Please pray for Josi

[msjosi]

Did any of you watch America's Greatest Dog? It made me so happy to watch Pressley and to watch how he wouldn't completely sit on his butt...that was so like Josi Brian and I found a company in California that we are going to send Josi's bone (the hard bone we filled with peanut butter for her every night) off to get bronzed or pewtered. We may also get one of her numerous collars done as well, but haven't made a definite decision on that yet. This first picture link is of a bronzed bone and the second is of a pewtered collar. Let me know what you think.

http://www.bronzery.com/art/Pop-ups/may2004/dogbone2.jpg

http://www.bronzery.com/art/Pop-ups/january2005/dogcollar1.jpg

As many of you know, we have been sleeping on our guest room mattress in the middle of our family room ever since Josi got sick and we came back from our wedding. I have discussed in past posts the fear of having to eventually move back upstairs to our master bedroom and the agony over that decision. While we are absolutely not ready yet, Brian and I discussed tonight that once we are able to bring Josi home that then we will make the difficult journey back to our bedroom where she used to jump high into the air to get up on. She used to first lay across our pillows and nap and then right before we were ready to go to sleep, she would swat at us to raise all the blankets and she would slide down to the bottom and curl up in between my legs. I miss that because once she got sick she prefered to stay on top of the covers where it was cooler. I am still so lonely and lost and do not think the reality will set in until she is back home where she belongs. Thank you for continuing to check in on us...you all are truly an amazing bunch

 

[EAO76]

I like them both but I especially like the collar. You could make a really cool shadow box with her picture & the bronzed item. I'm just curious can you bronze anything? What about a kong or a special tug rope?

I love that you guys are searching for special ways to keep her memory there. I think that is a wonderful way to grieve and remember.

 

[msjosi]

Their website states that just about anything can be bronzed except for the following items the faq says don't plate well: Stuffed animals, Food items, Plant items, Paper or cardboard items.
It is really neat espeically with all the different finishes and here I thought bronzing was just for baby shoes.

 

[dbetz]

Oh my goodness I am filled with overwhelming sadness. I am so incredibly sorry for your tremendous loss. Please take care - Heidi and Rocky can't wait to play with Josi.

 

[pennysmom]

count your blessings

how very lucky and fortunate you both were to have Ms Josi in your lives for 10 years - you were able to make loads of memories, as mama always said, count your blessings, you have alot of blessings to be thankful for, 10 years is a LONG TIME you were given, maybe you dont realize that today, but one day hopefully you will.......

Some of us are not that fortunate to be given that much time with our Boxers,
Miss Penny was only 8.5 years old,
she also died this week,
yes, I agree, there is a big hole in my heart bigtime,

but it is selfish of me for being sad especially knowing Miss Penny hated when I was sad

then I read a post and think....WOW there is even a Bigger Hole in someone else's heart, someone who just lost their 5 year old dog.....someone like Orions family......
my heart really really goes out to them also, even more so since he was just a pup.....then I think how many other people in the world lost their dog who was even younger.........makes you wonder, were not the only ones....

it sucks for all of us,
they say, if you didnt experience the lows in life you would never know what the highs are.....
so then the more I thought about it, I was not as sad anymore,
my heart felt fully fully loved knowing how blessed we were given 8.5 years
to create memories with Miss Penny......

so keep playing those funny loving memory films in your head it over and over,
I promise it will ease the heart,
memories do help
and you guys had 10 years worth, lucky you.....just keep telling yourself that too when you feel blue, wish I could say that....

"Let your heart rejoice for the time we had together to love because some of us are not that lucky to have experienced that kind of love at all"

God bless all of you Boxers and their owners, may God watch over you and bless each of you with many many years on this eahr

We will see our babies again-I believe it with all my heart. I could not stand it if I did not have that faith. And it is one of the wonders of life that we do go on and actually recover. And it is a tribute to our beloved dogs that we mourn so. Life is not the same, but eventually the loss softens and the memories take over. I wish you the sweetest of memories

 

[Bruisersmomi]

I am so sorry to hear about Ms. Josi, my family is sending lots of hugs over to you two and just know that your baby is looking down knowing she had such a wonderful life while she was here on earth. Geez I don't know what else to say other than I am so sorry and feel your pain. We all dread the day when our babies leave us but it is inevidible, so be strong for thats what Josi would want. You were such a fighter Josi and your Mom and Dad love you so much.

 

[djheitz]

This first picture link is of a bronzed bone and the second is of a pewtered collar. Let me know what you think.

http://www.bronzery.com/art/Pop-ups/may2004/dogbone2.jpg

http://www.bronzery.com/art/Pop-ups/january2005/dogcollar1.jpg

I think I like the bronze finish better, but would go with the collar. I can imagine putting her tags back on it afterwards and jingling them once in a while.

The Christmas after we lost our first dog, a cocker mix named Blondie, I ordered a hand painted tile with her picture on it for DH. She went to the bridge in 1996 and but still keeps an eye out for us from the top of DH's dresser in the bedroom.

 

[WeasleRocky]

Staci and Brian you asked for opionions and well here's mine...

I like the look of the bone, the color on it,,, I love the collar idea as well, I just prefer the color on the bone,,, how much closer can you get to a personal item then her collar...

I think you guys will make the transition upstairs when you both are ready... I'm sure Josi girl is looking down on you both and wondering why you haven't made that move yet, with her head cocked to the side questioning it... but I know she understands as well as all of us...

sending sweet dream wishes of miss Josi to you both... goodnite Staci and Brian...

 

[Sablegirl]

I personally like the bronze and I think I would probably to get both done if it was me. Hope you and Brian can start feeling her presence with you and feel her comfort. I know it is way to soon for you start thinking about it but you will be great parents to another boxer baby.

When our 14 year old lab decided it was time for her to go to the bridge. I had just started radiation and chemo therapy. We came home from my first session and she wouldn't get up off her bed. She looked up at me and I saw it in her eyes that she was saying Mom I have to leave you now; I'm sorry but it is my time to move on. It broke my heart but the vet said it was her time because all of sudden all of her organs were starting to shut down.

She was my husband's long time companion an she had herded everyone of our 9 grandchildren and made them stay in whatever room I told her to keep them. They slept on her, loved on her, pulled on her and she never made a sound.

My husband and I both cried for several days and my husband said he just couldn't get another baby right then. But I just felt I had to have a fur baby to comfort me and help me through the trying times. I went on line and found my Sable. She was a rescued boxer girl from a boxer puppy mill. She was 2 years old and had such a hard life having babies and never really get to bond with them and being kept in a crate all the time. When she came to visit, I just knew I had to have her. I have now had her almost 3 years and she is my precious baby and gives those kisses and wiggles. My husband loves her too and new that I needed to have my companion through this time. But she is really my companion and seems to know that her strength helped me so much.

She never replaced our lab and sometimes I still forget and may call her by the labs name but she filled a void that I needed filled. She so precious in her own way. Hopefully you will be at a point soon that you too will be able to fill that void with another baby that will be special in their own way.

Sorry this was so long but just felt I needed to say these things to you. Take care and God bless you and Brian. Ms Josi had become a part of my daily life too and I've told Sable about what a great Warrier Princess Diva she was and she sends you boxer wiggles, burns and slobbery kisses.

 

[Shebby]

Staci and Brian, I have been trying to think of words that would help or that would sum up my sorrow for you but there just arent any that are strong enough. Im sorry just seems like it is not enough. I know that you know how many people that your sweet Warrior Princess touched. We followed your posts daily feeling the sorrow and the happiness when she was having her Diva moments. I just want you to know that I feel truly honored to have followed Josi's story and I feel like I learned so much from her and the love that you two gave her. It made me hug my babies a little longer every day. Like someone else posted before we on the board never got the privilege of hugging her or kissing her sweet face but please know that we all did many times in our minds and she will live forever in all of our hearts. Your little girl took a small piece of us all when she went to the bridge. Please take care of yourself and know that we are all here for you.

Michelle