Sparkle, my little Yorkie-Poodle mix dog, loved her Daddy. Even though he’s been gone for almost a year and a half, I think she still misses him—especially when we run into one of his buddies on our walks. She gets very excited when she sees these guys, almost as if she expects that Dan will be along soon, too.

Oh, how Dan loved Sparkle!

He walked her everyday as often as she wanted. Even if it was the last ten minutes his favorite TV show,  if Sparkle started making noises about going out, he got up and took her. (I eventually started taping his shows because he never knew how they ended, thanks to Sparkle!)

She spent her days draped across his lap, with him petting her. You could say she had him wrapped around her paw.

He would wake up early and bring her up onto the bed, which was one of the many things I swore she would never be allowed to do. He’d whisper to her, “Don’t tell Mommy that I let you up on the bed,” and then he’d give her a tummy rub and take her out for a walk. I almost always overheard them and just turned away and smiled, knowing that he loved Sparkle and that she loved him back.

Dan’s connection to Sparkle makes me feel more connected to him across time and space. I hope that when we are united in Eternity, we will still have our little dog to love.