Happy Birthday Sweet Emily

Dearest Emily,

I wanted to write to you on your fifth birthday, because I’m only here as a result of you going to the Rainbow Bridge, so although I never met you I am very grateful to you for sending me to your home to cheer everyone up. I love it here, and since no one else wanted me – possibly because I used to beat up all my siblings, which Amber now tells me isn’t the way to attract potential pup buyers who like cute little pups – I think I’ve done very, very well for myself, but I’m sorry you had to go to the Rainbow Bridge in order for it to happen.

Amber says that she is VERY sorry it had to happen!

There is a lovely rose in your memory, and it’s kept in the front garden. This is so that I can’t eat it, as I rather like eating flowers. A few days ago a new flower appeared, and today another bud has opened. Mummy says that this is your sign that you’re still with us, and also you came and visited us as a little white butterfly this morning. You’re lucky Amber didn’t try to eat you!

As you must know, Daddy is very, very sick now, but he still remembers you and misses you too. Mummy seems to be constantly busy, and says that if I hadn’t come to live here she would have a lot more free time. Didn’t you take up so much of her time, Emily? I know you were a very good girl. Mummy says that I’m what’s known as a character, which I suspect isn’t the same as being good.

On 21st September, Amber is going to have an operation. She will be spayed, her teeth will be cleaned and something else that I can’t remember. Amber knows you will be with her, and watching over us all on that day, but I thought I’d mention it in case you’ve anything else planned for that day.

Do you have birthday cakes and lots of treats at the Rainbow Bridge? I expect you do. Mummy is going to have a cake today, in your memory, but of course Amber and I won’t get anything. The ‘no human food’ rule that you will remember is still strongly in force, worse luck L

I hope you have a truly wonderful time at the Rainbow Bridge during your birthday celebrations today. Mummy knows that Daisy and Phoebe will be there with you, and all the friends you made when you arrived there, and she sends her love to them as well.

Most of all, dear Emily, she sends you her love, and says that never a day goes by without her thinking of you. Amber says she’s the same, but possibly for a different reason!

LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE FROM US ALL.

Amber, Mummy, Daddy, Alex and last but by no means least me,
Poppy
xxxoooxxx

The First Rose Of Summer

Dearest Emily,

Today, 19th June, the first flower has started to open on your rose bush. It is a beautiful pale apricot colour, and there are lots more buds coming. In the early spring, the rose bush had something wrong with it, but Mummy cut it right back and sprayed it, and now it’s as beautiful as you.

This will be our second summer without you, Em, and we miss you as much as ever. Mummy often forgets that you’re at the Rainbow Bridge now, and looks down at her feet expecting you to be sitting there ready to rest your head against her legs. Your legacy of sweetness and your gentle ways are in our hearts for ever.

Poppy likes to lie on Mummy’s feet, which is nice, because I still prefer the lap, as I always did! I’ve kept on having phantom pregnancies too, so I have to be spayed at the end of August. I know you will watch over me when that’s being done, as Mummy is nervous about it.

I have had lots of birds to chase this summer, because Mummy’s bird feeding station is bigger than ever and all the birds have babies too. Poppy sits in the middle of the lawn and watches them, but I don’t. I try to bring them down in mid-flight! I also walk round the pond wall now, like you used to do when you were well, and I am very tempted to have a fish meal because those orfs are still swimming around and they’re bigger than ever!

Yesterday Mummy saw a butterfly outside the front window, and she said ‘there’s Em, come to visit us.’ Then today the rose opened, and she wonders if you came along to hurry it up! We so wish you could have been with us for a longer time, but we know that you’re happy now, and that you have lots of friends like Heidi, Grace and now Daisy Mae as well as our Daisy and Phoebe to have fun with, and that you’re no longer in pain.

Keep watching over us, especially Daddy, and Poppy says that if you can ever throw her a spare Rainbow Bridge tripe stick she will be very grateful for that too. I can tell you one thing, Em, Poppy keeps me on my toes!

Lots of love from us all, but especially me.
Amber xxx

One Whole Year Without You

My dearest Angel Emily,

A year ago today you went to the Rainbow Bridge. and I want you to know that you are missed every single minute of every day. You are missed by me, by Daddy, by Alex and of course by Amber. Whenever I say your name, Amber looks around for you, although I know she understands that you are at the Rainbow Bridge. I think she just hopes that perhaps you are going to come back one day and surprise us all.

How we wish that you could, but we know that you had to leave us because you were in so much pain, and that you are always with us in spirit. We see you around us as a guiding butterfly when we go for our walks, and we feel your presence when we need comfort and extra love.

Of course Poppy never knew you, but she certainly knows about you because if you hadn't gone to the Rainbow Bridge she would never have come to us. Amber didn't like being an 'only' pup, and although I'm sure that sometimes she wishes her life was a little more peaceful, Poppy has brought happiness and playing time back into her life.

They say that sometimes very special people and pets have to leave for the Rainbow Bridge much earlier than anyone would have expected. It's as though they come here to show us something, and once we have learned that lesson, they go on to the Rainbow Bridge where they wait until their families join them once more. I think that must be true. You were such a special little girl, the sweetest Cavalier I have ever known, so gentle, loving and brave. You helped Amber to settle in here and taught her how to be a family pet. You taught us all that we must value every minute of time that we spend with those we love, for we never know how soon they will be taken from us.

Thank you for teaching us that, dearest Emily, and thank you for being part of our family. We will never stop loving and missing you, and we know that one day we will meet up with you again.

With all our love to you, sweet girl.
Your heartbroken Mummy and family
xxxoooxxx

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

My beautiful, precious Emily,

Happy Birthday sweetheart. This is such a difficult day for all of us that you had to leave behind when you went to the Rainbow Bridge, but we hope that you have a wonderful birthday there with your friends old and new. It’s your fourth birthday, so there will be four candles on your cake, and I’m certain Daisy will make sure that you make a wish before you blow them out. Just make sure that Phoebe doesn’t eat them!

Oh my lovely girl, I still can’t make sense of it. Not a day passes that I don’t think of you, and talk to you – as you know – and when I mention your name, Amber always sits up and looks around. She has Poppy to play with now, sent by you I’m quite sure to cheer us all up. She certainly does that, and keeps us on our toes every minute of every day! She is a gorgeous girl, full of love and so happy. I expect you laugh a lot when you watch her dashing around in the house and garden, usually with me in hot pursuit.

Your rose at the front of the house has bloomed non-stop since we bought it, and it brings back ‘Sweet Memories’ every time I look at it. You were my beautiful English rose, and always will be. I know that you like the rose, because you are constantly round it, fluttering as a beautiful orange and grey butterfly day after day. We’ve never seen a butterfly like that before, and we think you’re a beautiful butterfly too!

We also know how much time you spend with your devoted boyfriend Roscoe, and how you make your presence known to him. I have had to think a lot about what happens when anyone leaves this earth and moves on to the Rainbow Bridge and beyond since you left us. You have touched so many people and pups even after your passing, and there are too many things that have happened for me to have any doubt at all that you haven’t actually left us at all, but are with us and watching over us all the time.

I am so proud that you are also an official ‘Guardian Angel’, and I know how happy that makes you too.

This evening I will look down at my feet, where you always used to sit, and whisper ‘Hope you had a good day Em’, and then I’ll smile, because of course you will have had a good day. All your days are good days now, and it’s that thought that comforts me on the days when I feel the saddest.

Daddy, Alex, Amber and Poppy all join me in sending you wonderful birthday wishes, for the kindest, sweetest little girl we could ever have wished to have been blessed to know.

All our love, Emily.
Mummy
xxxoooxxx

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

My beautiful, precious Emily,

Happy Birthday sweetheart. This is such a difficult day for all of us that you had to leave behind when you went to the Rainbow Bridge, but we hope that you have a wonderful birthday there with your friends old and new. It’s your fourth birthday, so there will be four candles on your cake, and I’m certain Daisy will make sure that you make a wish before you blow them out. Just make sure that Phoebe doesn’t eat them!

Oh my lovely girl, I still can’t make sense of it. Not a day passes that I don’t think of you, and talk to you – as you know – and when I mention your name, Amber always sits up and looks around. She has Poppy to play with now, sent by you I’m quite sure to cheer us all up. She certainly does that, and keeps us on our toes every minute of every day! She is a gorgeous girl, full of love and so happy. I expect you laugh a lot when you watch her dashing around in the house and garden, usually with me in hot pursuit.

Your rose at the front of the house has bloomed non-stop since we bought it, and it brings back ‘Sweet Memories’ every time I look at it. You were my beautiful English rose, and always will be. I know that you like the rose, because you are constantly round it, fluttering as a beautiful orange and grey butterfly day after day. We’ve never seen a butterfly like that before, and we think you’re a beautiful butterfly too!

We also know how much time you spend with your devoted boyfriend Roscoe, and how you make your presence known to him. I have had to think a lot about what happens when anyone leaves this earth and moves on to the Rainbow Bridge and beyond since you left us. You have touched so many people and pups even after your passing, and there are too many things that have happened for me to have any doubt at all that you haven’t actually left us at all, but are with us and watching over us all the time.

I am so proud that you are also an official ‘Guardian Angel’, and I know how happy that makes you too.

This evening I will look down at my feet, where you always used to sit, and whisper ‘Hope you had a good day Em’, and then I’ll smile, because of course you will have had a good day. All your days are good days now, and it’s that thought that comforts me on the days when I feel the saddest.

Daddy, Alex, Amber and Poppy all join me in sending you wonderful birthday wishes, for the kindest, sweetest little girl we could ever have wished to have been blessed to know.

All our love, Emily.
Mummy
xxxoooxxx

Sweet Memories

Hello dearest Emily,

When I came down this morning and went into your old bedroom to let Amber & Poppy out, I was feeling just a tiny bit sad. It seemed so strange that it was my birthday morning but you weren't here to rest your head against my knee. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that overnight - and quite unexpectedly - a brand new red bloom had appeared on one of the indoor roses that was given to me when you went to the Rainbow Bridge. The moment I saw that tiny, perfect flower, fully opened, I knew that you had sent it to me, as my birthday gift. Oh, Em, it made me so happy that I cried. Silly me!

I've had a very nice day, and when Daddy and I went to the garden centre for lunch, I bought the patio rose that I'd been wanting to plant in memory of you. It's called 'Sweet Memories', which is what we all have of you, and the blooms are a mixture of yellow and a very pale golden orange. It's very delicate looking, just like you.

One of my presents today was a portrait of you, painted by a dear friend on Dogster, and it's titled 'Sweet Emily'. It's on my desk now, so that you can watch me as I sit at my computer, just as you used to watch me sitting at my feet or by my knees.

Thank you for the red rosebud this morning, and for the gift of love that you brought to us all, and which we know is always with us. You are still a part of our family life, dear Em, and always will be.

Talk again soon.
With love from us all,
Mummy, Daddy, Alex, Amber & Poppy
xxx

You are so beautiful

My dearest Emily,

Today I have finally managed to actually get a photo editing site to work for me. I'm sure you remember how many times you sat at my feet while I attempted to do this, but I couldn't ever get the hang of it. You were, as always, very patient!

The mummy of The Blackburn Gang, who were all your friends, sent me a link and some instructions and so, with great trepidation, I tried again. I so much wanted to do something for you, sweet Em. I wanted to make one of your photos look 'right', to make it perfect for how I think of you and will always remember you. So, I took the photo taken shortly before you had to go to the Rainbow Bridge, when you were trying to whisper to me as you so loved to do, and I made it look exactly how I wished. I'm so pleased with myself, Em! I hope that you like it as much as I do. It's the 'Mother Love' photo, and I am going to print it out as well, so that I can put it in my wallet or in a frame.

We all miss you just as much now as the day you left us, sweet Emily. Today, at last, the sun is out, and it seems so strange not to see you lying out on the grass with Amber, but I know that where you are the sun is always shining and all your pain and sadness had vanished. Amber says that you're quite lucky you're not here today, as Poppy is feeling very energetic and has been leaping at her every time she attempted to lie in the sun for even a few seconds!

When you sent us Poppy, you certainly sent us a bundle of love and laughter. She is always happy, very friendly and - unlike you - not in the least delicate or dainty looking. She can be quite obstinate, so sometimes we call her 'Stroppy Poppy'!!

Keep watching over us, just as we keep you close in our hearts. We all know that you are waiting for us at the Bridge, for when our time comes, and please give our love to Daisy Dog and Phoebe too. You've made lots of new friends at the Bridge as well, I know because I get pawmails from them!

Your beloved Roscoe hears from you in his dreams, and will always be faithful to you. Your love is very special, and that's right because you were such a very, very special little girl, and you still are.

Enjoy the photo, and Amber says she dreads to think what I'm going to do with pictures of her and Poppy. Hmm......

Will all my love as always, dearest Em.
Mummy (and Amber & Poppy too) xxx

'If It Should Be'

Mummy has found Easter rather hard without me, but she took great comfort from this poem that my American cousin Hershey's mummy sent her. It's a very true poem, and I really hope that it might help other mummies who have had to make the same decision that my mummy made for me. She hopes so too, which is why she's putting it in my diary today, Easter Monday 2008.

'If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep.
Then you must do what must be done.
For this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad, I understand,
Don't let your grief then stay your hand.
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.
We've had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears.
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me until the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
It is a kindness that you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Do not grieve it should be you,
Who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.'

Author Unknown

From my beautiful cousin Hershey's diary.

My American cousin Hershey left this lovely entry in her diary, so mummy has put it on my page. We never leave those we have loved, for we live on in their hearts, and we watch over them all from the Rainbow Bridge.
Thank you dear Hershey.

'What a real love bond this will always be!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF EMILY 2/19/08
February 26th 2008 11:09 am [link to this entry]
If I could have one lifetime wish....One dream that would come true....
I would wish with all my heart.....For yesterday, and you!
Cousin Emily,
You are the most Beautiful Angel, that God has called home, to the Rainbow Bridge. Mommy, and I love you, and you, will always remain in our *Hearts.*
Your Loving Cousin, Hershey Lee.'

Oh Em, how we miss you

My dearest Em,
I am writing to you through your diary, because I know that you are still checking out Dogster every day, probably with a little help from Phoebe and Daisy!

This is very hard for me to write, because every time I talk to you, I cry. Amber cries too, every single day, and yet we both know that it was time for you to go and you were suffering terribly. Yesterday we had a lovely letter from the vet, saying how brave you were and how it wasn't possible for you to stay with us any longer. He said that I had been brave to 'let you go', but I haven't let you go Em, you are still here with me, in my heart, and you always will be. He said that you were too young, and he was right, but perhaps Phoebe needed you even more than we did. She was always so lost without you.

Everything reminds us of you. The dogs yapping over the back - why don't you bark back we wonder? And then we remember why, and we cry. At gravy bone time, I always take out two bones, and then have to put one back in the box, although Amber would be happy to eat them both! I come down the stairs and I look for you, waiting at the bottom. I sit at my desk and I think that I can feel you on my feet, but it's a memory, and once again I remember the truth.

You were a true Angel Girl, beautiful on the inside and on the outside. When you went to the Rainbow Bridge, you took a tiny piece of my heart with you, which you must keep safely until we meet up again. You have had the most beautiful tributes from your Dogster pals. Poems, rosettes, gifts, cards and Amber and I have had the most incredible support from everyone to help us through these first dark, difficult days.

We are happy that you are now happy again, and back to being the lively, cheerful little girl you used to be; our sadness is selfish, because it is for ourselves and the fact that you are no longer here with us. Amber doesn't understand really, although I try to explain to her. She has a new snuggle blanket of her own, and lies on that in the front room, with a toy dog that is meant to be like you (!) for her to rest her head on. It isn't a very dainty dog, but she seems to like it. She twitters and lot, and looks out of the window for you, so if you could send us a rainbow one day that would be lovely for her and for me.

Alex is coming home on Friday. He sends you all his love, Em, but says that last time he saw you he was upset because you were in such pain and at least now he knows that you are your 'old' self again. He will miss you 'whispering' in his ear, especially as Amber doesn't know how to whisper at all, she can only bounce and be noisy! Right now she isn't noisy though, she's quiet, and the house seems quiet.

We love and miss you, dearest Em, and I will write to you again - or perhaps Amber will - in a little while. You are in our hearts every minute of every day.
With love and kisses to you my dearest little girl, and to Phoebe and Daisy too.
Mummy xxooxx (Amber sends a BIG kiss)