Very touching story. I had a friend die after a long bout with cancer. She had requested a Dynamite crepe myrtle be planted at her church which we did. She was a Dynamite lady w/ a spirit as bright as the red of that trees flowers. She was always game for any tomfoolery I planned for our garden club and particpated up until the last month of her life. Another friend passed suddenly of a heart attack and we plan on doing a rock garden because she always said she was such a bad gardener that she killed her rock garden. P

Hi, I am a mother of two small children who are 4 and 6 now. They were 3 and 4 at the time. I got my kids two puppies to grow up with. They were 6 weeks old at the time. One day when they were about 7 months old. I had to leave, left them outside. I have one of those underground fences and they were trained by it. When I got home, it was dark. I got the kids in the house and went outside to call the dogs. I called and I called and no dogs came running. Finally after about 30 minutes of calling, I heard a rustling in the property next to me. I came in and got a flash light, went running over there, found them both, barely breathing, barely able to move. I brought them in the house and spent an hour on the phone with my vet explaining how they were acting. Finally after not getting an improvement, I loaded up my kids and the dogs and headed for the vets office. We get there and they ran tests for Parvo, sure enough, Parvo, I had to have them put down. My kids were both crying as well as me. We were all VERY attached to them. My vet asked me if I wanted them cremated or if I wanted to take them home and bury them for the kids. I decided to take them home and bury them for the kids. This was decided after talking with my children for 20 minutes. Now its like 4 in the morning. The vet and I loaded their lifeless bodies into the trunk. The drive home was 45 minutes of answerng questions about where puppies go when they die. Got home around 5am. Tucked the kids into bed and told them we would take care of the puppies later. When we got up, I let the kids pick out a place in the back yard. All three of us together dug a hole big enough to place them both in because my kids didnt want to seperate them. After the hole was dug, I pulled my car around and unloaded them into the hole. The three of us covered them back up with the dirt. I let my kids find some rather large rocks to place around the grave. I still have plans to make a little "graveyard" in that area. You will see why when you read the next part. My daughter received a cat for a 5th birthday present. The cat was an outdoor cat so I left it that way. A couple months went by and she ended up having 4 kittens. My kids were exstatic. We fed the kitties daily, went out and played with them and watched them grow for about 5 months. My neighbors dog got out on accident and my daughter watched as the dog grabbed up one of the kittens and literally shook it to death. The kitten it happened to grab was her favorite. So, I took her and calmed her down and explained to her that her kitty is now in kitty heaven with her puppies and that her puppies were watching over her kitty and they were all playing together. This time, her and I dug a hole together. She wanted her right next to the pups. We placed her kitty in the hole and covered her. Again my daughter went to the rock pile and picked out rocks to place around the grave. To this day she goes out and "talks" to her animals and tells them she loves them and misses them and hopes they are ok. I just started doing landscape work in my yard and am in the progress of designing something to have a "memorial" affect to it. I will post again when finished and pics are available. Shells

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Thought you might like this Poem I have read at a few funerals for family and friends I have loved and lost. Many people asked me for a copy of the poem as they found it very comforting and so I would like to pass it on to all who grieve. Please feel free to pass it on. Jeanette Things Id Like To Say Some things IÂd like to say But first of all to let you know that I arrived okay. IÂm writing this from Heaven, where I dwell with God above Where thereÂs no more tears or sadness, there is just eternal love. Please do not be unhappy just because IÂm out of sight Remember that IÂm with you every morning, noon and night. That day I had to leave you when my life on Earth was through, God picked me up and hugged me and He whispered, "I welcome you". ItÂs good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone, As for your dearest family, theyÂll be here later on. I need you here so badly as part of My big plan. ThereÂs so much that we have to do to help our mortal man. Then God gave me a list of things He wished for me to do, And foremost on that list of mine is to watch and care for you. And when youÂre sad, IÂm standing there to wipe away the tears, And when you lie in bed at night, the days chores put to flight, God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night. When you think of my life on Earth and all those loving years, Because youÂre only human they are bound to bring you tears, But do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain, Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain. I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned, But if I were to tell you, you wouldnÂt understand, But one thing is for certain, though my life on Earth is over I am closer to you now than I ever was before. And to my very many friends, trust God knows what is best. IÂm still not far away from you, IÂm just beyond the crest. There are rocky roads ahead of you, and many hills to climb. But together we can do it taking one day at a time. It was always my philosophy and IÂd like it for you too That as you give unto the World so the World will give to you. If you can help somebody who is in sorrow or in pain, Then you can say to God at night "my day was not in vain." And now I am contented that my life it was worthwhile, Knowing as I passed along the way I made somebody smile. So if you meet somebody who is down and feeling low, Just lend a hand to pick him up as on your way you go. When you are walking down the street and youÂve got me on your mind, IÂm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind. And when you feel the gentle breeze or the wind upon your face, ThatÂs me giving you a great big HUG or just a soft embrace. And when itÂs time for you to go from that body to be free, Remember youÂre not going, youÂre coming home to me. And I will always love you from that land way up above. Will be in touch again soon! P.S. GOD sends His Love!