[caseygina]

Laurie and Marley,
My thoughts are with you during this awful time. we all know exactly how hard this is for you-we all have walked the same path that you have, and we all know the pain you are going through. Know that you are doing the right thing for them-they are telling you what to do in the only way they can. Be comforted by all your memories, the love you have for each other, and the knowledge that you are doing the best thing you can for them. Mike is right, Xena and Riley are waiting for them, ready to play and they can all do the things they love to do and haven't been able to do in a while. I also say, keep the tags!! We have all of Riley's tags on her collar-which is around the neck of her favorite stuffed baby Rottie. I will be keeping both of you in my thoughts and prayers. It will probably be the most difficult thing you will ever do, but you are doing it for them.

On a side note, this was yet another week of firsts without her. My birthday was Tuesday, and it was the first one without her-I was not in a celebrating mood. I just didn't care. Also, for the first time since 1999, we went down the shore without Riley. We did take her ashes with us so she was "there" but boy, did we miss her!! We are pretty sure we will spread some of her ashes down there, we just haven't decided where to do it, so we will save that for the next time we are down. We also saw a Rottie walking down our street-the first time ever-my mother in law said that in the 20+ years they have had their house, they have never seen a Rottie other than ours on the street-it was like Riley was giving us a sign. Our 4 year old niece asked me if we still cry about Riley and if we miss her-I told her that we do, and she said she misses her too and wants to see her. I told her that she can wave to her in Heaven every day and that even though we can't see her, she can see us and that she's watching over us. That made Emma happy.

Keep us posted.

Gina