Her Senior Year

This usually is the place I talk about our life with our dogs.  But today I feel I must talk about our life with our oldest daughter, Meagan.  Yesterday she began her Senior year of high school.  The journey with her, and with our dogs, is amazing!!!

Meagan is our "brainiac."  She is smart -- both book and street.  She is logical, compassionate, faithful, loving, quiet, reserved, talented, musical, adventurous, empathetic -- she is an awesome young lady.  She never ceases to amaze me with what she is doing, can do, will do.

I credit Meagan for helping us get into dogs and dog training.  When we first started getting more "into" dogs, she was our faithful companion at dog shows.  I have wonderful memories of both girls taking notebooks to dog shows and keeping lists of all the different breeds they saw.  She saw Conformation and Junior Showmanship and told me she wanted to try that.  So we explored our options and Meagan began training Daisy for the Junior Showmanship ring.  Meagan loved Junior Showmanship!  It was truly a shining moment for both Meagan and Daisy.  They trained with several outstanding dog people and did wonderfully in the ring.  Meagan achieved her three Novice wins (including one at the Beagle Nationals!) and moved into the Open division.  It was at this time we opted to take a "sabbatical" from the Junior ring.  (Long story...and while it was a tough decision, it was a mutual decision.)  I think Meagan still has dreams of being in the Conformation ring again someday (at least I hope so!).

I also credit Meagan for showing me what having food in the ring can do for a dog.  I might never have tried other venues (that allow food) if it weren't for the different attitude I saw in Daisy when she was with Meagan in the Junior ring.  I saw how animated and happy Daisy was and I realized that Daisy needs to have food for feedback, information, and reinforcement in the ring.  It has even made our time in the rings where food is not allowed, better and more positive because Daisy now knows the show/trial ring is a good place to be.

Now Meagan is moving (quickly!) into a new phase in her life.  Going with her is her puppy, Elphie.  The puppies were not the road any of us thought we were going to be traveling, but I don't think any of us are in a hurry to change our direction!  Meagan and Elphie are a wonderful team!!!  Meagan has done a wonderful job of raising her puppy.  Elphie is a joy to work in the Rally ring for Kendra and I and Meagan is having fun working her in the Obedience ring.  I am so proud of the young ladies both Meagan and Elphie are becoming!!!!

Meagan is applying to several colleges and plans to study Biological Anthropology (remember? I told you she was the brainiac!).  She is busy, busy, busy at school with four AP classes, Spanish 4, and band.  It's going to go by much too quickly I'm afraid.

I am a crier.  I cry at commercials on television, the National Anthem at events, musicals, and just because.  It's going to be a long, short Senior year with lots of tissues in my pocket!!!!  But I am also excited about what's ahead for Meagan.  Her future is bright and the possibilities are infinite.  What more could a mom ask for?

Meagan and Elphie, May 2011