Destiny Grace, Jan 11th 1996 - Jan 16th 2009

It is with a heavy heart I write this to all of Destiny's new-found friends. I helped my baby girl Des cross the bridge this morning.

Destiny's spirit remained unshaken - she was a fighter to the end... her spirit was willing, her body was spent.

I gathered close friends of Destiny to my home last night and we had a farewell party. My sister, my neighbors, and Mike were there to pat her, to tell her we loved her, and we watched pictures on a slide show to laugh about good times, and tell stories about our adventures together. I am so grateful the people who made her most comfortable in her last year were able to share that moment with her. She deserved to be honored.

After they left, Destiny had a hard night, and finally... finally... she convinced my heart I was doing right by her. I wont go into details about the night and what she had to endure... but I can tell you one thing - she never gave up. I sat with her all night, stroking her beautiful, soft, white fur, telling her I loved her, and that she added so much to my life. She made me a better human.

Morning came, and I never thought I could do it. I never thought I could carry her into the vet office, lay her down on a bed, and sit with her while she drifted away. But I did. I did because I told myself as strong as she has been for me, I had to be just as strong for her.

As I said... I cant do her life justice in one blog entry. 13 years ago, I went to a local animal shelter in hopes of rescuing a dog.... and instead, she rescued me.

She came into my life when I needed a friend... as I had just lost my best human friend the summer before. I was rebuilding my life, I had just bought a home with my then husband to-be, and I was just discovering who I really was... and she helped me discover myself.

We went on countless adventures - probably more than the average dog does in a life time - camping, fishing, hiking, boating, ski-jouring, snow shoeing ... you name it, we did it... we did it together. She added spark and fun to everything we did. She had an amazing way of touching peoples lives... to this day, it is my belief that she has far more friends than I do... in fact, people often remember her name before they remember mine.

She was the only one in the world who stuck by my side no matter what. A little over a year ago, we struck out on our own - I was leaving a marriage that had abruptly ended, and it was the first time I had ever lived on my own. It was a scary and lonely time. Destiny never waivered. Because of her, we got the apartment that we did... it was the only ad in the paper that didnt say "no pets" ... and, the ad said "free eggs"... come to find out, my landlords have 6 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a bunch of chickens. It was the perfect new home for us. She got to chase chickens, play with kids and became one of the pack. My landlords quickly became our best friends.

She stayed strong and with me through it all. She was strong when I couldnt be... she added a sense of peace and calm to my new home that only she could bring. She made sure I was happy again, and I was going to be ok... she knew that Mike and Derby would be there for me. She knew it was her time. She just had to convince me of it....

This song came on the radio this afternoon... and it says everything about what I am trying to say about her.... I needed her, she needed me... she was my Destiny.

I cried a tear
You wiped it dry
I was confused
You cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me.

Chorus
You gave me strength

To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed me

And I can't believe it's you I can't believe it's true
I needed you and you were there
And I'll never leave, why should I leave
I'd be a fool
'Cause I've finally found someone who really cares

You held my hand
When it was cold
When I was lost
You took me home
You gave me hope
When I was at the end
And turned my lies
Back into truth again
You even called me friend

Repeat Chorus

You needed me
You needed me