Some sad news

I know I haven't updated the blog in long time, and I'm sad that this is what has been the next installment. Our beautiful black dog, Leia, was hit by a car today and died. There has been this stray dog in our neighborhood for the last 3 months which dog control has been trying to catch, but people have been feeding it so, it's been staying around. Anyways, our friendly Leia loves other dogs and went running after it this morning when we were leaving to run some errands. This not uncommon for Leia, so I didn't think much of it. She always comes right back (I didn't realize she had bolted after this other dog). I put the boys in the car and went to look for her since she hadn't come back yet. Two houses down, there is construction going on and the fence is down, so the property cuts through to Boone Rd which is a street where many people speed. I checked there I didn't see her then drove down the street to the Hansons' (our Home Teachers and owners of Leia's best dog friends). Still no Leia, so I went to Boone Rd. and saw her down the hill not very far from the construction site. Someone had already stopped to help and was trying to call the humane society. When I saw her, I immediately fell apart and I knew she was gone. As I put my hand on her heart, I felt one last heart beat, but just one. Another lady stopped, she was on the board of the humane society and had her vet's name in her cell and called him for me. She offered to put Leia in her car and take her to the vets so the boys would not see her. I followed her there and the vet took Leia in. He confirmed her death. I decided to have the vets office take care of her. They gave me Leia's collar and we left. I know by the way she was lying in the road that someone hit her really hard and I'm sure she went instantly. I am upset that who ever hit her did not stop and it was a visible area. I think that speed was probably a major factor. Leia was the biggest sweetheart I have ever known, and I feel blessed that she was ours for even a little while. She loved the boys and the boys loved her, and I loved having her curled up next to me by the couch every night. She was my angel puppy. I am also thankful that caring people stopped and knew what to do, because I didn't know what to do. I'm not usually the one who loses it (that is usually Brett's role). Anyways, I know that our family is very blessed to have had such a special dog and that as Caden said, "Leia is with Jesus and we don't want Jesus to cry."