Love, Coco

Dear Big Brother/Uncle Sammy,

I remember the first day we met. Mommy brought me home and Grandma showed me to you. I got scared and peed on the floor a little. But I quickly warmed up to you and you became my favorite doggy and best friend. I loved running around while you chased me through the house. I'm sorry that I would try to steal your food every day and Mommy had to pick me up until you finished. I'm sorry if I hurt you while I was trying to play but thank you for accepting me into your family and for showing me the ropes. Thank you for teaching me how to play in the yard and potty outside or on the pee pads if I can't hold it. Thank you for letting me cuddle with you and Grandma, Grandpa, and Mommy. Thank you for everything. I'm going to miss playing with you, walking with you, cuddling with you, and hanging out in the front yard. Mommy says you're up in Heaven playing with our heavenly family. I know you're watching over us and I promise to take care of the family for you.

Love,

Coco (your favorite little sister/niece)❤️

My Baby Boy

Dear Sammy,

You are the best thing that has ever happened to us. You’re our God dog. I'm forever grateful that we met you that Autumn afternoon at the shelter. I used to be upset at your old family for giving you up but it's because of them that you walked into our lives and won our hearts. You are my 3rd brother and my best friend in the entire world. Thank you for being by my side through all the ups and downs of life. I will miss you scratching at my door and barging in every morning. I'll miss you sleeping in the office or on my lap while I work. I'll miss you begging for dinner every evening. I'll miss taking you on lunchtime walks. I'll miss seeing you outside with Coco and running around with her at night. I'll miss you trying to steal Coco's food and treats. I'll miss seeing you sleep with Coco on the couch. I'll miss snuggling with you and petting you. I'll miss picking you up to put you on Mom and Dad's bed to sleep. There are countless more things that I will miss. You will forever be in my heart. I know you're up in heaven playing with our heavenly family. Goodbye, baby boy. I love you so so much and I will miss you every single day.

Forever Yours,

Alyssa (your favorite sister) ❤️

Grieving the Living

in

Grief. It’s hard enough when you lose someone you love to death but it’s even harder when that person is still alive.

It’s not that you want them to be gone but it’s that the version of them that you knew and loved is gone.

You don’t know where the old version of that person went.

They look the same, yet they are entirely different. Completely unrecognizable.

You grieve for who they were.

You miss the good memories.

You grieve the memories that will never be.

You desperately want them to come back.

You want them to be who they were. Who you know they are.

But you don’t know if they will ever come back.

10 Things I Hate About You…

in

I hate the way you cut me out of your life

and how you left without a word

I hate your stupid hair

and your big goofy grin

I hate the way you stopped calling

and how you changed overnight

I hate that you made me laugh

even worse that you made me cry

I hate it when you lie

and the fact that you let us drift apart

But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you

not even close

not even a little

not even at all