A pet truly makes a house feel like home. We felt this deeply after the loss of our pup Jack. Thank you for the kind comments and messages — we appreciate everyone asking about Lily. Today I want to share an update on how she’s doing and tell you about a recent outing we took together to a local garden nursery.
Lily never knew a day without Jack beside her, so we knew she would grieve his loss in her own way. This has been hard for all of us, and we decided immediately to give her extra attention and love. We wanted to move through this together and make the transition as gentle as possible for her.
Below I’ll share how Lily has been coping, describe our visit to Christianson’s garden nursery, and list a few other things we’re doing to help her adjust.
One of the first things we began was taking Lily on special outings. We’ve always brought our dogs along when possible, but now we’re planning extra meaningful and frequent adventures just for her.
From a young age Lily has been very engaged with her surroundings. She loves walks where she can sniff and explore, so a trip to a plant nursery is perfect for her curious nose and calm spirit.
We make sure to let her pause and take it all in—plant therapy can be surprisingly healing.
Gardening and being outdoors has helped me through difficult times as well. Spending time around plants and nature is calming and restorative, something I wrote about in my book.
Lily absolutely loved the nursery. We did too—this is also where my daughter Courtney held her wedding, so it holds special memories for our family. The place is beautiful and full of scents and sights that captured Lily’s attention.
The hydrangeas were spectacular and everywhere we turned there was something new for her to discover.
It was sweet to watch Lily observe the other animals without barking—she would pause to say hello and then continue on to investigate the next plant or flower.
After our outing she had her first solo grooming appointment in the mobile truck. She used to worry about Jack when he went in for grooming, so this was another small milestone without him. It’s bittersweet to notice how much has changed for her.
Lily isn’t as fond of having her photo taken as Jack was, but she’s adorable and I try to capture a moment when she lets me. She often turns away from the camera—each dog has their own personality and ways of expressing themselves. We’re appreciating everything she brings to our lives: her gentle nature, her quiet leadership among other pups, and her soft presence in our home.
Having her with us is a daily blessing and we’re very grateful to share our lives with her.
Overall, Lily hasn’t shown many troubling changes in behavior, but it’s clear she misses Jack. She’s been staying closer to us around the house. Usually independent, she now follows us from room to room, seeking company and reassurance rather than resting alone.
We’re offering extra hugs and attention and working to make her daily routine feel cozy and comforting. Jack was the life of the party and filled a space that’s hard to replace, so we’re focusing on little acts that help Lily feel secure.
One simple idea was to get her a new bed. She and Jack used to sleep side by side, and it’s been sad to see her without a companion. During the day she often curls into a soft round basket that’s really too small for her, so a dedicated basket bed seemed like a comforting option.
We ordered a new bed in a larger size and are waiting for it to arrive. There were many color options, and once it’s here we’ll see where Lily likes it best and whether it helps her feel more settled.
Our goal is to keep finding small, thoughtful ways to make Lily feel safe and loved. We miss Jack every day, and while that grief is still present, we’re pouring our love into Lily and she’s responding with affection in return. That gives us hope she’ll be okay.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Your messages have meant so much to our family.