An Unexpected Surprise...

Yesterday right before lunch, the mail lady pulled up in our driveway. This is always a sign that we have received a package that won't fit into our oversized rural mailbox. Typically, any time we receive something of this nature, we figure it's from my high school best friend, Renee'.


The mail lady, handed the box to me and I immediately looked at the return address label. Nope, the name and address listed didn't ring any kind of a bell within my head. The books that I had ordered for Kyle had been delivered so it wasn't those. The books that I had previously ordered for MaKayla had arrived earlier in the week so I knew it wasn't that either. Hmm...

I brought the package inside, opened the box and found a card that said:

To say good-bye to a special friend is to lose a little piece of your heart.
It hurts to lose such a devoted,
trusting and loyal companion.
This memorial was created
in remembrance of
Fletcher
by your friend,
Renee'

Immediately the tears began to well up in my eyes as I opened this:


Renee' has a heart for animals and her own Saba is the love of her life...literally. I mean, she even has health insurance on this canine companion of hers. Any time she has been back here to visit, she has loved on and enjoyed Fletcher so much therefore her heart broke right along with ours when we lost him just a little over a month ago.

We have some pictures of Fletch sitting on a little table in our dining room where his memorial rock will rest for now...it's just too special to put outside where the weather might damage it.


With spring days visiting us more often, we really notice his absence all the more. He isn't there when Kyle is cooking something on the grill or when I have clothes on the clothes line or when MaKayla takes walks or when Mallary is out jumping rope. We REALLY, REALLY miss him!


It was an amazing unexpected surprise and we were so touched by her thoughtfulness and love.

Thanks Renee'! We love you much!

Flashback Friday...Never Again...

I decided it only fitting to do our Flashback Friday of Fletcher today.

It has been a most painful week for our family.

Each day we think missing him will get easier...but it doesn't.

Each day we think we will we get up and the sadness will be less...but it isn't.

Each day we think that the lack of his presence will be less noticeable...but it's still profound.

My birthday came and went and I really didn't care much...

Kyle walks into an empty, lonely living room each morning...his first fresh air of the day partner no longer accompanies him.

The one who always accompanied MaKayla to the mailbox is sadly absent.

Mallary's constant outside friend no longer tags alongside of her.

Fletch no longer nudges our elbows with his nose when he wanted a pat on the head, a visit outside, a taste of whatever it was that we were eating or just acknowledgment of, "I am here, love me!"

We fail to hear the "warning call" when a stranger pulls into our drive or knocks at our door.

He won't be there waiting to jump in when Kyle's truck is sitting in the driveway.

His paws no longer print the breezeway floor.

The treats under the sink bought specifically for him will go uneaten.

Even Megan noticed the absence of his greeting yesterday when she approached the door of our home.

Kyle's "Fletcher songs" that he would always sing to his "male companion" are now unnecessary.

I've always been critical of those who mourn the loss of a pet, I mean seriously, it's an animal...

Never again will I laugh at, chide or make fun of one who grieves that friend, companion, protector...

And now...I must force myself to make the trek to the burn barrel for the first time...

...alone...

We're sad...
Life is painful...
Our hearts are lonely...

It's a difficult Flashback Friday...

We Love You Fletch!!

Today has been a very hard day for our family as we have had to say goodbye to our beloved Fletcher. He has still been declining, not eating or drinking and losing weight and today he got sick again, so Mendi called and we took him back to the Dr. and decided to open him up and have the Dr. do exploratory surgery to see what was going on.

The Dr. called and with much sadness we learned that Fletcher had cancer of the spleen and liver. We all hated to hear the news but somewhat assumed something like this was the problem. Please pray that God would give us peace and comfort. It's hard to lose him when he has been a part of our family for so long.

I am so grateful for the love the girls have given him while I've had to be at work and especially Mendi as she has spent many hours comforting him and trying to get him to eat and drink. She truly loves and gives each and everyone of us all that she has and I am so blessed by her life.

I love you babe! Thank you for loving Fletcher!

We Pray And Wait...

Our Fletcher is quite ill and our hearts are quite sad...

Nearly three weeks ago I noticed that Kyle's male companion around our home wasn't quite acting himself so we brought him inside and when things didn't get better, we took him to the vet. Blood work indicated an infection so we immediately started him on antibiotics. There hasn't been much change however per the vet's recommendation, we have been giving the medicine time to work. By yesterday Kyle and I decided we needed to take him back... The scales indicated another loss of two pounds... X-Rays were taken... Blood work was done... A concerning preliminary diagnosis was made...

Kyle reluctantly went to work this morning...

As soon as Kyle was out the door, Fletcher was in search of his trusty master. He sniffed...He looked...He waited... No return so he settled for me...

He simply lays and willingly receives our love and affection...

I made him a nice little bed here on the floor where he lays beside me only stirring when the girls come to give him loves. We have one of Kyle's t-shirts near him so that his master can be as close as possible even though absent. I assured Kyle that this is where I would stay...

We are praying for encouraging results of tests performed yesterday...

My family would tattle on me and I would be the first to admit that I am NO fan of pets. I have enough other things to take care of without feeding their mouths, cleaning up their messes, and making sure they get outside for potty breaks yet my heart is sad and I am quite concerned.

We pray and wait for news...