Saturday night social

This was a house warming gift to us from good friends. They purchased it from their neighbor, an artist who knew nothing about us. On the night before our friends came here, they called her up and told her they wanted to buy it and give it to us the next day. They had seen it once, and loved the colors and the dancing bears. The artist, Debbie Whitsett said it was unfinished, but that she would complete it that night and they could come by the next day. She finished the painting by adding the honey bees and a white wolf. Now, those of you who know us, just felt a little shiver. Remember, the artist knew nothing about us.

We had a white timber wolf hybrid for 13 years. She parted from this world when our daughter was two and I was pregnant with our son. We do not support breeding wolves with dogs, but Kogi entered into our life by chance from a situation of abuse. She was an unbelievable spirit and very wolf in every way. It was an absolute honor to be a part of her life. We were her pack, and she, the Alpha wolf, watched over us. My daughter still vividly recalls her time with this wolf, and she was only 2 when Kogi passed away. Then, of course, there are the honey bees which have become a constant in our lives. We carefully tend them, celebrate their presence, and eat their honey every day.

I have never received a house warming gift. I couldn't have. I've never purchased a home of my own before now because I moved in with my husband nearly fourteen years ago. I was brought to tears by the perfectness of this painting. The vibrancy of color... the joyous movement and magic throughout... well, it's just so us. It was the very first thing we hung on the wall (before we tore that wall down.) We camped out on the floor under it looking forward to years of enjoying it's presence in our lives, a beautiful reminder of tremendous hope and joy.