{A Grateful Heart // My Diesel is home!!}

Happy Tuesday!! I am blogging with a very, very full heart today. Linking up with Ember Grey for A Grateful Heart.

It's the week before Thanksgiving and I have so, so much to be thankful for. But this week? Something very special happened. Something that could only be a God thing. After three years my sweet Diesel boy is back home. 3 years.

 
He needs a serious haircut....buuuuuut he is HOME!!!

I don't think I ever blogged about him being gone because it hurt too deep. I felt like I failed him as a mother.

The week before Thanksgiving {three years ago} our sweet Diesel boy vanished. It was morning...I was running late and trying to get Mason {18 months at the time} to school and me to work. I let Diesel out to potty and he bee-lined to my in-laws house like he done many times. My in-laws have a fenced in yard, so we never worried much. But, Diesel was just small enough to fit through the gates. That morning our neighbors saw him following a couple of dogs that were out in our neighborhood. We came home that evening and went to pick him up from my in-laws and he wasn't there. So of course we drove around all night trying to find him. Diesel never got too far from our houses...so I figured someone driving through picked him up. He was too friendly, and he's a Yorkie which is a highly sought after dog. We also live around a bunch of land and have seen Bobcats and Coyotes a plenty...so that was also a maybe. Not in my mind...of course. I just knew someone picked him up.

I have looked for him since. In our neighborhood, and those around my house...just hoping to find someone taking him on a walk or out to potty. I never gave up hope.

Many times we'd see Yorkie's posted on the FB pet sites and of course I would inquire, only to be left with a broken heart. There were about 4 or 5 "nope, not Diesels" and my heart shattered every time.

Until yesterday. My sister was looking at a FB group around our area and saw a Yorkie posted for sale. She immediately sent it to me and I posted "WANT" as fast as I could. Those sites work on a first come, first serve basis and I had to get in first. Even if it wasn't him. But, something in my gut told me it was. My sister had the same feelings. I messaged back and forth with the lady that had him. And that's when the stars started lining up! She had him for only 2 weeks and loved him dearly...but he would dart out the front door anytime it was opened. She lived on a very busy corner lot, with a major street running alongside her house. Understandable totally. Anyhow, she rescued him from a lady that lived in our area and that lady said she was 'gifted' him almost three years ago. There's #1 & #2...the timeframe and the area were spot on. Then she told me that only one of his ears {the left} stood up. There's #3. And that he was on the larger side for a Yorkie at 12ish pounds. #4. I sent her my pictures of him and she was like, yep...that's him. I was trying to think of things that were different about him to ask and remembered that his tail wasn't clipped as a puppy so he had a full/long tail. That was #1 for things that didn't match up. I asked her to see if he would answer to the name Diesel...taking a long shot because it had been 3 years. She sent me a video of her calling him Diesel but he didn't really respond. BUT he didn't respond well to the other name the lady had been calling him for 3 years, either. I watched the video somewhere near 37 times and studied everything....

Matches -
Face = identical
Ears = identical
Mannerisms = identical 
Eyes = identical
the way his fur fans out around his eyes when it's long = identical

Non-matches - 
Body type seemed way different {but later found out why}
He had a clipped tail

So I kind of left it alone. But all day long it kept tugging at me. And then I got a message from her around 4 saying that she was leaving to go out of town and asked if I wanted to come see him. So I talked to Nate and he told me to go. I got my sister to go with me because that was one more person that knew Diesel. 

We pulled up and they came out of the house and Leslie said, "Oh my goodness, that is him". I couldn't get out of the car fast enough. I just fell to my knees crying and he ran right up to me and jumped in my lap and started kissing me. I just cried and kept saying over and over again, this is him. Even though he had been neutered and had a clipped tail and was way fatter I knew it was him. He smelled the exact same, too. {Yes, I remembered that}. The lady couldn't believe he just came right up to me like that. But, we had a special bond. And after 3 years I was so happy he remembered.


We chatted with the lady for a bit and got more of the story. The lady before her kenneled him for more hours than not every day. And that is why he was so big. She took him to get neutered and that was the last vet visit he had. And she didn't groom him, either. The lady I got him from almost didn't take him because he was in bad shape {looks wise}. But she did. She said something told her she had to rescue him.

I think God was lining everything up to get me my baby back!

Okay, so the lady wanted $75 for him even though he was my dog. I didn't even care at that point. I just wanted to get him home. I called Nate on the way to the ATM and just cried and told him it was Diesel. Of course, not seeing him he was apprehensive. He said are you sure? Did he answer to Diesel? Did he flex {something Nate taught him} I said no, but I didn't need those confirmations...I just knew.

The whole ride home he laid in my lap and just cuddled, he didn't cry, he didn't make a peep. We got home and Nate met us outside. I just started crying {again} and he pet him and smiled. We got inside and got settled and Diesel curled up in my lap and went to sleep. I asked Nate if he believes it yet and he said not 100%. Then Diesel climbed in his lap and started kissing him and hugging him. I could see more belief coming to him. Then Nate started checking out Diesel's head for a scar that we knew he had. And guess what? It was THERE! {in July of 2011 he got a spider bite that left a scar}

I will always remember Nate's face when he told me "It's him!!" I of course was blubbering like a big baby. I knew...but I was so relieved that Nate found the confirmation he needed.

We packed up and went over to Nate's parent's house. Nate walked over with Gunner while Mason, Diesel and I drove around. Diesel was very much a big part of their life, too and we just had to take him to visit. Nate went in before and prefaced...and then I came in with him. His mom and I both cried like babies. She held him and hugged and kissed him....and right before our eyes we could see him start to remember things. He started running around their house and jumping in everyone's laps and was so happy! 

Diesel slept in bed with us like he always did. He's the best cuddler. 

We are pretty much still in shock. I just keep thanking God over and over for bringing my baby home! Mason is head over heels in love with him. I don't think he remembers too much of him since he was only 18 months old when we lost him...but now he gets to make up for lost time! 

Mason told me, "Mama you can call him baby too like you call me because I know you love him so much!"  Melllllllt my heart!

And he keeps telling Diesel, "Don't worry Diesel, you are home and we love you so much" and he kisses him every chance he gets!!

We are just so blessed and so Grateful to have our baby back! A hole that has been in my heart for 3 years has closed.

Praise the Lord!!!

25 comments

  1. What a sweet and wonderful story. I have had my little Yorkie for just over a year and they certainly steal your heart. I don't know what I would do if my sweet Gracie disappeared. So glad that Diesel is back where he belongs! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  2. Oh my goodness!! I am so happy for y'all! I was getting so mad at that lady that kept him from y'all! lol What on earth?! So glad that he's home now though :)

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  3. Seriously, what are the chances of that Crystal?! I'm so happy for you! What an amazing story!

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  4. Aw, what an amazing story, I had tears in my eyes. My cat vanished a little over a year ago and I definitely know that feeling of failing as a mother. So glad Diesel is back home :)

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  5. Wow, what a wonderful story! And a great way to start off the holiday season! So glad he's home again!

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  6. Oh my goodness, what an incredible story and even more incredible reunion! So happy you have Diesel is home again!

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  7. oh my gosh I almost started crying reading this! I can't believe it! And I can't believe that lady wanted money for him, when he was clearly stolen to begin with! But he's home, hurray! So happy for you!

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  8. Wow! That's a crazy story! So awesome you got him back. Congrats on getting reunited!

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  9. Are you trying to make us cry here because I got so teary eyed!!!! Wow - what a blessing and such a happy post to read. I can't believe you found him after 3 years!!!!! That is a miracle indeed and I am so happy for you guys.
    Linh
    http://abeautifulrawr.com

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  10. I am SOOOOOO HAPPY for you guys! I had no idea he was missing but seriously this is the perfect gift at the perfect time! I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and just like that lady... she just knew she had to take him. And then your sister... on fb at the right time. So, so happy for you! What a wonderful reunion!

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  11. This is amazing!!! I am so happy for you and your family. I am so glad he found his home again. :)

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  12. Oh my goodness!! How sweet! I cannot imagine losing our pup, as they are our first child. So happy for you and your little family!! What a perfect gift for thanksgiving!!

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  13. Okay I officially teared up and I am not a pet lover. Such an awesome sweet story. So so happy for you and your family.

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  14. Yayyyyyy!!! I still just can't get over it. 3'years!!!!

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  15. I love Mase's comment! I am so glad you found him Crystal! Love you.

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  16. On my gosh! I know you kind of went over the story the other night for me, but reading it just now made me cry! This is amazing! I think I remember you losing him now and I am so happy that he is right where he belongs! Eventually it will be like he never even left.

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  17. In tears for you! You are so, so lucky and blessed!

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  18. omg. seriously? How crazy is this!?? SUCH a great story!

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  19. Aww that is soo sweet. I am in tears reading this. I am so happy for you. God is so good all the time. :)
    xo

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  20. CRYSTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are kidding me!!!!!! PRAISE!!!! Oh my gosh, you had me crying the whole way through this post! I cannot imagine losing Oooj like that, and then to get him back years later, oh my gosh. I'm so SO happy for you guys, and for your sweet little pup - back with his momma! I will be thanking God for this in my prayers tonight!

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  21. Sweet friend, my heart just melted. I can only image how excited you are and how wonderful it is to have your family back together again!

    P.S. I called you out at the end of my post today. Sorry, not sorry!

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  22. Oh my gosh, that is absolutely amazing. As someone who's desperately dreaming of owning a Yorkie, I can only imagine the emotions of everything--from the three years of questions to him coming back. Totally a God thing! SO happy for you all, and him too! :)

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Thanks for the comments! Hope you are having an amazing day!!