They are truly beautiful faces if I do say so myself!
Ahhhh... the future, we never know what it holds we can only try to plan for it. As I look back on my life and the many twists and turns it has taken I am made seriously aware of just how fortunate I am in so many ways.
Don't get me wrong there have been many stumbling blocks along the way but each and every one of them was necessary for me to be where I am and the person I have become.
I am sure there will be many more, but, as I get older I think I am a bit more equipped to handle these speed bumps by simply slowing down, getting over the bump and moving forward.
There are 4 very important dogs very conspicuously missing from the gallery at the front of this post, they are missing simply because I do not have their photos on this computer!!
They are a most significant part of my agility past, but, most importantly, the reason for my present and future.
They are in order of arrival into my life, Jazz the Boxer, what an incredible dog he was!!
Jack, the Border Collie that started my obsession with Border Collies and the dog who made me who I am!
Secret, the wonder dog, I mean Border Collie who took perfection to a whole new level and made me wonder if I could ever love any creature that much again.
And... Buzz the Jack Russell who has a place in my heart that no other will ever take.
This trip down memory lane could of course go on and on as more than 20 years into this chosen life I have certainly racked up more than my fair share of awesome memories and life changing moments!
There are a couple that really stand out though, being chosen to represent the USA in Russia for the first IFCS World Championships was definitely a life changing experience made even sweeter by bringing home the World Champion trophy!
The next truly stand out experience of my life was embarking on the marathon World team point accumulation race in 2005. Trying out for the 2006 IFCS World team with Able, who did indeed make the team and ultimately having the third most points in a very large field of incredible dogs trying out.
This makes the list because Able was always a challenge and every major accomplishment was one to be very proud of. It is quite amazing that as he aged he became "the old pair of shoes" that I knew and trusted completely on every agility course at every competition... he is retired now and hikes, plays and keeps the couch warm!
Next, going to my very first FCI World team tryouts with Maze and taking 2nd place overall on Sat. which was day one of the event. The courses were incredibly challenging and so much fun to run, Maze ran 3 beautiful clean runs on Sat. to secure the second place spot, it was quite a rush!
Agility has been and continues to be such a huge part of my life and has been a way to express myself creatively from a training and handling standpoint, a way to meet so many wonderful people, many of whom have become very dear friends. Agility has allowed me to see the World and has given me the opportunity to help so many people, there is absolutely nothing more gratifying to me than watching someone accomplish something they had no idea they could do! I love teaching and I love the people I am fortunate enough to teach.
Agility is also how I met my wonderful husband who my kids actually introduced me to almost 12 years ago! Agility continues to be something we enjoy doing together and I am very thankful that he can share in what takes up so much of my everyday life.
The present is pretty special as well, I have fabulous dogs that I am trialing now and awesome youngsters coming up.
Agility continues to pretty much consume my almost every waking moment but I am taking more time to smell the flowers along the way, spending more time hiking, trying to catch a movie here and there and actually taking vacations that do not include dogs! Does this mean I am backing away from agility, ABSOLUTELY NOT, it is and continues to be my passion but I am going to make sure it stays that way by taking a break now and then to just be a person with other interests:-)
Someday I would love to go to culinary school, yep culinary school! Not because I love to cook but because next to my family and agility, food takes a very high position on the list of my most important things! I think chefs are artists and since I watch every cooking show available this interests me greatly!
WHat are my goals for next year, truthfully, I do not have an answer for that right now. I am exploring the option of jumping SoBe at 26" to prepare for potential FCI World team tryouts, I am toying with trying out for IFCS with both SoBe and Maze, I definitely plan on finishing Mazes MACH, we are Oh so close!!
Being a National Finalist in as many events as possible at USDAA Nationals is always high on the goal list and maybe I will even head overseas for a competition or 2, these things will sort themselves out and time will tell, meanwhile I am already excited about the seminars I am presenting next year, a lot of which are chances to visit and connect with awesome people that I have been working with for years, some are totally new places that offer new opportunities.
Whatever the future brings I know that I am happy to be me, the person who has an amazing family, fantastic dogs, wonderful friends, the best job in the whole world and many new doors yet to be opened!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!!
