The Close of a Full Day (posted by Jason)

Carolina Vet. Specialist...thank you for the continued thoughfulness! We are family!

The impression of Gabby's paw...what a real angel's wing looks like!


The keynote speaker at the 1993 ESPYs was Jim Valvano . Of the many profound things he said during his speech, which was just weeks prior to his eventual passing from cancer, he challenged people to do three things each and every day. The challenge; each day we should laugh, think deeply about something and have something move us to tears. If we do those things then we have lived that day to the fullest. Well, this has been a full day…several times over.

Halle-Grace is a never-ending laugh generator in that she is constantly doing something cute and adorable. While being introduced to the sweet ladies at my dentist office she decided to give Marie a spit bath. Marie just laughed. I laughed at the thought that only something so cute and small could get away with that. I doubt Marie would have enjoyed it that much if I decided to do the same as Halle-Grace.

The tears, well, they still come way too easily when thinking of Gabby. It seems like she dies again each day in that something will happen that is all too out of the ordinary and we are reminded all over again our angel has left us. For instance, we went grocery shopping this evening and one thing I did not purchase was a new pack of rawhides, a formerly regular purchase. When I was fixing dinner and dropped a piece of turkey on the floor I actually had to pick it up instead of watching Gabby scavenge the lost crumbs of anything coming from the bar. Things seemingly mundane and simple bring a flood of emotions back into my heart and a lump in my throat.

Shannon and I had a deep discussion on life and death and what truly happens when we die. Do we immediately go to heaven? Do we wait until His second coming to rise from the grave? Why does God not speak more clearly to us in our times of need and heartbreak? Why does everyone expect us to bring Halle-Grace into worship service instead of appropriately taking her to the nursery? (Ok, the last question is a little more light-hearted than the others, but just as perplexing to me.) Anyway, these are just some of the examples of how full this day has been. I am thankful, full of love for Halle-Grace lonesome for Gabby, tired, Shannon has swollen eyes from her daily cry of missing Gabby and we are sleep-deprived due to a teething baby (I wonder if rawhides would help Halle-Grace?). It truly has been a full day.

I do want to say a special thank you to our loving family at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte where Gabby received her exceptional care. Saturday they sent us an impression of Gabby’s paw print and a book entitled Dog Heaven. On each page was a personalized note from so many of those we have come to love over the past year. We have both displayed in our china cabinet. We cried like babies while reading it and running our hands over the impression of her paw. Trying to explain the way we feel about Gabby to some people is all for naught. It is obvious to us that some people just don’t get our love for and relationship with Gabby. That is fine. I feel no need to explain or justify my feelings for her, and I can assure you Shannon is the same way. All I can say is that if I had to explain it to you, I could not explain it to you. Gosh we miss that little girl! But to those at CVS, thank you for your precious gift, you all and the gift are forever cherished by us.

Let me close on a positive note. Halle-Grace is AWESOME! Even now Shannon is downstairs giving her a bath, one of Halle-Grace’s favorite time of the day. I so enjoy watching her enjoy playing in the water and splashing in the bubbles. She warms my soul. If Gabby’s passing was a winter ice storm that froze over my heart, Halle-Grace is the spring sunshine slowly melting away the ice and calling forth blooming flowers…I have never wanted summer to get here so badly!

Jason