...meet grace

...Charmer Kurz broke our hearts three and a half years ago. Grace has huge paws to fill, but I hope she lives her life never knowing that. I do not know if I will ever love another dog as much as I loved Charmer, but I can tell you in the 36 hours that Grace has been home, a part of my heart that I worried might be closed opened up again.

So how did it all happen?

No, she is not one of Margarita's puppies, but Margarita and seeing my kids with her set something in motion. We decided to start casually looking for an "older" puppy or adolescent golden. With us, it will always be a golden. I started to contact breeders, seeing if they had any older dogs they were looking to sell. This is what happened with Charmer, a breeder had held her back for show and then an ear or a tooth or something was not just right so we got her at 10 months-old.

I posted on a few golden retriever message boards (some people are passionate about scrapbooking, some about golden retrievers) and someone sent me a link to a breeder in Virginia who was looking to place an older puppy. Named Grace.

This was the picture I found when I went to the breeder's website:

What's the line? "You had me at hello?"

I looked at that picture obsessively, e-mailing back and forth with the breeder. When we decided to start looking for another dog, I had told my friend Laura I was so excited to know that our next dog was out there, somewhere, and I was just waiting to open an email and see her. Two days later we drove down to meet Grace. This was a week ago.

She had a cowlick on her nose and big fluffy ears. She will be sandy in color, not as blonde as Charmer. They are two different dogs and that is good.

And yesterday, she came home.

She did not puke in the car, which endeared her to both of us immediately. To know Charmer was to love her, but to travel with her was not fun.

I got teary with some of my friend's references to Charmer. Especially this one:

She matches the hardwood floors exactly. Very camouflage:

And the kids? Oh the kids. I was a little worried about Charlie. New things can be hard for him. Clara just kind of rolls with it. But that little boy? He took to her immediately. "Race! Come here!" Because Charlie had just turned one when Charmer died, I had no idea how good it would feel to see your kids with a dog they knew was theirs. (I also think they both like having something to boss around).

Clara, attempting to read Grace a book. She didn't appreciate the literature.

The other great part is seeing Ken with her. There was one person in the world who loved Charmer more than I did, and that was Ken. He's a man who needs a dog. A golden.

Welcome home, Gracie.

Comments

[Kelly]

Roscoe says to tell Grace "HI" for him. He thinks she's pretty cute and if he didn't live in Nebraska he'd be headed over to get to know her. ;) I'm so glad your heart is ready for another pup. Grace is one lucky girl. YAY for pups and the people who love them.

[melanie]

Oh, my heart.

That photo of Grace and Clara is just heart melting. And so glad Ken is good with the Kurz girls once again dominating the household. ;)

[Shelby]

Yay! She's gorgeous! We are a Lab family and I just totally understand what you said about Goldens being the only ones for you. Weve had four labs as part of your family, and there's just something about a breed once thy enter your hearts :)

[Susan]

I'm so happy for you all. What a darlin' doggy.

My dear Lucky passed in May, and I'm not sure if or when I'll be open to having another dog. But all these photos and your story give me a little hope. (The difference is, my kids are adults.) I totally agree that it's so great for children to have a doggy to lovingly boss around.

Thanks for sharing all the joy!

[Sarah Hofseth]

I saw this on the SC message board, and I am a devoted dog person myself. I just wanted to say that I'm so happy for you and your family. It is so hard to lose a pet, especially one that is amazing and perfect in just about every way. Like you said, you will appreciate Grace in ways that are totally different from Charmer. She will be exactly the kind of dog you and your family needs right now. Enjoy the new member of your family and thanks so much for sharing!

[Keshet]

I'm not even a dog person, but she is just beautiful. Enjoy her:)

[Shelley Laird]

She is adorable! I like the one of Charlie walking her.

[MOM]

Gracie will never "be" Charmer, but that's okay. She will be so special in her very own way.

The cutest thing was when Charlie made a clicking noise like we do, to try to get her attention….. and when he wanted her leash wrapped around his belt loops…except that he had no belt loops! Oh, and when Gracie tried to make a nest on the hardwood floor….without a nesting material, just the wood.

L,M

[lauren]

this entire post made my heart swell with happiness. may grace bring you comfort and love ...and memories of your favorite golden girl, charmer. :) *

[April]

I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you how ridiculously happy this makes me. I can't decide who will be more blessed, the Kurz or Grace. Either way, I'm so excited for all of you!!!! :)

[Melissa]

SO, so happy for you and your family! Can't wait to see if Gracie makes it into the family Christmas photo! It's going to be awesome ... life with Gracie. :)

[Rhonda]

She's beautiful! I can't wait to see more pictures. congratulations!

[Bridget =)]

she is so beautiful! congrats!!!!

[Becky Trump]

My heart is so happy for you and your family. Grace is such a cutie!!! Love her face :)

[Kara]

Tears are pouring down my face. I read your earlier post and just couldn't find the right words. Charmer is how I found your blog, Charmer is what kept me reading. When Charmer died my heart sank for your loss. To see this post, the words are finally flowing. I know your hearts are filled with the joy of a golden once again. So very, very happy for you. Charmer blessed you from heaven. Fondly, Kara (Another Golden Retriever owner-Airiel)

[Lisa]

This is AMAZING. Makes me cry happy tears for you. As you may or may not remember from my obsessive commenting on your blog, we lost our Golden, Tucker, 596 days ago now. And just four days ago, we were in Austin, and were able to see our Tucker's littermate, Hailey. We sank down onto the floor with her and cried and cried and cried. She has NEVER been more like him. She turned grey like him, she's fluffed out like ours did, and she just looked more like him than ever. And she licked me. Which she's never done before. And even though Tucker never licked me (he licked his dad, obsessively), I felt like he'd made her do it. As his signal to me.

It was awesome.

And I'm so happy for you. And also happy to hear that you can love another doggy. I am afraid of just this concept.

[gabby]

i love this so much. xoxoxo.

[Lisa Dickinson]

this is making my heart smile through the tears, laura! so happy for you and grace :)

[kb]

Very happy for you and your family. Reading your stories about Charmer always brought a smile to my face, and I look forward to hearing about new adventures with Grace.

[elizabeth]

Oh, wonderful : ) She will be a treasure.

[Brooke]

She's gorgeous! It's evident that she's already family. = )

[Kah-Mei]

She's blessed to be home, and I'm so happy for you all.

[Dolly]

Such a beautiful blessing wrapped up in golden spun fur and charm all her own...what a wonderful, wonderful life full of love love love ahead for all of you! I can only imagine the happiness this beautiful girl is bringing to your family and shared right back at her from all of you. Congrats!

[Barb]

Your little house is complete!!!

I'm so happy for you.

[judy]

Grace is beautiful..many days of love ahead..:)j

[Carrie K]

found a sweet video of a golden...welcoming her mommy home from afghanistan :)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseamarshall/tear-jerking-moments-of-soldiers-reuniting-with-their-dog?sub=2741357_1946182

[jenn shurkus]

catching up on some blog reading- grace is such a fluff ball :) always a follower of charmer I'm so happy for you and your family to have grace :)