Katie- our little friend

13 years ago this week, Barry and I were young newlyweds coming home from Thanksgiving at the Jardine's with the first addition to our family. Katie. Little did we know how much she would become to mean to us, nor how many wonderful memories she would give us. We fell in love with her huge eyes and big ears. She was my comfort at the end of every day, silently giving me encouragement, my sleeping buddy at night who would calm my fears. She understood me. She never seemed to age, even when she was older. I knew she was getting older and I would tell her daily, "you can't ever die." Nothing is forever in this life. We lost her last week. We were taking care of a family dog, Daisy, who was in need of a new home and we were her "foster" home until we found a more permanent residence. She had been a part of our home for 2 weeks and was adjusting very well. Even to Katie. Unfortunately, last friday, before leaving for Utah, I was running errands. I came home to quickly grab a coat I needed for the trip. The dogs had been outside, but while I was gone Daisy managed to open the back door, got into the house and killed Katie. It was a horrific scene. I thought our home had been broken into at first. Tables were knocked over, rugs flipped, pillows off the couches, heating vents out of the floor. Then I noticed the blood.... There was blood throughout my home; walls in three different rooms, on the couches, floors, bathroom cabinets. And then I found her. Terror frozen on her face. Lying on my bathroom floor, her favorite place to sit while I got ready in the morning. She looked like a dog toy, soaked head to toe with saliva. Words cannot describe the pain I felt as I held her lifeless body and cried. Such a sweet and wonderful friend did not deserve that kind of an end.

Why am I writing this? Partly because I need to. They say it's very theraputic. Partly because I want to. But mostly because this is Thanksgiving, the time to give thanks for all we have. I am grateful to the deepest depths of my soul for a loving Father in Heaven who sends little angels to touch our hearts, even if they are wrapped in little bodies of fur. I am thankful for the joy and pure happiness she brought me for thirteen years. I loved her! I am thankful my children loved her, and the tenderness I saw in my husband with her.

So I want everyone who knows me, to know how much I loved Katie and how she will be missed. Be grateful this Thanksgiving for all you have. I am.