Please pray for Josi

[krayne]

I am sorry I have not been on in about a week...I have been pretty sad and really missing my Warrior Princess and tried just to take a break from it all and see if that would help, but then I realized I missed you all too much. I know I don't have to tell any of you how emotionally draining her loss has been to me. I miss every ounce of her...from the littlest things to the biggest things. I try not to get upset around friends and family, but it is virtually impossible b/c my Josi is everywhere. While I take comfort that she is in heaven looking down upon me, I sit here day in and day out and selfishly yearn for her return. I know things will get easier with time and I do think my emotions have leveled in the past two weeks, it just breaks my heart to think about having to go through all the rest of my life milestones without her. Brian and I leave tonight for our trip to Key West FL. for our friends wedding tomorrow and I can't help but dream that we were having to call them this morning and cancel out b/c Josi was still bee-bopping around. I know she would have wanted us to go and maybe that was all in her master plan b/c I am definitely ready to relax and have fun with friends for the next 3 days. I am hoping to come back refreshed and just maybe it will give me the strength to post a tribute which she deserves in the rainbow bridge. Thanks as always for contining to check in on me

MSJOSI - I just joined this board today. I've spent the last hour (at work) reading through the posts since December of last year about Josi. Your baby sure did outlast the doctor's expectations!! I'm so sad to read that she is now gone. But it sounds like she lived her life on her terms for the last several months!!! I put a dog down a few years ago and didn't get another one until a few weeks a go - a two year old boxer named Ali. So, it may be a while before you feel like getting another one - give yourself time to heal!!

A long time ago there was an article in the local paper - Dear Abby or something - a person wrote in because they wanted to know if dogs go to heaven like people do. In response, the writer (Dear Abby) asked ministers/priests/rabbis of different denominations what they thought - most said that they didn't think so - some said that they didn't know, but one gave her this poem:


A dog's small world is full of dreams,
Of full food bowls and scents unseen,
Of open fields and cosy chair,
And, most of all, you standing there.

And when the end is drawing near
And you are trying to stem your tears,
He licks your hand with happy sigh,
Content that you are standing by.

And when he reaches Heaven's Gate,
The Lord says, "Come." But he says, "Wait.
"I have a friend I love so dear
And I can feel her footsteps near."

Your lifetime's passed. You near God's throne.
One happy glance. You're not alone.
Your loving pet, so patient waits,
To pass with you through Heaven's Gates.

Frances Clark 1946

You may have read this already, but I just love it, so I thought I'd sure.

Good luck to you!!

 

[WeasleRocky]

A dog's small world is full of dreams,
Of full food bowls and scents unseen,
Of open fields and cosy chair,
And, most of all, you standing there.

And when the end is drawing near
And you are trying to stem your tears,
He licks your hand with happy sigh,
Content that you are standing by.

And when he reaches Heaven's Gate,
The Lord says, "Come." But he says, "Wait.
"I have a friend I love so dear
And I can feel her footsteps near."

Your lifetime's passed. You near God's throne.
One happy glance. You're not alone.
Your loving pet, so patient waits,
To pass with you through Heaven's Gates.

Frances Clark 1946

thank you so much for sharing this with Staci,,, this is so perfect to think of Josi this way, because as we all know her, this is how she would end the story... She would sit there loyally waiting to join her parents as they pass thru Heavens gates...

I think of you so often Staci,,, and of Josi of course, I will never ever forget her life that you were so kind to share with us... my heart aches when I think of her, but i'm so glad to have been given the opportunity to know her spirit and her love thru you...

you guys take care,,, lots of love being sent to you both as always...!!!

 

[msjosi]

Well the trip to Key West was amazing and more beautiful and fun than we could have imagined. We did some crying and talking of Josi to some people that we haven't seen for awhile and had asked about Josi. Not a day goes by that I don't think and yearn for her touch,feel,smell,and love. Sunday was actually very hard on us b/c we are so used to looking forward to going home from a trip to see her. She always traveled with us unless we were flying somewhere so in those cases we were so excited to get back. We came home to many more cards and letters from friends,family, and vets/nurses whose lives Josi touched. Today has been three weeks and while the pain isn't as acute it has not gotten much easier. I miss her beyond words and I can't stand think about not being physically with her for the rest of my life:(

Krayne~welcome to boxerworld! This is a wonderful group of people from all over the world who all share one common bond of the love of our boxers I am touched that you took the time to read through Josi's posts and I very much appreciate the poem...it was beautiful...thank you.

Gruntsmom~I have been so wrapped up with Josi lately, that I have neglected to ask you recently how you have been doing? I am sure that our "Warrior's" are romping together in heaven Do you get through the day without crying? Do you feel like no other boxer will ever come close to love and bond that you shared with Grunt?

Tina~I love your new avator! I think of you too and I miss posting so so much all of Josi's new stories. I always looked forward to your responses and knew you would get a kick out of our silly antics. I too know that she will be patiently waiting for me, but it just seems like such an eternity away. We bring "her" everywhere with us around the house and although it may seem morbid to some, it brings us much comfort to keep her spirit included in our daily activities and all the different spots around the house that she enjoyed to sprawl out on

 

[pennysmom]

hope

Hoping you and Brian get a new boxer pup, give all that extra love to someone that deserves it so much, I promise it will help heal the heart, just think of all that extra love inside that you have to offer another boxer......then think of all that extra love you'll get back......that's the only thing that helped heal my broken heart, was get another boxer. I continue to pray it gets easier.....go try thou, you wont regret it, and the 2nd one is even better, cause you appreciate the boxer breed even moreso, I think cause you know how much you loved the first one.

 

[WeasleRocky]

I'm so glad you had a wonderful, refreshing and fun trip...

You all deserve it so much... Love you guys...

( I know Miss Josi was watching you guys enjoy yourselves!!! )

 

[Gruntsmom]

I'm SO glad you and Brian had a wonderful time in Florida, that you were able to relax for awhile and enjoy a special occasion and being with friends. I totally understand how hard it was returning home - memories of your exhuberant Josi, so happy to see her mommy and daddy, and you and Brian so happy to see her.....it hurts. It must have helped to have those messages from all those people who knew and loved Josi.

You are so kind to mention my Grunt. It was 5 months yesterday since my sweet boy went to the Bridge. Oh yes, I often envision Josi and Grunt, our Warriors doing burns and running free through endless green fields with all the babies who went before! I cry everyday because I miss him so much, I will never stop missing him, he was my joy and the love of my life. His ashes are on his special memory table during the day, and they come with me to bed each night, to lay on his pillow next to my bed where he used to sleep. Maybe someday I'll stop doing that, but for now, it's a comfort to have what's left of his earth body close to me. So, I don't think it's morbid at all that you carry Josi's ashes with you throughout your day, and put them in all the places she used to be.

I continue to keep you in my thoughts, knowing the loss of your precious Warrior Princess is a great one for you and Brian. Time and knowing they aren't hurting anymore helps, but life is never the same. They never really left us - the spirit that touched us, the love that grew in our hearts, and the sweet memories will always be with us. We were so very blessed.

 

[butlersmom]

We bring "her" everywhere with us around the house and although it may seem morbid to some, it brings us much comfort to keep her spirit included in our daily activities and all the different spots around the house that she enjoyed to sprawl out on

Staci.....I have been so busy with classes and traveling to/from GA to be with my husband that I haven't had much time for the internet. You have been in my thoughts and prayers, though. I'm happy to hear that you and Brian were able to get away for awhile and clear your minds somewhat. Keeping Miss Josi with you even now does not in the least seem morbid to me. When Scott and I built our house 4 years ago, the first night we spent here, we brought Scarlett with us. When I first started traveling to GA I was taking her with me as well. But I was afraid that something would happen to the beautiful box that she now lives in and I just couldn't bare the thought of that.

Scarlett will have been gone 6 years at the end of August, and there are days that I still shed tears for her loss. It wll get easier, but you will never forget. Hugs....

 

[joeys mom]

I just wanted to tell you how sorry i am that lost your baby! I have only been with BW for a few months and i have just caught up on all the post from begining to end, you guys have been through alot, it was as if i were reading a book about this "warrior princess" and that she sure was. Our babies our so easy to love and so hard to lose. there isnt a time now that i see a lightning bug that i dont think of josi. as i think many others do too, what a wonderful memory you have shared with others all over the world. Joey and i will continue to think of you!

 

[msjosi]

Just wanted to drop in and say hi to all my boxerworld friends It was four weeks since Josi left us yesterday and I can't really say i has gotten any easier yet. I find the only time I can really hold myself together is at work. It is not that my tears are always sad ones, it is just that I can't even mention her name or let her image come into thought without the sense of sadness overcoming me. I still want and fully intend to post a tribute to her in the bridge, but I'm still not ready...i'm sorry:( I then wonder if this entire thread should live as her rainbow bridge eulogy as a testament to the Warrior Princess's journey....I mean how could I possibly sum it up in one post. Anyhow, there are so many things that I have to take care of like sending thank you letters to all the doctors/nurses/techs that have been apart of our fight, I still need to send her bone off to be bronzed, I want to donate her meds to the local boxer rescue, and so many more things...but at this point I am just not there yet. Thank you as always for continuing to keep us in your prayers and please give all your babies an extra hug and kiss from me tonight

 

[Gruntsmom]

Hi Staci, I think of you and Sweet Josi Girl every time I come to BoxerWorld, and am glad you posted to let us know how you are. I can't believe it's been a month already since Josi went to the Bridge. I understand how and what you are feeling, the overwhelming sadness when you talk about her or think about her. You miss her and it hurts. This grief is a long process - the whole world has gone out of kilter and it will take time to make a different one for yourself. I know how hard and how painful it is, when our babies were such a vital part of our lives.

Your saying that this thread is Josi's tribute and testament struck me as so true - it was here that we all came to know and love her, and of the battles she fought as the true Warrior Princess she was, is and always will be. There will come a time when you may want to post something in her memory, and you always can, when you are ready.

My heart goes out to you, and I keep you in my thoughts and prayers. HUGS