Cherish the Moments

Do you have day of the year that makes you more emotional and more reflective than other days?  A day that comes around every year and makes you think back to a point in time that was difficult or sad or painful or happy?  I'm sure that you do.  For me, one of those dates is September 28 because on September 28, 2012, I did something I had never done before.  I made the choice to let go of someone I loved dearly, to relieve him of his suffering, and send him to a better place.  That is the day that we said goodbye to our beloved boy, Jake.

It is hard for me to believe that it's been 6 years since I last saw him.  Time has gone so quickly.  I think of him often, but this time of year always makes me think of him more as I remember all that I did in the last months of his life to try to keep him happy and comfortable and living a good life.  

Over those last months, he had good and bad days; we celebrated small victories-things like him eating his full dinner or just wanting to go outside and sniff around a bit.  I remember watching him and thinking how unprepared I was to lose him.  But after months of watching him slowly wither away to a skeleton of his former self, he had finally had enough and with one look from those beautiful brown eyes, I knew what I had to do.  And I let him go, surrounded by everyone who truly loved him.  It was a peaceful moment, full of love and sadness and relief that he wasn't suffering any more.  

I think back on that final week and remember specific moments and I know that he knew how much he was loved and I know that I did right by him.  I have no regrets with the choices that I made. But still, every year, I feel a little sad when this week and day roll around again.  And this year, with Imke's failing health, it has only seemed to make things harder...those memories of my boy, her first best friend.   

It seems to be a reminder that every day we draw a little closer to the day that I'll have to say goodbye to my special girl.  I try not to make that a focus of my thoughts, but it creeps in there periodically and makes my heart ache.  

  

Thankfully Imke is having mainly good days and we've gotten into a solid routine.  I've adjusted to the quirks of an old lady who has to rush outside mid-breakfast to potty or occasionally vomit up everything she just ate, only to come back in the house to heartily eat the rest of her breakfast and then head back to bed.  I've adjusted to the times when, even though she really tries, she doesn't quite make it outside and I have to pick up an occasional poop by the door.  Or the days when her arthritis is acting up a bit more and she needs a helping hand to stand up or a little boost into the bed to snuggle with me.  

Still, she is always ready for a boost into the Jeep so we can take a drive, and she reminds me on a daily basis that she refuses to miss her daily walk. She also tries really hard some days to get Peaches to play with her.  She always has been the first one to initiate a good round of chase or tug.  And she still believes a good bark in my direction will make me jump to do whatever it is that she wants me to do...and generally, she's right.  Because right now at this moment, all I want to do is spoil her every minute of every day.  

I have learned to sit outside just to watch  her wander around the yard to see the joy in her eyes as a rabbit or squirrel run by and she turns into a great huntress, completely unaware of her own limitations or that she isn't the fine athletic specimen she used to be.  I have been reminded that, although we've had a lot of great adventures and exciting moments in our lives together, the simple joy of have her burrow under the covers to snuggle up beside me in bed is so much more special.  The everyday moments that we share are what makes a life...the little things that aren't shared with the world are the really special moments and are the things that will be most missed.  

We are still planning fun new things and going on small adventures together.  It feels like we have so much to do still, but I'm reminding myself everyday to enjoy the moment we are in right now and cherish every moment we have because every one  is special.  I hope you are cherishing the moments you have with those who are important to you. 

As the Summer reaches its end

It feels like I've been missing from here for a long time, although, in reality, I only missed writing the blog last weekend. But so much has happened since I last wrote.  We've been busy enjoying what remains of our Summer, starting with lots of Labor Day fun.

We started our Labor Day weekend early with a nice evening walk around the Capitol Building with our buddy, Bentley.  He's never been in any Capitol pictures with us and we figured he should be in one, since he's such a big part of our lives.   It was such a beautiful evening and the dogs were all so good.

We then spent the weekend taking short walks on the North Country Trail, as we work toward completing our 100 miles on the trail this year.  With several small walks over the long weekend, we were able to add just over 11 miles and we now only have 22.6 miles remaining until we complete the challenge.  It is our plan to complete the 100 miles together and I'm working hard to make sure we do!

Our first stop was the Albion River walk.  It was a warm day, but we had a nice walk.

We then headed off to Litchfield to do a short walk along the trail through some wooded areas.

And our final stop of the day was a very short walk through the town of Homer.  

On Sunday, we headed toward Battle Creek to do a walk along one of our favorite part of the trails close to home at Historic Bridges Park.  It was so hot and humid that we didn't go far, but the girls were happy to be out and they got a chance to take a dip in the river.

On Labor Day we headed back to Albion to join a group hike with several others, however, due to the heat and humidity, we had to shorten our hike.  We still had a great time though!

Last weekend, we made a trip to Illinois to attend the Illinois Shorthair Rescue reunion.  We have attended them over the last several years and it is always a good time.  Great food, people who understand my love of these crazy brown, spotty dogs, and, best of all, lots of brown spotty dogs!

Peaches added two new states to her list of places she's visited. As you can tell, she was thrilled!

We drove into downtown Chicago to pick up our friend Emmalee who joined us for the reunion fun.

And then we headed out to the park for some fun!  The highlight of the day for the girls was the peanut butter eating contest!  

After some food, fun, and friends, it was time to head home.  The girls were exhausted from all of the fun and they slept all the way home!

This week was a busy one, but we got in lots of good walks, some time out enjoying the yard, and just time living our daily lives.  

As we enter the final week of Summer, the daylight hours grow shorter and the evening temperature begin to cool.  And it makes me a bit sad. 

I am not one of those people who looks forward to the end of Summer.  I don't long for cooler temperatures and I am not a fan of sweatshirt weather.  I hate when I have to wear socks and shoes! I love the warm temperatures of our Michigan Summer.  I'd be happiest if I could wear shorts, t-shirts, and no shoes all year long.  Although Fall colors are pretty, I much prefer the green grass and trees full of green leaves.  And I had hoped to make one more trip to the U.P. before the Summer ended.  

With all of that said, I do know that I'd never appreciate Spring and Summer as much as I do without the changing of our seasons and the cooler temperatures of Fall and Winter.  I can't imagine living anywhere that the seasons changing doesn't really encompass much change.  So I will embrace the warm days remaining and prepare for the long winter ahead by enjoying the next week and making the most of every minute of what is left of our Summer days.  

The Bucket List

Although I don't try to dwell on it, the reality in my life right now is that I don't know what each day will bring.  I guess none of us never really know what any day will bring, but right now life just seems more up-in-the-air than normal.  I wake up each day wondering how the day will go for Imke.  Earlier this week, we had the "end of life" conversation with our vet.  It was hard to do, but it was necessary, and now we have a plan to keep her happy and comfortable for as long as logically possible.  How long that will be, no one knows.  With her health issues and with her arthritis, each good day is a blessing.  I just keep reminding myself of that and how lucky I've been to have her around for such a long time.   Thankfully we've been having more good than bad days.

Being a good girl at the Vet

In addition to my focus on taking care of Imke, I am also caring for Peaches, who, I have to remind myself regularly, has terminal cancer.  Although Peaches doesn't act like she is sick, I know that could change at any moment.  And I need to be prepared.  Although medically there is nothing that can be done for her, I'm doing my best to give her natural remedies, a good diet, and a healthy and happy life to keep her going as long as we can.  I think she's pretty happy here.

It's a tough life at my house!

And then there's Maddie.  She's 12 1/2 years old and that is no Spring chicken.  I see her slowing down and I know that her health could change at any time. 

Waiting patiently for a treat

But none of these things are in my control.  So I am focusing on the things that I can control.  I am focusing on the things in life that make us happy and allow us to enjoy the time we have together, no matter how little or how much time that is. So with that focus, I have been planning the next several weekends of fun for us because that is just the best way to continue to enjoy our lives together. 

Albion River Walk-North Country Trail

Shortly after Peaches came to live with us, we made a bucket list for her and, using that list as a starting point, I  have built our weekend adventures around checking items off that list.  As I was planning all of our weekend fun, I even realized that there are some things on that list that even Imke, Maddie, and I haven't done. This is leading us to some fun day-adventures right here in Michigan and not even that far from home.

Last Saturday, we headed out with the goal of reaching Lake Erie right here in Michigan.  I have been to Lake Erie in Ohio and I've been to Lake Erie with Imke and Maddie in Buffalo, New York, but none of us had been to Lake Erie in Michigan and that seemed like something we all should do since we're Michigan girls who love our Great Lakes.  After some research, I found the one spot on Lake Erie in Michigan that was dog-friendly and, after a stop in Albion for a quick walk on the North Country Trail, that is where we headed.  It was a small beach area and the Lake was a little muddy due to recent storms, but all three girls got into the Lake.  After a short walk down the beach, they all posed nicely for a picture.  It was a short visit, but we were happy to be able to check this item off of the bucket list.

Lake Erie, Monroe MI

Next we headed to the River Raisin National Battlefield, just a short drive down the road from the beach.  We have been to several Revolutionary War and Civil War Battlefields, but we had never visited a War of 1812 Battlefield...and how cool is it to have a battlefield to visit right here in Michigan.  There is a short walk around the battlefield with historic points along the way.  We learned that this battle was the deadliest ever fought on Michigan soil and that it was the biggest loss of the War of 1812. 

Posing at the Battlefield

 As we left town to start the trek toward home, we made a stop for a walk around Veteran's Park and found this really cool water fountain close to the park right in front of the fire station.  Imke and Maddie loved it!

And of course, I had to make them pose with the cool dog statue in front of the fire station too.

Chilling out in front of the fire station

After our walk around the park, we were off again, headed toward home with one more stop to make along the way.  In all of the years that I have lived in Michigan(my whole life), I had never been to Hell.  So we took the back roads between Ann Arbor and Lansing to be sure to make a stop.  Although there isn't much there, it was nice to stop and walk around just so we can say we've been to Hell and back!

Hell, Michigan

After a fun day filled with Michigan adventures, we headed home tired and happy.  We had such a great time and enjoyed all of our time together.   The greatest part of the day was just spending quality time together out exploring the world.  That really is what life is all about, after all.

I can't wait for more of our upcoming weekend adventures!