And then, there was one...

Words cannot express how heartbroken we are, that our beloved Jake has left us for the Rainbow Bridge. 

Just shy of his 14th birthday...loyal, funny, energetic, neurotic, goofy, gentle and loving...all the good words you can think of. Honestly, the best boy ever. 

We will always be so grateful and blessed, he chose us to share his life with.

So long Jake...Jakey Boy, Jakey Boo, Big Boo, Kissy Boy, Boo Boo Dog, Silly Dog.

Your pawprints are forever on our hearts.  

Run free with Q, and Buddy and we will see you at the Bridge. 

We will always miss you, and love you so, so much.  xoxo

Rest now, our beautiful boy.

#love, #labrador, #labradorable, #missingyoufiercely, #bestfriend, #heartbroken, #hardestpostever, #tears, #broken

And then, there were two...

We are so deeply heartbroken to share, that our beautiful, funny, donkey boy, Q, has left this life for the Rainbow Bridge. 

Q spent the last 3, of his 12.5 years with us here on the Mississippi River, after an exciting life of travel, fun and some serious tail wagging.

Q was a registered purebred black labrador retriever and proudly lived up to his breed. Named after the James Bond character, he was happy, loyal, funny, and quirky; an expert shoe stealer, tail wagger, and the very best couch cuddler.  

We will always be so grateful for how much he loved us, and can only hope he knows how much we loved him too. 

You will be sadly missed, by your brother Jake, and sister Missy.

Sad to say, we will always know where our shoes are now...

So long my donkey boy. Your pawprints are forever on our hearts. We will meet up again at the bridge - know that you will be forever loved QBWankenobi - xoxo

#labrador, #retriever, #beloved, #loss, #dog, #pawprints, #missingyoufiercely 

Field of Mini Wheats

My first painting - completed in October 2014.

My sister thought it looked like a field of mini wheats.

#oilpainting #oiloncanvas #landscapes #painting 

Lorelei

I stumbled upon these words, thinking it was a poem of sorts (well, I guess it is to some extent - isn't music, poetry set to music?) Realized it was done by the Scorpions in 2010. 

There was a time when we sailed on together

Once had a dream that we shared on the way

There was a place where we used to seek shelter

I never knew the pain of the price I would pay

You led me on with a cloak and a dagger

And I didn't know you had made other plans

You had me believe we were meant for forever

I really thought my heart would be safe in your hands

Lorelei

My ship has passed you by - And though you promised me to show the way, You led me astray

You were my Lorelei - What kind of fool was I. Cause I believed in every word you said, And now I wonder why

There was a time when we held one another - Bearing our souls in the light of the flame.

Those were the days now I've lost my illusions

Sometimes I wake in the night and I call out your name

Lorelei

My ship has passed you by - And though you promised me to show the way, You led me astray

You were my Lorelei - What kind of fool was I. Cause I believed in every word you said, And now I wonder why

Now there's a light that shines on the river

Blinding my eyes from so far away

Shot through the heart but now I know better

As hard as it is to resist the song that you play

Oh Lorelei

My ship has passed you by - And though you promised me to show the way, You led me astray

You were my Lorelei - What kind of fool was I. Cause I believed in every word you said, And now I wonder why Lorelei

The Scorpions

#scorpions #lorelei #safe #dreams #fool #love #soulmate

Goodness and Purpose and Light

Tonight, I walked in from the store with my arms full and a brand new candle in my bag. As I struggled to get it all on the counter, one bag dropped and I heard the glass break. My brand new candle was ruined as the glass shattered. Frustrated, I was ready to throw the whole thing away. My husband refused to let me do so. “It will still light; it will still serve its’ purpose,” he stated. Immediately, I began to argue back.... “But it’s broken and ugly and glass is everywhere. It’s just not the same.”

I walked away and when I came back, he had placed the candle on the counter and lit the wick.

My heart immediately was drawn to the light. How often do we do this in our own lives or with others? Things don’t turn out the way we want them to. Plans fail. Dreams shatter. Goals hit the floor. People break our hearts. And we are ready to throw the whole dang thing in the trash. Even though it can still light.... still shine.... still bring the fragrance of goodness. It just may not be pretty or in the package that we wanted or imagined.

Tonight, may we all be reminded that even in the brokenness and cutting edge of life, there is still goodness and purpose and light. We simply must be willing to not throw it all away and allow the redemption to take place. There are times that our story will simply speak a little louder and impact even more people when we are willing to allow the broken places of our life and story to shine for others to see and understand.

Liz Wagoner

#broken, #goodness, #light, #shattered, #itstillshines