Love Like Bella
Love Like Bella
As many of you know, Bella has been a huge part of our lives.
This past week we lost Bella. It was not expected and sudden. Our hearts are broken.
I took time away from blogging, the workshop, social media, taking photos and taking showers…
much to Mike’s dismay! :/
Click to continue reading and share your pet stories….
Bella arrived in our home just as I was starting Country Design Style in April 2013. She quickly became my DIY buddy.
Trips to Home Depot rarely happened without Bella. Sounds of saws didn’t bother her.
When we returned home with our DIY supplies, she would find her spot on the jacuzzi top so she could watch over the workshop. If you’ve watched any of my Periscopes you know she loved the spotlight! If she wasn’t in the periscope, Bella was laying at my feet.
Bella except order in the house. Above she’s with Homer our 11 year old German Shepherd who I’ve never been able to train. For the first 8 years with Homer I tussled with him every time the dishwasher opened. He liked to “pre-rinse” the dishes. Bella trained him to stop within the first three weeks.
No “pre-rinsed” dishes for us anymore!
Bella was pretty good with a hammer but messy with a paint brush.
Bella was tough as nails while while remaining a girly girl. Her ears remind me of pigtails.
Bella now lives deep in our hearts.
Thank you so very much for reading “Love like Bella.” This is one more step to healing.
Please tell me about your fur babies in comments below. I would enjoy reading about them.
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Awe Jeanette, so sorry to read this – sending hugs your way from Canada. I remember all too well the day we said goodbye to our 15- year old Shanleigh, a.k.a. my shadow, so I know your pain.
Thank you Marie. It’s amazing how deep in our hearts they can bury. ~Jeanette
Jeanette, I’m so very sorry for your loss. I shall miss Bella’s appearances on periscope. I understand the heartache that comes with the loss of a beloved furry family member. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t long for just one more moment with my dogs that have passed. I currently have three rescue dogs. They are my dearest friends, my confidants, my partners in crime, my snuggle buddies. Dogs lives are short, we know that when we bring them into our lives that we will be there when they exit theirs. The wonderful unconditional love they bestow on us each day is the balm for that impending loss that is so difficult to bear. Bless you for giving Bella such a beautiful life. Sending much love.
Aw, I’m so sorry. I lost my Lucy when she was three…treats from China. Breaks my heart to this day. Got my boys shortly after… Realized I needed a dog; why not two at the same time? So I have brothers. I love them but I don’t recommend getting litter mates. They compete for everything, hard to train. But I love those two goofballs. They’ve helped heal the hole Lucy left behind.
I’m sorry for your loss. Our fur babies steal our hearts.
Oh Cecilia, I know Lucy is in your heart. I read once, “the best place to bury a good dog is in the owners heart.” Cecilia, I sure when our time comes we will have a heart full of the love of dogs. ~Jeanette
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Hugs to you Sharon. ~Jeanette
Jeanette,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our “pupples” lives are short but packed with love. I emailed a poem from one of my favorite authors (Jon Katz) to you about the loss of his dog, but here’s something that he wrote recently about his dog Fate, and kind of sums up how much my dogs mean to me.
“With dogs, life is compressed. It is one of those things that makes life with them so intense, so emotional sometimes, so powerful. Their lives are short, their bodies change and evolve quickly. Fate is on the cusp, in between being a puppy and a young lady. Her legs are long and lanky, she has a regal bearing sometimes, she is sure of herself, full of personality, curious, loving, in perpetual motion.
Once or twice in day, always towards the evening, she will rest, only if Maria and I are still and not near the door. I get the sense she is pausing, in a month or two she be in adolescence, then soon enough in middle age. This is the wonder and drama and beauty of the dog, if we are wise and strong enough to accept. Dogs give us the choice of mourning all the time – they move through life quickly – or celebrating all the time.
We barely get used to one phase of their lives, and we are in another. How long ago was it that I brought her out to sheep every morning, watched her wide eyes open in amazement. She had found her purpose in life, how often do we get to see that?
Life compressed, engaging us, enchanting us, moving on, as spirit creatures do when their work is done. So much to see and feel. Can a candle that burns that bright keep the flame going forever. No, not forever. In their lives, we see the mirrors of our own, that is why we love them so much.”
Take care my friend,
Yvonne
Yvonne you are such a great friend. Thank you for sharing the poem and the idea of life compressed. We have a bookcase of books. Well over half are about dogs. My son was helping me though the loss and remembering the short but happy times with the love of a dog. Thank you. ~Jeanette
I am so sorry for you loss. I have been thru it so many times. Two weeks ago I went thru it again. While at the vets waiting, I read a poster with the veterinary oath. The part that stood out was “the prevention and relief of suffering” . So thankful that they were there for my “Norman”. Animals give so much love and become such a huge part of your life.
Diane, I too am sorry for your loss. I’ve only gone through this twice. The first dog was named Norman too. I miss and think of him everyday. Thank you for sharing the part of the veterinary oath. They do amazing and heartbreaking work. ~Jeanette
So sorry for your loss…what a sweetheart?
Thank you Deana <3 ~Jeanette
I don’t miss one of your posts ever since I found your blog , you make beautiful & inspiring things, this one is heartbreaking, in fact I started reading you because I saw something with dogs around and when I read you give donations from your blog to help dogs I was totally catched and I told my husband ” this is the kind of person I would love to meet and have as a friend… hard to find. I’m truly sorry about Bella, I believe that we will find all our beloved pets for good … Someday.. You will never stop missing her but ,in time , she will help you find another spot in your heart to give another dog the wonderful life they all deserve and you will be amazed on how much love you have to give and receive again… I hope the awful feeling of loss is replace soon with the satisfaccion of knowing she had the best life possible because of you, just take your time, it is not easy at all. ( excuse my English ..in case)
Andrea I’m so glad you found me too. I feel that all my readers are friends. I have a deep passion for the amazing work our Humane Society does for the animals in need. I have to admit, Bella was such a large part of this blog I was sure I would continue. Bella came to us on April 5 2013 and Country Design Style’s first post was April 10. In looking back through pictures this weekend I was surprised by the hundreds of projects that she was photographed with. I know now that Bella wouldn’t be happy if I stopped what we started together. I’m listening to her. You English is perfect! I believe it’s the endearing and inspiring words and not where the comma is or the spelling that really matters. Your friend ~Jeanette
We had our dog for 13+ years and had to usher him across the rainbow bridge the week before you did. What a terrible thing to have to do. The house is so quiet without him. My husband dreams about him barking and it wakes him up–to a quiet house. I know your pain. Prayers are with you too.
Lois please know my thoughts are with your family. Are nights are rough now too! Praying for your family. ~Jeanette
I can certainly feel your pain and loss. We have lost many beloved pets over the years and are now facing losing our 13 year old German Shepard. He has cancer and after the first tumor removal we have decided not to put him through anymore fear and pain. We are going to love him and show him how much he means to us until the end. Bella knew what a special place she held in your hearts. I say ‘I can’t go through this again’. But those of us that are true animal lovers must continue to be pet- parents!
So sorry about Bella. We’ve had so many beloved pets over the years that this happened to and you never get used to it do you. They become a part of the family and that the way it is.
Phyllis, your words touch me. They do become family members and that’s the way it should be. ~Jeanette
Sue please give your German Shepherd a hug from us. Homer our German Shepherd has cancer as well, but living well with no treatments. He has been sad and missing Bella. ~Jeanette
I’m so sorry. I lost Charlie 25 years ago. That’s right. Twenty-five years. It feels like 25 hours. There is not a day goes by that I don’t miss that little Shih Tzu. He was the love of my life, much like your Bella. When you love an animal like that, it is no different than losing a close relative. Grieve for her. Miss her. And then, smile and know you were so very blessed to have had her. You will start to smile at her memory. And, it will be OK………..
Oh Linda, thank you!! It will be OK. Bella wouldn’t have it any other way. The pain and heartache will never go away but with time it does change. Now my body even misses her. I didn’t realize how much she was always touching me. ~Jeanette
So sorry for your loss. It’s a devastating thing.
Thank you Linda. Mike and I are in the “one thing at a time” mode right now. With each thing Bella mends our hearts. ~Jeanette
Godspeed to Rainbow Bridge sweet Bella. Hugs for Jeannette and family.
We are so warming by all the sweet thoughts and hugs. Thank you. ~Jeanette
Jeanette, my heart breaks for your loss. No one can ever prepare for that kind of emptiness . We too lost one of our best friends who became suddenly sick and went from okay(so we thought) to needing to be put to sleep. He was approximately 8yrs. Old. A Rescued Vizsla. He was the most amazing dog. Even people that were afraid of dogs liked him. One day he just wasn’t himself. His gums were grey and he was lethargic. I took him to the vet immediately only to find out a couple hours later he was in stage 4 cancer, and bleeding internally from the spleen. Heart broken, my husband and our children gathered around him and said our goodbyes as he was eased over the rainbow in his own bed in the vets care. He was a sensitive dog and we didn’t want to put him thru testing and poking and prodding to lengthen his life for our needs. I asked my girls 7 and 10 at the time to please not cry so he wouldn’t sense their hurt and they were troopers. Nothing breaks your heart more than your children’s heart broken pain. They held their tears, he wagged his tail until he closed his eyes. Miss him everyday.
What a beautiful and heartbreaking story of your sweet rescue. Dogs and children together. Amazing to watch their interaction. Thank you for sharing with me. ~Jeanette
Out of the mouth of babes Children are so smart.
“People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”
The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Thanks Donna for sharing this. My son was comforting me with a similar story about filling our human hearts with the animal hearts that share our lives. So much so that when we pass we do so with a unconditional heart of our animals. ~Jeanette
I am so sorry to hear of little Bella’s passing. I know she was your sidekick and she adored you. She was a blessing in your life and came in your home and gave you a love you didn’t even know you needed. She left knowing she was loved deeply. May the happy times with her help mend your broken heart.
Your friend; Donna
Oh, Donna thank you so much. There’s nothing like the love of a dog. ~Jeanette
Oh how heartbreaking!- what a completely darling (and crafty) pup.
We recently lost one of our rescue kitties to illness and even with three others bouncing around there is an such emptiness in the house.
Thoughts are with you.
Christina I’m sorry to hear about the lost of one our your sweet kittens. I know they have a warm home around your house. Sharing thoughts with you too. ~Jeanette
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Bella. I had noticed that you were very quiet for the past few days and I thought maybe you were enjoying a holiday. Take care.
Paulette
Thank you Paulette. Mike is glad I finally showered. 😕 We are taking care and I’m getting back into things. Your friend ~Jeanette
Jeanette, I am so deeply sorry for your loss – it especially hits home with me since I have Sarah, a rescue, that looks like she is related to Bella. Sarah has made such a wonderful change in our lives. We rescued her to train another rescue we had to be a dog. He had been in a puppy mill and didn’t know what it was like to live outside a cage until Sarah came along and taught him to bark, run, and play. We recently lost Buddy to congestive heart failure but at least we know Sarah made a difference to him too. There is absolutely nothing like having unconditional love and we found it with our Sarah. Again, I am so, so sorry. My heart breaks for you.
The story of Sarah and Buddy lifts my heart! <3 Thank you Peg for sharing it with us. Buddy had a special family. Sarah has a heart of gold. ~Jeanette
So sorry for the lost of your beloved Bella, we dog owners who have a special connection with our pets will hold them deep in our hearts until we see them again. I lost my “soulmate” dog over a year ago after 16 years, she died in my arms. I still think about her almost every day.
That member of your family will always be treasured and remembered. You are in my thoughts today.
Collen thank you for telling me about your “soulmate” dog. At this point, I’m beginning to cherish that Bella died in our arms. I’m feeling your warm thoughts. ~Jeanette