In Memory of Mocha

I didn't expect to feel for you as deep as I did so quickly. You didn't catch my eye the first time I walked around the kennel at the animal shelter but when I saw you, you were sweet and didn't get in the face of the other dogs at the shelter. I guess I should have seen it with how excited you were to get out of your kennel, but I just thought that you were excited after 2 weeks of being in doggie jail. You had such a fun ride in the car and a trip through Petsmart where I spoiled you rotten, buying you much more than you needed. I laughed when we got home and you jumped into the trunk of my car while I was unloading the haul from Petsmart. You loved your Kong toy, watching you chase it around the house made me smile. I was worried with how easily you jumped up and were sniffing things on the counter, looking for something to eat. When you met my dad you wouldn't calm down and you decided that you liked my papasan chair and I knew we were going to have to work on the staying off the furniture thing. I tried to give you a bath, but that was a losing battle. I saw then that you were an escape artist and I didn't have your collar tight enough since you got out of it twice. I felt bad leaving you to go to a meeting at work. I didn't realize when I got home that our time together was almost done. We went out once and we came back inside. You looked so peaceful when you went and laid down in the middle of the living room while I was cooking. I was getting ready to eat myself and you were sniffing around the house in a way that made me worry so I put you back on your leash and took you out. You sniffed, you rolled and then you got free. You unclipped your leash and took off. I almost had you at one point and you took off again. Apparently you thought that we were either playing a game, you smelled an animal, or you were trying to get back to your old home. I thought that you were going to be fast enough. You almost made it across the street before the car hit you. I was horrified. I got to you as quickly as I could and you died in my arms. At least you had a good afternoon. You got to taste freedom again. I miss you Mocha.

In loving memory of Loha Gene Mussell

A Dedication to my Grandma
By Amanda Kay Mussell



Though we’re here to say goodbye
In our hearts you’ll always lie
And while we find it hard to let you go
In a better place you are, we know

You saw the beauty in every day life
It helped you through times of sorrow and strife
In your life, you fought the good fight
You fought that fight with all your might

You always took care of everyone else
As easily as taking a pulse
You never let go of being a nurse
Taking care of friends and family, for better or worse

Then it became time for us to take care of you
We did the best that we could do
Then God called you home to His eternal bliss
We said goodbye with a hug and a kiss

Finally reunited with your true love
We know that you watch down on us from above
We know you’ll be watching us every day
For you’ve joined the angels so faraway

Though you’re not near, you’re still around
With us in thoughts and sound
Whether through song or the sight of a flower
We know you’re near, in the peace of a rain shower

When times get bad and we’re filled with fear
We know you’ll make it better with an angel’s whisper in our ear
Helping us through the good times and the bad
Knowing you don’t want us to be sad

You’ve become our angel to adore
Waiting for us on God’s golden shore
Grandpa met you at heaven’s door
And told you “My dear, your suffering is no more.”

So, while we miss you so
We knew it was your time to go
As you sit in heaven’s splendor
You’re still our great defender

With a tear we say good-bye
We look for you now in the sky
And while our lives won’t be the same
We will forever carry your flame

Watch down on us Grandma
From heaven above
We will miss you forever
As we say good-bye with our undying love