So long, good friend!

I usually try to distance my writing from my emotions, whether it's an email, a letter or even a blog, to prevent writing something I might not have written once the emotions settled. However, against better judgment (since Christy is fast asleep beside me), I find myself typing away in the still darkness of a house that is not our own.

This journey the Lord has our family on is one which has cost us dearly...from my profession, to our house, to our possessions, to now what is probably the most heart-wrenching, tear-spilling one of them all - saying goodbye to a 6-year-old member of the family. Just to make sure we're on the same page (since I know you're looking at the above picture), I'm talking about the dog and not the boy.

Cali danced her way right into our lives a little over six years ago - just in time for Christmas 2008. What once was a scrawny, little puppy grew into a 65 pound gentle giant. From frolicking in the snow, to catching balls and playing fetch; from eating dirty tissues, to interrupting morning devotions with a kiss on the chin (not right after the tissue eating, mind you) the Lord has used Cali's presence in our family to bring many treasured and wonderful memories into our life. Perhaps that is why we spent the final hour of the day all huddled upon the bed with Cali in the middle - sharing stories, giving pets, and crying profusely.

One would think that our knowing for over six months that this day was coming would make it easier, however I'm here to tell you that tomorrow's looming K9 departure is lurking down on us like a massive freight train without any brakes. The more we've tried to lasso in the clock these past few days, the quicker she's seemed to tick away. In just a mere seven hours from this writing Cali will be on her way to her new forever home with a new forever family.

Despite the sadness and heart-break, tomorrow is yet another answer to prayer along this journey. We've prayed all along that God would provide a loving home for our pets and that's exactly what Cali will be receiving. To you, Cali's new family, thanks for allowing God to use you as an answer to our prayers.

And so, not being one who likes to say "goodbye," I simply say, "So long, good friend!"