Gifts

Eight years ago today:

Sparklers

Sparkle has always been SUCH a good sport 😂

I get to include the final Sparkler update on Christmas, which feels appropriate since each of them — and their families — are such gifts 🎁

Ashlee shares: “Abbie is amazing!!

Helping bake cookies, cleaning up after meals, teaching us not to cry over spilled milk (because she’ll get it), and always up for snuggles!!

We are redoing our kitchen and she has talked all the work men into extra pets and tag during their lunch. 

We love her!

That last picture!!!!!! ❤️

Thank you to Abbie’s wonderful family and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE, you Lucky Dog 🍀🩷

And much gratitude to every member of the Sparkler family for sending updates — they are so appreciated.

And with that, let’s all enjoy a very Merry Christmas and a bright and Happy Hanukah.

Bright Star Atlas — thanks, Kira!

The Heavenly Birthday Girls

The last living Sparkler update (Abbie) is forthcoming — the life of her family is a busy one and the holidays are not the easiest time of year to generate updates. We look forward to seeing Abbie soon 🩷

There were nine puppies in the wonderful Sparkler litter and seven of the nine are now eight years old. Neither of the two who died had cancer. That is all actually pretty amazing.

Tika and Claire — the ones who had to leave the party too soon.

Someone named Scott recently left a comment on a blog post. He wrote, “It still breaks my heart to read how much of a lose Claire was to you.”

That comment meant so much to me. I felt seen — me and my wordless grief.

Wordless. Without words. That is how I still feel most of the time about Claire.

She should be here to celebrate being eight — so should Tika.

I say “should” as if I am owed something even as I know that I am not.

I may be wordless but my grief is not. It whispers to me all day long, inviting me to exist with Claire in my memories, to see her in photos and in the faces of her family — her mom, her children, and during this week — her siblings (thank you).

I did not know last year that this would be Claire’s final birthday photo.

My grief reminds me to take nothing for granted.

It is like a broken heart spills out perspective and gratitude along with the million tears.

A dog always leaves parting gifts.

We just have to find them.

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Tika and to my beloved and deeply missed Claire.

🌈🌈

Continued Birthday Fun

ZeD!

Tony sends this update: “I am happy to report that ZeD is healthy and rambunctious as always! 

Birthday Dinner!

Sharing is caring 🩷

We love our super long daily walks! We might not find much money these days but look at the other stuff that we found!”

😂

Thank you, Tony and Brody (and animals sibs) for ZeD’s active and entertaining life 💙

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZeD!!!!!

This is Baby ZeD and Kiri 🩷💙

And look at how beautiful grown-up Kiri is at eight 🩷

Alison shares: Kiri is still a Keeper!!!!! 

She continues to thrive, enjoying wrestling with Zuber and galloping romps on their walks together. Her birthday walk was in feathery flurries, magical.

She briefly celebrated the Winter Solstice outside, then we both dashed inside where the humans are hanging out.”

Thank you to Alison, Tom, and Zuber for Kiri’s happy and interesting life 🩷

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRI!!!!!