Wordless Wednesday: making a come back.

Choosing the right photo for the come back.
Obvious choice: me and my Valkyrie girl.

Wordless Wednesday- Relay for Life

Mom supporting the pink ribbon- 20yr breast cancer survivor!

Dad supporting the blue ribbon- 1yr intestinal cancer survivor!

Trust

Valkyrie in the front yard.

Trust
noun
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something; hope. 

Trust is something to be earned. Valkyrie, at the age of ten, has earned some of my trust. I trust that she will beg if I have food. I trust that she will snuggle with me on the couch. I trust she will pee on the floor while I am at work. I trust that she will snark at me about having her nails done but will relent because there are cookies to be had. But these aren't the kind of trust situations I am talking about. I recently moved to a house without a fenced in yard. I did fence in a small part of the back yard so that I wouldn't have to always have Valkyrie on a leash- practicing agility on a leash is hard work. Today I was working in the front yard and Valkyrie really wanted to keep me company. So I decided to trust Valkyrie to be a good girl and stay with me in the front yard. My trust only goes so far though. She was on a 25foot leash because there is always a chance that something might cause Valkyrie to break my trust. But today she was such a good girl. I weeded and she lounged in the sun. I raked and she rolled in the grass. My neighbors dog ran around in their unfenced front yard and Valkyrie came over to me looking for a cookie(which of course I went and got for her!).
Not only do I trust Valkyrie- she trusts me. She trusts that I won't let anything bad happen to her. She trusts that I will always scratch the good spots. And she trusts that I will always have an endless supply of cookies.
I love that Valkyrie and I have built up this trusting relationship. It's taken years of hard work and patience on both of our parts. But the benefits of all that work is absolutely worth it.

Happy anniversary

Rick&Danielle's wedding

Just over a year ago, I took a giant leap of faith and followed my heart. I am so happy I did. Todd and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past week. Sometimes it feels like it's been forever(in a good way!) and other times it feels like we are still getting to know one another. I love him with all my heart. And he loves me. The best part is- he loves Valkyrie too.
Here is to many more happy years together.

Trish&Glen's wedding

To my always- from your forever.

Thoughtful Thursday?

I missed wordless Wednesday yesterday so today... here is my photo..
I really love this little boy.  <3

Wordless Wednesday

Valkyrie says "it's hot out momma"

Wordless Wednesday

 

This photo was taken back in February but all this rainy weather makes it feel appropriate. 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

My loves. My life.

Wordless Wednesday- Kieran&friends

Kieran, Peetie and Sharky at the dog park.

Gotcha-day!!

One year ago today in a crazy madness filled day I brought home my little Special K!!  I can't even believe that it has been a full year. I also can't believe it has only been a year. This past year has had it's ups and downs(more downs than ups- but that is for another time- this post is going to be full of happy!)
Baby Kieran was just a fun little guy. Happy and confident and full of potential. Kieran is still such a baby in so many ways. He is still so full of potential. He hasn't had the chance to experience life to it's fullest- yet!  So here is a year in photo review.

First night home

Agility star

Super Kieran!

I left out a lot of pictures because some of them just break my heart. So these are the ones that over the past year have really made me smile. Happy Gotcha Day Kieran!!!

2010 Christmas

Playing ball

Approved.

One year ago today a now dear friend let me know I was approved to adopt Kieran- then he was known as Justice. The second dog! Finally! I'd been hunting for so long for that perfect match for my little family. Kieran sounded like what I was looking for. Playful, energetic, interested in toys, mellow around the house and got along with other dogs and cats.  And this photo was what helped me decide.

Who could resist such a cute face?

We had seven weeks of total bliss.  Then the honeymoon was over. It's so hard for me to believe that I have two of the most wonderful dogs out there and that they can't seem to get along. Valkyrie is still a very good girl. She just hates her brother. Kieran is a very good boy. He is still learning but he learns quickly. We live in a crate and rotate situation now. One dog must be crated if the other is loose in the house. Not at all what I expected when I adopted the second dog. Thankfully I can walk both dogs together. I am hoping to try to do slow reintroductions over the summer- once Kieran and I are both feeling better.
I do not regret choosing to bring Kieran home. He needed me. We had a long troubled road last year. But he has brought me unbelievable amounts of joy in that time too. He has connected me to an amazing group of friends that I might not have otherwise met. My little family is so loved and supported by so many now. And I love all of those that have been there for us and helped us through some very tough times.

Wordless Wednesday- Valkyrie&Tori

I've seen many other bloggers with this. I like it.

Valkyrie DOES snuggle with other people.

9 years ago.

Nine years ago my beautiful Valkyrie was born. I am still truly amazed that she is nine years old. She came to me a few months after she was born.  My life at that time was turmoil but in a good way(I can say that NOW that time has passed). I was transitioning from one point in my life to another. My life feels like it is still in transition. But I have my Valkyrie. She has been with me through so much. Always there for me.

Valkyrie is my slightly neurotic American Pit Bull Terrier(APBT). I had no idea what I was doing in regards to training a dog when I got her- even though I already had an older pit bull/boxer mix, Peanut. Valkyrie has an official name and everything. How fancy! Zell's Valkyrie CGC, NAC, NJC, TN-O, NCC, TG-N. All those letters after her name each have meaning. They stand for different agility titles she has earned over the past few years as well as her CGC(Canine Good Citizen award). Each of those titles have personal meaning to me too. We worked hard as a team to earn these titles but mostly we had a lot of fun getting there.

This blog is just a space for me to rant and rave about my life and adventures with my dogs. Yes, I said dogs. I have a second dog, Kieran. He is a little pit bull mix. But today's post is about Valkyrie. Because she is my princess.

Happy birthday my beautiful Valkyrie-bean!

 Baby Valkyrie.

Valkyrie the day I brought her home.

Valkyrie last week.