two schnauzer's while watching the activity 
taking place with the boats and other water toys that people were enjoying.
 There he and mom would stay
during the last part of their winter months they spent in Arizona.
Dad was not fond of the heat. As Spring arrived in the hot dessert, 
 they would slowly make their way home to Colorado.
There in Bull Head City they would wait out the last spring snow storms
 that would take place in their hometown. 
 Dad was not a stranger to anyone 
and could start a conversation with those who would take the time to visit with him.
It was there at the Colorado River
where the three of us planned a picnic and a time of remembrance in honor
of our greatly missed and beloved dad and husband.


 There she was...dodging traffic on a busy four lane highway!
We were certain  this darling Beagle was going 
to get hit by one, if not more, of those fast moving vehicles
as the three of us watched helplessly from our own car.
As soon as Donatella reached the sidewalk
I jumped out of the back seat of the car
and began running after her.
This darling Beagle, with her nose to the ground, not looking back,
 took me for quite the run in my flip flop sandals, no less!
There was no stopping this girl until she came to a puddle of water,
and there, she rolled over looking for a tummy rub which allowed me to pick her up.
I fell in love with Donatella from the moment I saw her dodging the traffic.
When I went to pick her up she looked right into my eyes
as if to say, "I'm yours".
 Donatella has been submissive to my care over her from that moment on.


We put her in the car and headed right for the pet store for a collar and leash;
 as not to loose this fast running girl.
We called the animal shelter asking if anyone was missing this 
precious Beagle only to hear them say "NO."
In my heart I knew she was going to be mine, a gift sent from God, I believed.
We had to wait out the time that was needed for the owner to claim her,
so during the next two days we looked in neighborhoods
thinking that someone would surely post a "missing dog" photo of her, but nothing.
We never received a call over the next couple of days;
 the shelter thanked us for being so kind in giving her a home
and gave us the okay to keep her.
We packed up and headed for Colorado where Donatella
would make her new home with a family who would love and protect her.

Donatella gets in some hilarious positions while she is sleeping.

Eight days after we arrived home I received a phone call from her previous owner.
Sigh...
Donatella had been adopted out two weeks prior to when I found her
and the new owners had lost her twice in those two weeks. :(
Technically, she belonged to me as we waited out the time for the owners to claim her 
and they did not, but I was willing to give her up should the owner want to come and get her.
I was compliant and willing for her to be with her previous owners
but the situation turned ugly on behalf of the previous owners.
I was contacted by an officer from Bull Head City
and asked to share my side of the story
which led to both the shelter and the officer believing that Donatella was in the best place now.
Through the whole ordeal (and not so pretty at times) the Lord
would remind me of the verse "Be anxious for nothing."
I believed that God had His hand in the gifting of Donatella,
but He was asking me to trust Him throughout the whole situation.
There were times when I was a bit nervous of this previous owner
and even shared my concern  to the officer, yet knowing my God is greater.


My dad's name was Don, therefore, Donatella was named after my dad,
since she was gifted to me the day before dad's one year anniversary
of his going on to glory.
I thought it seemed quite fitting that I should name her after him.
There in Bull Head City God graced my life with a blessing
and a gift that He saw fit to give to me.
Now on my walks in the mountains I have a companion;
a dog with a nose who will alert me should I need to be alerted.
She may not take on a mountain lion or a bear but she can let me know of their presence. 
Whoever owned Donatella before her adoption did a great job of training her;
although, she has some issues that need to be addressed.
She, too, needs to find peace in the verse "Be anxious for nothing",
as she has some separation issues when I leave her.
I have told her that I will never,  ever, leave her and will love her forever.
She's my "sweet baby girl" who has been given a home 
where she will be loved, cared for, and enjoyed.
The two of us are going to "Doggy School" and there she is learning her manners
and becoming quite the lady.

Donatella my little honey pot. 

 Stephanie gifted me with this darling pillow she crafted for the 4th of July
and Donatella tried to claim it and our bed as her own.
Sadly for her, she did not win out. :)


"Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Sing forth the honor of his name:
make his praise glorious."
Amen.

Joy!
~Debbie~ 

40 comments:

Linda said...

Awww...she is so pretty...love her coloring, Debbie. What a beautiful post, thank you for the smiles. Keeping you in prayer.

Stephanie said...

Even though I know the story of Donatella I so enjoyed reading about your adventure in finding her :) She is so precious and just seeing her photos brought a smile to my face. I am glad she found a loving home and I know she will bring you a lot of joy.

Have a beautiful day! I'll be calling you later about this afternoon... Love you!

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Aww your dog is just beautiful and I love the story of how you saved her. I wish you all a lot of happiness with her. Dogs are just the best.!! :)

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a lovely post filled with adventure and a happy ending. Donatella has a loving home. You two look good together.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

Sandra said...

Oh Debbie, what a sweet story! Every bit of the journey for both you and Donatella is touching. I truly believe God had His hand on this whole situation and the two of you were meant be together.

Enjoy your little "Honey Pot" (love that name!).

Linda said...

What a beautiful post, Debbie, with such a happy ending. God definitely was with Donatella and with yourself, too, and now she is in the best place she can possibly be. Praise God! She is a gorgeous, sweet dog. :)

Sylvia said...

She's so cute and I am so happy for you that you got to keep her. I enjoyed reading about how you got her, she will be by your side and give you great companionship!
Hugs,Sylvia

Debby Ray said...

Oh my goodness, Debbie...what a story! Donatella is absolutely precious and I am SO glad that everything worked out for the best! I am also a beagle lover, having had one years ago. Oh, I am so glad that you was able to rescue her from that busy highway! She looks like she is completely at home with you and I am going to agree with you that it must surely be a God thing! Maybe I can send our little girl doxie, Tasha with her to obedience school. Being adopted must be hard on these little critters...she also has a habit she needs to break :(

Camille said...

What a sweet story! Donatella is a beauty!! How good and gracious the Lord is to us...always. What a blessing that you were there to rescue her from the traffic, and, apparently, from her previous owners. Dogs really are wonderful companions. Enjoy every minute of your time with her. :) May the Lord give much grace and peace and strength as you continue to miss your Dad and fill your heart and mind with the Truth of where he is and what he is enjoying. One day, the Lord will call you Home to be with Him as well. What a day of rejoicing that will be! Hugs, Camille

Pom Pom said...

Hi Debbie! Aw! What a great story! She's a cutie!
That IS kind of scary about the angry former owners. I'm glad you're far away from AZ!
Your dad sounds like a star.

Bernideen said...

What a beautiful story and tribute to doing the right thing even with the possibility of loosing! But the Lord gave the reward!

Ida said...

Oh my gosh she is darling and so beautiful. What an amazing story. I do believe that God had His hand it this situation and that you were meant to be the one to adopt and love sweet Donatella. She's already learning what "real love" is about. Wishing you all many happy years together.

living from glory to glory said...

Morning, So glad I got to hear the whole story about your sweet little girl. So sorry about the trouble of one of the previous owners. It is a bit like I really won't take off her, but you can't have her either. So glad you did it in a way that gave you grace and favor from the officer and the Human Society!
What a cutie she is!
I need to work a bit on my new puppies manners also! (Hank)
Blessings

Celestina Marie said...

Dear Debbie, I love this beautiful story with a very happy ending. Sweet Donatella is a beautiful beagle. God surely sent you a gift when you found her darting around in the road. Oh I can just see you chasing here in flip flops. This something I would have done too.
The previous owners sure have missed a beautiful blessing and this sweet little girl is at home in the right place with you. Love the darling sign and the pillow from Stephanie is precious!!

Enjoy your new little one and have fun in the doggy bootcamp. She sure is a little darling.

Love your new blog header too. Hugs and Blessings to you dear one. xo

Sandi said...

I'm suspicious of the previous owners. Sometimes people do scams with missing pets by finding posters people put up. Trying to get money or whatever. It sounds like she is in the best place! And, how encouraging, that God cares for beagles...and people...and people with beagles! :)

Mindy said...

As the former owner of a wonderful Beagle the story of how you came to rescue her is so fitting. They are such a sweet, but very adventurous breed so having owners like you is perfect! So happy she was rescued and happy you have this wonderful dog in your lives. God truly is in the details of our lives.

quakerhillfarm said...

Oh Debbie what a sweet story! The Lord truly did bless you. What a sweet little girl who now has a wonderful home and mommy! Thanks for sharing this dear story!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

What a darling story of how Donatella came into your life, Debbie! Yes indeed, she was meant for you to find her and to bring her to your loving home. I love that you have a companion for your daily walks and that part of her name includes your beloved Dad's name. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure the grandsons will have a great time with her!

Ginny said...

Wow! What a story. I am sure God had His hand in this for you! She is a beauty and I hope she will become great friends with you! What a blessing!

NanaNor's said...

Debbie, What a wonderful story of redemption for Donatella. So glad you were able to get her before she was hit. I often want to stop, but realize that the dog might be frightened and run back into the street-thus being hit. So often, I just pray for the loose pup. I can tell you two were meant for each other. Such a wonderful ending.
Hugs,
Noreen

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

What a sweet doggie and a sweet story. I would say that Donatella really didn't want to be with the last owners if she ran away twice! She was running straight to you. So happy it all worked out the way it did. It is such an added joy in life to have a sweet pet to love.

hobbyloes said...

What a nice story how you found her.
Yes, God brought her to you.
Beagles aren't easy, but I am sure it will go well between you en her.
Its a blessing to have a pet in the house.

Vicky Hunt said...

Oh my goodness! What a precious story and dog! Donatella is such a beauty. I know you love and care for this sweet girl as I do my own dogs. Thye truly bring such happiness into my life and it sounds as though she has already brought you much joy and happiness. She is a lucky girl...:) Hope you are doing well.

Hugs, Vicky

Anonymous said...

Oh Debbie what a blessing she is to you. That precious dog is exactly what you need to continue the healing of your heart after your dad's passing. I know that I miss my dog something fierce, but I am so fatigued most days now, that walking with him will be just too hard... but I do miss those doggie kisses :o)

What a wonderful story of Our Lord's love for us. Even in something as waiting on Him to fix even though the situation may seem hard and sometimes scary.

So glad that Donatella is now yours ... mari

Patti said...

I adore Donatella, Debbie, and I'm so glad she is in a safe and loving home. (Can't believe the first owners didn't microchip her.)

We have had 3 beagles. Our first, Nikki, passed away almost 3 years ago at the age of 15. She had a long, good life with us, and it was so hard to lose her. Our second beagle, Ginger, is 7. And our baby, Gracie, just hit the 6 month mark over the weekend. I call her my baby, and I refer to myself as Momma to her.

So I am right there with ya that a house is not a home without a beagle. I never want to be without one...or two.

Blessings,
Patti

Karen said...

What a wonderful outcome for both of you. She is a beautiful beagle.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Debbie, she's a beauty! As I was reading your lovely story, I was thinking "Oh no, what if the careless owners show up?" And they did! Hope that is completely behind you now.

Deborah Montgomery said...

What a wonderful story Debbie! I love how you continued to trust the Lord through each step of the journey to have Donatello live with you forever. She is a sweet-looking little girl, and I know you will enjoy her as a walking companion. Blessings, Deborah

Cheryl said...

What a wonderful story, sweet friend! This just really touched my heart. So happy God sent Donatella to you! Sending you much love and many blessings!

Jazzmin said...

Donatella is just too precious! I want to give her a big hug♥ What a blessing for you to have a new, sweet companion to go on walks with and in your home and for her to have you and such a loving home. She could not have been found by any better family.
Dear friend, I cannot tell you how I enjoyed reading the story of how this sweet pup came into your life and how she truly came to you as a gift from God. It's amazing how the Lord blesses us by bringing us to places and across things or people or situations that will change and bless our lives forever. How beautiful and special to think of how He brought you to this special place to remember your dear father and because of that you were at just the right place at the right time to find Donatella.

Thank you also for sharing how the Lord reminded you to trust Him and not be anxious. How this inspired my heart in how I think of every day situations I face. I am SO glad everything turned out good in the end and He allowed it to be so as you dealt with the circumstances with the previous owner.

Such a delight and always a sweet joy to visit you :)
Many blessings and hugs to you!
Jazzmin

Oliva Ohlson said...

I am so happy Donatella is with you...she sure looks like she belongs in your family! Your trust in God made this possible. Have a wonderful weekend, and give Donatella a huge kiss from me.

Linda Walker said...

Dear Debbie,
I read this story with a smile on my face. I laughed out loud picturing you running after her in your flip flops....:) she is one lucky dog to have found you-'I think she was looking for you to be honest. What a wonderful home she has now. We used to raise beagles when I was a child and I know how sweet that breed can be. My last two dogs have been rescue dogs and the loves of our lives. Enjoy Donatella. She's a sweetie! Xo
Linda

Linda Walker said...

Dear Debbie,
I read this story with a smile on my face. I laughed out loud picturing you running after her in your flip flops....:) she is one lucky dog to have found you-'I think she was looking for you to be honest. What a wonderful home she has now. We used to raise beagles when I was a child and I know how sweet that breed can be. My last two dogs have been rescue dogs and the loves of our lives. Enjoy Donatella. She's a sweetie! Xo
Linda

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Debbie, your story is absolutely touching and so beautiful...and shows how God is so very gracious and loving He is to us! How precious that you found her where and when you did, and I love her name...sigh! I too can imagine your chasing her with your flip flops! Hehe! But, praise God in the end, as you honored Him by being willing to accept whatever the outcome, He blessed you with a dear and beloved friend. And Donatella must surely feel loved beyond! Hugs, sweet friend, and I hope you'll share more photos from time to time! xoxo

Elizabeth said...

A beautiful story! I have been having blogger problems and not able to post but I am trying to catch up with some of my dear friends!

Nora @ Teacup Tales said...

Donatella is a beauty! Growing up, my uncle had a beagle and he's in many of my childhood photos. Beagles are such sweet dogs. Four years ago we rescued a labrador and he's provided so much joy and love to our family. I think God places us with the dog truly meant for us. Thank you for sharing this uplifting story.

Summer said...

Donatella is such a beauty ♥

summerdaisy.net

Robyn said...

Donatella is one lucky doggy to have found a home with you, Debbie, and it looks like she's exactly what you needed as well. How perfect!
I love her name, too! Your great big heart will give her all the security she needs and she'll settle down soon enough :)
Much love to you, friend!

Anne Payne said...

Donatella is a cutie pie! I'm so glad it all worked out for you to keep her. The Lord is gracious to grant us our hearts desire. Hope to chat soon. Love to you, my friend!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

What a beautiful story Debbie! I can just imagine you running after her, and finally catching up with her, and then the terrible agony of possibly knowing you might lose her! Thank GOD that Donatella is to be with you, I know the Lord works in such beautiful and mysterious ways, and sent you just the perfect little companion for the difficult days ahead that he knew you were going to face with the loss of your Uncle Spike, and now the vestibular labyrinthitis! I'm so thankful that you have a faithful companion through all this, our God is so faithful! Hugs and love to you today!

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