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.

Double digits!!

Happy tenth birthday Valkyrie!!

Cause I am a slacker mom photos of the spoiled girl will be posted later.

Here's to 2012

I am in fact still alive. It's been a rough couple of months tho.
Kieran was adopted back in October- right after my last post here. I miss him terribly. Daily. I hope he is happy. But of course he is happy- he was happy even when he was on deaths door.
I moved into a new home on the same day Kieran was adopted. Lots of change all at once shocks the system.
Still don't have internet at my new house... Maybe soon. Maybe.
Christmas with my family was good but chaotic as normal.
New years- all those resolutions!
I already kept two of them! Ha! Better than most years.
Valkyrie and I stopped agility for a few months. She had surgery to remove six lumps. Thankfully all of them came back benign. We are back to agility training. She is just like a puppy! A well behaved puppy. I think the two of us are going to try and get out to compete this spring. Maybe even as early as the end of next month!
Valkyrie is much happier being an only child. It hurts sometimes but I know that her happiness comes first. I know that this whole mess of a situation was best for all involved.
I started exercising so that I could lose a little weight and to feel healthier. I love the way I feel after a good work out! I wish I would just start to lose a little weight already! I know- part of losing weight is to eat healthier. I'll get there. I promise.

The last couple years have been exceptionally hard on me and my family. I am completely expecting 2012 to be a relaxing breeze in comparison. Life is what you make of it and I am going to make the best of this year(and every year!) that I possibly can!
So here's to 2012!!

Thoughtful Thursday?

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

this is where I try to explain why I am a slacker...

I am a slacker. I haven't updated anything here in a very long time. A lot has happened too. Like I got older. My birthday was very calm and wonderful. I broke a tooth and had to have it fixed. Dentists are expensive. I've lost my voice for the past four days. Went camping back in August. Did an agility trial with Valkyrie in Vermont. It rained- what a surprise, it always rains on my outdoor trials. We had fun but it could have been better. Kieran is still being fostered with me. It's definitely not ideal but what choice do we have?  I'll be moving in a couple weeks and I've been packing.  I didn't realize how much stuff I had accumulated! I am moving into a smaller home with no basement.. I better start sorting through what is necessary to keep and what I can handle getting rid of! The stress of moving is starting to wear on both me and Valkyrie. But we'll pull through. Somehow. Neither of us likes change and that makes this hard. It's a good change though.
I will try to keep up to date around here.. No promises.

Wordless Wednesday

Valkyrie says "it's hot out momma"