Everything happens for a reason.

I truly believe this. Monday afternoon, I picked up baby M and headed home to cook dinner and get ready for my night class. I fed the horses and let the dogs out. My naughty little dog ran outside. I normally don’t let her out alone because she tends to find a way to escape into the horse pen. This time, I let her. A friend stopped by with girl scout cookies in the meantime. They were outside maybe 5 minutes. I went to let them in and she wasn’t coming. I noticed the garage door open and went out there. She was walking very very slow towards me with her head tilted. I thought maybe she had something in her mouth. I reached down and she yelped. I ran in with baby M, but her in the crib and ran out to grab Maggie. She was bleeding out the side of her head. I quickly called and cancelled class, grabbed the keys, baby M, and Maggie and ran out the door. 
The first vet I stopped at was 5 minutes up the road.  The vet wasn’t there. I loaded everything back in my truck and headed to the next, ten minutes away. I noticed a friend trailing very close behind me. I texted her for help while I was running out of the house. By the time I made it to the next vet, Maggie was barely breathing, bleeding out of her mouth, and passing out. They rushed her in back. This whole thing from time I let her out to then was probably a half hour. I knew she was dying. The vet quickly found out it was a rattlesnake bite. I was mortified. Snake season, I always walk the yard and check first. I didn’t even think with how warm it has been because it’s still so early in the year. They started working on saving her life. They told me to leave. I couldn’t even see her before I left. I got a call two hours later stating it wasn’t looking good. She was bleeding everywhere and wasn’t responding to the anti-venom. I found someone to watch baby M and drove down to say goodbye. She didn’t know me. I pray she could hear me. In that moment I felt at blame. I felt like I had done this to her. I cried so hard. I birthed this dog. I have had her for many years. She is my little daredevil and cuddle muffin. I haven’t even mourned the loss of Mason and now Maggie is gone. 
The next day, I put my favorite necklace on. It’s a horseshoe. I normally put it on and tug a little to make sure it’s clasped. Later in the morning it fell off. I thought that was so weird. I put it on again and tugged harder this time. It fell off again about an hour later. I checked the clasp and it was fine. I think this was a sign. I sat back and thought about the events of the day prior. That morning baby M woke up early. I like to have the horses fed before she wakes, but yesterday I took her with me. I put her down next to the hay while I loaded the hay in the barrel for the day. I picked her back up and went on with my day. That same spot I put baby M down is where I found the snake after I took Maggie to the vet. A 4.5 foot western rattlesnake. It had 17 rattles. Please don’t be angry because I had to do this. Rattlesnakes are territorial and will come back. I killed it. First I called the university to see if they could pick it up and they couldn’t so I had to protect my family. I truly believe Maggie saved baby M’s life and possibly mine too. She knew the snake was there and she did everything she could to protect us. I will never ever forget this. I feel my necklace falling was a reminder from her that I need to count the blessings even through the storms and to let me know she made it safely to heaven.  My heart still hurts but there is a greater purpose to life beyond my control and I find peace in this.