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Today was one of my very saddest days and as I type this I can barely see through the tears, but I feel like I must honor Abby.

Abby was not a pet, she was family.

Let me start at the beginning.  I NEVER wanted a big dog.  I am not sure looking back now why, but I was very adamant.  At the time my brother in law was living with us and a family friend was getting a divorce and Abby needed a new home.  My brother in law knew we would be a great for Abby but knowing that I would say “NO” he had to figure out how to convince me.   He snuck her in the house and hid Abby downstairs with him for a couple of days.  I am not sure how he did this because knowing Abby now, she was not quiet by any means.  Needless to say it was love at first sight.

Abby had the best qualities,  we can learn so much from our pets.  She never judged me on any decision that I ever made.  She had patience (except when she knew she was coming in the truck or going for a walk).  Abby had pure and honest love in her heart, every moment of every day and lived in the moment.  She was up for anything, Abby you wanna….? and her answer was always “YES”.  Abby listened to all of my families secrets and was the best friend to my kids (especially on days when they really needed a friend).  She was a lover not a fighter She was the neighborhood dog that everyone loved.  I always laughed when I would come home from work, Abby was always waiting for us, but we would come to find out that she would spend the whole day with neighbors and 4:00 everyday started her walk home.

A funny story about Abby    I am not sure why but one night Abby was outside, it was very late and instead of coming home she decided to go to the neighbors and at the time their back door opened very easily and Abby knew this.  So at 1:00am Abby gets into bed with them and was there the whole night!!!

In Abby’s prime she would see us coming home and get right in front of the car and bounce up and down.  It would take 5 minutes to go 5 feet.  My husband would do yard work and a job that should take 1/2 an hour would be an hour because he would have to stop and throw a stick or a ball and no matter how far it was, Abby found it

Abby was 14 years old and her body was starting to hurt.  She almost died two summers in a row with heat stroke, her hips hurt, we could not keep the infection out of her ears and she had a hard time breathing.  Even with all of this she was happy every single day.

So on December 2, 2009 at 1:30pm we had to say Good-Bye

If there is something to learn from my Abby, it is patience, kindness, always show love with no judgement and say yes to life.

I am going to miss hearing the click click on the floor, the 3:00am drinks of water, opening the door all by herself, the balls of hair and her snoring beside me as I work on my computer.

Our house is just way too quite without our Abby  I love you…..

Another fun Halloween year has come and gone.  My daughter LOVES Halloween.  We start thinking of costumes in the summer and every year she has had great ideas.  This year was no different except for the fact that the costume was decided the day before Halloween, due to complications on her first costume idea.   There was also a school dance with a dress up theme as well.  So here is the fun.  Enjoy!

This is my daughter and her friend getting ready for the dance  My daughter is in the red sweater.

This is my husband as a Vampire on Halloween…

This is my daughter

My daughter’s best friend

And this is me…..