It's a funny thing how an animal can steal your heart.
Fourteen years ago today, Gracie was born.
She was an ultimate favorite Christmas gift for my brother (8), sister (12) and me (16) in 1996.
She could never fill the hole left in our hearts after our Dad died, but she certainly made her very own, very special place in our family.
She helped us to heal.
Like Amazing Grace.
"Gracie".
This morning, Gracie stayed asleep.
We're all very sad, but relieved to see her go peacefully.
Amazing Grace "Gracie" Molleur
October 2, 1996 - October 2, 2010
Gracie was a big bear of a chocolate lab.
A full bred labrador, she hated our swimming pool and was afraid of loud noises....such a scardy cat that she didn't even want to stay in the house if the washing machine or dryer was running!
She would have never made a very good hunting dog. Probably afraid of ducks too.
She was never aggressive.....except with Christmas bows.
She loved to lay on her bed in the house. But she wanted her bed RIGHT at our feet. She would slowly creep off, leaving one back paw on the bed. If you said "get on your bed, Gracie", she'd glance back at that paw like..."I am, dummy."
She loved to chase squirrels.
She was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2006 and given a grim timeline by the vet. Mom fed her Braum's cheeseburgers for dinner in her "last days". That was four years ago. We like to boast that our dog beat cancer...by eating Braum's cheeseburgers.
We lost her the day before Christmas Eve, 2007. Mom had just moved to Pauls Valley and we knew Gracie didn't know the area. She wondered out of the yard and we couldn't find her anywhere. We searched the streets of PV nearly every hour...even made posters to plaster all over town. When families came out of church on Christmas Eve morning, they had fliers on their car windshields. Later that afternoon, we actually saw a minivan driving slowly down our road....the kids were yelling out the window..."Graaaaaa-cieeeee". They didn't even know us. A gentleman saw the flyer in a gas station, called the number and we brought her home Christmas Eve night. She had been laying in his yard at the edge of town. Crippled up old dog had walked nearly 2 miles!
{Easter 2000}
{2002)
{Christmas 2007 - "the one when we lost/found her"}
She's come to live with us a couple of different times while mom has been in transition between homes. Her BFF's... Deuce & CJ.
{Christmas 2009}
{Spring 2010}
{Fall 2010}
We will sure miss Gracie.
I'm so thankful for the many fond memories.
{August 2007 - Right before Mom moved to PV. We all put an item in a time capsule and buried it at the home we grew up in. Even Gracie's dog tag is in that Dr. Pepper bottle. She was family.}
7 comments:
I'm sorry. :(
Letting those furry family members go is hard. Sounds like you have many wonderful memories of an amazing dog.
I'm so sorry Faith. This just makes my heart hurt for you guys.
Love you.
This makes me so sad. Losing a loved pet is so so hard. Your memories of her brought smiles to my face, and hopefully they will continue to do the same for you. Love you, lady!
Wow... so sorry Faith. This makes me really sad. They can really steal our hearts. It was a very sweet tribute.
That was a nice memorial. I'm glad she went peacefully. Our 7 yr old boxer is having a tough time right now as well, I don't want to have her suffer the last part of her life, but I don't want to cut it too short either. It's hard to make decisions like that seeing that they have been so trusting and devoted to you, and they have been such great companions.
All dogs go to heaven!
Especially when they give little babies kisses! (Christmas 2007 pic) So cute!
It's heart breaking to lose a four legged family member, but least she was well loved and had a good a life. This was a very sweet post, very near and dear to my heart.
Thank you all. We sure will miss that big bear!
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