Not to be overdramatic, but little Reaux Bear Watts, the one-year-old Cocker Spaniel, is a Christmas miracle.  Kenzie Watts, Reaux’s mom, says she first heard of Reaux when a friend of a friend had a litter of Cocker Spaniels that were ready to be sent to a rescue group. “We went to look at the puppies and fell in love with our sweet girl,” says Kenzie. “So we called Dad while he was at the golf course and he took a vote with his golf group (known as The Uncles), and they voted yes.” From that day forth, Reaux was part of the Watts family.

Reaux’s name has Louisiana origins; since the Watts are from Louisiana, they’re used to spelling go as “geaux,” and “roux” as in gumbo, so Reaux was the perfect name. Of course, she’s acquired many nicknames, including Reaux Bear, Rou Rou, Rosie Reaux, and Reaux Boo. The Watts’ youngest, Vivian, gives Reaux a new name every day. Reaux is also called The Flying Reaux, because at night when the Watts are doing prayers with their oldest daughter, who has two beds in her room, Reaux loves to jump between the beds. She also loves treats, eating the corner of every rug in the house, and hanging out at Ms. Debbie’s, a neighbor who keeps the girls when the Watts travel. She’ll never pass up a chance to get a pup cup with her fourteen-year-old Cocker Spaniel sister, Mae Mae, or run through Lake Windcrest chasing deer.

Speaking of running, it’s about time for that miracle. Last Christmas Eve, sweet little Reaux ran under the Watts’ fence chasing a deer. The Watts went out to the yard and down the street, but had no luck finding her. Kenzie turned to Facebook and, like Lake Windcrest neighbors often do, they showed up to help the Watts search for Reaux up and down the neighborhood until two in the morning. Still, there was no luck, and no Reaux. The next morning, the Watts and their Lake Windcrest neighbors ventured out into multiple nearby neighborhoods. The Watts had friends searching shelters and lost and found sites, making flyers, and scavenging the neighborhood by car, foot, and golf cart. “As it started to get dark and rain, we had not found our sweet Reaux,” Kenzie shares. “My mom-heart was broken for our two girls, Briehn and Vivian.” As prayers were said and hopes of Santa were mounting, tears were shed on that Christmas Eve night in the Watts’ home. Briehn, the Watts’ oldest and ever-hopeful, said they just had to have the faith of a mustard seed that Reaux will come back, because God and Santa will make sure that Reaux is home for Christmas. “As Alan and I left the room, our hearts broke, for we knew there may never be a chance of her returning.”

After calling her prayer warrior and doing some hard praying herself, Kenzie woke up the next morning, snuggled Vivian, and waited for the girls to wake and see what Santa delivered. That was when she heard her phone ding, and she read the following message: “Merry Christmas! Look who we found. She is safe and warm on Anchor Way. Ready for her family to come get her.”

Much like the old Christmas poem, Kenzie threw back the covers, woke her family, and let them know that Reaux had been found. “We all put on our shoes and rushed out the door,” Kenzie says. “Mind you, we are still in our pajamas. No one even stopped to see what Santa brought because our biggest miracle was getting our Reaux back.” They showed up to Mike and Stephanie Johnston’s house. Mike opened the door, and there was Stephanie, holding a very wet but very happy Reaux. Many hugs were exchanged; the Johnston’s have daughters too, so they knew how much it meant for Reaux to be home. After Reaux was in their arms, the Watts’ drove home and cuddled Reaux all day, a true Christmas miracle.

The Watts add that “this community and neighborhood is truly amazing for everyone taking time during the holiday to help us look for and find our baby Reaux,” saying they are forever grateful and truly love where they live. See? We promised you the tale of a miracle, and you got one. Merry Christmas from Stroll, from the Watts, and from sweet baby Reaux.