I remember the day we met. You were born at 3:00 am and I woke up to meet you before leaving for school. You were in a pile with your brothers and sister with a green food coloring dot on your back. I barely tapped you on the head before I was out the door. To be honest, I didn't want you, I wanted your older brother. He was so pretty and soft, I thought for sure that he was the best of the seven of you.

My little sister Noelle had her heart set on your sister and I wasn't too happy about that. Luckily by the time you were six weeks old, she had come around to my way of thinking and decided to keep your older brother. He was regal in appearance and, I knew I'd be proud to walk down the street with him. The week you all turned eight weeks old, most of your brothers had gone off to live with their new families. Only you, your older brother, and your sister remained.

I looked at all of you, excited for the day that you and your sister would leave and we could raise your older brother as one of our family. Your sister left and went to a family friend in California and then there were just two. You were funny looking back then, your hair stood up on your head like a duck, you made noises that sounded like an elderly man groaning, and your nose had a pinkish hue. It was a Friday when the last family came to get you. Unbeknownst to me, the family wanted your brother as well and Noelle had decided that your weird hair, groans, and pinkish nose were endearing.

So, the family left...with your brother.

I looked at you and thought how annoying it was that we ended up with the weird one. I was fourteen at the time and pretty appalled that with seven to choose from, we got you. The first year you were with us I didn't spend much time with you. I went about finishing the school year, competing in gymnastics, and doing my own thing. You were just there, in my house but off my radar.

Then, right before I started college, the summer when you were two years old, I had some trauma. There were three difficult life events that happened to me right in a row and I was in a very depressed state. I remember laying in bed not wanting to get up or do anything, I wanted to be alone. I wasn't alone though, you were there.

You got on the bed, something you had never done before, and you curled up against me. You were so quiet and you stayed with me, all day every day for several weeks. You let me cry on your shoulder and lie on your tummy. You never moved and you never left. You looked at me with eyes so kind and full of love that I started to feel better and I was able to go off to my dorm and start college on time.

From that time on you were always with me. Every time I am home, at least once a week, you are by my side. You never ask anything in return, you just know how I'm feeling all the time. When I'm happy or excited you wag your tail and do "nose bumps" with me, when I'm sad you actually hold my hand in yours, when I have the flu you keep me warm. I know that you love me unconditionally and that is an amazing thing.

I am grateful every day that Noelle decided to ignore me and keep the weird little puppy instead of his more traditional older brother. You have the most beautiful soul of anyone I have ever known and I love you more than I can say. You are truly my best friend.