For those of you that know me personally, you know I have a special connection with my 3 dogs. Smokey, Mia, and Chief.
I Just wanted to give a true and dear friend for 13 years a final tribute. Mr Smokey Dawg, I salute you, and thank you for always being there for me, always being a true friend. Pure unconditional love!
The recent cold weather has been hard on my dear beloved Smokey! This was one of my all time fav images of him, because it was “just him”. 
He had come up behind me while I had the camera in my hand, he stuck his head between my legs and looked up at me, the rest was captured forever.
I’m going to be saying goodbye to him Sat morning. But I have lots of wonderful memories and thankfully I’ve taken lots of images of him that will be cherished by me for the rest of my life.
A week and a half ago we were still taking walks and enjoying life together. Life can change quickly. But always look to see the positive, sometimes like now for me it can be really hard to do so, but remember those good times. Those positive things, those precious memories will be with us forever. I know in my case, Smokey my fuzzy, sometimes goofey bestest friend ever, will always be with me and he has truly touched my life in a very very special way!
So this holiday season, I wanted to remind everyone of the need to record those special memories this holiday season. Get those cameras out, record those special memories forever!
A special thanks to my son Joseph for bringing this wonderful friend named Smokey home while I was out of town a little over 13 years ago almost to the date. I walked in the door from a trip to Michigan to find him scratching at my sons bedroom door. He looked up at me and instantly won me over with those wonderful eyes of his and that special loving look of his! 🙂
I am also thankful to Chief and Mia, they will help me heal with their loving energy!
As always I hope that you are having a great day, and my sincere wishes that each and every one of you have a wonderful holiday season! Enjoy the poem named Rainbow Bridge who’s author is unknown, but whose words can bring such comfort at times like these.
Carl
Visions Photography
319-286-8483
http://www.visionsphotography.net
carl@visionsphotography.net
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
