Writing does not come easy and writing about something so close to my heart does not make it any easier. I'm too emotional! I want to try to capture some of the memories that Osa brought to us. Maybe this takes place over multiple posts...after all this is my space for creativity.

No one tells you when you get a puppy that she will own your heart, that she will love you unconditionally, that you will love her back and losing her will be devastating.

Almost 16 years ago we got this little black ball of fur. She was the runt of her litter and I believe the smartest. The breeder told us that to avoid being picked on by her siblings she learned to climb to higher ground, the porch, before any of the others in her litter. The first time I saw her there was no doubt that we were meant to be together and that she was going to bring so much joy to our family.

She looked like a baby bear so we named her Osa, which is means bear (female) in Spanish. What is not to love? She had our hearts from the very start!

Today. Three weeks later. Awake, in an empty house thinking about how this girl's presence still fills this home.

So many memories of almost 16 years of our lives. We had routines. We have stories. We have an emptiness. We laugh and smile thinking of Osa stories.

Like the time she brought a dead baby squirrel in house, gently placed it on my couch. She looked at me as if to say, can you help? Not so funny at the time but can laugh now.

One time we took her to Florida. Camp Keystone. I took her down to the lake and we went out on the dock. My friends were out in a boat. Somehow she got too close to the edge and fell in. The look on her face was priceless. She was not expecting the depth of the water. and it took her by surprise. Heather rushes over and picks her up...all 60lbs! She was the best and sweetest dog ever!

Osa was always at the dishwasher whether you were loading it or unloading! Always a scrounge!

She was my shadow. Always under foot! She wanted to make sure you knew she was there and that you weren't going to leave her behind. That's why in the end I needed to be with her. I didn't want her to be alone.

We are grateful for the time we had with her. For her unconditional love. For the memories. She no longer suffers from pain. We miss her so much!

photo credit: Digital Memories by Debbie Koehler