Sisterly love

His big sisters are so enamored with Ryan that they often forget he is a person and not a toy! I decided I couldn't not capture some of the latest moments where Ryan has been the subject of his sisters' shenanigans. And I'm sure this is just the beginning for our sweet boy. It's hopeless, as his Uncle Ryan will confirm.

Glimpses of the week

Ryan and I stopped in to see Nana. I'm not sure which of them smiled more.

The girls showed off some new outfits from Aunt Suzy-- and their grins

And today, I chaperoned Lucy's class as they trekked to the post office to mail some special valentines. So much fun!

Poet

Mary penned this wondrous poem, which I find even more wonderful each time I read it. I love it so much I'm going to frame it as a reminder to often pause to enjoy the magic of her words.

White whipped cream
drifting from the sky.
Fluffy as a pillow.
A storm of powdered
sugar floats to the
ground. It’s as soft as crystal
shining in the sun. Quiet
as a whisper. It dances.
It twists and turns. Sparkling
magic floats from the
sky. A drift of soft snowflakes float
around town. Bright
fluffy magic floats in
the night.
- Mary Loeb

Boniface Bear

One of the most precious gifts we received for Christmas was Boniface Bear, named after St. Boniface. This special bear came from Uncle Ryan and Aunt Nikki, and was well-loved by Uncle Ryan as a child. What a treasure. Little Ryan immediately took to Boniface-- the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Rainbow Bridge

A sunroom void of that sweet gray face as we pull up the driveway. A UPS delivery made without warning. The day's mail arriving through the slot without the milkbone thrown in along with the bills. This house is simply empty without Greta.

We have been showered with kind thoughts and remembrances for Greta this week, giving us a bit of reprieve from the grief of her absence. One of those wonderful gestures was a donation made by our contractors to the Oregon Weimaraner Rescue organization in Greta's name. The organization placed Greta's photo under the "Rainbow Bridge" section of its website, which honors weimaraners who have passed away but remain in our hearts.

I was not familiar with the term, "Rainbow Bridge," but a quick Google search revealed the tale of a special waiting place for our deceased animal friends who frolic and play until their beloved people cross the Rainbow Bridge and join them.

Today, we trekked over to the pet crematory to pick up Greta's ashes. It was pouring down rain, so Curtis ran into the building alone to fetch them. As he hopped back into the Jeep, he placed her remains, nicely contained in a flowery tin, in my lap. I felt tears brimming as the weight of the tin and the reality of its contents settled in. And then I heard Curtis exclaim, "Look!" On the horizon was the most vivid, gorgeous rainbow. So bright you could see each graduated shade within it. It was uncanny.

A rational person might say today's weather patterns led to that stunning rainbow. But I'd like to think that it was a sign from Greta, that she is indeed frolicking across that Rainbow Bridge. And it made me smile in spite of myself.

Farewell to our Gray Girl

Last night at this time, I was doing the dishes and shooing Greta away from the dishwasher as I was loading the dinner plates into it. Tonight, I would do anything for a replay of that treasured routine.

Around 9:30pm last night, Greta sought refuge under the desk-- our first clue that she was not feeling well. At bedtime, she struggled to get up, and we had to carry her to bed. She seemed restless and uncomfortable, and finally, around 1am, she stumbled downstairs. Curtis joined her, as she continued her restlessness. By 4am, I took my turn holding vigil. Holding her head in my lap, while she struggled to get comfortable, I whispered to her everything I wanted her to know. How glad we were that we chose puppy number nine that fateful day in 2001. At 7:30am, the girls awoke, gave Greta kisses and hugs, and took off to the playroom.

Curtis and I remained by Greta's side as it became apparent that today was the day we would say goodbye. We made an appointment for a vet to come to the house at 10am, but by 8:30am, it was clear that Greta would never meet that vet. In a moment that gave me the biggest glimpse of humanity I've ever witnessed, I held Greta's head in my hands as she left this world. Looking into those deep eyes as she passed is something I will never forget. Amazing how much of this life we can learn from a dog.

My friend Heather reminisced with me today, remarking that Greta was quite a mischievous puppy. In her puppyhood, she stole a knapsack lunch from a fisherman out at Shadow Cliffs and a loaf of bread from a picnic at Tilden Park, among other things. Today Heather said, "I like to think that the last thing Greta stole was one more month with her family." And truer words were never spoken. Greta did give us a great gift in this past month, as we were able to fully appreciate each day with her, to spoil her with treats without worrying about her waistline, to tell her how much we loved her silly ways. She was a wonderful dog, a naughty dog, a lovable dog, an aloof dog. She was our girl. There will never be another quite like Greta. So human in her actions and her love of her family.

With broken hearts, we say farewell to our first baby, our wedding gift to each other. A priceless piece of our first decade as a family. Run free in heaven, Greta! Let Papa spoil you with treats, and seek Annie, Kennedy, and Bowie for companionship. Godspeed, sweet girl.

Happy 2012

I was really hoping to find time to post about Ryan's baptism, our Christmas festivities, Santa's amazing gift to us. But right now, too many photos need to be downloaded and stories need to be written. So, we'll work backwards through the past two weeks until I get my act together.

We spent New Year's Eve with our fabulous "gang," making our resolutions together and enjoying the fact that our friendships grow and deepen with each passing year. Fortunately, my pal Erin sent a few snapshots from the gathering. How we love all of those little smiles!

Cheers to a 2012 full of health and happiness!