Blogaversary: Year in Review

Wow!  My blog is 1 year old today.  First, let me say...Phew!  I had very vague reasons for starting a blog (somewhere between everyone else is doing it and wanting to document my fosters) but this year has seen me grow as a writer & dog owner, start a business and raise a puppy. 

Here are some of my favorite memories from the past year:
 

Choco Wonder Foster:  We had a glorious 3 weeks with Choco, my very first (and to date only) Pitbull foster.  If only I had known that the Hubster was planning to surprise me with a puppy for my shop opening, I would have lobbied hard for this little guy.  He stole my heart in 3 short weeks and watching him go home with his forever family was sooooooo hard. 

Hurley joining our family was unexpected.  I was so surprised, in fact, that I was in a state of shock for several days.  Though I worried about the amount of work a puppy requires, about not being able to foster until he was full grown (hint, hint, Hubster) and felt guilty that he was not a rescue, Hurley has enriched our lives so very much.  I thought I had a pretty smart dog (Maggie) but Hurley's brains puts all others to shame.  It's tough keeping up with him and not letting him manipulate me into being his Pez Dispenser O' Treats.    And while puppyhood is naturally challenging, he is on his way to becoming a great dog who will continue to enrich our lives as we grow together.  I am so thankful that I will get to spend my days with such a fantastic dog.  Thanks Hubster for the greatest gift you could have given me!

 Monday Fun Days were my favorite addition to the blog.  And while we're taking a winter break from our hikes and explorations of Oregon, we'll be back next Spring for sure!  Having these days to spend some quality one on one time with the girls was my favorite part of the summer.

Opening NoPo Paws is my greatest achievement to date (other than raising my dogs and landing my fantastic Hubster of course).  I am so so proud of the shop and enjoy every second of it.  While this blog is not about my store or owning a small business, it's such a big part of who I am.  This blog would not be here if it weren't for me taking this ginormous step in my life.  Both blog and boutique have fulfilled me in ways that I hoped and in ways that I never expected.  Perhaps the most memorable aspect of this past year is that I feel that I have become true to myself and have found my path in life.  One that includes running a little pet store and writing all about the dogs I am blessed to share my life with.

Here's to another momentous year!