Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Instead of financial wisdom today, I thought I’d give everyone a little time off from personal finance to reflect. Looking back on 2015, I’m very blessed and happy to have great family and friends, our health, a safe home, the ability to earn income that provides for our needs, and the freedom to live in a country where we have so many choices and opportunities.
Change in Holiday Plans
The big news at our house this week is that my parents, who were coming for Christmas for the first time ever, won’t able to make it due to some lingering health issues. While we are all disappointed, it was probably for the best. Southwest Colorado is getting pounded with snow that isn’t expected to let up until after Christmas. I’m not sure how happy anyone’s holidays would have been with family stuck somewhere in an airport!
To make up for the lack of company, we decided to foster a dog. Originally, we were going to wait until after the new year, but when we saw Hazel, we knew she needed to spend the holidays with us.
Hazel is probably about a year old and some sort of rez dog mix. Our newest family member came from the Navajo reservation and had a really rough start in life. She was surrendered to her first foster home after losing a litter of puppies. There were ingrained chain marks around her neck at intake.
A couple of weeks into her new life as a foster dog, Hazel came down with Parvo and almost died. She pulled through the illness but did not thrive in her temporary home that also included other fosters plus seven permanent dogs. She is timid and was picked on by the rest of the crew.
Foster Failures Yet Again
We stopped by an adoption event to say hi to the members of the rescue group we planned on fostering for and decided to take Hazel home if she was not adopted that day. To say she was shell shocked the first night at our house would be a great understatement, but the next day, she was a new dog.
Like other rez dogs we’ve had in the past, she has effortlessly worked her way into our daily routine. After two days, we knew she was never going anywhere. Yet again, we are foster failures, but we couldn’t be happier.
If you are considering a pet, I strongly encourage adoption through shelters or rescue groups. There are soooo many homeless pets of every breed, age, size, and personality. Fostering is a great alternative for those who aren’t ready to take on the full commitment of pet ownership. Even though we are foster failures, that doesn’t mean we don’t highly recommend other people giving it a shot.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
We are definitely having a white Christmas this year and plan on resting, sledding, and maybe a little cross country skiing for the rest of the week.
After Chistmas, we will take our last trip of the year to Scottsdale. I won’t be posting until after the holidays, so I sincerely wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We’ll get back to money in 2016!
Are you expecting a white Christmas? Any last minute holiday plan changes?
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Happy New Year Kim!!! I don’t think I could ever be a foster without knowing that I would become the permanent parent because I know how I get connected, especially to creatures of the furry variety. We decided on a last minute Christmas trip to Mexico because most of our family wasn’t around and it was one of the greatest trips ever. My son smiled nonstop for about 4 days straight and that was the greatest gift for me. Cheers to an awesome 2016 my friend!
I’m so glad you got to go on a family trip. We loved our Thanksgiving in Mexico. Certainly a non-traditional way to celebrate, but much enjoyed.
Hazel seems to be great dog! I know she’ll have a great time being with you guys. Happy New Year! Cheers to a better year!
I’m guaranteed to be a foster failure. 🙂
Are we expecting a white Christmas? No. Well, maybe a white hot one! Here in southern Australia it’s heatwave time. Heatwave and bush fires. I know I’d be a little Aussie popsicle in all that snow, but it does look inviting.
Happy new year!
That is a cute way of spending Christmas! Hazel is so cute. I hope that she would be a great dog in your care. Happy New Year Kim!
Congrats on the adoption of Hazel! After our debt is paid off, we’re definitely looking into animal adoption. We need a dog around here. 🙂
Hope you are having a lovely holiday with your new family member. I am sure Hazel is happy you are foster failures. Thank-you for your generosity.
Dog adoption. That’s really good of you. Merry Christmas Kim.
Oh. Your parents were not coming. Despite that, Hazel was there! The dog looks cute. Congrats on having a great holiday!
We’ll be getting a dog next year. First, my husband has to get himself in shape to the point that he can reliably walk one. (Fibromyalgia’s kicking his ass right now, and basic life stuff is a problem.)
I’m excited to get a dog — never had one, so also trepidatious — but I’ve made it clear to Tim that I cannot handle one single thing more. So he has to be able to take care of the dog’s day to day needs or it’s a no-go. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll love that lil guy (or girl) to death. But I want to make sure he/she is able to be taken care of properly.
We’re currently excited to have met our own year goals. I’m trying hard not to think too much about 2016, which will see a drop in income. But we’ll do the best we can to budget enough to cover the gap, and we’ll figure out the rest as we go. Happy holidays!
Congrats on the foster fail! It made me tear up! She is a beautiful dog!