It was a crazy busy morning....all because we slept in....then realized we needed to do a load of wet laundry so we could pack it. Check out was at noon. So we rushed around I brought breakfast back to the room, but Rob wasn't feeling too hot. My guess is that he never drinks "water beer" & due to high stress volumes he decided, "free beer is good beer". Didn't really agree with him the next morning though. I have to say, at this point in the training every one of the parents are just spent. Not only with our own children, but take thirteen kids with Autism (or behaviors that are very similar to the Autism we see everyday)...add in twelve dogs & twelve sets of tired parents, plus a few siblings that have "had it" by now...it was pretty hard not to feel stretched thin. Trapper picked up a few stem's we are praying he doesn't decide to keep. However this did help us realize that there is no way we are putting Trapper in an exclusive Autism program this summer...no way! We adore each & every family we met @ the training, but now understand even more that some people can deal with things better then others. Not one of these children could be confused with another, they are all so unique, so amazing...and each a blessing to the parents they belonged to. The hardest thing for us was that almost every other parent told us that Trapper reminded them of there child at his age. Trapper & these two darling little girls were the youngest in the class. Most of the other children were between 8 and 10. What was difficult for us was imagining how Trapper may be in four more years. Not one of the children whose parents told us this were anything alike...not one! The funniest moment at the training was Master trainer Jeremy's Birthday & our get together party. My son & two other little boys were holding their ears, two others were screaming in the highest pitches, three were crying and melting down in different corners....and every parent's face had a look of exhaustion. It was comical though. You have to find the humor in the moment I guess.:)
So, the laundry wasn't dry, but I was due @ the mall to take the Public Access test. So Rob dropped Zion & I off & headed back to the hotel with Trapper to get the laundry. There were three families still ahead of us, so I took Zion for practice. Every few feet we were stopped & asked questions or got to hear really crazy comments. Like, "must be a dog show at the mall today." After awhile you find yourself shaking your head yes and want badly to give directions to where they can go watch the show.
I got back to the meeting area just in time to find Jeremy & the family from Australia ready to start there test. It went very smoothly, Zion is awesome. We passed the test & headed back to the 4 Paws Training Facility for Graduation.
Rob's parents brought Katie up & were able to stay for the ceremony. So...then this awesome blessing arrived! Katie & her Grandparents had headed inside & Rob was getting Trapper out of the car on one side & I was getting Zion on the other. I was putting Zion's gentle leader back on & he didn't really want it on right then, he wanted to cuddle...so I said, "Oh come on Zion". Then I heard a gasp to my left. There was this beautiful little family. A Mom & her two adorable children. The little girl (about 10 I think) gasped. You see they were Zion's puppy raisers. Zion acted like a puppy when he saw them. It was an awesome reunion! The mom & her little girl were in tears, the little boy (about 7) was hugging Zion tight & being licked clean.... I of course got all teary eyed. It's like meeting a mother who gave you her child. I have so much gratitude for all the love they gave Zion...they helped make him the perfect match for Trapper. I think they were all a little crushed when I told them Zion was heading to Alaska.
I is still very funny to me that of all the dogs in the "Alaska Litter", Zion is the only one without an Alaskan location name & he is the one heading to Alaska.:) They brought toys for Zion, a sweet card with encouraging words for Zion & his new family...and they brought us his puppy pictures too.
So the highlight of my entire day; Zion's puppy raisers came to our graduation so that they could see him again, meet the little boy who Zion was meant for & say goodbye to this amazing dog that you could tell they adored. It was such a bitter-sweet blessing to meet them. I can not even put into words how overjoyed, humbled, grateful, and blessed their coming today meant to us. If Michelle, Phil, Kylie, & Zach ever read this blog, we just want so much to tell you thank you again...from the bottom of our hearts. For being part of this amazing journey with us. For all the love, care, & items Zion may have chewed up while in your home.:) Mostly thank you for your faith & commitment & all the prayers... you have given our son the most amazing gift! We are so thankful you came today & that you were part of this answered prayer.
~Graduation was load, but slightly fun...except for Rob. He isn't a family photo kinda guy, but he married me, so goes his luck.;) Katie was crying because her dog Taya wasn't in the family picture & amazingly Trapper was more relaxed one in all the commotion. Thanks to Greg Felix, we have pictures to recall the moment. ha. I think I should put it on Rob's desk @ work.
We finished our paper work & rounded up the kids. I meant to go back inside & buy a few extra Service Dog items, like a second Mutt Mat & a few 4 Paws bandannas, as well as a couple T-shirts for the kids....but I forgot after Katie threw a fit over having a piece of cake. Before I remembered we were almost to Columbus.
We are staying at the Comfort Inn near the airport as we have a 6 am flight in the morning. Rob's parents drove with us to Columbus because we couldn't fit two car seats, all our bags, two dogs, & ourselves in the rental car. It was a Dodge Journey, roomy, but not roomy enough. We may need to get a bigger vehicle at home in Fairbanks, because the dog isn't going to fit between two car seats in an Xterra. We plan on Rob, all our bags, Katie & her dog Taya (12 pounds fits under the seat of the plane) taking the rental car back and meeting us at the ticketing area. Trapper, Zion & I will take a hotel shuttle. Please pray tomorrow goes much smoother then we imagine.
~written by Jami (Trapper's mommy)
Photo of Zion chewing on his Kong toy & Trapper chewing on the tire of his new truck.:)I think they both have Pica....or both just love to chew on things.
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