Lake Fontana is the birthday destination spot I've been taking my oldest girl, Haylee, to for years.

We stay in the Smoky Mountains at a sweet spot that offers refurbished cabins and an amazing peaceful atmosphere. We usually bring our favorite foods, take a few hikes, treat ourselves to a massage, and reflect on her past year all while celebrating her life.

This years hike definitely goes down as our most memorable, ever, of all time. While hiking the Mingus Mill trail, Haylee tells me how her friend Chrissy wants to hike the Appalachian trail with her dog. I glance ahead and see a patch of black fur, saying, "look there's a dog ahead!"

(Let me just say, it's not an odd to pass many hikers with their pups on the trail.)

One more step in and I hear, "Mom, that's not a dog."

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