Serendipity

I took a part time position teaching a night class, and on the first day, I was told about one of my students "she may have to put down her dog- who is a service animal.  If that happens, she may be sad."  That night, I met the very quiet, very cozy Sampson, who was carried around by his mom.  I knew from his response to my approach of him, that he was not well.

Sure enough, a few days later, my student called me- a follow up image showed his condition had not improved, and he had to be put asleep the next day.  I excused her from class, and could tell that she was going to have a very hard time.

One week later, I got to class, and my student was laying on the floor, crying.  She was in the throes of sadness.  She came into class.  We had a few videos to watch, and during the first, I hugged her and told her "it will really help you if you find another dog.  I went through this 5 years ago.  The only thing that helped my heart was getting a new dog."  That is true.  Luken and Mischa....

By the end of class, she was interactive, talking, and much, much better than when we started.

4 days later, my BFF, Tobhiyah told me she wanted me to help her get a new puppy in Ontario (Oregon).  We ended up doing a lot of things, but not having time for me to go with her to get a puppy.  She called me and told me that she drove up and picked up her puppy though- he was outside with his siblings, under a plywood shelter- in the very cold weather.  He is a short-haired chihuahua mix, and I could not stop thinking about how lucky this little puppy was, and how much my student would benefit from a puppy.

The next day, I had decided to try to entertain myself, and had a spent hours writing out Christmas cards.  I was to meet my friend Brittany for family pictures with her sons, and she was running late.  I told her to take her time, that I would stay warm in my car, and that was totally fine.  I was feeling overwhelmed with lots of feelings pertaining to hopes, dreams, holiday magic...

My phone rang.  It was my student.  She said she was a "mess" and needed me to tell her what she was responsible for for class.  Then she told me she would need to text, because she could not talk.

I asked her to listen to me.  I told her about the puppies, and that she needed to adopt one.  I told her they were in ontario, and that I would get her a phone number and photos if she was interested.  She said she was interested.

I called tobhiyah, and in a few minutes, I had a phone number and photos to send my student.  When I texted my student, she was already on the road to Oregon.  a few hours later, she messaged me that she had her puppy.  The next morning, she messaged again, the nightmares were better.

I have heard from her every day about the timing of this little puppy and how good/perfect/seamless she has fit into her life.  It is a true Christmas Miracle.