This page is dedicated to the special dogs that shared their time on earth with us and forever changed us
CHAMA
Dear Family & Friends,
It is in celebration of his life that I share the sad news of the passing of My beloved Chama. Although I am saddened by his passing, I celebrate because he is no longer lame and arthritic. Tuesday, he accompanied Chilie and I on our usual afternoon walk, ate a hearty dinner, and was overcome by a sudden, obviously unexpected heart attack at 10:00 p.m. God is merciful: I sat with him for only thirty minutes and stroked his beautiful coat as he passed from this life on earth.
I’m told he didn’t have to wait for me to cross The Rainbow Bridge because he went straight into Heaven, welcomed by my son, Kai. I believe he is jumping over agility hurdles, chasing the “chuck it” ball, and being twirled around on Kai’s shoulders like they did together so many times here on earth. Truly – since Heaven is perfect – Chama is perfect there too: healed, whole, and healthy. I am still struggling (after only 4 days) to believe the same truth about Chama as I believe about Kai: I know where they are, I know they’re safe, and I know I will see them again. God is goodJ Chama’s spirit saved my life twelve years ago: God worked through Chama to show me His unconditional love. I learned to trust God as Chama trusted me. As Chama obeyed me, I learned to yield to God. I am at peace with God because Chama brought His peace to me. I am not at all reticent to talk about God’s love and Chama’s love in the same breath. Our love for our canine companions is great and memorable, and it has the power to change our lives.
Chama was born 3/3/02 and gifted to me by a loving friend, Joseph Hartnagle. Chama loved me unconditionally from the very beginning. He answered to his name at only four weeks. At one-year-old, he stayed by my side, as he always did, through a bizarre year of living in the Black Forest in houses that were for sale. He received his Novice Obedience title and his Novice Rally title at 18-months-old, However, he really didn’t enjoy ring-competition sports: once he left the ring by his own decision to go see a friend – lol! He did love agility as you can see from this photo of him coming out of an agility tunnel. He was always beautiful in action! Chama’s real love, however, was Therapy Dog work. Always true to his loving self, he never met a stranger, but “wiggle-butted” his greetings to one and all. He knew the location of the file drawer with “cookies” at every nurses’ station at Memorial Hospital
My favorite memory of Chama is his “keep away” game. He would have something in his mouth that he wasn’t supposed to have in his mouth (like a disemboweled stuffed toy), curve his body like a comma (so both his face and butt faced me), and dance backwards with his eyes sparkling! He also liked to find the spot in the yard that had the most loose dirt, roll over on his back with all four legs in the air, and growl with delight as he rolled back and forth – first one side, then the other – until his beautiful red coat and white collar were completely covered with dirt.
Chilie and I will carry on Chama’s mission to ensure that every human and canine know that they are really, truly lovedJ If you would like to remember Chama with a memorial donation, please gift to Western Aussie Rescue, www.westernaustralianshepherdrescue.com, % Annette Hall, 509-671-2954 or email Annette at rugby_chase@hotmail.com. (There’s an “underscore” between “rugby” and “chase”.)
I read somewhere that we get to choose to be the age that we were happiest on earth when we get to Heaven. I imagine that Chama is now six-years-old. 6 + 2 (his birth year is 2002) = 8. In biblical numerology, “8” represents the beginning of a new era. Please keep Chilie and me in your prayers as we enter this new season of life without Chama physically with us. We love you as he did!
Bestest blessings,
Linda Jensen
It is in celebration of his life that I share the sad news of the passing of My beloved Chama. Although I am saddened by his passing, I celebrate because he is no longer lame and arthritic. Tuesday, he accompanied Chilie and I on our usual afternoon walk, ate a hearty dinner, and was overcome by a sudden, obviously unexpected heart attack at 10:00 p.m. God is merciful: I sat with him for only thirty minutes and stroked his beautiful coat as he passed from this life on earth.
I’m told he didn’t have to wait for me to cross The Rainbow Bridge because he went straight into Heaven, welcomed by my son, Kai. I believe he is jumping over agility hurdles, chasing the “chuck it” ball, and being twirled around on Kai’s shoulders like they did together so many times here on earth. Truly – since Heaven is perfect – Chama is perfect there too: healed, whole, and healthy. I am still struggling (after only 4 days) to believe the same truth about Chama as I believe about Kai: I know where they are, I know they’re safe, and I know I will see them again. God is goodJ Chama’s spirit saved my life twelve years ago: God worked through Chama to show me His unconditional love. I learned to trust God as Chama trusted me. As Chama obeyed me, I learned to yield to God. I am at peace with God because Chama brought His peace to me. I am not at all reticent to talk about God’s love and Chama’s love in the same breath. Our love for our canine companions is great and memorable, and it has the power to change our lives.
Chama was born 3/3/02 and gifted to me by a loving friend, Joseph Hartnagle. Chama loved me unconditionally from the very beginning. He answered to his name at only four weeks. At one-year-old, he stayed by my side, as he always did, through a bizarre year of living in the Black Forest in houses that were for sale. He received his Novice Obedience title and his Novice Rally title at 18-months-old, However, he really didn’t enjoy ring-competition sports: once he left the ring by his own decision to go see a friend – lol! He did love agility as you can see from this photo of him coming out of an agility tunnel. He was always beautiful in action! Chama’s real love, however, was Therapy Dog work. Always true to his loving self, he never met a stranger, but “wiggle-butted” his greetings to one and all. He knew the location of the file drawer with “cookies” at every nurses’ station at Memorial Hospital
My favorite memory of Chama is his “keep away” game. He would have something in his mouth that he wasn’t supposed to have in his mouth (like a disemboweled stuffed toy), curve his body like a comma (so both his face and butt faced me), and dance backwards with his eyes sparkling! He also liked to find the spot in the yard that had the most loose dirt, roll over on his back with all four legs in the air, and growl with delight as he rolled back and forth – first one side, then the other – until his beautiful red coat and white collar were completely covered with dirt.
Chilie and I will carry on Chama’s mission to ensure that every human and canine know that they are really, truly lovedJ If you would like to remember Chama with a memorial donation, please gift to Western Aussie Rescue, www.westernaustralianshepherdrescue.com, % Annette Hall, 509-671-2954 or email Annette at rugby_chase@hotmail.com. (There’s an “underscore” between “rugby” and “chase”.)
I read somewhere that we get to choose to be the age that we were happiest on earth when we get to Heaven. I imagine that Chama is now six-years-old. 6 + 2 (his birth year is 2002) = 8. In biblical numerology, “8” represents the beginning of a new era. Please keep Chilie and me in your prayers as we enter this new season of life without Chama physically with us. We love you as he did!
Bestest blessings,
Linda Jensen