He fought hard while he was surrounded by love until his last moment in James and I's lap in the vet's parking lot. We had never noticed how he smiled until the last few breaths but it was there and We knew it was his time - His adventurous little heart and nose lead him in the road with James looking on just at the wrong moment. We accept it was no ones fault it's just the way it is, only the Lord knows the purpose. We cried, then cried some more and then thought of the joy one dog had brought us since April. We chose to began to look on how God had so strategically placed him in our lives when James and I were needing him most.
Some might find it silly that we mourn so deeply over an animal - but that's okay because we truly believe he was a Gift from God. As mentioned in my previous year, this was a tough year for me - one where I could not always be the wife I wanted for James. River took on part of that burden for me, he was James's best friend when I couldn't be. He was the running partner, the lake friend, the hiking comrade and the bicycle buddy for James why I had to study inside. He gave James some purpose during this tough year, gave him a person to be and I believe changed his heart.
River taught us many things about love, joy, faith and forgiveness and he continued to teach us things through his death. He showed us today how much love our family and friends have for us. How they would give anything to help us heal - how BLESSED are we. Blessed to be touched by so many lives and even more blessed to be touched by his. He will never be forgotten or replaced, He was James and I's first animal and love as a married couple.
