The final countdown to Operation "Bodhi Home 4 Christmas" has begun. It is 7 days until my little man is home with us. I am VERY excited, and also VERY nervous.

So much to do, and so little time to do it in. I hope I am ready for his arrival. I have Bodhi's crate, toys, working jacket, and chew bones. I still have to get a raised bowl, food and a coat for him. Poor little guy is coming from warm weather into sub zero temperatures. He won't know what hit him.

I am gradually preparing myself mentally for the wildness that will ensue when introducing a new baby to the family. I am sure there will be a few noses out of joint. (ZoeAnne does not take too kindly to anyone taking her Mommy away from her.) Hopefully he will get along with everyone, and not be too interested in any of them. I also am saying a little prayer that ZoeAnne and Bodhi will become the best of friends, or at least tolerate each other.

Again, thank you to everyone that attended our "Friends of Bo" Christmas concert, or helped in making it happen. I would also like to say a special thanks to Corey Daggert for running sound for us. Without him, the concert would not have been so vibrant.

I pray for a wonderful Christmas season for everyone, and an easy transition for our family to life with the new "kid" on the block. Merry Christmas, and God Bless us...EVERYONE!!!!

The "Friends of Bo" concert was a SUCCESS!!!!! The music was beautiful, and I would like to thank all of the musicians, and crew that helped to make this concert a reality. As I sat there listening to the piano, organ, flute and voice I could not help but think that the spirit of Christmas was spiraling through the room, held aloft by the music, that was filling the church.

I would also like to thank all the audience members for their kindness, and generosity. I was so moved by the love that I felt extended towards Bo, Bodhi and our family. We are still a long way from our goal, but we are much much closer than we were a couple months ago. :-D


Again...THANK YOU ALL, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

One thing I failed to mention in the post below was the time. So here is the info again:

Friends of Bo Christmas Benefit Concert
December 6th at 3:00PM
Embury United Methodist Church
515 S. Galena Ave
Freeport, IL

The concert is FREE!!! Bring your friends, family and neighbors for an afternoon of joyous music.

It has been a while since I last posted. Bodhi is doing well with his training, and starting to do things that Bonar used to do. He will be arriving in Freeport (hopefully) on December 21st from St. Helens, Oregon. He has touched the hearts of all who have met him, and I think that his trainer will miss her funny little man when he leaves.

This is a pic of Bodhi, looking ohhhh so handsome as he waits for Santa to bring him to his Mommy.

I would like to invite everyone to the "Friends of Bo" Christmas Benefit Concert on Sunday December 6th, at Embury United Methodist Church, 515 S. Galena Ave. Freeport, Illinois. It will be filled with traditional and contemporary Christmas Music preformed by: Randy Cook, Dr. Gwynne French, Pastor Nathan Whitehead, Dr. Amy VanDeuren, Judi Buus, Pastor Jonathan Singleton, and myself. It is FREE!!!!! We will be taking a free will donation, but please come and share an afternoon of song. God Bless, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Love Found-A New Beginning

The journey to find a new Service Dog was difficult, with many fits and starts along the way. I was determined to find a Standard Poodle that was a different color than Bo, but with the same personality/qualities that you would look for in an Seizure Alert/General Service Dog. I contacted several agencies, all of which had placed their dogs with partners leaving me with a 6 month to 1 year gap between placement. I managed to find one possible placement, but the logistics didn't work out. Finally, I began to look at hunting poodles, and was directed to Jac Harbour. She trains both hunting poodles and Service dogs. Jac has started several Service Dog agencies in both Canada and the US, and does temperament testing on puppies for likely candidates to various agencies. She has also trained seizure alert dogs, which will be the new puppy's main job. Jac has a sterling reputation, as do her dogs so I contacted her. She happened to have just had a litter become available. We discussed my needs and she was able to suggest a puppy to me. What color do you think the little guy was? You guessed it...black. He looked as if he could have been my Bonar as a puppy. Pedigrees were brought to Dr. Dee, and much discussion/agonizing ensued. We finally decided to go ahead with the puppy and sent an email off to that effect. Jac agreed to train him for several months, as a Service Dog-in-Training. He would cover most of the commands that he would need before coming home to me. I would receive him close to Christmas, at the age of almost 5 months. Such a Christmas present I would be receiving. It was almost as if my Bo was guiding us towards this little boy. (The acceptance email was sent 4 hours before my Bonar passed away)

Love Lost-The End

Six weeks ago my beautiful Service Dog, Bonar, was the picture of health. He was a strong, vibrant Standard Poodle who was devoted to my care, and loved everyone. Bo had been my companion for 9 years. We raised him from a pup up to a year, gave him his initial training, and sent him off to college. (service dog school) He remained in Service Dog School for 6 months. Other than those 6 months were we always together. He weathered many hospital stays, and ER visits for both me and my husband, Randy.

Six week ago we received news that Bo had lymphoma. His prognosis was VERY bleak. The vet that performed the Ultrasound suggested we start looking for a Service dog immediately. The vets gave Bo a time line stemming from 3 weeks to 3 months, no more. Three weeks and one day from the day of diagnosis, Bo passed away. Along with him, part of me was lost. I will always love and miss my sweet Bo. He was one of a kind, and anyone that met him knew he was a special, special dog. Bonar resides on my piano, his memorial watching over me at all times. He is in my necklace, my heart, my mind and my soul. Life without him is not as joyous. God Bless you my sweet boy. May you have huge wings, a bright halo, and all the ice cream cones you can eat in heaven. Mommy loves you always!