The Lives We Touch

About a year and a half ago I took Jaylie (my first puppy) to my neighbors class to talk about guide dogs. It was the first speaking engagement I ever had with guide dogs. Well, about nine months ago, one of my neighbors classmates told me that she was going to get a puppy in training, and that my talk was what first struck that interest. She now has Kenny, a pup who's about 10 months old. Well, in her new school she struck the interest in two other classmates. One is currently waiting for a puppy, the other has a 4 month old pup named Wasabi.

There is also a lady in my school (er, homeschool group) who will be getting a pup as soon as her pet dog turns 3 years old.

You just never know who's lives you will change. Not only with puppy raising, but ANYTHING. How we treat people effects their lives and our own, and because we have these miracles on a leash, I feel it is our responsibility to effect lives in a positive way.

Anyway, to the update!

Belle was a TON of fun to have. I miss having a baby! Blitz and her were adorable together...Blitz liked playing for the first hour or so, but after Belle slept she wanted to continue, while Blitz wanted to sunbathe. So, little-miss Belle climbed and bit and tugged at Blitz while he sat patiently trying to sunbathe. See what I mean?

And, of course, their kennels. Way cute! Notice that Blitz's kennel is empty, except for him. He likes to pull his blankets out. =-)

I took them both to a boyscout meeting that my neighbor wanted me to speak at. (Haha, have you noticed that she likes having guide dog speaking engagements for me?? Haha. She's asked me to speak at quite a few places.) I wanted the kids to see both ends of the spectrum...A puppy who's about to go in-for-training, and a brand new puppy who's still learning to sit still. There was also a therapy dog there, and Wasabi, a 4 month old Golden Retriever puppy. (talk about cute!) I did most of the talking about guide dogs, mainly because Wasabi's raiser is so young, and also because she's a brand new raiser.

When Belle's raisers came to pick her up, they were WAY surprised at how big she had gotten. She basically doubled in size in the week we had her. *Sigh* They grow so fast at that age.

Blitz came with me to my brothers graduation/promotion night for my school. This is the biggest event of the year, for obvious reasons...Everyone (preschool through twelfth) is getting promoted. This is the ONLY year that all six of us kids got promoted/graduated. (Matthew, 3 was promoted to preschool, Morgan, 6 was promoted to 1st, Keliann, 11 was promoted to 6th, I, 14, was promoted to 10th, Brooklin, 15 was promoted to 12th, (he skipped 11th) and Braden, 18, graduated.) Because we're such a small school, (well, compared to public/private schools we are. Compared to other homeschool groups, we're HUGE!) they show special attention to each graduating senior. (This year there were 22 students, which is actually pretty big compared to other years.) First there were the promotions, where all of the younger students came out on stage for pictures. Blitz came up with me! He was the FIRST dog ever to go on that stage to be promoted! (Even though there are two other puppy raisers in my school.) Afterwards people kept joking that he was promoted. THAT doesn't get old quick! After the promotions are the senior performances...There were three speeches, (all TERRIFIC!) a singing performance, an instrumental performance, and a swing dance. (One of the seniors with an alumni.) After that a years highlight slideshow, then the seniors came out, and then the parents each read a letter to each of the seniors. LOTS of tears there. And then Trinity honored the alumni homeschool parents who are graduating their youngest child. (Last year there was one...This year there were about six! My mom will be one when Matthew graduates, unless California forces homeschoolers to go to school.) After that was the benediction, and then the tassle turn! In Trinity Pacific Christian School the tassle turn is quite the event. Last year was a lot cooler, but this year was amazing too. You really have to see it to imagine what it's like.

I have to go now, but tomorrow is GDA's Open House!! I'll be sure to update about that. Blitz and I have been practicing...The only thing that wasn't good about his obedience was SLOWNESS and not facing the way I'm facing. But he's a lot faster now, and we've been practicing at curbs so he'll face the same way as me.