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Thursday, November 19, 2009

no more fences

ever since we got dodger, he has attempted to escape any fence that we put up to keep him in our back yard. aaron was constantly fixing the places in the fence where dodger had found that he could manipulate in a way that would enable him to escape into freedom. dodger would take off to visit everyone and anyone who was interested in paying attention to him. he loved anyone who favored him at all. we had a tag made for his collar that had his name and phone number on it for those times when someone who noticed him might be able to call and let us know where he was. we received hundreds of calls in his lifetime. a couple of them were from the dog pound. many of the times that we were called, the people who had him saved him from being hit on the highway. dodger had no fear of cars on the road. he thought he had as much right to be there as any car did. so, for his safety, aaron continued to fix every place in the fence that dodger seemed to mastermind. even up to a couple of months ago he still made a short escape. his love for freedom was never stifled only prevented by a fence.

i woke up this morning and looked out the sliding glass door to see at the back of our yard a wooden cross that aaron had pounded into the ground in front of the pile of dirt that covered where we buried dodger. i immediately felt sadness all over again. it brought back the vivid memories from the night before when we had watched aaron lower dodger into the ground. later that day, i ventured out there to look a little closer and noticed this...


aaron had put dodger's collar around the cross with the words that said, "no more fences." that is all it took to make tears quickly stream down my face. in my mind, i could see him "free." there are no more fences to confine his desire to greet and meet. run, dodger, run! you are free now! no more fences!




28 comments:

Adeye said...

Oh my dearest friend--I am just catching up after being sick. I have tears streaming down my face. I KNOW the pain of loosing a precious pet. I just hurts so bad. I wish I could make it all better for you. I wish I could mend your broken heart. But I cannot. I DO know the ONE who can touch those places in your heart that need a touch from Him. And so I'm praying for you--praying for your family. Praying that your hearts would heal from your loss.

Sending you a HUGE hug tonight.

Loren said...

Christy ~ I am crying so hard for and with you and your sweet family right now.....

sooo sorry your hearts are broken.....sending you big hugs my friend

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

What a beautiful way to look at it. I just love it! Thank you for that!

Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Stop you're making me cry!!! That is very precious of him to do that though.
Hugs to you my friend.
Kim

Andrea said...

Indeed we are all crying now. Sad tears for you and happy tears for dodger who is playing with JESUS. Don't you know the golden retriever must be one of HIS favorites. After all, HIS Father created them.
Blessings and hugs, andrea

He & Me + 3 said...

That was the neatest post. our little doggie seems to like freedom too. She does not fear the street either. We need to train her in case she escapes the fence. Perfect words on the cross...misty eyes over here too.

RCUBEs said...

There is no right word to comfort you and your family sister but I just want to let you know that I'm sharing your pain and loss. May God comfort you all.
Those special mem'ries Dodger etched in your hearts would go on forever and may the tears of sadness be replaced with tears of joy instead...Hugs to you my friend.

Karen said...

This is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen....

Darcie said...

Oh Christy...I feel your pain, and with the words of the song on your blog, and the above picture...I am crying! (((hugs))) to your whole family.

Bridget said...

A touching tribute. So sweet!

KEE said...

What a wonderful tribute to one who brought your family such joy. I too am crying, it's so sad to loose a pet and only a pet owner can even begin to understand that loss.

It truly is free to run now.

Btw, I'm so glad you liked the gift. I love sending personalized gifts and it just felt like it was the right one.
Sending you a great big hug.
Kee

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

I'm crying with you. I just so no the pain you guys are going through right now. What a sweet thing your husband did in memory of Dodger. It reminds me of that song, "Don't Fence Me In" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Oh darn it, now I'M crying too!!! {{{HUGS}}}

Jennifer W. said...

OMGosh, Christie...you're breaking my heart too. I'm so sorry for your loss. I know pets are family. Sydney (my 10 year old) still says she doesn't want another dog, she just wants Jake back and he died about 4 years ago now. What a precious tribute to a special part of your family.
Jen

Lisa said...

I wanted to comment on the post where you shared your loss, but didn't get a chance...So sorry you lost your friend. Don't know if you remember, but we have a Golden too, just got her in September. I am not looking forward to the day when she is just too old for this world. Thanks for sharing.

Heart2Heart said...

Christy,

More tears again began to flow as I read this, yet this time they were tears of happiness as I pictured people playing with Dodger and no more fences! He can now run as far and as long as he can without getting tired.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Warren Baldwin said...

We are a dog family (have 3 right now). I know your feelings, and that of your kids, and I'm sorry.

E @ Scottsville said...

Oh man... I'd have cried too. I love the saying he put on it though.

Saleslady371 said...

Your story is a very beautiful one and I can imagine how sad your family must be feeling. What neat parents to go through this so beautifully with them. Thank you, again, for letting us into that "inside spot" in your family where you all live and learn lessons of life.

Daveda said...

Oh Christy...I am so sorry for your loss. How very sad :( I am sitting here crying now...I love what Aaron did, with the cross. My prayers are with your family. Love you!

Eyeglasses & Endzones said...

Oh man, I am all goose bumpy and I just feel your pain. That is soo sweet that he has no more fences but I know that you family will miss your dear dear friend...HUGS to you right now!!! ;)

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Well, that's all it took to make my tears stream as well. I think, perhaps, this would be a fitting epitaph for us all, at least I'd like it.

No more fences indeed. Freedom is calling us home, sister. Prayers for your hurting heart this night.

peace~elaine

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

What a touching memorial! And what a beautiful dog!

Tea with Tiffany said...

Run, Dodger, run. You are free indeed.

Wow, this was beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Sorry about your loss.

Sending hugs.

Carin said...

The tears are coming now for me. The words are so precious. Indeed, no more fences! Run Dodger!

Crown of Beauty said...

Dear Christy,
It's early morning here, around 5 a.m. and you were on my heart when I awoke. So I'm here on your blog place paying you a visit.

I have been crying and crying over the two posts you wrote about Dodger. I have two dogs now, Patches a dachshund and Samantha a half-basset hound half-dachshund. I had a dachshund, Kiwi who is already in heaven. But in my heart, I am still looking to the day when I will have a golden retriever. Golden retrievers will always be my kind of dog. Someday, sooner or later, I will have the perfect one for me. And so you will understand why your two posts about Dodger moved me to tears. I can relate to the pain that your whole family must be going through. 13 years is a long time...he has been a part of so much of your family life and history!

As I end this comment, an excitement fills my heart because I can picture him running free in heaven...indeed, no more fences for him up there. Aaron's heart was so sensitive to think of putting down those words on the cross at Dodger's grave. And the collar... I'm grieving with you, and I'm rejoicing with you too for the joyful memories that your first family dog has left with you all. And, we will all see him in heaven! He is back with the Creator who wastes nothing that He creates. My Kiwi, your Dodger is there, together with the lion and the lamb...

Love
Lidj

Anonymous said...

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!
mom

Beth in NC said...

I am so sorry! :o(