Forever in our hearts

That girl, right up there? That's my puppy doggy, Freckles. She might be 11 1/2 years old, but she will always be my puppy. Today is her last day here with our family, she has liver cancer and we would rather her not suffer anymore than she has to. It's the best thing for her, but that doesn't make it easy.
We have had her for just about as long as she's been alive, a little over half of my life. That is one basset hound that has never been hunting a day in her life, and if our house were to get robbed or broken into, she would just wag her tail and lick them to death. Anyone and everyone that came over was there to see her, no matter who they were, they were there for her. For the longest time after we got her, mine was the only bed that she would sleep on and the only room she would sleep in-which was fine with me since I'd always wanted that to happen, a dog to sleep at the foot of my bed.
If dogs could talk, I'm sure she would have the best stories to tell. I know I have some of her. She had a stomach of steel, and that's no exaggeration. Nothing made her sick, from chocolate (with the wrappers) to plastic humming bird feeders, if she could chew it she could eat it. She was always so playful too. My sister and I never told our parents this, but, when they were gone running errands or off to somewhere we didn't want to go, we would stay at home and rial that dog up until she was bouncing off the walls, then we would have her chase us around the house for a minute before running in my parents  room, jumping onto their bed, and hiding under the covers waiting for Freckles to come and jump up right after us and start gnawing on our feet through the blanket. I think that was probably the best thing we ever did when our parents were away.
She's older than in that picture above now. Her face has turned grey, she's gained weight and lost a lot of it in the past week. She was the best puppy doggy I could have ever asked for and, even though she drove dad nuts, she will be greatly missed in all of our hearts.

I love you puppy doggy, thank you for letting us be your family for 11 years, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I hope you enjoy your sunny spot in the back yard baby girl, you'll always be a puppy to me.

This one's for you Princess

Alexis Nicole Nelson
June 29, 2006 - June 18, 2006

"Mommy's girly girl, Daddy's car chick
She was the best of both worlds!"

Enjoy the small things in life because you don't really know what you've got until it's gone.

A year ago, my family and I learned to appreciate this statement and what it really means more than anyone could ever imagine. The little girl above is my cousin, she left this world last year to go and be with her Heavenly Father. 

She was such an amazing little girl, she had the privilege of doing things most 3 year olds would never even think of. She was able to be flower girl at her parents wedding, take vacations with her family, work on cars, have a best friend before she could talk, and wipe away the tears of those she loved because she didn't want them to be sad. She was a strong heart and a sweet spirit and laughed at everything she could daily. She taught us what it's like to truly love someone, no matter how big or how small you may be.
It's always harder when you don't know why someone left this world and even harder to wonder what they could have accomplished or why they were really here. That still stands true in this case, but with Lexi, some of us know why she was here. She came along at a time when her mommy and daddy really needed her, I guess you could say she "saved" them. I'm thankful to that little girl for coming into our lives when she did, but more so for when she came into their lives.

A year ago today, the cutest and sweetest princess I know left this world to be home in her kingdom. She taught those left on earth how to laugh at the little things, make silly faces, dress up, redo painted nails until you love them, and enjoy what you really have. I hope you're painting that kingdom pink little girl!

We love you and miss you Alexis Nicole, but we'll see you again, someday, in the clouds ♥

This was Lexi's favorite song that her aunt, Anna, my sister, Sarah, and I had the privilege of singing at her funeral together.

Absentee

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and in some cases this may be true. But sometimes, I think it makes the heart grow absent. Then you think you've got it all, only to later realize you lost a big part of something you had or someone you were and, in many of the cases, you can't get it back. In those cases you have to make the best of what you have, remember what you had, and keep moving forward to what you will hold.
I am moving forward.