Hiking Buddies

Ro spends a lot of her time hiking in the beautiful mountains of Utah. It keeps her grounded, sane and frankly, easier to live with! I love that she so enjoys this new state she calls home. You'd be hard pressed to find such beautiful, majestic mountains elsewhere.

With trees reaching towards the almost painted sky and snow encompassing Mother Earth, not only is our snow the greatest on earth, our mountains are too!

Surrounded by all this beauty, Rhonda glows! She loves being outside, hiking and just being one with nature.

She has found a new hiking buddy with our pooter, Kasper. As he prances through the woods, his tail is no longer between his legs with fear, his ears are no longer perched with anxiety and he no longer shakes in anticipation. Having been chained up, starved and cracked feet from the cement he called home for the first two years of life, I am happy that he's found a home. It was a tough start for him but he's come through as a champion. He still gets anxious and fearful but he knows his mamma's will protect him. He has a hard time with new people but once he's a friend, he's a friend for life.

I am so happy for the foster mom that spoke up and took him in when the inevitable was to happen at the animal shelter. I am so happy we saw her flyer up City Creek Canyon and that he's grown to love us! I am so happy he no longer sleeps sitting upright! He has gained so much confidence in himself. After accomplishing what would have been a very anxiety-ridden task, he gloats with pride. It's quite difficult bringing an unsocialized dog into a household. He has taught me it's very worth it! It's worth the love, hugs and cuddles we receive in return. It's worth the tail wagging to and fro, the circles of excitement he runs, and him meeting us at the door...with a toy in his mouth! I thank Kasper for the love and patience he has taught me.

Now I look at my big boy and can't even imagine a time in my childhood when I was actually scared of dogs! Both of our dogs have brought so much happiness and joy to our house. Louis Sabin puts it the best, "No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." We are definitely the richest people around.