We did a lot of camping including Arizona twice. One time in Arizona a mastiff walked through what she considered her area, and she took on the mastiff, mind you Lily was all of 20 lbs, but terriers have the heart of a lion and fear nothing. The mastiff turned and looked at her and the expression on his face was: you have got to be kidding, but that was Lily, she was going to protect me from an intruder.

She saw her first horse when she was about 5 , wasn't afraid, but the amazed look on her face was priceless.

She loved napping in the sun on the back yard grass, walking the neighborhood and greeting her doggie friends.

Christmas season just as it was getting dark, we would walk and look at all the beautiful Christmas lights. You came to me at 10 months old, a few days before Christmas 2001, and left to cross the rainbow bridge just before Christmas 2016. My best Christmas gift ever, you gave so much love and companionship. You are so missed.

Lily was a mix of West Highland Terrier and American Eskimo, her fur would grow long and thick, much too warm for our climate (San Francisco Bay Area) I had her professionally groomed every 6 weeks, would brush her between grooming sessions, or the fur would get those hard small mats.

She loved her tummy rubbed and each night I would rub her tummy till she fell asleep, and yes she slept on the bed next to me for 14 years. In Sept of 2015 I woke up in the middle of the night, she didn't seem right, couldn't stand would try and fell over, her head was tilted and tongue was hanging out, couldn't walk, went to emergency , Lily had idopathic vestibular, she recovered quite well from that, but it did slow her down a lot on our walks. After that I was afraid to have her sleep on the bed, didn't want her falling off.

September 2016 Labor Day weekend again, she had a corneal eye infection, emergency vet again, eye specialist the next day, and removal of the eye the day after that. She had such soulful and beautiful eyes, they had tried very hard to save her eye, but she was in pain, and the kindest thing was to remove the eye. Again she recovered quite nicely and gave me another 3 1/2 months of love.

She came to me as the best Christmas gift ever on December 14, 2001 and left on December 16,2016 15 years and 2 days of unconditional love.

One thing I wish I had done was taken more pictures , I found I took a lot that first year, and as the years went on I took fewer and fewer and a couple of years none. Lily was my best friend, the house feels so different without her, empty , ever where I look I remember seeing her.

I have a long oak table in back of the couch, with a lamp on it, no ordinary lamp, it was my mothers, and is an 18 th century Japanese vase converted to a lamp. While we were going through training, Lily jumped on the couch then on the table. My husband came into the kitchen and said " go look what your dog is doing", yeah standing on the table, I just looked at her and pointed to the floor, she got down, and never did that again. She was so smart. Had all the good traits of both breeds.

On the 14th of Jan I adopted a new fur baby, and I am totally convinced Lily sent Nova to me. Nova is a senior citizen just like me, Nova will be 8 in June, came from an animal hoarding situation and was one of 15 or 16 dogs. She has had puppies, saw a picture of one of her sons. Nova is a 14 lbs. Pomerian Chichuachua with a bit of mix breed sporting group probably Spaniel. Had her DNA sent in when they took blood for the heart worm test and all the way back to Novas' great grand parents the DNA is the same. She is the most loving little girl ever and she definitely eases my heart. Loves to snuggle, and get belly rubs. She is learning to be outside and walk around the neighborhood, go to the doggie park and meet all sort of people and explore.. She loves to ride in the car in her car seat, lick my hand , she is afraid of cars, I don't think she was ever outside when she was in the hoarding situation. Her foster parents were very loving and she has come a long way with me, and is getting better about the cars.

I think we will always miss our pets that have crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and I know Lily is there waiting for me and now Nova too when someday we both cross that bridge.

I miss you so much it has been one year today you crossed that Rainbow Bridge, I think of you every day always in my heart and mind. Thank you for sending Nova to me she has been a great help to me to ease your passing. One day we will all be together . You had the most beautiful soul ever.

Two years since your crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I hold you in my heart forever.