So sweet

Thank you so much for your very sweet emails and comments after our bike fall. The people and bike are healing well.  We have been doing some - so how did we fall that gave you a black and blue bruise on the side of your right leg?  We are celebrating our resilient our bodies are -- they work hard to heal.   Hoping to be back out running soon and on the bike next time we are in St. George.   I guess today we thought we needed to implement our black brace into the accessories of the outfit.  I love this sweater and have it in green, too.  Anyone else get more than one of something when they find it fits?  I used to do that with shoes or belts but its a little harder to mark and keep them identified.  I love this cuddly dog. 

This is a busy week at our office which means more downtime for Cricket which is wonderful as I'm supposed to hold off on having her pull me for another week.  This is one of Cricket's favorite places at the office.

Remembering our sweet  Missy Girl  who died a year ago. We love her and miss her.

Had some time this morning to nest for some good things to come!  On our last trip to St. George we found this fun clock for our mantle.  Shaped like ... a bicycle!

Sweet - Wednesday is another day of clients and also our Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Class.  Heavens, I have another visual aid for the week of an injury and being kind to self!  The loving-kindness phrase selected for the week:  May I and all  know the natural joy of being alive.  

Healing

You will usually find Cricket on her bed in our bedroom when we are home.

Inside the dog shower used to be her very favorite place.  Then, Missy the pug died and she seemed to stay away.  We put a new bed in and still she has not gone  in her past favorite place for almost three months.  It has been empty.

I added her fleece blanket in there to see if that would help her want to return to this area.  I love having her here as its close to my computer and a room I am in often when I'm home.  This morning, I realized she was back in her little cave. 

Grief is such a journey. 

As Shakespeare said,

What wound ever did heal but by degrees? 

Within each of us is the capacity to heal,

and in any given moment we do the best that we can.

Reflection on the Year

Gratitude for a year that had so much joy as well as one that we will reflect on as having some challenges, of course.  My intention for my life this past year and for the years to come is to live with passion and compassion. 


We said goodbye, to our Missy, family pug: friend, nurse, counselor, vacuum, great listener, loyal family member of almost 15 years.   You are in our hearts Missy girl.

Our travels this year were to visit people that we love.  We enjoyed visits in San Francisco, San Diego, Portland and many visits to St. George. 

Sharing our love of tandem biking in San Francisco with Adam & Natalie, Steve & Debi (how fun!)

Adam's graduation from Law School in San Diego.  So grateful that my parents also were able to join us in this celebration. 

Guide Dog Luncheon in Portland with dear friends: Debi & Peggy

St. George is one of our favorites especially with these two special people. 

Also, a great advenure to Kansas City to an amazing conference (ADEC), so much fun with Steve and even had the chance to meet blogging friends, Lisa and Hosta! 

(This picture is on our tour of the Hallmark Headquarters)

I reflected on the near 1500 miles we put on our tandem bike this year.  Steve and I celebrated our 26-year anniversary this year.  How did we celebrate?  Dinner and a nice long bike ride.   We have great memories of our fun journeys through Southern Utah and Northern Utah this year. 

I reflected on the expansion of my business, Resilient Solutions, Inc & Resilient Center for Grieving Families.  So grateful for the incredible support of Steve

and Cricket every step of the way.

The hard work continues but also it is such a joy to use this expanded area in such a beautiful and healing way.

I reflect on the journey of the year and Retinitis Pigmentosa. This year I continued my yoga practice which has helped so much in my vision loss journey.  I continue to let go and embrace the unknown.   RP is an amazing teacher even when this student is not wanting to  learn. 

This year I returned to Running.  Three weeks until our 1/2 marathon!  I was so scared the first time I ran with Shannon.  Love her - it was just out of my comfort zone.  Now, I want to run with her everyday! 

I tell Cricket we are lucky girls.   She licks my face with such love, as if to agree.

Wishing you a Very Happy New Year's Eve.  Truly a great part of the year is the friends that I have made through blogging.  I appreciate your friendship and support in my life. 

I Appreciate

Pantera, Missy & Cricket. I've been doing some reflecting since Missy our 14 1/2 year old pug, died one month ago.  For 1 1/2 years we had three dogs. Each played their role. Pantera, my first guide dog, was the wise elder who graciously welcomed Cricket, second guide dog. I have been telling Cricket how much I love her and recognizing that coming into a home as second guide dog wasn't so easy. They both handled their 'roles' so well. They had a little over a year together before Pantera died. I saw Cricket's confidence as a guide increase during this time and always felt that Pantera was cheering her on.   Missy was the spunky dog that was here first. She let all know that she really was the queen. She was the family childhood pet and having her go has me feeling some pangs of the kids growing up phase again.   Missy was such a sweet connection for our family.  This holiday season will be an opportunity for a new family picture with dogs: Cricket and Dahlia, Natalie and Adam's sweet black pug.  Pulling out this picture brings a smile -- of the boys meeting us at the photo shoot with Missy and Pantera while Natalie, Cricket and I were coming from pedicures and shopping.  What a beautiful day with special people and dogs that I love. 

It was Pantera's birthday on October 30th.  We were having a joyful walk when I realized the date.  I remarked to Steve, oh its Pantera's birthday.   I then said, I am doing just what Pantera would want me to do ... leading a happy, active life.  She cheered me on in doing that.  I love and appreciate these two beautiful guide dogs and special family pet in my life and the people surrounding them.

I Appreciate...

All your sweet comments, emails, and support this week to our family. Truly incredible and very much appreciated. Our house is quiet without our Missy, the pug. Her heavy snoring is missed. Her presence that represented simple unconditional love that she shared with all is missed.  However, I think she left it behind for us to contiue to enjoy.  We have been putting pictures up on the fridge and enjoying memories. Still hopeful she will walk slowly around the corner.

The beautiful Autumn weather and the fun of pulling out those sweaters, boots and even discovering these 'jeggings' (thanks, mimi) that I had forgotten I had bought last spring.

A sweet yellow labrador who has gotten a bounce back in her step today. I think getting a little play time with Kashi gave her a lift.  Yes, on '3' she turned and looked at the camera. Not a necessity for being a guide dog but for being a model for her blog, its helpful.   I know getting a run with Shannon gave my heart a lift. 

A Gentle Yoga Class that was so soothing to mine and Cricket's soul. It was a class that I hadn't attended before so they were pretty impressed with Cricket's 'down dog'.

Laughter. I had a funny awkward moment yesterday that I called Steve to tell him. Steve, I whispered into the phone sharing my awkward moment. It felt so great to hear his laughter.  He told me he was in a meeting but reassured me speaker phone option was not in use! Whew, it felt good to laugh.

Check-up at the dentist = no cavities.  She was such a chatty dental hygienist, and its so hard when your mouth is wide open and all you can do is nod.  How old is your dog?  I held up five fingers.  How long have you had a guide dog? Ten fingers then three. 

Life. Today is the day we have to love and appreciate.

Cricket

Thank you SO MUCH for all your support as we miss our Missy Girl. In time our sadness will turn to all the sweet, funny, cherished memories we have been blessed to have with our sweet, spunky pug!

Several of my clients today asked what was the matter with Cricket. I explained she is sad and grieving the loss of her little buddy, Missy. Although Missy wasn't an active playmate with Cricket like she was with my first guide, Pantera; Cricket loved her. She perked up when her name was mentioned. Cricket is super to walk past other dogs while she is in harness, except for a pug that she thought might be her Missy.

Cricket went with us to the vet and cried when Missy died just like she had done with Pantera . She's wanted lots of hugs today, and I have happily given them to her. Love you Cricket and Missy Girl.

Always in our hearts, Missy

For 14 plus years this little pug has been a part of our family. Missy has lived with spunk, resilience, and LOVE. Missy has an enlarged heart and collapsed trachea and the past few days has had a very difficult time breathing. Today, the vet told us it was time to say good bye. We knew this was coming but still so hard. Tomorrow, Tuesday we will let Missy go so that she doesn't have to be in pain. Saying good-bye to this sweet little pug will be so hard. No more giving Steve a 'high five' for her cereal treat (and medications in the morning), no more following Kendall, or excitedly greeting Natalie when she comes home for a visit. Our hearts will feel empty, and we will grieve.

There is not a family picture hanging in our home without Missy part of the picture. My kids tell me they don't remember much about their childhood without Missy. Our memories and love for Missy will live on forever. Thank you, Missy for the sweet joy you have brought to our family. After the pain, we will laugh and find joy again in our memories of Missy Girl. Through Missy I learned about the love of a dog and opened my heart to the possibility of a guide dog.

Resilient Missy.

We told Missy she needed to stay 'healthy' until Kendall came home from 8 days at a conference at Wake Forest, North Carolina. He had a great time and Missy was there to greet him. Missy has become very aware of her needs and each morning at 6 am (or earlier) comes in near our bed and barks very loudly until we get up and feed her and give her medication. She's 14 1/2 with an enlarged heart, collapsed trachea, deaf, and visually impaired so we have been putting up with her naughty behavior. Missy's appetite has increased significantly probably due to the prednisone. She has one trick, give me five, that she is doing constantly while we are eating hoping it will earn her more food. She just keeps on going, gets up ready for another day.