Aaugh! I've been Kissed by a Dog!

December 23 Yuletide Challenge: Kissed by a Dog? That's all right by me! What a great prompt, harking back to A Charlie Brown Christmas. As soon as I read it, I knew I had the perfect photo to begin with.

Kathy receiving a big smooch from Tate while teaching A Christmas Carol in Lisa's classroom last week.

With several dogs in my life, I wanted to share some more favorites with you.

Molly/Mama

Here is a much younger Molly in 2018 greeting Lisa after a day spent at our home. My heart still melts when I watch her transports of joy when her Lisa comes home.

Molly had only been rescued a year prior to when this video was taken, and had been so frightened and wanted little to do with humans. What a change the right home can make for a dog, and Lisa's home was definitely that. (That's Millie, Nash's predecessor, with them.)

If there ever was a dog who said "thank you," it's Mama.

Tammo

He's not ours but he is staying with us while Kyle works in Utah.

Whenever his boy comes for a visit, Tammo is over the moon and Kyle's shadow for the entire visit. They have a very close bond that time and distance has not diminished.

Tammo has never met a stranger and is loved by everyone he meets. That's Kate with him at our neighborhood park on a lovely summer day.

Snuggling with Lucas for a nap.

And I will never forget the day last summer that our neighbor, Bob, died and just hours later Nan came over and spent time hugging Tammo in her grief.

She didn't want Pepper or Nashie or Mama, she wanted Tammo. And he very patiently sat there while she hugged him and cried. (This photo is from a happier time.)

Nash

A big boy with an even bigger heart. If Nash were a book character, he'd be Ferdinand the Bull. He's that big, that gentle, and that sweet.

Of course Trinity needs a kiss as she wraps gifts for a huge Isenbarger family Christmas!

Kids + Kyle = doggie heaven for Nashie.

One of the first things Nash does when he arrives for a visit is to sit in front of me, give me several kisses on the chin, and then politely point out the treats that I have on the end table next to me and have probably forgotten all about.

Pepper

Miss P, the Piranha, Peppa Pig, sweet girl... all fond names for her.

I am the woman she is responsible to guide through life and she does a wonderful job of it. 

Supervising me as I peel potatoes for dinner.

I've had six major surgeries since she retired and came to us, and the ones down in Indy that require several days of recovery before I can come home were hard for her.

I had just had abdominal surgery, have a large incision and drains, and am protecting myself with a pillow as she tries to get close to me when we are reunited after one surgery.

Pepper likes to get as close as she can. (Reunited after two days apart for the Kalamazoo event.)

Every night I fall asleep with her cuddled up on my shoulder.

Although for daytime naps, she sometimes cuddles up elsewhere. Ahem!!

I'm not the only one she will cuddle with - that's Craig (with Rhett under his arm.)

And of course, Lisa gets cuddles, too.

While having a dog who thinks that they are in charge of you and who checks to be sure you are okay no matter where you are can take some getting used to,

I wouldn't trade the honor of being Pepper's partner for anything.

I'm a horsey girl through and through, but I absolutely would not want to live without a dog or two (or four) in my life.

Call me blessed.