Living The And

Thirteen years ago today, we rescued Gertie and Gracie.

Two tiny, ridiculous littermates who walked into our lives just as we were grieving what would never be.

Today is their Gotcha Day. Their last one together.
Our last day as a family of five.

Tomorrow, we say goodbye to Gracie.

So today, we soak it in. The sister snuggles, the loud yawns, the reverence, the joy.

What an incredible gift it’s been to have these two girls in our lives.
The laughter. The healing. The love.

Gracie, thank you for every ounce of joy you’ve brought us.
Gertie, we’re holding you so close.

Living The And—where celebration and grief sit hand in hand, where joy doesn’t cancel pain, and pain doesn’t steal the beauty. It’s holy ground. Today is a day of deep celebration and sacred grief. And we’re letting it be both.

*Not the usual cute Gotcha Day photo this year. So I’m sharing last year’s for reference—and a glimpse of my view for the next 24 hours: all three dogs, curled up beside me. The sacred stillness of our last day together.