Hello, My Dear Friends

Hello, My Dear Friends.

Boy, is it hard to be back.  

I would like to thank all of you who expressed your condolences, sent cards and/or said prayers on our behalf when we lost my dear Frankfurter.  Knowing how much people cared as we dealt with that terrible loss meant and still means more than I could ever adequately express in a blog post.  

It has been just over three months since I had to write the post I had been dreading for years to tell you my sweet Frankfurter had passed away.  My parents and I had thought he might be getting a little bit better, so when he passed away in his sleep on that Sunday afternoon, laying on the couch by his Grandpa, it was a shock to all of us.  

I told you this before, but it means so much to me that I'm going to repeat myself!   When I was holding Frankfurter the night before he passed away, he leaned up and kissed me.  He had been too sick to do that the previous week, so I thought it was a sign that he was getting better.  We were all so happy when he kissed me!  Looking back at it, I think he was telling me that he loved me and that perhaps he knew our time left together was short.  He was a sweet, caring, wonderful dog from the day I got him until the day he died.  We all miss him terribly.  

I think I knew from the moment I got Frank, because he had already stolen my heart, that the day he died would be terrible.  Losing Frank has been even worse than I imagined.  I can't even begin to put into words how much I miss that little ball of wiener dog joy that made every single day better.  

However, I have so much to be thankful for, also.  My parents and I had almost 16 wonderful years with Frankfurter.  There were several times we could have lost Frank, but were blessed with all of that time with him.  When he was a puppy, he chewed through a computer cord in my apartment.  I could not believe it when I saw the cord and still remember it vividly.  He had chewed through all of the protective plastic around it and even got through some of the wires which were directly plugged into the wall socket.  It is not an exaggeration at all when I tell you it was truly a miracle that Frank wasn't electrocuted.  

As a puppy, when we were out by my car, he decided to go for a walk on his own.  As I went chasing after him, he headed down the sidewalk.  Wiener dogs can be very fast, and there was no way I was going to be able to catch him on my own.  I was filled with panic and fear because at the end of the block, the sidewalk turned to go up into a shopping center.  I could not catch him, he was so tiny and if he had gotten to that shopping center, he likely would have been hit.  By no accident, I am sure, a car came driving down the road.  I started waving my arms like a lunatic and pointing to Frank so they wouldn't hit him.  Instead, the car passed me, pulled up beside him, the passenger opened her door, and Frank, always the people-friendly dog went right to her.  She picked him up and he was safe.  On the verge of tears, I thanked the people over and over, telling them I was so sorry and that he had never done anything like that before.  They told me it was alright, they, too, had wiener dogs and knew they could be ornery.  They gave me Frank back and went on their way to the shopping center.  I think I lost about 10 years off of my life that day and Frank learned that he wasn't allowed to leave our apartment without a leash for a very long time!  It was also after this event that we were pretty sure that Frank's guardian angel asked for a transfer.  :)

In Arizona, Frank had to have his first disc surgery for his back.  My parents were there and realized something was very wrong while I was taking a nap.  We ended up rushing him to our regular vet, who did not expect him to make it.  However, we took him to a special clinic where we were told by the vet there that he thought he could help Frank.  I was so relieved that before they even told us what the cost would be, I said it would be fine.  I also told the doctor that if he wasn't married (he had a ring on) that I would kiss him on the lips.  He laughed and then acted like he was going to slip his ring off.  It had already been seen, of course, so he was out of luck, but I will eternally be grateful to Dr. Levine for helping Frank have another 4 years and 4 months with us.  

Frank also had another disc problem here in Illinois.  This time, he went to Purdue University for back surgery.  Within just a few days, he tore his ACL in one of his legs and had to return back to Purdue.  We're still pretty sure that they hurt Frank so he would have to come back.  When one of the staff members had chicken for dinner, Frank barked until the person shared with him.   :)  He came home in a cone that time.  I'll never forget my parent's cat jumping on the bed and seeing Frank in that cone.  The cat flew off the bed, but looked back at us as if to say, "I don't know where you keep taking him, but you better stop!  He comes home in worse shape than he left every single time!"  Again, we were so thankful that Frank was able to be helped.  We were also very thankful for pet insurance which helped us to be able to take care of Frank financially.  

God also blessed us so many times, just during the last week of Frank's life.  My parents took him to the vet first thing on Monday morning when he had gotten so sick and they weren't sure he would make it through the day.  He was a fighter though, and he kept going.  Up until that week, I had not been able to hold him because he was too heavy and he hurt my back.  However, every night that week, I was able to sit up and hold Frank in my arms while he slept for hours.  I could feel him immediately relax when I took him and he would be able to go sound asleep.  I think he knew his Mommy had him and he was safe and loved.  During those times, I told him over and over how much I loved him, what a special boy he was, and that I was so thankful I got to be his mommy.  I wasn't about to leave Frank at night, not knowing if he would make it until morning, so I slept in bed with Frank and my Mom.  Before and after that week, I couldn't even stand to sit on that bed because it hurts my back so much.  I can't sit or lay on it now.  However, that week, God blessed me and let me sleep in that bed so I could put my hand on Frank at all times and let him know I was with him.  I treasure those memories now with all of my heart.  I am so thankful I was able to spend those precious moments with my baby.

Until Frank passed away, I thought "Life with a Wiener Dog" was just a fun name for my blog about cards.  Yes, Frank was definitely a part of it, but it didn't seem that connected to him in my mind.  After he died and still, I realize how intertwined they were, probably because everything in my life was intertwined with Frankfurter!  Everyone who knew me, even just a little bit, also knew about Frank.  Even though my back was better at the beginning of the summer, I couldn't bear the thought of making cards or going to Frank's blog which has been most of the reason for my being missing in action.  A nasty bug that made me feel nauseated for weeks and the ever present back problems didn't help any, either.  I was definitely so sad from losing Frank, though, that stamping and making cards was not even remotely appealing.  I even seriously thought about not stamping anymore.  

I recently told my Dad that I hated going to my blog.  It just reminded me of Frank.  I miss Frank so much as it is that seeing his pictures and thinking about his appearances on here just seemed almost unbearable.    

Luckily for me, my Dad is wise.  He told me that continuing my blog would be a way to honor him.  It would be a way to remind people about a wonderful wiener dog named Frankfurter and how special he was.  That made perfect sense to me.  I would love to honor Frank for all of the love and joy he brought into every life that he touched, especially mine.  I don't want people to forget him, just like I don't ever want to forget him.  So, if coming to my blog to see a card will also make someone smile when they remember Frankfurter the Wiener Dog, I'm in 100 percent.

Here is the card, again, in case you've been reading so long you've forgotten what it looked like.  :)  Unfortunately, the sun didn't want to come out when I was taking this picture to share with you!

I knew that my first card would be to honor Frank.  Man, is it hard to color when you're crying!  However, I was able to continue, all the while thinking about how special Frank will always be to me.  No matter how much time passes, he will always have my heart.  To that end, I created this card.  

It is based on My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #347 to help me get started.

  The stamp set, Birdie Brown You Have My Heart, was recently retired.  Of course, I had purchased it within hours of it being for sale from My Favorite Things!  It was in January and it ruined my New Year's Resolution of not buying any new stamps or stamping supplies.  However, it was a set based on a girl and her wiener dog!!!  How could I not buy it immediately??? 

I have also made 3 other cards which you will see in rapid succession this week.  I hope you enjoy them.  

Even more, I hope that when you see that there is a new post from 

Life with a Wiener Dog, you will remember my sweet Frankfurter and smile.  

Like I used to tell him, "All the little wiener dogs in the whole wide world, 

and I got the very best one."  He truly was and still is one of the very best parts of my life and I will forever be grateful that God blessed me with him.

Thank you, again, for your love and support.  

Happy Stamping! 

I used the following supplies 

to make this card honoring Frank:

Birdie Brown You Have My Heart Stamp Set by My Favorite Things

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad by Tsukineko

Lavender Fields Ink Pad by My Favorite Things

Copic Markers

Solar White Card Stock by Neenah

Tiny Stars Pastels Paper Pack by My Favorite Things

Stitched Dome Frame Die-namics