Day 473 ~ Saying Good-Bye to a {Four-Legged} Family Member

Lola came into our lives April of 2002.  

Our dog Kelly had been in {near} seclusion for two months, which meant no play dates, after being hit by a car.  Kelly had to have hip surgery, and lost an eye.

Seeing that Kelly was not her playful self in quite sometime, Dean and I decided to get her a sister.  A permanent play date/mate if you will.  We rescued Lola from the animal shelter, as we did Kelly.

As we approached a kennel, we immediately saw her.  She was the sweetest looking dog.  As she approached us, another dog in the same kennel came along and bullied her into a corner.  Immediately we wanted to save her.

Fast-forward to today... Lola has not been doing well for almost two months.  After her appetite seemed to diminish and she would not even eat roast beef, we took her to the vet.

After x-rays, blood work, exams and the opinion of two vets {and $500 later}... there's nothing we can do.  Nothing was found in the x-rays or blood-work... however, a mass was felt around her kidneys.  Cancer?  We'll never know.  She has lost too much muscle mass, weight and the fact that she won't eat- surgery is out of the question.

As a family we gather... we reminisce... we look at pictures... we laugh... we tell stories... we cry.

We wait for the moment... for the look... where she will tell us how much she loves us... where she tells us good bye.

We are sad.  

However... 

We know that we have given her a wonderful life and when she does leave us...

We know that she will be going to a wonderful place... doggie heaven.

Where she will find rivers filled with milk... with biscuits everywhere... balls galore... and toys here and there.  

Best thing of all she will be reunited with all our other family fur-babies... Ranger, Hannah, Max, Alex, One, Blondie and Mikey...

~ An Homage to Lola ~

Lola and Kelly

Lola welcoming Pepper to the family

Kelly, Lola and Pepper

Lola, Kelly and Pepper

The girls taking over the sofa.

Dean & my engagement photo shoot;

including our girls in a few of the pictures 

Venice Beach, California

Lola- striking a pose

Mar Vista, California 

Our girls LOVE the park!

Venice Beach, California

Pepper, Kelly, Lola and a ball.

Lola got "the" ball.

Lola welcomes and tolerates Calley.

Calley growing up with Lola.

Lola welcomes Shelby to the family.

Lola tolerates Shelby (can you see it in her face?), along with Pepper and Kelly-

all taking over our bed!

Lola

 We are so blessed you chose us. 

We are so honored to have been your family.

We are so much better for loving you. 

~Dean, Carla and Calley Karam

Thank you for being such a wonderful sister. ~Kelly

Sorry we fought, but so happy we made up.  I love you. ~Pepper

Thank you for teaching me the ropes and for letting me snuggle with you. ~Shelby

[here's to you finding your... ]

Peace...

I am second..

... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Images are courtesy of google or Bing images.  Some images maybe labeled property of Carla Barila Karam and of this blog, Took It... Making It... Living It... My Life .  © 2012  U.S Copyright Laws apply.

Day 95 ~ I Will Never Forget!

Just as if it was yesterday, I remember waking up at 6:30 on the morning of September 11, 2001 in Venice, California... as usual I turned my television on to see the happenings on the news... I never knew that, that morning... my world, our world... well... my life and yours forever will be changed...  

Twin-towers collapsing,

I will always remember...

I will never forget...

Our heros..

“Are you guys ready? Let’s roll!”   ~ Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer, apparently as a signal to other passengers to attack the hijackers, Sept. 11.

"Today, We’ve Had A National Tragedy”

- George W. Bush – Remarks at Emma Booker Elementary School. Sarasota, Florida – delivered 11 September 2001, 9:30 A.M. EDT

“Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward and freedom will be defended.” “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.” - ~George W. Bush

 "This mass terrorism is the new evil in our world today. It is perpetrated by fanatics who are utterly indifferent to the sanctity of human life, and we the democracies of this world are going to have to come together and fight it together." ~ British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sept. 11

"Our enemies have made the mistake that America's enemies always make.  They saw liberty, and thought they saw weakness.  And now, they see defeat."  ~ George W. Bush, President of the United States.

Americans long to be united.  After 9/11, we all just wanted to be one nation.  Not a single American on September the 12, 2001, cared who won the next presidential election.  ~9/11 Quote by Bill Clinton 

Courage does not always roar.  Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day say, I will try again tomorrow.   ~ Maryanne Radamacher

You have two hands, one to help yourself and the second to help others.

Obstacles are those frightful things we see when we take our eyes off our goal.

"If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.'' said Sandy Dahl, the wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl.

I saw a terrible tragedy and yelled at God, "How could you let such a thing happen? Why didn't you do something"  A little while later, God's answer came: 'I did do something.  I made you.'" 

"Those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say." -Pope John Paul II 

"Out of the depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind." - Prime Minister Winston Churchill

We shall never forget

We shall keep this day,

We shall keep the events and the tears

In our minds, our memory and our hearts

and take them with us as we carry on.

~~Author Unknown

"Dedicated to those who fell and to those who carry on - May we never forget."

9/11 Memorial 56' Bronze Wall Dedicated to New York City Firefighters in Ceremony at Engine 10. ground zero

Blessings to all!!


270 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.