I am scrapping an album of our precious yellow lab that we lost 5 1/2 years ago. His name was Cider and we were so devastated when we lost him that I couldn't even look at his picture for a long time. When I finally could, I decided to do a Photoshop collage of pics of him at various ages. I am not one for much journaling, but suddenly words came flooding out of me and I overlaid them on the collage. I had done this as 8 1/2 x 11, and I've wanted to scrap it into his scrapbook but hadn't decided how or where it would go. I recently decided that I wanted it to be the opening page, so I scrapped it into a 12 x 12 layout. The journaling reads:

One summer day, he became a part of us.
A mix of golden, yellow, sparkling fur.
Ears of silk, a tail long and tipped with gold.
Pure joy.

We brought him to his new yard that very day.
This precious little creature, explored his new surroundings.
The yard that would become his home, his playground, his haven.
Pure wonder.

He was ready to play right from the start.
Tugged on a finger with tiny teeth, strength beyond belief.
We could see a future filled with enjoyment, laughter, fun.
Pure excitement.

He presented a challenge from time to time.
Would search for ways to set the chase.
Always wanting to romp and play, would sometimes never seem to tire.
Pure exasperation.

In time, he wove himself into our hearts.
As he grew, so did our love for him.
Each day with him was a treasure beyond compare.
Pure love.

Over the years, maturity set in.
The need for chase subsided, the romp still very much alive.
A playmate introduced, but acknowledgment not quite there.
Pure anticipation.

The little one becomes a friend.
Suddenly, the chase is a back.
But now it's canine chasing canine.
Pure enjoyment.

The sound of a leash causes so much excitement.
They walk together, black with yellow.
It is so peaceful, so joyful, so much fun.
Pure pleasure.

And then it happens, one black January day.
Dark clouds, chilling skies.
News of horror, words can't describe.
Pure devastation.

He fights, we fight with him too.
At times, he gets weak.
But then some brightness shows through.
Pure hope.

We battle through seasons of intense snow and rain.
Tears from the sky.
Do anything we can to free him, to help him, to keep him.
Pure desperation.

Then the fight can no longer be fought.
He tries, but it has overwhelmed him.
We hold him, embrace him, don't want to let him go.
Pure pain.

He leaves us one summer day.
At the very place almost seven years before where he explored, romped, played.
Feelings of loss, emptiness, void, no words could explain.
Pure sadness.

He is gone.
Replaced with memories, flashbacks, a longing for a joy that once was.
A part of us gone, missing, will never be replaced.
Pure sorrow.

TFL

Products used:
Daisy Buckets rub-ons "White Flourishes" outlined with Stickles in "Crystal", Cloud Nine Rain Dots "I Love My Dog" and "Teardrop" in "Sky", Ki Memories borders "Little Guy", Sandylion Horizons borders "Meadow", Doodlebug Sugar Coated Cardstock "Leapfrog", Creative Imaginations pp Pamela Woods "Gold Foundation" and Sonnets "Sky", Jolees by You trees, grass blades, and assorted flowers, Jolees Boutique "Yellow Lab", Petaloo Dazzlers, American Crafts Thickers "Lax" in "Powder Glitter", Punch Bunch assorted small fern punches (punched out of Doodlebug Sugar Coated Cardstock in "Leapfrog" and glued down with a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen), Thermoweb Memory Runner XL, and All Night Media Mini Pop Dots.