Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Remembrance

Link to a short history of Our Lady of Guadalupe: http://www.catholic.org/about/guadalupe.php

My deep gratitude for your answer to my prayers, Our Lady, and thank you for taking one of your suffering children into your comforting arms on your feast day to guide him home to your Son.

In Memoriam

Patrick Joseph Roach

13 September 1934-12 December 2015

We miss you so much, Dad. All our love.

No Words, Just Stupid Love and Broken Hearts

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets."

Rubeus Hagrid

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Samson

13 November 2005 - 29 July 2016

Please forgive us, my strong gentle boy. If only stupid love and "anything" could have been enough. Despite that you deserve chapter after chapter dedicated to the beauty you brought to the story of our lives, there is simply no prose or poetry, there are no adequate words, to say how much we love you, how much you did for and are to us, and how much we miss you everyday. Give those precious kisses to all the family until we know your luminous hearts again in the Creator. Sweet baby boy, last of our so cherished gifts of God, all our stupid love - always.

Our Dear Boy

Theophilos (Philly)

28 February 2002 - 16 May 2016

My-own-man, proud hound to the core

Our runner supreme, our "sparkle motion"

Still, "Foxweiler (Rotthound?)," whichever - an uncle sure

From accepting brother and constant friend of devotion

Our gratitude for fourteen beyond special years
And for making our lives so much more complete

Of separation, yet sweet remembrance, the tears
'Til in the Creator together, and family joy replete.

We love you and miss you, our dear boy, until we meet again.

Love's Pure Light

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Rest in Love's pure light, Mom and Dad, and in our hearts until we can be in your arms again.

In Loving Memory of

Patrick Joseph Roach

13 September 1934-

12 December 2015

                                

A beautiful and blessed Christmas to all.

Ma Vie and Rose

Ma Vie and Rose: Portrait of Zoë

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I feel inadequate to paint even this one. It's funny how you frequently pick a name for your pup within minutes after the first meeting, and then he or she spends his/her life being the very definition of it.

Zoë (life in Greek) radiated life herself and, more, she shared it with us in every possible way. Full of joyous energy and the faithful, fun and protective Rottie to the core, she brought me light in one of the darkest times of my life. She showed me the beauty in life and gave me a reason to live it when I struggled in illness to find it. And she brought eleven beautiful other lives into the world, sharing her motherhood with me and giving me the gift of being able to care for little ones - something I'd dreamed of from childhood, but which circumstance didn't allow me to have through children of my own.

I can't paint a portrait that would bring across even a fraction of how much beauty in this one glorious life or how much beauty she brought to ours. Thank you, my gorgeous girl. I love you so much and miss your shining presence every day - and will until we're together again. Thank You, Lord, for the incredible gift of knowing this life.

Brotherly Love

Thor (né Elijah), starring in Brotherly Love with big brother, Costa:

A son who left the family fold for a bit, he had a little trouble finding his place upon return, due to independence-induced and glorious dreams of alphadom. Given the lowdown on what was really what by his generally pacifist pa, Angelus, by the default and benevolent true alpha, Costa, and even once by modest giant of the litter, Samson, Thor showed his truest color was a heart of gold - and took up a place of merrymaker in the family he returned to, dearly loved as if he'd never left.

Goodnight, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Until we meet again, precious boy: still loved and never forgotten. We share our tears with the second family who knew his wondrous heart for a while.

Coloring My World

Mama-commandant in training and gentle soother of wounded souls; intimidating possessor of the "Evie eye" and hammy comedienne superb; adult female who could (literally) throw the most weight around and tiny 6 oz. runt of the litter who needed mouth-to-mouth from her human mum and special feedings from her canine mama to survive. A beautiful study in Rottie opposites and the epitome of one who could bring the rainbow of colors to another's world. Sweet Evie, I anticipate knowing the gorgeous spectrum of your life again. Love you always, darling girl.

Light(en)ing Up A Dark Day

Just one of his many gifts, as he lived up to his name (Constantine) in every possible way and brought a lifetime of true joy in a too short six and a half years.

Still and always (aka, constantly) in my heart, good and faithful boy.



Sophie in Rose

 

 

 

 

To quote a favorite song:

 

"You had this smile that could light up the world" - Slaughter, Fly to the Angels

 

I may try to capture that smile in another portrait but, for now: Sophie in Rose, symbolic of further lyrics to the same song:

 

"Cause now you've got to fly high (fly high)
Fly to the angels
Heaven awaits your heart
And flowers bloom in your name"

 

In the hope of seeing you there, sweet girl.



Belle Amie

Zoe

August 10, 2002-November 26, 2014

 

 Beautiful Baby

 

Light in my darkest hours

Joyous heart who could bring a smile through tears

A million magical moments

Over an inconceivably short twelve years

And desperately I search for words

To sum up and share all you've done for me

But a thousand can't paint the portrait

Of my beloved belle amie.

 

Beautiful Mama

 

 

Zoe, you are a life that has given me infinitely more than I could ever give you.

Every precious moment is locked in my heart and memory

And I can only let you go so the Lord can hold you

Until I can wrap you in my arms again in Him.

 

Beautiful friend, rest in love and peace with the family that has gone before you

Until we can be in the presence of your sweet heart once more.

We love you and miss you, baby girl, and no thank you is enough to express

how grateful we are to have known you.

 

 

Beautiful Friend







Sweet Evangeline

   Evie & Sophie & Sisterly Bonds

 

 

Did your heart break along with ours when your sister left us last month, baby girl? Now you take another piece of those hearts with you back to the Creator of all.

 

Mini-mama, little nurse, another light lost for a time, store the extra love and tearful hugs we send with you to share again with your sister, brother and papa, until all the family can be joyfully reunited.

 

We love you and we miss you, sweet Evangeline. You're in our hearts forever.

 

 



Evie

November 13, 2005 - July 23, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Luminous Girl

The light of your radiant life touched us to the depths of heart and soul each and every day, and we'll miss this brilliance 'til you shine on us again in the Creator - more than we could ever say.

Sophie

November 13, 2005 - June 26, 2014

We love you, beautiful girl, always. Thank you for being the most precious of friends and for bringing inestimable joy to our lives. Our gratitude to God for the luminous gift.