Well said. thank you for this.

Jan.

It has been over two weeks since we lost Woody and I thought it was getting a little easier for me. That is until today. Yesterday, I asked Steph when we were going to get Woody's ashes back. She said that she would call and when she did she found out that because she was so upset when she filled out the paperwork at the emergency clinic where they took Woody that she gave them the wrong phone number. That is the reason that we had to wait so long. So, she went today to get Woody's ashes and when she got back in the car, she called me crying her eyes out and that started me crying my eyes out. I had to take Smokey to get his nails trimmed today and when I got home Woody's box was on the table. I picked it up and hugged it and the tears and feelings were there just like it was the first day. At least my Woody Boy is home. He's not in the same form as when he left but at least he is home. Life sucks rght about now. I'm about half way through the "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" book and I like it. If you aren't a Christian and don't believe that the Bible is the Word of God then the book won't give you any comfort. I should be done in a few more days and I'll let you know what I think about it then.

Steve,
I am crying with you.

Dearest Steve, I read your post and my heart is literally breaking for you, Dear One! Please forgive me but all here who know me do realize that it's so much easier for me to express myself using images, poems, songs and the like. This is what came to me to give to you in your time of great sorrow at this moment.

Woody says:
I hear your Voice on the Wind, Dad! And I hear you call out my Name!
I am the Voice of the past that will Always be!
I am the Voice of your hunger and pain. Answer my call and I'll set you Free!
I am the Voice! I Will Remain!









Many Comforting Hugs, Love, Peace, Faith, Hope and Angels to You and Woody!!!

Always,
Dottie xoxoxox

Hi SteveK., Oh how I know how your feeling. I never had a problem with having Arthur's ashes. I feel that I know where he is and I have something to hold and cry over and talk to and kiss. And it brings me comfort. I do hope in time it will do the same for you... Hugs.. Ann

when I got home Woody's box was on the table. I picked it up and hugged it and the tears and feelings were there just like it was the first day. At least my Woody Boy is home.

I'm glad your boy is home. Your reaction is very normal. It takes time and even then at times the pain and tears will hit us again..unexpectedly. Again...all normal.

Whatever helps you to feel better is the okay thing to do. Sometimes in my topic, I write a post to my boy...that helps me to get out my words somewhere since he is not here for me to tell him in person. Others here do the same. I guess it is one way of feeling a "contact" again with them.

Everyone has the same pain but sometimes we cope in different ways and surprisingly, we find sometimes we cope the same way. So one may ask...am I crazy? And the answer is always...NO you are not. Whatever helps is okay.

Two weeks is such a very short time...the easing of pain usually takes much more time. We take baby steps forward one day at a time and then one day...out of the blue...we feel it all back again, overwhelming and painful and we cry until we are exhausted. And..that is normal. That is okay.

I am glad you have Smokey. I have had 2 dogs and lost one. I have had 1 dog and lost that one. And for me, it really helped so very much to have one still with me vs none.

I wish you and Steph peace and healing and know it takes a lot of time and never truly goes away completely because as long as their memories are with us, we won't forget the good memories and we also won't forget the sad ones because all were a part of our lives. The healing begins when we use the good memories to push away the sad ones. We are so grateful they were part of our lives and we know their souls are with us forever. There are special bonds formed that can never be broken..by any power.

Hi, Steve, getting our furkids ashes back can be both comforting and difficult because it is another "reality" check that our beloved furchild is not with us as they used to be. Holding Woody's ashes can be very comforting, as I did that with my Eli for quite awhile, and still do occasionally. I also slept with my Eli's collar under my pillow for months. This grief journey is both physical and emotional - - and so it is important for you and your wife to do whatever helps to ease the burden of this horrible loss in your lives. And I have e-mailed the Scripture study to you as you requested. I hope you find it helpful, and I will look forward to reading your book review of "Cold Noses". Steve, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful pictures with us, and for keeping us posted as to how you're doing. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Woody's ashes stayed in the bedroom last night on my chest of drawers. He will remain there for a while until we get one of his pictures framed and then we will place the photo next to his ashes in a prominent place in our living room. Woody loved to carry around a squeaky hamburger dog toy. He would carry one around for several weeks and then he would chew it up. Once he chewed it, we would get him another one or two or three. One time he chewed the bottom out of one and it is almost a perfect circle except for the chewed edges. I carry it in my pocket every day and hold onto it several times a day. I have seen posts from some members that mention a sign from their recently departed pet. Does anyone have any experience with this? The day that we had to put Woody down, we took Smokey for a walk across the street. There was a certain location that had a lot of undergrowth where I expect rabbits may hide. Almost every time we got to that spot, Woody (when he was alive) would literally hop up into the air and vault over the undergrowth and run around in the brush looking for the rabbits. Well, as I was saying, we took Smokey for his walk that sad day and when we got to that exact spot Smokey leaped into the air like Woody used to and ran around in the brush looking for the rabbits. He never did it before and he hasn't done is since. He's almost 10 years old and he doesn't do much jumping (if any) anymore. My wife said that it was a sign from Woody and that he was saying goodbye. If it was a sign from Woody I would like to think that he was telling us that he is okay. What do all of you think?

Yes, Steve I have had at least two similar occurrences. The answer to your question is no. It was not a sign that Woody was saying good-bye. Steve, animals have a 6th sense which most of us do not possess. They can sense and see those things that are not visible to us. If you wish me to provide links to Websites verifying this, I will be glad to do so.

Again, Woody was not saying good-bye. Steve, you got visited by Woody. Word! I'll be glad to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability.

Tons of Hugs, Love and Angels to You, Your Dear Wife, Smokey and Woody!!!

Always,
Dottie xoxox

Steve, here's another thought. I just read your post again and, when referring to Smokey, you said: "He's almost 10 years old and he doesn't do much jumping (if any) anymore."

Okay. It could be that Smokey did sense or see Woody and got an "adrenaline rush" because of it ... You know ... Got excited so Smokey was leaping and jumping while playing with Woody.

There is another possibility. Since Smokey is 10 years old and doesn't do much jumping or anything of that nature anymore, it could be that transmigration was taking place. Wow!

Either way, you got visited by Woody. "Hello Woody!"

More Hugs!!!

Always,
Dottie xoxoxox

I would say you experienced your first "hello" from Woody. Also I would say he'd like for you to know he is more than ok. His spirit is very much alive and remains with you now as he always did.

I've experienced many "hellos" from my Goliath. I'm also convinced he reaches my other two chihuahuas on occasion. I've walked into rooms where Goliath spent alot of time to find my Gidget staring at a wall or at the fireplace. I've tried to get her attention and she stays fixed on what she's looking at as though she can't hear me at all. Gidget was never the cuddling type like Goliayh always was. After Goliath passed away and I cried so much at night, Gidget began curling up in my arms and sleeping close with me through the night. She still does it to this very day.

When Browser was just 12 weeks old he went missing. I believe with God's guidance and intervention He allowed Goliath to lead his baby brother back to safety. Please do read about the miracle of Browser's return home in the Missing Section of this forum. It truly is a testament of faith and I share with all how Goliath played an integral part of this miracle rescue.

In my topic "Goliath's Blessings," I describe probably my most profound visit from Goliath. That was one day I will never forget because it was the day I became free of the despair and agonizing sadness that nearly had nearly crippled me for life.

There have been other sounds I have heard like the jangling of his tag against the buckle on his collar. This sound I have heard more than a dozen times. Once I heard his bark in the wind and my neighbor said she heard it too.

I do believe Woody remains with you and speaks to you. Bodies perish, but loving spirits stay alive as long as we nuture them with our love and positive open thoughts. Only worlds separate us for now as we stay connected in spirit. Your connection with Woody could not be broken either here on Earth and will not be broken through physical death either.

My Goliath taught me many lessons of love and still finds his way to reach me when I need him the very most.

Much love to you and your wife and I wish many more "hellos" come your way.

Hugs of comfort and love from my heart to yours,
Beth

I have sometimes felt just what my pets are feeling i.e. a feeling like tonsilitis, then finding out my dog had a sliver in his tonsil etc. I feel this is a sign of the connectedness we have with all life. And I think that Woody was showing his connectedness with Smokey and with you in that moment.

Jan.

I agree with others here that it was a sign from Woody that he is okay.

I haven't had such experiences in my lifetime but I have read many here who have so I believe it can happen.

Woody Boy,

As you know, Daddy sat and held your ashes this afternoon and the tears flowed again. I miss you, my big red dog. This was your favorite time of the year. It's my favorite time of the year but not this year because I won't have you to share it with me. I guess you know that Mommy, and Smokey and "A" and Karma miss you, too. I look at your pictures every day and I won't ever forget you and your special ways. I hope that you are with Beau and Furfee and that you met Peanut and Tinker and Cindy. They are dogs that we had when I was younger and I loved all of them, too. We love you Woody Boy.

Dad & Mom

Steve, Woody is there. It's his favorite time of year and he wouldn't miss it for all the tea in China. Word!





















































Okay, so you may or may not see him. But he's right in there, jumping, leaping, catching those leaves and chasing them in the wind. Hey, I see him. You can, too. Just be very, very still. Very still. Wait ... Then ... Listen ... And look ...
Okay? It works.

Tons of Hugs, Love, Peace, Hope and Faith to You, Your Dear Wife, Woody and those leaves he's chasing around and fetching to bring back to You!!!

Always,
Dottie xoxoxox

PS. Steve, I just did an edit to put spaces between what I said/typed and the image so you can better relax, concentrate and focus on that image without any 'text' as a distraction. More Hugs!!!

I finished the "Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates" book today. The man who wrote it is a Baptist minister, a Bible Scholar, and an animal lover. The book is very well written but as I stated previously, if you don't beieve in God and believe that the Bible is the word of God then the book probably won't do much for you. I am including a link to the website:

Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates

The book helped me. I recommend it and if your faith is strong, it will comfort you. The web site will give you a better idea of what is in the book than I can give you. Read the reviews. Check it out at your leisure. It's the real deal. God bless all here who have lost a furry friend.

Hi Steve------I am at the end of Cold noses at the 30 day affirmation section.It has been since sept 3-08 That I lost My Willy boy.When I got his ashes back I relived the whole thing.I have pictures of him at different ages all around his box.I totally lost it today screaming at the top of my lungs for him.Then I had to go to work.That put the S in Sucks!!!!!!!!! I also did a google map search today and was back in my old neighborhood via computer at the old park he used to run in when he was real young.Sometimes I look at the old house and think I should move back but then reality hits and I realize that was a different time and it is gone forever.When I read your posts you remind me of me.Back to the book.It brings me back to when I was a kid and had a very simple and literal view of God and the hereafter.I am very comforable with the biblical view.I remember when my Father died and I started to revisit my childhood theological beliefs and it brought me great comfort.Now 6 years later they are stronger than ever as I am older and losing Willy is actually more devastating than losing my Father because of the mixed answers one gets while researching the afterlife of animals.Gary Kurz puts it in a very well thought out format and can back up his statements with,what is for me solid biblical evidence of the high probability of animals in the afterlife when the Earth is renewed.Most comforting.We ALL have to be incredibly patient and faithful.For me this is a bit of a wake up call that I think is not by accident.
your fellow furbaby Dad,
Bubba...............

Believe that was a sign from Woody. He was telling you he is always with you. Keep your heart opened and await many more.. Hugs.. Ann

Hi, Steve, thanks so much for your review of Cold Noses. It sounds like a very uplifiting and comforting book. I will check out the reviews as you recommended. The first year of a loss is always difficult, Steve, because it is filled with the "first" of everything - - first birthday, first holidays, first anniverary, etc.. - - which is a constant reminder that we no longer have the physical presence of our beloved companion to share the events with us. But they are still with us in our hearts and our memories, and in time I hope this will bring some comfort to you so that you know you can still share your life with your precious Woody and talk to him as you always have -- for he is still with you and listening as intently as he always has. My little kitty boy Noah has also taken on some of the personality of his adopted big kitty brother Eli who joined the angels almost two years ago. Noah adored Eli, and Eli was the best big kitty brother to Noah that anyone could ever hope for. So, yes, I do believe that the furkids who remain in the household do in some way take on the living Spirit of the one who has joined the angels. But this does not diminish their own sweet individual personalities - - it just lets us know that our beloved ones who have joined the angels are still with us. Steve, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and thank you again so much for sharing with us about Cold Noses. And please let us know how you're doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam