20/06/2024
Lucky Penny Goldens…On Pennies and Rainbows 🌈 …Jolene 💗💗💗
Well, it is with a heavy heart and sorrow filling every ounce of me that I bring this to you all this morning😔…to you my LPG family 💞
PENNIES…First, some background. While growing up I watched my mom and her mother save each and every penny they ever found…the belief that it was a sign from a greater place. So, in the course of time and many years later I have jars at home and school of, yes…pennies found -by my Grandma, Mom and myself. These are my simple treasures, reminders of my belief in hope, something beyond…and without question, my trust in God❣️
When it came time to give our Golden calling to breeding a name…it all came back to this. The signs that are sent to us, that guide us and that the most important message on any penny spent or found is “In God We Trust”. This is how we came to be, who we are here at LPG…still.
In 2010, November 1…I said goodbye to my mom after a journey with ovarian cancer over the course of the previous 5 years. It left me completely lost, afraid, hollow and in a place of such darkness and quiet like I had never been before. I had experienced things I never imagined and could not find my way out of the place my soul had retreated to.
Shortly after Christmas that year, Rob took me to Platte River Retrievers…”just to see the Golden puppies” as I remember. He had been quietly working with Theresa, the breeder and now my very good friend on the possibility of getting, yes…a Golden Retriever puppy. I fought him on this, I couldn’t imagine loving something so deeply again with the fear of knowing another goodbye. I had grown up with dogs, my collie Lady was with me for 17 years…then goodbye. I never opened my heart up again like that to another dog…until my sweet Addie came into my life.
Snow Moon Addie came to me as an 8 week ball of fur that Spring. We had visited several times after the litter was born…I held all the puppies but each time it came back to her. I believe in my heart she picked us…I’ve seen this happen now as a breeder— and each time I wonder how do they know? It stops my heart every time it happens. Addie was sent to save me with her complete and total love…a little miracle 💞. So, the love story began, my angel was this beautiful creature put into my arms that came home with me…and then there was the hope of light and love again, not just to help fill the loss felt from my mom but to heal a broken heart from many years past from another goodbye🐾🩷
Well as time passed, Addie of course grew and my heart began to heal. We were connected, unconditional soulmates in a love that changed my life forever. A couple years later Addie needed a friend, a partner in crime…so, then came 8 week old Lyla and what followed became an even bigger love story. We were now called Lucky Penny Goldens 🐾 with Addie’s first litter in 2016. Out of that came my Razzle Dazzle-Addie’s daughter and my constant soulmate as well. Our Lucky Penny family has now grown with each new addition, each precious litter of pups and the wonderful families that have filled our hearts and lives with joy and love and have become our family.
RAINBOWS 🌈…well if you love animals you know what rainbows mean. My Addie has been by my side now for 13 years…until today😔. She has been a constant, she saved me, loved me back to my life, was loyal, devoted…my angel. But, yesterday I had to let her go, had to tell her it was okay, that she had been the best dog, best friend and did her job so well…we would now do this last expression of loving…together. So, the last hugs, her fur between my fingers, the warmth of her body, holding and kissing her paw and looking into her eyes just one more time…just pure love—then quiet and sleep again. Her next steps…much lighter onto the rainbow 🌈 bridge…
My other love…teaching, took me to school this morning to work in my new room. A tearful 20 minute drive…the tears have been continual in my attempt to share this with you all. But, before I sign off, I just need to close this with one more thing to ponder. I stopped at Casey’s before getting to school…just needed a chocolate cake donut and iced coffee along with my tears. I tried to stop crying and wipe my tears before going in, didn’t want one of my kiddos from school to see me crying and then melt even more. So, I got out of the car…stepped up the curb, looked through the remains of my tears and then looked down again…there it was, a penny heads up on the sidewalk right in front of my car…meant for me in that moment. Reminding me once again, I’m not alone, and to remember the message on the penny “In God We Trust”. My mom will love my Addie, I think they have already paired up together.
This time no darkness, only light, love and hope…Addie’s love and gift will be honored 💞
With love from Jolene 💗💗💗, Lucky Penny Goldens 🐾 and Snow Moon Addie 2011-2024, my forever angel 💞🌈🐾💞
