Orla’s pups have gone on to good homes, but the memory of their messy birth, playful wrestling, and ever-hungry, often-sleepy, baby-dogginess lingers in our home. Their July arrival and noisy sojourn among us were defining events for my family in 2012 and provided entertainment for neighborhood children and Facebook friends far and wide. What new life will 2013 bring? I await its quickening, should it arrive with pointy ears and wagging tails, or new call and community. May God answer the world’s prayers for new beginnings of peace, safety, protection, provision, and meaning in the coming year.