Time...

There is just not enough of it...

especially with this ole guy...

Our sweet Kendall

who came into our lives late in his years

who came into our lives with an already grey muzzle and a crooked smile from years of seizures...

who came into our lives with a great loss but also with a heart ready to love and be loved.

He never demanded attention but was always there for a pat or a hug or a dropped morsel of delicious people food.

He liked to bark (at nothing) but he loved his family and had his own very special way of protecting us.

Kendall first came to us in November of 2008, when his elderly owner passed away and the (so called - harumph) family decided to send him to the pound.  He stayed with us for 9 terrific months, until a family was found for him and we said what we thought was goodbye to our sweet old soul.

That very sweet family kept him for almost a year and a half until they could no longer care for him and that is when our Kendall came back to us, for good, in March of 2011.

Grateful Goldens asked us to be his permanent foster family and there was NO way we were going to let him go again!

Kendall was home for good.

Kendal came back to us a good bit older and a good bit rounder and needed "encouragement" to make it up the stairs - every day.

but he was much like our Lizze, a very determined old soul and up until the end, usually made it up those steps!

Kendall also needed meds to help with his seizures, every day but with his love of food, that was easy:)

Most of all though, Kendall needed love - every day and we were more than happy to help him with all his needs because...

He was Kendall, the sweetest, gentlest, wisest, most loving old soul, who even liked the cats!

Heck, he even liked the kids!!!  Hehe!

He was my ever faithful and loving shadow and I had to say goodbye to him today.

It was hard...

so, so hard but it was time.

He had a tumor that had spread to his spinal cord and had paralyzed him from the shoulders down but even in his confusion and with his broken, precious body, he looked for me, he listened for me, he reached for me and I pray he found comfort with me.

His head was in my lap, his eyes were fixed with mine and as I stroked his wonderful, crooked, grey muzzle, he peacefully slipped away.

His time had come but I find myself feeling a little bit cheated out of all the years I missed with him and wishing for more, more time.

I am missing my faithful shadow tonight but I am comforted in the prayer of my sweet Lizzie.

"Dear Lord, please love Kendall and help him to play with Dingo and Maggie and Cricket and Tippy and Grace, oh and please help him to see Gada again.  Amen"

Amen sweet girl.

We miss you Kendall and loved you far more than 19 months could ever hold.