Tuesday, July 26, 2011

As The Time Draws Near

"It only takes a moment to say hello but forever to say goodbye"-Unknown Author 

I have less than three weeks left with Dembre. I have realized this is the time that I need to sit back and enjoy Dembre for who he is and not try to fix his problems. It feels so weird to be getting ready to say goodbye. Last November I said I had a year left with Dembre. After that the date was changed to August. Time ticked away and now the time is almost here. I picked up Dembre excited, exuberant, and expectant of the things that were to come. Now I'm sitting here with turn-in just around the corner.

I want to say that I have LOVED raising Dembre. We've had our ups and downs, but it's been a journey of love and excitement. I'll miss my little boy when we leaves, but I know that the future is before us and I want to walk into it with my head held high. I've been storing up tears for the day I say goodbye. Want to know something? I know I'm going wake up on August 13th and say, "Wow, today's the day! I'm NOT ready!" When I actually come to the final step of putting Dembre in the kennel. Something's going to change. Maybe a feeling of success and confidence. Maybe a question about how Dembre will do. Maybe the realization that I didn't do everything as I should have, but I'm going to think something. In February I went to my first CCI graduation. Dembre's turn-in seemed distant. Now I can see myself saying goodbye. It's time! I have 18 days left! Only..... 18...... days. Tomorrow I will be attending my final puppy class with Dembre at my side. Time FLIES!


~Elijah & Dembre

5 comments:

  1. I know one thing, you should feel proud. You have done an amazing job with Dembre. He's so good with his commands, and he looks up to you with respect. That you can see in his eyes. Be proud Elijah!

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  2. You have done a great job with Dembre! When I turned Mindy in, I felt like I'd done everything wrong and she wasn't ready, but when we got CCI and I asked her to put the matriculation cape on (she always had a hard time putting her cape on, that was one of our biggest challenges) she just shoved her right in and I knew that she was ready for the next step. Enjoy the rest of your time with him, live in the moment, and take lots of pictures!

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  3. I've enjoyed reading your recent blog updates... especially the turn-in preparation ones. Your thoughts and feelings are all too familiar to me! That said, there is something really neat about turning in your first CCI puppy. When you walk out of CCI without Dembre, you can hold your head high, look around at all the other puppy raisers who are doing it or have done it, and say "I'm now one of them". You will have just done the thing that so many people say "I could never do"... and you should be very proud of it! And the good news is... it's not the end of the journey, but rather, the end of the BEGINNING of Dembre's life story! I am so excited to see what God has written for his next chapter of life, and I'm also excited to see the new book that will be starting... about Mr. "H"!!! :-) Keep up the good work Elijah! I'm proud of you and Dembre for a job well done!

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  4. You have such a talent for making me cry! :) Dembre is ready for the next chapter of his life thanks to your care and commitment. You've done such an amazing job with him. And, Hosta's rather jealous of Ansel since Ansel gets to meet Dembre! Good job, give lots of hugs and keep making memories. Looking forward to meeting Mr. H!

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