Bella Abby Hillman

Dear Bella Abby,
  Today marks the 9 year anniversary of when we finalized your adoption at St. Hubert's and brought you home. I remember that day so vividly. I got to skip school that day. Partly because we were bringing you home and then partly because we had to go to Janet's funeral. It was a "happy day and a sad day" as I explained it to everyone I knew. Nine years later I look at that day as the turning point in my life.  It's the day you came into my life and changed everything I ever wanted to do.
   I'll never forget letting you loose in the house for the very first time. You went nuts! You ran and ran and ran around the house running into every wall! I then taught you your first "trick", I taught you to jump up on me to get a treat.  Then I walked you around the yard and taught you to go potty in the side yard. And that first night? I set your crate up perfectly for you. I put you in your bed then I set up camp to sleep on the floor right beside your crate. It was one of the first times I knowingly stayed up "late"  (10:30ish) on a school night.
  The joy of bringing you home never fades. I wish I could be that little girl again all excited to bring home my NEW puppy! Molly wasn't the same. She was born at our house. I never got to "bring her home". And no puppy I ever bring home will be the same as you!
  Bella I miss you so much! There isn't a day I go without thinking of you! I miss everything about you, the good, the bad, and everything in between. I miss playing with chasing you in the snow, and watching you dig your holes,or laying with you.
  You Bella, you always knew when I needed you. You hated being cuddled, however when I needed you you always came to me, I never had to come to you. And in the end, I hope I came to you when you needed me the most. I hate that you are gone but I'm happy you aren't in pain. I wish you could come back as a puppy and that I would know who you were! I just miss you so much!
  Today would have been your 9th Birthday. We would celebrate as always with a trip to petmart, begginstrips,  chicken and rice for dinner, and lactate free ice cream for your birthday dessert! So in honor of you today I will have some ice cream for dessert and chicken for dinner!

I love you Bella Abby! I will never forget you! I hope you'll having a ball in heaven!!!!

Love Brigette!

The morning before we got our foster dogs.