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Five years ago today, I brought home a Christmas gift for myself.
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This little baby dog with the too big Christmas collar came home. I dreamed she would become a Type 1 diabetes alert dog. So we started training.
Noelle learned how to sit.
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And lie down.
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And how to be very naughty.
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And how to be very nice.
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She grew from a service dog in training.
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Into a life changing service dog.
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Once she started alerting to low blood sugar, high blood sugar, and rapid swings up and down, I thought her training was complete.
Noelle had other plans.
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And more plans.
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And even more plans.
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Five years ago, I was in the car with my new puppy, listening to The First Noel. I heard the lyric, "And to the earth, he gave great light..." And right there, I named my dog, Gave Great Light. Five years later, she's Gave Great Light CD RM RAE CGC TKI. Her name grew longer as my love grew deeper. Because of her, I got new letters after my name, too -- KPA-CTP. Her light guided me through the hardest class I've ever taken and helped me certify as a professional dog trainer. She is my great light. Today especially I remember that, and honor her light in my life. My Noelle.
This year we won no ribbons. No new crystal sparkly things. 2020 was dark. May 2021 be a new dawn. So, onward, Noelle! CDX awaits! UD awaits! RM2 awaits! RAE2 awaits! RACH awaits! New titles to strive for. New adventures ahead. May 2021 bring us long rides in the car, fun nights sharing pizza in hotel rooms, and flat green ribbons to weave into our quilt of memories.
Happy Gotcha Day, Noelle. Gave Great Light indeed.
This little baby dog with the too big Christmas collar came home. I dreamed she would become a Type 1 diabetes alert dog. So we started training.
Noelle learned how to sit.
And lie down.
And how to be very naughty.
And how to be very nice.
She grew from a service dog in training.
Into a life changing service dog.
Once she started alerting to low blood sugar, high blood sugar, and rapid swings up and down, I thought her training was complete.
Noelle had other plans.
And more plans.
And even more plans.
Five years ago, I was in the car with my new puppy, listening to The First Noel. I heard the lyric, "And to the earth, he gave great light..." And right there, I named my dog, Gave Great Light. Five years later, she's Gave Great Light CD RM RAE CGC TKI. Her name grew longer as my love grew deeper. Because of her, I got new letters after my name, too -- KPA-CTP. Her light guided me through the hardest class I've ever taken and helped me certify as a professional dog trainer. She is my great light. Today especially I remember that, and honor her light in my life. My Noelle.
This year we won no ribbons. No new crystal sparkly things. 2020 was dark. May 2021 be a new dawn. So, onward, Noelle! CDX awaits! UD awaits! RM2 awaits! RAE2 awaits! RACH awaits! New titles to strive for. New adventures ahead. May 2021 bring us long rides in the car, fun nights sharing pizza in hotel rooms, and flat green ribbons to weave into our quilt of memories.
Happy Gotcha Day, Noelle. Gave Great Light indeed.
