dallas arboretum...

With Adam still out of town, Marley and I needed a little joy this week so we decided to make a girls trip to the Dallas Arboretum.  We had a blast!  It was an absolutely beautiful day.  Although it was PACKED we still had a ton of fun.  We had packed a picnic snack and were prepared to relax and have fun.  When we first walked in we happened upon a photo shoot in process of ALL the Disney princesses!  Of course before I could stop her Marley had run full speed up to them hollering, "Hi Princesses!  My name is Marley!"  Fortunately, they were nice enough to stop and talk to her.  When she approached Belle she said, "I want to see what shoes you are wearing!"  (A girl after my own heart!)

Who doesn't need to spend a little carefree time running through the grass, smelling the flowers and walking barefoot through a stream?!  It's just what we needed...

3.13.17...a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day...

Monday Sammy had a stroke.  We made a very difficult decision to put her down.  She came into this world on a dark, dark day...Sept. 11, 2001.  From that day forward she made our lives brighter and better everyday.  May she be reunited with her best friend Al, rock TWO ears, chase squirrels (and actually get one), and catch frisbee after frisbee.  We love you Samantha!

9.11.01 - 3.13.17

Sammy has been a part of mine and Adam's entire relationship.  She turned 1 days after our first date and to say she liked me at the beginning would have been a lie!  We would sit together on Adam's couch and she would squeeze between us.  The first time I went to get in the car with Adam, Sammy jumped into the front seat and I swear looked at me like, "Hop in the back; this is my seat!"  We very quickly became best buds when she found out I would feed her and give her treats.  I cannot imagine my life without her...

She has flown with us in Adam's plane, traveled with us everywhere we've been and watched after us 24/7.  

Sammy had to have an ear removed several years ago and we thought that was a hard decision...she still loved us.

When I was pregnant we hoped and prayed she would live long enough for Marley to remember her.  She was not thrilled with Marley either at first...I'm pretty sure she thought, "We were fine as a party of 3!"

Sammy was her spunky, crazy, loving self up until the very last day.  Just the day before Marley and her played chase with each other around the house.

God has a crazy way of working though in ensuring that both Adam and I were able to be with her at the very end.  I had actually just came home sick from work and Adam was to leave the next morning for a week.  She wanted us with her...

When I walked into the emergency clinic and she saw me she began to squeal with delight...even though she wasn't able to control half her body she didn't care.  She wanted to see us.  Telling Marley was just as hard.  Fortunately, she is old enough to remember her, yet not quite understand what is going on.  She just kept telling Adam and I, "It's okay.  Don't cry."  She then wanted to know if Jesus could text us some pictures...that girl...she knows how to lighten a moment.

Sammy you will always be in our heart!  May we forever be finding your hairs around the house and every squirrel I see will make me think of you...