Meet my Mom’s dog Pepper...she was a stray that wandered up to her shop in Winnie, TX.  Pepper was expecting so Mom brought her home to Plano, she didn’t see any other option.  Dad bonded with Pepper right away and he witnessed each one of the puppies being born. Knowing it would be too much for him and Mom to handle and since they already had two dogs, they thought it would be best to take Pepper and her 4 puppies to Operation Kindness for adoption.  We later found out he just couldn’t live without Pepper and had already made arrangements to adopt Pepper when the puppies were weaned.  He really had a connection with Pepper and wanted to surprise Mom since she had to put her sweet Schipperke "Seven" down a few months earlier.

The trip back to Operation Kindness was the last place my Dad ever went to and Pepper was his last gift to Mom.  He was so weak and sick that day but he was excited to get Pepper back, it was important to him and my Dad always kept his word no matter what.  Dad’s health continued to decline and he began hospice care two days later.

Although 3 dogs are a full time job for Mom, she is happy to have Ozzie, Chilly and Pepper to help her grieve.  Pepper has completed her last treatment for Heart worm and she is doing great!  Who couldn't love that sweet face!

Update:  My Dad's beloved dog Ozzie passed away April 27, 2015 from cancer.  I know Dad was happy to see his buddy again.  Sadly, Chilly passed away on August 10, 2015 due to COPD.

In 2013, the state of Missouri passed new legislation allowing adoptees to access their adoption records and so began the search for my Dad's birth mother. My 75 year old father opened his mail on a sunny day in June of 2013 to learn the name of his birth mother, half sister and 2 half brothers finally after all the years of wondering and not being able to know....this was so exciting!  After a few weeks passed, Dad hand-wrote 3 letters, he wanted it to be in his own handwriting.

Here is the letter he wrote to Kathy, Jerry and Eddy - his new half siblings: 

My name is Jack Keyes, I am writing you this letter because I just recently discovered I could be related to you. I am the adopted son of Beatrice Johnson Guardamondo born in 1937 in Kansas City, MO. My hope is not to cause you or your family distress but to hopefully learn about this missing part of my life for so many years.

I began my search for my birth mother back in 1992. I visited my birth place trying to gather any information I could from the people I knew, I visited the court house in Kansas City, MO only to be told "we cannot reveal any information about your mother, the records are sealed".

Just recently the state of Missouri passed new legislation that prompted me to resume my search. After hiring a court appointed search agency and waiting three months for the paperwork to be processed through the courts it was revealed that my birth mother had passed away in 2008, therefore the court released my adoption records.

I have enclosed the court documents that will substantiate I was born Wayne Johnson on January 23, 1937. Upon being adopted my name was changed to Jack Ray Keyes. I have also enclosed the signed adoption record and the recent court release of the adoption record.

Although I had a happy childhood and couldn't have asked for more loving parents I would be grateful to have the opportunity to know what my birth mother was like, what she looked like, are there any resemblances to me, details about her life and also to get to know my half-sister and brothers.

I realize this news may come as a shock to you and I understand if you need time. I hope that you will find it in your heart to contact me.

Jack Keyes

Plano, TX