All Dogs Go To Heaven: Part 2

As you know we about a month ago we lost our lab Gracie.  We knew Sam would be heart broken without her.  We were afraid he would go downhill fast and we were right.  31 days after he lost his best friend, Sam passed away.  It was heart breaking to lose him but it was also heart breaking watching him mope around without her.  When he realized she wasn't coming home he quit eating.  He would eat bread or scraps but he wouldn't eat much else.  He didn't want to go outside.  He just laid by the garage door.  He didn't get excited when we came home.  He was just there.  You could just tell he was heart broken.  It was pitiful.

Patrick had Sam before we got married and he was the best dog.  You could just open the garage door and he went straight to the fence.  He didn't get out of the fence and if he did he just went to the front and sat on the front porch.  He was the best guard dog.  He never barked and if he did you'd better get up and see what was going on.  He was huge! When Gracie had her puppies he was a nervous wreck.  We had to make him sleep outside because he made her so nervous.  He was so sweet with her and the babies. He didn't like hot weather at all.  In the heat of the summer, when you opened the door for him to go out if it was too hot he would just look at you like you had lost your mind if you thought he was going out. He loved the lake too.  He didn't get to go as many times as Gracie.  He would swim and swim until he could barely walk he was so worn out.  Then he drag himself up to the deck (or where ever the most people were gathered) and shake of all the water.  As you can imagine, no one enjoyed that.  I will miss his sweet face that was always happy to see me. In his younger days he would chase a tennis ball for hours.  In his later years he would chase it once and then look at you like you're an idiot if you though he was going after it again.  He loved us fiercely.  He was the definition of loyal.  He was the best dog.  I'm sad that Barrett wont remember what a great dog he was.  We miss him and Gracie so much.  But life goes on.  We hold on to all the memories we made together and we're comforted that they didn't have to live long without each other. 

Blah, Blah, Blah

I've been in a bit of a funk this week.  I don't know if it's the weather or stress or the fact that my sister got a ticket to the National Championship game in Pasadena and i'm very jealous about it  i'm not really sure what it is.  (I really am excited for my sister and proud that she has worked hard and has the hours she needs I just wish I could be a part of it too.)

 I'm not really looking forward to the holidays this year like I was.  I am sad that my husband has to work Christmas Eve night and Christmas night.  I'm tired of having to work our schedules so that everyone else is happy.  I'm sick of making a plan, planning my schedule for the plan only to have the plan change to accomodate people who wouldn't pay you the same courtesy.  I love to buy people gifts but I hate to buy them something just so I have them a gift.  I like to put a lot of thought into each gift and get them something they will really love and use.  I usually fail miserably at this.  Which makes gift buying very stressful and not a fun experience for me.  I feel guilty for complaining about my husband having to work on Christmas when there are familys out there who would love to have a job.  And military families that have been seperated for months that would be thankful the spend a few hours together on Christmas. 

It's so hard for me to just be happy.  I am blessed beyond belief but all I can focus on is what other people have.  I see these people that seem to have it all and do it all and I don't know how they do it.  I know that they are probably struggling with things too.  I have always liked to believe that if all you and all your friends put their problems in a pile that you would quickly grab your own back!  I hate that I get to go have fun with friends on the weekend while my husband is at work but I feel worse about the fact that even if he wasn't at work he still wouldn't want to go and do the things we do for fun. 

I hate to be such a downer today but I feel like so often the blogs I read and feel jealous about are only telling about the happy things.  Not that they have to share the not so happy things in their life, but I feel like it isn't an accurate account of life.  People get down sometimes. It happens to everyone at some point or another.  I would like to be honest about what is really happening in my life. 

Anyways enough about that!  My sweet husband decided he needed a work bench for the basement.  Mind you, there was already a work bench in the basement when we bought the house ( that he has yet to work on)  but he needed a bigger one.  So he got one yesterday that someone was getting rid of.  I think it is bigger than our bed.  Okay not really but it is very big.

It is a good 3 feet wide.

On a Happy note...Have you ever seen a cuter face?!?

And because you never see the other babies here they are.

Gracie, this is the chair she sleeps in.  She somehow curls herself up in it.

Sweet Sam!

Sorry for the long ramblings.  Sometimes you just have to unload.  I'm feeling better already!