PRABE-WK. 8

As the book comes to a close and as a former dog owner, I found much of want I was reading this time hit very close to home.  Over the span of 12-13 yrs. Marley has become old, senile, and feeble.  He has taught John and Jenny many of life's lessons.  They reach a point of when to put him down.  He has many "scares" that lead up to the final bought of his death.  It was such a hard decision, especially for John.  John and Marley had this bond, a bond quite beyond comprehension, that is unless you have been a dog owner.  How will they tell the kids?  How will they themselves cope with this loss that they knew they would have to inevitably face?  It took time and with any loss, they grieved and the grief eventually turned into a healing phase.  I love how the book ends.  It tells of how they come across this ad for a dog needing to become adopted that looks and is described as Marley-to a tee.  They end up going to look at the dog named "Lucky."  What a great book!!

~Times~
Wednesday, November 23rd- 30min.
Friday, November 25th-30min.
Sunday, November 27th-30min.

PRABE-WK. 7

John and Jenny decide to move out of the neighborhood because of all the break-ins that keep happening.  The house they move into is a 1970's vintage four-bedroom ranch style house, it has plenty of room to raise a family.  Twice as much room as the last house, but it lacks something-Charm.  Surprisingly, John and Jenny have another baby.  This time it's a GIRL! Her name is Colleen.  They feel as though their family is complete, not wanting the same things in life they previously had envisioned.  Work use to be so important, but now the focus was on FAMily.  Right after Colleen turns 2, John lands a new job.  They pack up the family and move from Florida to Pennsylvania.  The question is- How will Marley adjust?

~Times~
Wednesday, November 16th-30 min.
Thursday, November 17th-30 min.
Sunday, November 20th-30 min.

PRABE-WK. 6

Jenny is pregnant with baby #2.  A lot of crazy things start happening in the neighborhood when John and Jenny live.  They begin to question just what Marley would do if someone tried to hurt them or baby Patrick.  Marley ends up protecting one of the neighbor girls who was being attacked.  This gives them a sense of peace, should something strange and crazy like that happen on their end.  There are no doubts that Marley would protect them.  At 21 wks. Jenny thinks she is having the baby.  She remains in the hospital for 12 days and then is sent home on bed rest.  Marley became Jenny's best friend as she remained on bed rest.  Conor made his presence into the world @ 35 wks.  Needless to say-Sleep deprivation had set in!

~Times~
Monday, November 7th-30 min.
Tuesday, November 8th-30 min.
Wednesday, November 9th- 30 min.

PRABE-WK. 5

Just when they think Marley's dog training begins progressing, Marley decides to eat Jenny's eighteen-karat gold necklace, one that John had bought her for her birthday! (oops....) (This part had me laughing, only because I reminisce of the days when my old dog would do such things!) ;)
On a brighter note...Jenny gives birth to their firstborn son, his name- Patrick.   When they arrive home from the hospital, John and Jenny are wondering how Marley will react to the new baby.  They have already decided that should he(Marley) become aggressive, he is gone.  Thankfully that never happened, he just had to check out the new bundle of joy and they eventually became the best of friends.  It was as if Patrick had this calming affect on Marley.

~Times~
Tuesday, November 1st -30 min.
Wednesday, November 2nd-30 min.
Thursday, November 3rd- 30 min.