Hello there Stampin' Friends.
It's taken me a few days to be able to type this blog entry. On Monday afternoon, we laid our beautiful Mini Australian Shepherd, Kalli, to rest. She was 16 years, 2 months and 2 days old. We got her at 8 weeks old. My dad & I road tripped 8 hours one way to pick her up. From the moment I saw her online (after losing my heart dog, Angel), I knew she was the one to help mend my broken heart.
Kalli was the smartest dog I've ever known. She could learn any trick within a 5 minute time span (Aussie's are special like that!) She was also stubborn and determined to be the alpha female in the house. She and I locked horns often in her youth but in the end, I would carry her anywhere and do anything just to keep her going. She was special and oh so tough & determined. This picture was taken on Monday before the vet came to put her weary soul to rest.
Even aged & disheveled, she was a beautiful dog.
I pray you all have at least one good friend that God gave you to help you through tough times like this. I am blessed with several, but one, in particular, is truly stuck with me. She is "My Person" (you know, that one person that you can call no matter what - any hour of the night.) I called her bawling before it all transpired. She.Gets.Me. She has called to check on me every single day since Kalli has been gone.
True friends like that are hard to find and I'm so grateful that God blessed my life with Carol.
Which brings me to my card. Monday nights are my ZOOM Mystery Card Stamping with the Stampin' Stray Ducklings. It was only 2 hours after Kalli was put down that I ZOOMed with them. My brain was discombobulated but I managed to cut the pieces that I needed for our Mystery Stamping event and show up. I needed some distraction.
I don't always put together the right pieces when I mystery stamp, but that's the thrill of it. You never know what you're going to end up with. When you have gorgeous paper to start out with, it certainly helps.
I was elated at how this card turned out and I was so excited to be able to send it to Carol right away - rather than her not getting one until I could make the perfect one for her. I would've never put this together on my own, but thanks to our ZOOM Mystery Stamping, I got just what I needed when I needed it!
God certainly knows how to take care of us, doesn't he?! Carol loved her card and I loved being able to express my emotions to her right away. Win/Win!
In Closing, I'd like to share an excerpt that another dear friend sent me. My tears had dried yesterday- until I read this from Laurie.
And at the end of her journey we laid her to rest with our tears & her dignity. But she didn't stay there long, for God gave her wings & took her home. Well done He said as He patted her on the neck, you taught them what love was, just like they needed. You filled a void in their life & made them feel wanted, they will cherish those memories forever. You showed them kindness & loyalty when others wouldn't, you helped them to feel empathy for another soul. And as He patched her tail & gave her a halo, He reminded her of how He uses animals to be angels on earth. Of how they represent His love, because they love without conditions & without judgment. Now go roam the streets of gold & your family will be along to join you one day. And as we dried our tears & walked away, we wondered if God would know her name? Would he recognize her when she came through the pearly gates & my heart whispered.....He knows them by name because of our prayers & our praise. He knows them by name because they once were His but He gave them to us as a gift.
Pretty Powerful stuff! I'm so grateful to have wonderful friends!
HAPPY STAMPING!
~Kim~
