Introducing Nabi

Tofu, Dumpling, Apple, Maple, Sesame, and even Jedi…

These were just a few of the names we considered for our new special family member. Yes, we got a PUPPY—and it’s a girl!

She’s a Labradoodle (a Labrador and Poodle mix), and my daughter has been dreaming of having a puppy for years. Her wish finally came true.

In the end, we decided to name her “Nabi (나비),” which means butterfly in Korean. 🦋

The First Car Ride

On October 5th, we drove to Berryville, VA, to pick up Nabi. She was just 9 weeks old. We placed her in a laundry basket for the ride home, and she stayed calm the entire time.

As we brought Nabi home, memories of another special puppy from my childhood flooded back—one I had for only a single day. Yes, just one day. Yet, I still think of him even now.

It was over 30 years ago, and I was about 9 or 10 years old. I had dreamed of having a puppy for as long as I could remember, but my mother was firmly against it. “No furry animals in the house,” she would say.

Then one day, my father surprised us. He came home with the most adorable puppy I had ever seen. A friend’s German shepherd had a litter, and my dad, who loved animals, managed to convince his friend to give him one. The puppy was a mixed breed—part German shepherd and part something else. I didn’t care what breed he was. I was in love.

I was over the moon with joy. That puppy was the best gift I’d ever received. My siblings were excited too, but I was the happiest of all. My mother, however, was furious. My father had made the mistake of not consulting her before bringing the puppy home, and their disagreement quickly turned into a heated argument.

I didn’t care about their fight; I had a puppy! I played with him, cuddled him, and even started thinking of names. Thunder, Blackie, Ttori… After much deliberation, I named him “Jjong (쫑),” which, oddly enough, translates to “John” in English. To this day, I don’t know why I chose that name, but I loved it.

The next day, I reluctantly went to school after tying Jjong outside near the storage door and giving him food and water. All day, I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t wait to get home and play with him again. I even skipped my usual after-school stops at the rice cake vendor and toy shops, racing home as fast as I could.

But when I arrived, Jjong was gone. The rope I had used to tie him was gone too. Panicked, I searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. I ran inside and asked my mother.

“He’s gone,” she said flatly.

“What do you mean he’s gone?” I asked, tears welling in my eyes.

“He went back to his family. He can’t live with us. You know that. Now go wash your hands. I made pancakes for a snack—they’re still hot,” she replied.

“Noooooo!” I screamed. “You’re so mean! I want my puppy back!” I collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. I had never yelled at my mother before and never did again after that day. But my heart was shattered.

I refused to eat her pancakes—or dinner that night. Even now, decades later, I feel a pang of sadness when I think of Jjong. Over time, though, I came to understand my mother’s reasoning. With five young children and countless responsibilities, she simply couldn’t handle the added burden of a puppy. She knew we weren’t ready for that responsibility either.

Now, as I look at Nabi, I can’t help but think of Jjong. This time, I’m ready to give our puppy all the love and care she deserves.

Although I didn’t grow up with pets, I’ve always wanted my kids to experience the special bond that comes with having animals in their lives. It fills my heart with joy to see Nabi forming such a close connection with my 13-year-old daughter, who has taken her responsibility of caring for her puppy very seriously.

There’s a unique joy in welcoming an animal into your family. It’s not without effort—it requires both love and responsibility—but the rewards are immeasurable.

Nabi is a smart little pup! Within just two weeks, she picked up basic commands like sit, down, high-five, leave it, roll over, and stay. Of course, she only listens when I have treats in hand. 😊

Potty training is still a work in progress—she has her occasional mishaps—but we’re getting there!

Nabi is a spirited little girl with a touch of a dominant personality (you can see it when she plays with other puppies—she loves being on top!). But she’s quickly learning who the real pack leader is in the family. There’s still so much for her to learn, and she’ll get there one step at a time.

Nabi has a wild streak—she loves chasing imaginary squirrels around the house! Like most puppies, she has those random “zoomie” moments where she goes full-on crazy, running, barking, growling, and chasing nothing at all. Then, just as suddenly, she flops down like she’s completely exhausted and falls asleep right there on the spot.

At first, we jokingly wondered if we had a mentally ill puppy—especially after the breeder mentioned they’d take her back if we couldn’t keep her. 😂 But now, at three months old, Nabi is growing fast and bringing joy to everyone she meets. Her fluffy appearance makes people think she’s a stuffed animal, and she adores the attention, happily giving her love in return.

I have a feeling Nabi might become the official recipe tester for Beyond Kimchee! She’s already sampled a few dishes and seems to love her new “job”—she’ll even eat chili if I let her. Nabi, you’ve proven yourself as a true member of a Korean family. You’ve passed the test—go, girl!

Who knows, maybe I’ll come up with some Korean-inspired dog food recipes for the blog. Organic soybean paste dog biscuits? Korean beef-flavored rawhide? Or even gluten-free kimchi dog treats? The possibilities are endless! 😂

If you’ve had a tough day, I hope a picture of Nabi will bring a smile to your face. She’s certainly brightened ours!