No matter how many years it’s never enough. We had our little girl almost 8 years as well.
The burial and the place both sounded appropriately beautiful.
Yes, always feels like a part of us, a significant part at that, always dies along with our little ones. When we cleaned out her area and took out her cage, every little thing of “hers” that we removed just reinforced the foreverness of gone and the immense emptiness. But I think it was necessary to help move forward and move on.
Yes you are never the same but you heal. You can’t be the same. It’s because when they pass a part of you goes with them equal to the part of them that stays with you. So you are not the same but I think it’s a good thing.
We had our bunny cremated and keep her ashes in a little cedar box on an end table under a tiffany lamp that we always used as a night light in the living room at bedtime. So every night when I turn on the light and every morning when I turn off the light, she is in my thoughts. I put my hands on the little smooth box and feel it and think about her and giving her little nose, head, and ear rubs. And even though I will ALWAYS miss her (and I tell her so out loud) there is less crying and more smiling.
So understand your grieving is a process and sometimes it seems agonizing (at least it was for me). But it is necessary for closure.
Everything I have said you probably already know. This forum is still helping me to cope and by saying these things, continues to help me in this process.
Know our hearts are with you.
((Hugs))
Binky free (((Ms BunBun)))
P.S. Would love to see a picture of little Ms BunBun if you would like to share. l like putting a face with their little personality and know who was loved so much.