God Gave Him Wings

On a cold, winter day, Steve and I went to a farm with our friends to pick up their puppy. We weren't really planning to pick one out for ourselves, but we were drawn to a litter of squishy, rolly polly puppies, and one in particular - our Bentley. He wasn't a tiny puppy by any means - Steve called him the "Arnold Swartzenegger" of the litter. We did the "Hold the Puppy on His Back Test" (to see if he squirmed or was calm) and Bentley proved to be a keeper. We had to wait a week before we could pick him up (and even then he was only 6 weeks old), but on a Saturday in February we brought home our Brutus of a puppy. It was a rough beginning between Bentley and I. On the way home he threw up on my new suede coat. Definitely not a good sign. And then he cried at night and was sad and I didn't know how to help him and so I tried to give him away. Serioiusly....I wanted someone else to take him. Thankfully, Steve stuck to his guns and insisted that he stay, and I soon fell in love with this quickly growing black ball of fur.

Bentley came into our lives just when we needed him the most. We had been trying to have a baby for 18 months. We were just about to start fertility treatments and I needed someone to nurture (and someone to sit beside me on the bed while I cried). Bentley fit the bill. We took him to Puppy Kindergarten and then several other obedience classes. We taught him tricks and took him for walks, and bought him toys. He was our baby and he taught us how to be parents.

The dog had his quirks, for sure. When I was home alone with him, he would bark at every noise until Steve walked in the door. Steve thinks he was just protecting me. I think he was trying to send me to the psych ward. He went crazy every time the doorbell rang, he wagged his tail so hard that it banged against the walls and bled, and he was constantly hungry - looking at us with those sad brown eyes, hoping for the crusts of a PB&J or a spare french fry.

But all in all, our Bentley was a wonderful addition to the family. I remember being so nervous about how he would react when we had Kate. I shouldn't have worried. He just welcomed her into the family, not realizing how she would change the dynamics of our family or his life...poor guy!

Our sweet Bentley loved his football and wanted someone to throw it for him constantly. He loved being outside with Steve when he was building the swingset or mowing the grass. He loved sitting under Ellie's highchair and cleaning up everything she threw overboard. He loved to get a new toy and would run around like crazy because he was so happy about it. He loved peanut butter and eggs and he hated veggies (just like me).

Mostly, I think Bentley loved us. He wanted to be with us - no matter where we were in the house. He slept by our bed. He sat under our feet while we watched TV. He laid under the table while we had dinner. He greeted us when we walked in the door. He hung out under my desk when I worked from home. He ran outside, did his business, and came right back to the door to see us. Sometimes I would forget that I left him outside and I'd look for him an hour later and there he was...just staring in the patio door wondering when he could come hang out with us again. We didn't have a fence and he could have run, but he sat by the door and waited for us...because he loved us.

And we loved him, too. He made us laugh (One time, he ran down the steps and jumped on my lap and started drinking right out of the glass of water I had in my hand. Another time, he tried to join me on the treadmill). He helped us through a difficult time. He was a special part of our family.

Today, Bentley went to Heaven, and we have been crying all day. Our hearts are broken, and we will miss him so, so much. When I told Kate, she asked me if God gave Bentley his wings today. That made me smile. I can picture our Bentley flying around Heaven (with an orange football in his mouth).

Thank you, Bent, for loving us and for being a part of our crazy family. I hope you know that we loved you, too, and that we will always miss you!

The girls liked to cover Bentley with blankets and pretend he was a Baby Doll. He was a pretty good sport about it.

6

Bentley turned six yesterday, and we celebrated with eggs for breakfast, singing, a new toy, and lots of treats. Our vet once told us that Bentley had very bad liver disease and should be a sick, lethargic dog based on his bloodwork. She said he probably only had two years to live at the very most. That was four years ago. It feels like he's on "borrowed" time, and we don't know how much we have left. But we love him and are so glad he's part of the family. Happy Birthday, Bent!