Furry friends and final good byes

it's both a blessing and a curse to know love like an animal gives.  they come into our lives and love us unconditionally.  through our worst times and our best times they don't see us any differently from one to the other, they see us and love us.  

my SHADOW had to be put to rest today and it was a hard decision to finally make even though i knew it was time.  it was hard because this is a dog who got his name because he was just that, my shadow.  i couldn't walk or move without him under my feet, he was there watching and waiting for my next move.  

yes i know to some of you a dog is a dog, they come and they go but this dog was so much more.  when i started my weight loss journey shadow was my running dog or should i say walk/run dog.  he started with me on my journey and he helped me continue on it.  i remember whenever i would put on my sneaks to go out on a run he would get so excited prancing around the house and being vocal because he knew what was coming next and to a border collie/lab mix that's pure intoxication.  he would always pull me the first half of the run and i would pull him the second half.

come on mom!  i'm ready!

this dog also would come and lay his head on my lap so many nights when the kids would go to sleep while i cried about whatever was going on at the time.  never judging me, never telling me to get over it, just being there as another breathing living thing that loved me and just wanted to comfort me.  

so thank you Shadow for almost 16 years of loyalty and love.  you will forever be missed and loved.