Saying goodbye was the worst!

So, I had to make a heartbreaking decision last week. It was time for Star to go to doggie heaven. My precious, sweet, loving, loyal, little four-legged daughter had reached the end of her days here and I couldn't stand watching her struggle through her days any longer.

Star came into our lives as a four year old. Craig and I had just gotten married in April and we got her in August of 2001. Neighbor friends of his parents were getting rid of her due to their adult daughter and her family moving back in. They loved Star dearly but needed to make room and wanted to give her to a good home. Craig took me over to "look" at her and we took her home that day.

She became my shadow, my playmate, my constant faithful companion and the sweetest dog anyone could ever dream of owning. Craig and I loved her from the day we got her and have so many wonderful memories of our precious chocolate lab with her infectious personality, crazy love of the water and her orange toy and her loyalty.

In her final months she had developed a thyroid disorder and was taking medicine and she was having trouble getting around. In her final days, she just couldn't get her back end up anymore without help and we made the heartbreaking decision to end her suffering and let her go to doggie heaven in dignity.

RIP, sweet girl.

Breast Cancer 3-Day!

I'm doing it!!! Check back for updates!

Cherish the Memories!

I've only run in the Gasparilla three times. This year made the third. What's special to me is that I've always run it with my dad. The first time was when I was 7 years old, then again at 20 and this year at 30. My dad is 60 this year and decided two days prior that he wanted to run the 5k with me. This is a man that battled cancer and won! He stays active and takes great care of himself, but hasn't kept up with running because it bothers his knees. You would never know he was 60 by looking at him and on race day, you would never have known he hasn't been running lately!



We ran the 5k and we had a ball. The first mile we had to dodge people walking and blocking the path of the runners but we had fun with it. It was such a great day with him and those are the memories I'll cherish always. He kept pace with me the whole time and we finished at just over 31 minutes. I think that's a pretty good time for myself, but it's an even better time for him since he hadn't trained at all.



He was tired and sore after we finished but he told me that he's going to train for next year and wants to run it again with me. He says we have to shoot for 27 minutes or less! Ok Dad, it's a date!

What a month it's been!

Well, it's been quite a busy month for me. I officially entered my prime when I turned 30. Craig planned a little get together for me at Kafe Kokopelli's in Dade City. It was a wonderful evening with friends and family. A special thanks to all that came out to celebrate with me.

The day after my birthday I jumped on a plane with my Dad and flew to NC for my cousin Haley's wedding. It was a fast trip but I'm so glad that I went. Haley and Josh has a beautiful wedding and she was a gorgeous bride! Walking into the room where she was waiting for the ceremony brought tears to my eyes. She was just so beautiful and so excited! The reception was great! Her and my aunt did an amazing job of pulling together a fabulous wedding is a very short amount of time. It was really fun getting to go with my dad too. We had a good time. I cherish times like that with him! It was nice seeing my aunt and uncle too and getting to spend some time with my other cousin, Lacy.

My friend, Michelle, welcomed her second baby, a little girl, into the world. Of course I missed the big day being in NC. She had a great delivery and baby Brook is healthy and just beautiful. She has this little tiny head that is full of black hair!!!! She's like a little doll and I'm so thankful that Michelle and Brook are doing well. I was able to go over and meet her when I got back and she is precious! Congratulations, Michelle and Justin. Her son, Ethan, is quite smitten with his baby sister too!

Michelle also turned 30 this month. She and I are only a few days apart and had always talked about having a huge joint 30th birthday party. Well, Brook kind of fixed that plan for us...not that we mind! I kind of felt bad that Michelle didn't get to have a big bash for her 30th so my friend Gena and I decided to have a belated 30th celebration for her. We got her mom and husband in on the deal and surprised her at Vallartas. She was shocked! It was a wonderul evening and we are so glad she got a special day!

My brother and his wife went on a quick trip to Georgia this past weekend and asked me to watch the girls! My first overnight babysitting job with them. They were perfect angels. No issues and I couldn't have had a better time with them. Thanks Joby and Heather for trusting me with your little blessings. It's a weekend I will not soon forget. Although they missed mommy and daddy like crazy, they enjoyed their time with Aunt Lydia and Uncle Craig.

Well, that sums up some of the highlights for January. I'll soon have more to add as I have another overnight babysitting job coming up tomorrow for a friend. It will be her first time leaving him overnight with ANYONE. I feel honored that she picked me and will have a blast with him! We'll see if she doesn't back out though...LOL!

Blessings!