I love the name of this new custom candle company, A Chosen Moment.  Started by Nadine M. Rosin, author of The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood, which I highly recommend everyone read.  It was the most honest and authentic book I have ever read.

About a month ago I won a free 1/2 hour consultation with Nadine, which I also highly recommend.  She is a very intuitive and caring woman.  She told me about her new candle company she was beginning and asked my thoughts.  She said they would be candles with photos of loved ones, human or pets on them in their honor or memory.  I loved the idea!  What a beautiful way in which you can connect with your beloved pet (or loved one) in a quiet time of reflecting on fond memories, with the light of the candle bringing out the spirit and glow of all your pet was to you.  The idea made my heart tingle.

So I submitted a photo of my chocolate lab, Cassie Jo, who passed away in 2005, for the contest she was running to introduce her company. I was thrilled when I learned that Cassie Jo was one of the photos that won and could hardly wait to see my candle.  So if you follow me on a regular basis, you know I believe in signs.  The photo I submitted was taken in April 2005, three months before Cassie Jo passed away.  I won the candle in April of this year.  Cassie Jo will be gone five years as of July 11th, so I plan on lighting my candle on that day.  Again this just makes my heart tingle.

So before revealing the photo I submitted I have to tell you why it is my chosen moment.  Cassie Jo was the first dog I had in my married life.  For some reason my husband and I decided that dogs did not belong in the living room, only the kitchen (as you know I’ve surpassed that stupid rule!).  Eventually she was “allowed” in the living room, then on our bed and before you knew it she was deeply embedded in our hearts.  The one “rule” I would not let her break was the rule of laying on the living room furniture.  My red chair was sacred to me.

Well in April of 2005 we realized Cassie Jo was not going to be with us too much longer. She was showing signs of declining.  One day I discovered her sitting on my sacred red chair.  In that moment I realized I would give anything to have her well again.  So what if she sat on the furniture?  It was only a material thing.  I’d live with shabby chic furniture the rest of my life if I could just have her with me a little while longer.

Though that was not meant to be, she did get to enjoy the sacred red chair any old time she wanted and I even fluffed up the arm of the chair with her favorite sleeping bag… so is the photo that is my chosen moment on my custom candle.

The sacred red chair became a place of comfort for me when Cassie Jo died.  It also became the place where I would sit with pen and journal in hand as I began my authentic search for who I truly was.  Cassie Jo lead me to that search and she continues to be with me in my heart as I live a life of joy that she taught me.

I also ordered a custom candle for my new friend, Erin who runs Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuaryin loving memory of her disabled horse, Moki who was put to sleep on May 26th due to extreme pain and mental anguish he was in.   Frankie and I truly enjoyed gifting her with the candle for her quiet moments of reflection.  As I finish typing this blog post Barbra Streisand is singing, “Memories.”  Must be a sign.  🙂