Pinke Decisions and Puppies

The girls and I are fresh off vacation. So much has happened in a week from a Southern adventure for the girls and me, my sister giving birth to a baby boy who is our first nephew, Hakkon Michael, our son Hunter committing to the University of North Dakota to attend college and play football and last night we picked up our almost eight-week-old yellow labs puppies. I am tired by typing it all out. Add in I am a part of a big ol’ farm to plate event, banquet in a field in a few days and we are spinning with full schedules and excitement.

Look! I’m already a crazy puppy lady.

There’s a lot on my heart to share about our Southern adventure that I have to hold off on sharing until I have more time to capture it. Truly the visits with lifelong friends, my cousin Vienna, attending She Speaks and meeting new friends were pivotal and have God teaching me so much in this season of life. 

Speaking of pivotal moments, Hunter chose to commit to attend the University of North Dakota and play football, beginning in the Fall of 2016. He plans to major in engineering. We are proud of his decision-making. Prior to him making a decision, I wrote this Agweek column, Rooting kids to make their own decisions. It captures some of my feelings as my first-born goes to college in a year. We will definitely be sharing about this decision and what led up to it more also. Last night we picked up the much-awaited puppies and brought them home. We first saw them on July 4 at our prairie lake place. The kids along with Nathan and I have debated names for three weeks now with input in social media from many of you.

Meet Liberty Love. “Libby” or “Libby Love” is smaller. She’s female and already retrieving, pointing and has promise of being quite the hunting girl! So far she doesn’t like her leash but is learning with the diligence of all of us, particularly Anika and Elizabeth who were both dressed and ready to care for the puppies by 7:30 a.m. today.The male puppy is Mauer McIntosh. Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins hit a home run on July 4. That doesn’t happen all that often. McIntosh is our home county and where we were when we first saw the puppies. It’s their new home now. The girls call him Mauer Mac or just Mauer. He has big paws and a larger frame. 

Both of their coloring is beautiful and already we can see the differences in their personalities. We are working on making sure they develop and bond to us on their own and have read up on raising “litter mates.”

In the midst of a summer that has been filled with life-changing heartache and pivotal moments, puppies bring us a new joy and a forced focus. My alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. for a potty break for Libby and Mauer. In the stillness of the dark, early morning, I was thankful for so many blessings. I went back to bed and was cleaning up a puppy mess shortly after 7:00 a.m. Life has messes. Life also has joyful blessings. We have both and are grateful to be living them out in this season of life.