Sunday's puppy is full of grace.

Kalani was born Sunday Sept 28, 2008 at 1:17 pm   
She weighed one ounce at birth.
Her birth length was 3 Inches.

Kalani was a happy healthy puppy that lived for the moment, yet she lived a very short life. In her 8 weeks and 2 days, she taught me so much. She was fearless, lived to play, loved to snuggle, and kissed like a champion! She was always so happy to see my feet. She was too tiny to notice the rest of me, until I'd pick her up. I will always wonder if she thought it was my feet that were talking to her. When she'd hear my voice, she would attack my toes, as her tail wagged with out-of-control happiness.

Kalani was the third of four puppies born. From birth she was a steel blue, in color. She was less than half the birth weight of her siblings, and not nearly as pushy as they were. We had to reserve her a spot to ensure she had her share at feedings, as the others claimed their spots and ate aggressively. Even though the tiniest of all four, she continued to thrive on a steady pace and held her own, eventually becomming the most playful of them all

As Kalani grew, her personality blossomed. Daily, she lived as though life was designed for frolicking. She only stopped when she needed a nap. And a nap, she did well. Kalani was the ultimate cuddle puppy, preferring her nose snuggled into my neck. 

She grew to become quite sassy, full of confidence and feared nothing. She was such a blessing, bringing pure joy to the household.

In playing with one of the other dog's, she sustained a head injury that she couldn't recover from. We have never before had an accident like this happen. An event such as this is so rare, I had never before considered it a possibility. She is now buried, wrapped in her favorite blanket, and held in a tiny casket.

The doctors did what they could, but the trauma to her brain was too severe. She came home with me. I just knew that with hope, faith and lots of care, she was going to pull through and surprise the doctors. I was so terribly wrong.

Kalani left her little 16 ounce body and died in my arms at 6:11 pm on November 25th. I am heartbroken. 

November 27th, Thanksgiving Day, she was buried with the help of my family, who dug the grave and placed the headstone on top. As soon as the headstone was in place, the snow began to lightly fall, seeming to represent her saying good-by for now. Today, November 28th, the snowfall is heavy, and Kalani is pain free.

I hope a child in heaven has a new pal to run with tonight.

Farewell Kalani~With the love you left with us, you will forever be a gift of smiles to the hearts you so deeply touched. You were such a brave girl. Oh, how I wish we could have saved you.

Rest in peace, my precious little one.

Kalani looking as sweet as an angel, pictured with her sister, Grace
Two girls, pretty in pink

Kalani, doing her "Fierce as a bull", courageous walk. She always faced things head on.

A dog lover surely knows and understands the grief in losing our best friend.  A dog, with no strings attached, loves, idolizes, is fiercely loyal and looks up to us with tremendous respect. There is no one else on earth (this side of heaven) that makes us feel so worthy, as a dog does, even when we're we're not.

I wonder if God made dog, to remind us just how much He, too, loves us.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
~ Unknown