Thankful beyond words

It has been a year of change for our family, and not all of it has been easy. The composite photo below, made by my friend at Dream Valley Ranch, sums up the biggest event. Angel K is watching over young Shyla.

Despite the passing of K, there were a silver linings to 2012. Of course, one of them was meeting Shyla. She has helped heal my heart.

A second, huge, silver lining was the outpouring of love and support from all of you throughout K's journey. You may not realize what a monumental difference it has made to me. The wonderful bed that you sent to K for resting after her chemo treatments was her favorite place to curl up for the remaining months of her life. And, the absolutely incredible painting of K that you commissioned hangs above that bed today. I gaze at it every day and smile at K's beautiful face.

There's another gift that many of you don't know about. My two pups want me to tell you about it. Since one of its creators (Jo) has made me aware that she and Stella adore photos of R, here he is shouting about the gift from the mountaintops!

When K was nearing the end of her life, Jo and her friend Mary had the most incredibly generous idea. They wanted to make a quilt (snuggler) to commemorate K. And, they did it! It is absolutely gorgeous and suits our house and us perfectly.

Almost every square of the quilt is different, except that each square has a blue patch of starry sky at its center. The lining along the edge of the quilt is a brown dappled fleece, and the back of the quilt is a soft and gorgeous chocolate fleece (just like K's chocolate fur). We don't normally let the dogs have access to the quilt - it's too precious - but I posed them with it for these photos.

The "K Quilt" now occupies a place of honor, on our sofa by the fireplace. One day recently, I arrived home to find that R had sneaked up onto the sofa (not allowed in our house) to lie in a sun puddle next to the quilt. I snapped his photo before I reminded him of the rules.

I am so honored and touched by the kindness of Jo and Mary. I see how their talents and unbelievably hard work formed each square inch of this quilt - and I feel humbled by their generous spirits. I love snuggling under the quilt as much as I love gazing at it. But, most of all, I love that Jo and Mary made it in memory of K.

It has been a year of amazing generosity, and I am grateful to all of you for your support and love. When I started this blog, almost 4 years and 1206 posts ago, I never dreamed that I was joining such a supportive and tight-knit community. I am so very grateful that I did.