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Yes, the current weekly giveaway is under the So Much Good News title. And we’ve had lots to celebrate, so please visit that blog post and leave a comment to win.

But life is never just up. It’s a mix of moments and events that make up a beautiful and messy tapestry full of stories that span sheer joy to gutwrenching heartbreak.

For us, March roared in with devastation this year. Boo, our sweetest little greyhound, died of bone cancer on Saturday.

What we thought was only a sprained knee two weeks ago, was in fact the beginning of the end. We just didn’t know it. The moments we thought were progress did not last. In fact her last thrity-six hours were such a rapid decline it was frightening.

And heartbreaking.

This wasn’t the first greyhound we’ve seen across the Rainbow Bridge. These final moments are the worst part of loving anyone – and yet I know the memories of all the joy she gave us will outweigh the tremendous sadness. Eventually.

I have a deadline at the end of this week. I had a plan to reach it – and I will rework the plan. But right now my heart is broken and in this vast empty space the only words I have are for Boo.

There won’t be anymore bouncing when we come home. No more of her sweet smiles. No more of her happy tail pounding loudly against the trash can in anticipation of breakfast or dinner. Or a cookie. In the past week there had been more quiet mornings, rather than her typical squeaky-toy seranade, but the new silence is so, so heavy.

She was a dancer. And a killer. She would sit like a sphinx outside and wait for the squirrels to get lazy or young bunnies to stray an inch too far from the nest.

We’ll miss watching her race around the yard. She was always delighted when she ran right out of her collar, making me come out and search for it. I always laughed when she would suddenly stop running because she remembered she had to go potty.

Today those moments make me cry. All the little places of our home and hearts she filled are raw gaps right now. Life goes on, despite the heartache. There is comfort in the routine of each day, despite the obvious absence of Boo.

We’ve been here before. I know it will get better. Eventually.

For now, I will embrace being heartbroken.

Loving her was a treat, a true blessing of spirit. We were so happy when we ‘failed’ as her foster home and made her a forever part of our family. We had a fullness of joy and gratitude in every day she shared with us.

She was a happy girl with a fear of thunder. A silly, sweet girl with a clever ornery streak. She would outmaneuver the boys to get more lovies or the firt treat. She allowed cats to cuddle with her and she helped amuse Bandit when his puppy-ness was overwhelming.

She loved to carry off my fuzzy slippers, but she never once chewed them.

Today the grief feels too big, an impossible task, even knowing she’s running free of pain in a better place.

Here, in the trenches of heartbreak our friends have offered us beautiful solace. Our wonderful veterinarian and her staff were amazing, kind, and thoughtful. There have been so many blessings in this terrible, unthinkable moment.

Life will surely swing upward with even more good news again soon and we will welcome that respite when it comes. Being heartbroken somehow underscores joy, making those moments of happiness sweeter and stronger to carry us through dark days like this one.

Farewell to our sweetheart, Boo.