31 October

First Time in Lake Tahoe 2006

First times with you

They all have similar qualities

There is an excited chaos

That always comes into play

A frenetic sort of spin

Where you're NOT quite sure what's going on

And then there is the adjustment

How you include it into YOU

I am always amazed at this

Yet it no longer surprises me one bit

30 October

Even those who were in your Life

For only a little while

Will live forever

In your heart.

It's THAT BIG!!!

29 October

I am amazed with your range of emotion

Your complexity

Is oftentimes

Utterly baffling

28 October

Looking Down At Dry Creek July 2008 Sedona

If I had to guess what you were seeing

What had captured your attention so completely

I would probably say the movement

And sound

Of the water flowing

Dancing

In the muddy river BElow

Where you had just been

Swimming

Frolicking

EnJOYing its wondrous muddiness

27 October

AHHHHHHH... A SNOOZE

How you love a soft place to land

To snooze in

Or on

Or under

26 October

deep in thought 2005

I'm never sure WHAT you are thinking

[Although I would love to know]

I only know you ARE thinking

25 October

Coming Home May 2005

It is nearly impossible to BElieve

You were once this small

Yet it seems only yesterday...

24 October

After the Snow March 2008

I love what I see in this photograph

Despite what isn't there still

BEcause it reminds me of how you were

Though NOT so much are Now

And I realise what a treasure memory is.

23 October

With My Mama Deer May 2005 Sedona

Love has always been your gift

To everyone

To everything

And your delivery?!

So often just like this

Like you are filling the pump

Leaning in

Leaving Love

22 October

Happy Gracie ~ Christmas 2008 ~ Mesa, Arizonie

I love how easily you smile

Let something deLIGHT you

Make anything into a JOYfull game

And yet you can also

BE still

Containing it all

Magically

Effortlessly

21 October

Sometimes I am sad

Or lonesome

MayBE just out of sorts

And always

Without fail

You turn this face on me

And when I'm done melting

All I can DO is laugh...

20 October

Sometimes I wish

Talking wasn't my default

That I could convey my thoughtsandfeelings

As effectively

As you DO

19 October

"Curious Georgia" June 2005 Sedona

You've never hesitated

When curious

Or even mildly interested

To get right up into it

[or who]

To find out what you can find out

18 October

But I AM Helping!!! 

Sedona September 2005

Of course you were...

Just like you still "help"

Grabbing your leash and growling on our walks

Picking stuff from the recycle bins

Bumping me in the back when you're ready to eat...

You're a great help, Gracie

I couldn't imagine you BEing any other way!!!

17 October

Off My Leash & On My Own Sedona 2008

You have always been

Independent

Making up your own mind

Thank-You-Very-Much

I remember when I first

REALLY respected this about you...

16 October

Sedona July 2008

You are sometimes rather strange

[but then, who isn't?!]

And VERY enthusiastic

Exuberant

DeLIGHTed by Life

Yet mud, which is a by-product

Of water

[RAIN]

Well, it can send you to the moon.

15 October

After... Sedona September 2005

When I see this photograph

And that very young

Starting to BE more dog than puppy

I am amazed by your Spirit

Your never-ending JOY

In Life.

14 October

Busy With My Pinecone May 2005 Sedona

When you concentrate

Putting all of YOU

Into DOing

or

Into BEing

You have remarkable focus

And the sweetest intensity.

13 October

Running Like the Wind Sedona 2008

How you love to run

And how funny your run IS

Though here

It shows it most gloriously

Lift off

Speed

Intention

Go Gracie Go!!!

12 October

August 2006 Lake Tahoe

When I see you looking

Like this

In a picture

I try to remember what you were looking at

What was going on

And in tiny remnants of memory

I imagine the moment

Again

Through your BEautimous face...

11 October

At Kiva Beach Lake Tahoe 2006

Your fearlessness has awed me

From the BEginning

And it has given me 

Wings

Encouraging me

Gently

To Fly

10 October

After it Snowed ~ Sedona 2008

You look at me sometimes

As you did here

And I am certain I "hear" you.

And I'm just as certain that 

YOU

Hear and understand me

Always...

9 October

With That Song in Your Heart ~ December 2005 Sedona

It has always been your way

Whether wearing that serious face

Or

That much goofier one

To have so much love inside of you

That it seems to sing:

All my loving I will send to you...

8 October

December 2005 on the Porch in Sedona

You have always had such a sweet face
A way of looking that is full of love
I think that is the BEauty of you
And your greatest gift.

7 October

The Tour "Guidess" Sedona 2008

You loved this wall

You'd always 

Stand Up on it

And just look at your face...

Tell me you did NOT know

I was taking your picture

Capturing this silly habit forever.

6 October

snoozing in the wee cottage 2010

My sweet sleeper girl

You DO love the concept

[and Practise]

of 

Sleep

Rest

&

Time for Pausing

&

Refreshing

5 October

Making Angels Sedona June 2005

I love that I can look at this face you are making

Here

In this long ago photo

And 

KNOW

That I will see it mayBE a dozen

Times

TODAY

BEcause that is just HOW expressive your face

IS

And always has been.

4 October

Lizard Watching in Sedona June 2005

Focus is one of those gifts

YOU have

&

Have shared with ME

I used to try DOing many things

at one time

DOing NOT one of them well...

It blesses me

That YOU show me new things

And remind me of others

I'd Let Go 

Along the way...

3 October

Indian Harbour Beach June 2010

You love BEing in a group of people

Finding a place

Just within reach

Of pets and rubs

Or

Where goodies drop

For you to discover

And

EnJOY

2 October

July 2005 Sedona

It amazes me

Now

To see how

YOU, Then

Weren't so very different.

Only Time

And Growth

Have changed you.

The BIGGEST difference

Is the cumulative

LOVE.

1 October

Sedona 2006

Despite your general goofiness
Your unstoppable puppiness
and
Your uncontainable deLIGHT about EVERYthing
You have moments like this one
Where you are deep in some thought
or other
That I will NEVER know you thought about
at all