DOG-GONE GOOD

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 133

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope your day has been absolutely stupendous—and if you’re reading this on a Tuesday, I hope your Tuesday is catching some of this residual Sunday glow. Because honestly? Our day has been dog-gone good.

Service was a little quiet today, which I suppose is to be expected. Between last weekend’s Easter marathon, the youth group par-tay-ing late into the night, and temperatures hitting the 70s by mid-morning... well, let’s just say the temptation to play hooky was written on many an empty pew.

After service, we lingered for a bit of fellowship. You know how it goes: one person mentions a new restaurant in Mankato, someone else mentions a food truck, and suddenly, my brain is 100% focused on one thing: a burger.

We headed home to let the boys out of their kennels, but those poor pups had no idea they were about to be "betrayed." Within the hour, they were back in the crates while Danielle and I headed to Springfield for my fix. Pro tip: Check the hours before you drive. The highway burger joint was closed. Darn it all. I wanted a smash burger, man!

Since we were already committed to the bit (and our stomachs were growling), we pivoted to New Ulm for our usual Tex-Mex. One taco feast and a $160 Walmart run later, we were headed home.

Passing by a packed Dairy Queen, I had a moment of inspiration. I proposed a plan to the wife: let’s grab the doggos, some fresh tennis balls, and hit the dog park—followed by a celebratory round of pup cups.

The "Boxer Bunch" was in sheer heaven. We barely walked through the door before we loaded them into the car. They had no clue their afternoon was about to revolve entirely around them. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at the park, and I’m pretty sure their K-9 brains exploded. They say all dogs go to heaven, but for our boys, heaven is a fenced-in field with new friends.

Watching seven dogs sprint around with their tongues dragging was pure comedy. And Arlo? My goodness. Do you remember that "Slime" that came in a little green trash can back in the 70s? Yeah, his drool was exactly like that. It was grody to the max, but the joy on his face made it almost okay. (Almost).

When a couple of Dobermans arrived, we decided to make a tactical exit. Four alpha males in one park is a recipe for a different kind of blog post, so we opted for the "Ice Cream Palace" instead. The boys were so wiped they didn’t even realize where we were—until those pup cups were passed through the window.

Suddenly, everyone was wide awake.

Needless to say, for two dogs and two "hoomans," it was a stellar day. We’ve had our fill of fun, food, and fellowship, and now we’re all collectively "chillin" on the couch. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

A Sunday Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the treat of a day: beginning with the privilege of worshipping Your name and ending with a heart full of simple joys. Bless everyone reading this today, and may every furry friend in their homes feel the same love we felt today. Amen.