Hi Lainey. How is it going up there? I miss you so I thought I would continue to talk to you through letters for a while.

You would be proud of your little brothers and sister. They are stepping up to the plate and spending time with me, even though they know I’m your person. When you first left, there was a huge hole here in the house. We felt like there was something missing all of the time. Boomer, Gunner, and Bella were very mellow, they laid around a lot. Often it was so quiet in the house I forgot that they were here with me. But now things are changing. Life is coming back to this house, but it’s different. There is a different flow of movement between your packmates. Bella lays in your spot next to the tv most of the time. We put her bed there because when we packed away your little bed, it looked so empty. Bella likes her new spot and now that she’s getting older, she is there a lot. It is nice to see her sleeping there and at times when I see her out of the corner of my eye, it looks like you are there and it’s comforting. Boomer often lays next to me on the couch where you used to lay. There are times puts his head next to my knitting basket just like you. Did you tell him to do that? I stop knitting and pet him when he does that, just like I did with you and it brings me great comfort. When we go to bed at night there are times that Gunner hops in the bed with us and he lays in your spot between us for a little while. He doesn’t stay the whole night, just comes for a quick visit, but it is enough to make us smile and think of you.

Your little bed went to Tennessee with Danielle. It now is a cat bed. Can you believe it? There are cats sleeping in your bed, but the cats belong to Danielle’s roommates and Danielle says it makes her heart happy to see your bed there. She says it’s like there is a piece of you with her. I’m sure you’re okay with the cats sleeping in your bed if that means Danielle is happy.

Bella has been going on car rides with me. I wish she could ride in the front seat like you did, but she sets off the seat alarm! It’s so easy to forget how little you were because your personality was so big. Bella rides in the back seat and sometimes puts her front paws next to me on the arm rest. It is soothing to me when I hear her breathing and her soft whines and snuffles when she sniffs the air at the window. I’ve missed you going on car rides with me when you stopped enjoying them. It’s nice to have a dog running around town with me again.

Boomer has blossomed into a nice chore dog. He enjoys being in the barn with all of the ladies during morning chores and he knows for certain that everyone loves him. He is listening really well too and comes back to me when I call him. He is everyone’s best friend, except for Eddie the cat. Eddie definitely doesn’t like him; maybe it’s because he chases Eddie every time, he sees him. I guess we need to work on that a bit. Boomer is really good with the chickens though, and will even gather the eggs, even if we don’t ask him to. Speaking of chickens, did I tell you we are getting more? Yep, they’re coming in May. Maybe you could whisper down here to your brothers and sister and tell them to help me keep the little chicks safe as they grow up. Okay?

I think the biggest surprise is Gunner. Your baby brother had his first lesson as a horse dog today. He did really well, and I think he may be the winner of helping me with the horses and accompanying me during my rides and lessons. He seemed to be in his element today and there were times I actually felt like he was laughing with pure joy at his job. He relished his own power and energy, and the horses seemed to accept him and his new role. All we need to work on is keeping him with us a little better, he got distracted by a few rabbits today and took off through the woods, but his recall is good, and he came right back.

Oh, Lainey girl, I miss you and I still wish you were here, but I feel you, I see you in the shadows and all the memories we made together make me smile more than they make me cry now. Boomer, Gunner, and Bella are all doing a great job of helping and I know you would be proud of them. I was afraid I would start to forget you, or not honor you enough, but through the other dogs I still see you, I still remember you and I will always love you. Thanks for all the love and the memories.

Well, I need to go out and do night chores with Boomer. I hope you come to see me in my dreams. I will write to you again.

Love,

Cheryl,