Sweet Belle

Belle
October 3, 2004 - March 25, 2014

Two weeks ago, we were forced to make the hardest decision of our lives and say goodbye to our girl.

She was home, where she was comfortable with the people who love her, snuggled up in her bed with her blanket and her toy.  She went peacefully.  She was ready.

I can honestly tell you that the nine and a half years we spent with this dog, were the best years of our lives.  She made us laugh on a daily basis, whether it was her inability to catch anything you threw to her, or watching her shake her toy around like she was the toughest dog in the world.  She was funny.

I may be a little biased, but she was the best dog.  Ever.

Belle loved everyone she came in contact with, dogs and humans alike.  She was great with little kids, and didn't have a mean bone in her body.  Sure, she would bark or growl here and there, but it never lasted more than a few seconds before she was excited about whoever was on the other side of the door.  You always knew when she was happy, too, because her nubbin would wag like crazy.

She loved car rides and spending time outside basking in the sun.  Every morning when we left for work, we made sure the window was open for her to look out at the world.   She was so curious about the cars and people passing by.  She was always just so happy.

As much as my heart aches, I know that she is at peace.  I just miss her so much.

We love you sweet girl.

Home

2013 was a busy year, and had a lot of monumental milestones for us.  Hence my absence here for almost the entirety of it.  I tried to make myself sit down and write, but inevitably, something else always got in the way.  I'm hoping 2014 will allow me more relaxation and time for myself.  

The biggest, and most exciting of those milestones, is that we bought a new home.  We had been living in a basement apartment of a family member's home for the past six years while Brett finished college, so this move was extremely exciting for us!!

We are not only in our own place again, but closer to our offices so our daily commute time has been cut nearly in half.

We already have a lot of projects planned out, and things we are hoping to improve as time goes by.  It's actually not at all the style of home we were looking for in the beginning, but once we walked through it with our agent, it just felt right.

I've already had the opportunity to do some entertaining, and it has been fun to be able to have the space to do that.  I can't wait for summer, when the snow will be gone, and we can take advantage of the back yard some more.

Even though 2013 was a good year, I'm glad it's behind us.  I'm looking forward to seeing what 2014 will bring! 

Happy New Year.