Today I get to bring my sweet girl home. I know that it will be very emotional for me, but at the same time, it will be very comforting as well.

Kerry

My heart goes out to you as you take this next step in the journey of your grief and I wish you peace in quiet spaces of your spirit ~ this part for me was intensely personal and I decided that I would be "led" as to how I would integrate my Ambie's ashes into my reality ~ I wish for you to find peace and that the message of the spirit will rise up and envelop you with warmth and love and comfort ~ Sincere Thoughts, Kathryn

She is home. Last night I slept for the first time in a week, it was very conforting to have her back. one of hardest parts was leaving her alone for the past 6 days. Iam glad she is back, I could feel her spirit fill up my room. She will never leave me again.Kerry

Dear Kerry,

I'm glad your sweet Shandy girl is home with you and that her spirit is once again filling your home. Remember that you will always carry her with you in your heart.

Hugs,
Kathleen

Kerry,
I'm glad that having Shandy home has brought you peace.
I have been waiting 7 weeks for Jasmine. It should be anytime now, as they told me it would take about 6-7 weeks. I had to send her to a crematory because she didn't die at my vet. I was okay with that though because the place is very professional and has a good rep. I've been anxious this past week, waiting, wondering how I'll react. You've given me hope that it will be comforting.

I'm still waiting to bring Freeway home.. in a way I dread it as I know it will be hard... but I hope having his remains with me will bring me some sort of peace. I have a spot all ready for him, with his collar (minus the tags.. they will be put on my keychain once I feel my heart can handle it) and a double picture frame.. one side for a picture of him, the other for a poem I wrote for him. He will always be with me... I really want him home.. we didn't ask how long it would be.. we made the decision and carried thru with it so quickly that I never even thought about it... I guess if I don't hear from them soon I will call.. I have hated the thought that his body has been lying all alone for the past week.. Even tho I know it's not him anymore.. He belongs here with me...

Jenn,
I hope that bringing your Freeway home will give you the same peace it did me. My Sasha's is actually an arms length away as I type. I have an area set up for her with her urn, some pictures of her, a vase of fresh flowers that I replace when needed, and a professional portrait that I had done of her hangs on the wall above it all. It gives me great comfort to have her close by, even if it is just her body..it's all I have left of her...and I cherish it.
I actually got my Sasha back the same day (special cir%%stance), but most take about a week, and some I have heard several weeks, so I would just give them a call so you won't have to wonder about it.
love,
Kim

We picked up Duke's ashes at the vet today. It didn't hurt me or help me as much as I thought it would. I thought it would give me a sense of finality. I guess I may have already found that though. There are just so many (too many) reminders of him being gone. I keep looking at the urn and thinking "that's not my Duke". I think I will paint the urn, plainly though since I am not much of an artist. It just seems so generic and concrete right now. It doesn't suit Duke's personality. I swear it weighs as much as he does though .

I want to create a little tribute area to him in my bedroom with some framed pictures of him, his urn, and his collar. I was going to put his favourite toy (a much-abused stuffed lion) next to his urn on the shelf but for now I'm going to keep it on my bed. I guess his lion is really the thing that is the "most Duke". He loved that lion and used to fall asleep with it in his mouth. There is still an indent in the back of its head where Duke used to hold it in his teeth. I will treasure that lion forever. I must have sewn that lion up at least 20 times with Duke jumping around me and barking, trying to get it while I sewed. It's so funny-looking and misshapen, sewn up with so many different color threads, that I called it Frankenlion. I keep worrying that his smell is going to fade from it but it's stinks so badly that I think it will be a while before that happens .

I really miss him and I've cried a lot. I am trying to move on though but I can't help but feel guilty every time I smile; I feel like I'm disrespecting his memory. I know Duke would want me to be happy but it just feels so wrong. I'm hoping the guilt will fade with time.

Tracy