I get teary-eyed even thinking about what happened 2 years ago today. We had been to the pet store 2 nights before, buying the right bed, the right leash, bowls, toys and anything else we thought our Incoming Princess Alice would need. We'd arranged the bed in a cozy corner of the living room, all we needed now was to wait until we could pick up Alice.

That morning, May 27,1999, we got up early, we were so excited about her! We got a little lost on the way to Alice's house but still managed to get there 1/2 hour early. This is a major feat, we're late for EVERYTHING!

We passed the time in a grocery store down the street until finally, it was 9:30 am, time to get our Alice! We raced up the road and with pounding hearts, knocked on the door. When it finally opened, a vision in light brown and white came running out of it. That was Alice! I was in love!

We spent over an hour with her and her mom for the last 8 years (Alice was 9 at the time), hearing stories and getting kisses from our Princess. When it was time to go, Al came with us like she was meant to, hopping into the car like she'd always known one day we'd come to get her. On the way home, I promised her that we were her last home, that she'd never have to worry about anything again. She just looked out the window.

When we got home, she found her new bed right away and was snoring logs within 20 minutes of our arrival. We moved the bed so we could watch her sleep.

It's been 2 whole years since that amazing day. The sun shined, the heavens opened, and God gave us Alice, still the most amazing thing in my life. Today, at 11 1/2, I see her slowing down but just when I think she's officially and old dog, she surprizes me once again. In that time, we've adopted and loved, then held Ellie as she died, adopted Zeus, fostered many and now today, we have Rainie Roo, a 5 month old basset who's mom is named after Ellie. But through it all, in her mind, Alice is the only dog and will always be the queen of our roost. The day I met Alice was the best day of my life. I don't know how the sun came up in the morning without her here.

Please join me in congradulating Alice on her 2 year Gotcha Day. I'm adopted too, and I know that in a lot of ways, Gotcha Day is better than a birthday, it's not just the day you were born, it's the day you came home for good.