Welcome to our new girl!

Sissi always said she wanted a younger sister....well, now, she has one!

Welcome to the Stamp Clan, Vera Sasha Stamp.

Here is our new little cutie pie. She is a 4 month old Bernese Mountain dog that we found at the dog bazaar here in Bishkek. We knew we had wanted a dog for some time. It's been 5 years since we had Smokey, back in Tanzania, and particularly Indy and Sissi have repeatedly asked for a dog. Well, it was never a good time...we were back in the US visiting and on the road, then living in an apartment, then back in the US, then we got back to Kyrgyzstan and they both kept asking and talking about it...well, the mom and planner in me said, "No, we just got back...we're still settling in....it's Christmas and we're traveling...it's winter and too cold for a puppy...we're busy with "Fiddler on the Roof" practices...." Finally, the time was right.

I had been praying that just the right dog would be available when we went to the bazaar. You just don't know what will be there, it's different every week. A month ago, a good friend found a sweet puppy at the bazaar, and there were siblings, but I wasn't ready. Then, a week ago, another friend got a Bernese Mountain dog there. I saw it on Facebook and ran to tell Indy. I had always wanted one, but knew that usually, what is there one week, is not there the next week.

We had all been reading dog books, so we would know about different breeds and what to look for at the bazaar. We also took along a friend who knows quite a bit about dogs, and his wife speaks excellent Russian since she is local to Kyrgyzstan. We were trying to decide between this sweet girl and a 6 week old Labrador Retriever. We went back and forth between the two dogs, but this one won our hearts.

What a sweet face, and she is super smart and loving, and training so nicely. We've been using the book, "Perfect Puppy in 7 Days," and she's really taken to the method.

Vera, sitting on the back porch.

Sitting with Sissi in the backyard.

Scratching her neck.

A few more treats for her sitting and obeying Sissi.

Not the best picture, because when I go outside it distracts her...but, we are also getting the boys involved in her training as well, so she will listen and obey us all.

Resting in her new bed on the back porch.

So, what I've learned about getting a new puppy...

- They are more work than I remember them being.

-They have more love and affection than I remember.

-I am getting more steps in every day with walking a dog again.

-I am getting a workout with my limited Russian as it seems many people on the street want to ask me about her, but only speak Russian!

Ahhh, so exciting and we're so grateful for the Lord providing an excellent dog for our family.