One Year Without You

February 2nd, 2020 - February 2, 2021. Three hundred and sixty five days without you. For your anniversary, I wanted to write something super special. My journey of learning to live without you, and how big of a hole you've left in our lives. Including that, as recently as today, I sat down on the bed and somehow expected you to jump up with me - you never would get up on the bed until I did, but as soon as I did, you were right there settling in with me. But I can't share that, not yet, maybe never.

So Much for My Happy Ending

It's been six months since Demandred left. Six months since I lost one of my best friends. Six months since a piece of my heart was ripped out, never to be replaced. Five months tomorrow since we lost Da'shain without warning. Five months since another piece of my heart was just gone. Five months since I had to say goodbye to my first dream big dog. I miss my boys, I miss #theBenajminCrew. Not a day goes by that I don't think of them, miss them, cry because my heart has broken so hard and it's still in pieces. 

Fosters in Rescue

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Sometimes it seems as if  ​my husband and I​ have been involved in rescue forever. From fostering dogs, running to ​a shelter for a dog evaluation, picking up owner surrenders, photographing foster dogs for the website, helping ​organize fundraisers like our annual calendar, ​attending our events to promote the rescue…​it has become such a large part of our life that​ often​ I forget it hasn’t always been so. Then a quick email exchange happens that reminds me of my first times…

Best Friend Part IV

I’m sitting here tapping the keys on the keyboard still, trying to figure out how segue into this next part. You know we brought home our first foster, it was at the end of my last post. Well, her name was Hershey and she changed our lives forever.

Best Friend Part III

Da'shain (poodle) running with Hershey (Doberman)

The next chapter of this story is actually a little different and has so many different parts; I’m not sure where to start. There is really no beginning to it, and no end either...I’ll try at least to start at the beginning of the idea…

Best Friend Part II

Before moving on into the multi-dog world, let me just quickly say again, Dare is my best friend, my first love when it comes to dogs. Dare has been in my life the majority of my post-dad years. He’s been up to White Salmon (where my dad’s buried) almost as much as I have. When I was lying almost comatose in my bed with no heat, in the middle of a snowstorm, Dare, with Dazzle, was by my side (of course; that could be a puppy pile for extra heat). For every major (and even minor) decision I’ve ever made, Dare has been there for me to hold. Before we moved to Arizona, instead of packing, Dare and I would lie in bed on our backs, him snuggled up against me, my arm around him. We still do, on occasion, but after almost a year in Arizona, I think we’re both a bit more settled. 

Best Friends Part I

This topic has been on my mind since I started realizing my best friend wasn’t exactly young anymore. He’s not old mind you; he’s just closer to the top of the hill than the bottom of it anymore.