Watching Kylie sleep has become more precious to me as she is into her senior years now. She will be ten next month.

Oftentimes I hear her snoring and can’t help but to just stop and watch her.

In those moments, I often find myself recalling the trip to Tennessee to bring her home from a breeder. I see in my mind’s eye the winding road we traveled, coming upon a run down trailer where the breeder lived and having second thoughts, and almost turning around and leaving.

But we had come so far. I couldn’t leave her behind. And it turned out the dog’s were well taken care of. The kennels clean, the dog’s appearing healthy and happy.

How she was just this chunk of pure love I held in my arms and my heart instantly flooded with love again after the loss of my chocolate Lab Cassie Jo a few months before.

Kylie swept right in and filled the void. A new love was in bloom.

I try not to think about her last breath that will come some day. Now closer than when she was a wee little pup.

Instead I focus on the joy it is to take care of her, to love her, to hug her, to be in this older stage of life with her.

This slowing down, taking in each moment with more awareness of what matters. This is a gift she gives to me each day.

The gift of her frosted face, her gentle spirit, and her powerful message that there is dignity and grace in being a divine old dog.

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