Better to have loved and lost....

Jack - 2006

Yesterday, June 13, 2012, was a very sad day for the Hilliard household.  Our precious dog, Jack (officially Black Jack) was hit by a car and passed away.  I (Mommy) wasn't there when it happened, but I was told Jack did not appear to have suffered.  He was gone within 15 minutes of being hit.

As we're going through the grieving process it made me think of the phrase, "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."  Boy, at the moment with the grief, that is hard to take in, but I also know we would not have wanted our life without Jack.  He was such a special dog and loved to love and be loved.  He would jump in my lap and put his front paws on my shoulder and give me a "hug".  He also loved his rub downs.  He jumped up on B's bed the other night and Daddy was giving him a rub down and Jack was loving it so much that it made B laugh and laugh.  I didn't realize what a special moment that was.

I know that things are going to trigger the tears for the next few days, but I'm trying to focus on the good times we had with Jack over the last 6 + years.

Jack, you will be missed and I'm so thankful that you were B's first dog.

March 12, 2006 - June 13, 2012

The dash in between...

Our small group is going through a study and just last week it was talking about what do you do with your dash?  The time of your life that you are here on earth.  Looking back over Jack's dash here are a couple of things that come to mind:

• He had the softest fur when he was a puppy.  That is what did Daddy "in".
• He was our protector.  If we were in different parts of the house, he would lay between us.
• You had to watch out if the TV show you had on had a doorbell sound as it would set Jack off in barking mode thinking someone was at the door.
• He had an odd attraction to Kleenex and paper towels.  You couldn't leave these around or he would get them and shred them in the other room.
• He never played fetch.  If you threw the ball he would get it and run away with it.
• He loved to play tug-of-war, but if you lost your grip he wasn't coming back with it.
• He loved to give hugs.
• He loved to chase the bunnies.  If you said, "Jack where are the bunnies?" he would race to the back door.
• He was always good with guests and especially with kids.
• He was awesome in traveling in the car and we discovered just recently that he did well on a boat too!

Thanks, Jack, for being such a terrific dog!!!

Jack - Memorial Day 2012