I can never thank Delaina enough for letting a stray dog into her house, washing and feeding you, and because she already had a house full of kids and pets, calling me to tell me about you. You were skinny (though not for long) and dirty (though not for long, Delaina bathed you and had you all clean when I came to get you). My sister and I drove up to meet you, and you were full of love and exuberance, and though it took you a moment to decide to get in the car, when you did, you never looked back. 



From that moment, you became my Lily. A beautiful yellow/gold lab who went from being an unwanted street dog to the light of my life.....You filled my life with joy and laughter for eight long years. Though I wish we had been blessed with many more years, I am forever grateful to God for giving you to me for the time we had. 



We made it through the treatment for heartworms you had when we found you, you never let the oddly healed hip/pelvis from being hit by a car before I found you, stop you. You ran, swan, jumped and chased a tennis ball endlessly. And we can't forget your crazy love of lasers and flashlights, it was hilarious, and my friends and family loved to tease you with them, and you never tired of chasing them :-) You joined me on the biggest adventure of my life, moving cross country to California. You loved the sun and parks, and made new friends. You kept me sane as homesickness set in and helped me realize that I still had a bit of home with me, YOU!!! Over the years, I cried many tears into your beautiful yellow coat....but never as many as when I had to say goodbye to you.



You were ten when things changed and you started having pain, and it took us two long months to figure out what was wrong. It took two veterinarians and endless procedures before we finally heard the dreaded words, "Osteosarcoma" and "Inoperable" and "chemo won't help".....I kept you comfortable for as long as possible, and as hard as it was, I knew when you had finally had enough. Though your spirit and love never changed, your body became tired and weak and began to shut down. 



The day I lost you was quite possibly the worst day of my life. You still looked and acted like my Lily. but every step was tempered by pain and every breath was a little harder. We got in the car, and you were still happy to go for a ride. You were happy to see the vet, and even happier to see Shelly and Leean, who came to help me get through it. You took your final breath with me lying with you on the floor, holding you with my head on your chest and Shelly and Leean holding me. You were peaceful, and finally pain free. It took me a long while to get up off the floor, and even longer to leave you. It just didn't seem right, leaving without you. 



I miss you, my Lily, everyday, and I will never forget you. You will always be my LilyBug, and every dog that follows you in my heart will have huge pawprints to fill.......



I read this on another memorial, and it is so true:



If tears could build a bridge,

and memories a lane,

I'd walk right up to Heaven,

and bring you home again..........



So rest in the arms of God, my Lily, and know that your mom thinks of you often, and cries for you still, and will love and miss you forever!!!!