anni

Still doing some catch up...

January brought the first big end to a chapter or our lives together.  We had to put our chocolate lab, Anni down.  Cancer was taking over her life and she wasn't doing well at all.  

I could say a TON about this dog.  I could tell you about how she was our first "baby".  We got her while we were dating in college. I could tell you about the 3 hour drive to pick her out, and then again, to pick her up in eastern Kansas. I have a picture of her riding in my lap and cuddling into my chest on that day we drove her home. I could tell you about the night that Dave put my engagement ring on her collar and had her run down the driveway to welcome me off a long shift at work.  I could tell you about how we were so afraid how she'd respond to us bringing our first baby home, and we laid baby Taylor beside her all the time. I could tell you stories about how she ran away all the time, owned the neighborhood and always showed up at Papa and Nana's house, after going for swims.  I could tell you about the pack of frozen steaks, wrapped in plastic, that she ate off the counter, completely...multiple times.  Or the 6 inch subway sandwiches or other plates of food, she ate within seconds of someone getting up to use the restroom during lunch.  And I could tell you about the countless times the mailman or UPS man rang the doorbell during nap time and her bark woke all of my sleeping children up.  I could tell you how safe she made us feel and how well she protected our house and how she loved to play ball and go swimming.

 

If you've seen Marley and Me.  I'll just tell you that is our life with our dog. Completely and perfectly.  It started with just the 3 of us.  And she welcomed all 3 of our babies home.  She was a crazy dog, who got worse and worse behaved with the less and less attention she got, but she loved us well.  And regardless of how many times I threatened to find her a new home, the day we had to say goodbye was so very hard.  It was hard watching our kiddos say goodbye to their first dog. 

But the Lord provided the perfect day for us.  School was cancelled because of low temperatures. So instead of Dave taking her off alone, we all went together.  It made it hard that way, but it made it way better that way too.  We got great closure and we were able to spend the entire day together. God knew what our hearts needed. 

After goodbyes and tears.  We headed to Build-a-Bear to pick out a dog that looked just like Anni.

They each got to put a heart inside her. And they named her Anni, and picked out a leash and brush. 

And on our way out we stopped at the photobooth for a keepsake. 

She was a good good dog.  Some people don't understand that connection when a dog is a member of your family.  But some of you know and you totally get it. 

She was part of the original "us".  The kids always counted her in as a member of the family.

She's definitely been missed and our kids are certain she is running happy and free in heaven.