Thankful Thursday - Shyla's Birthday

During our trip, Shyla had a birthday. She's now five years old. I cannot believe how the time has flown.

She's come so far since we met her. She can navigate most of the world without fear paralyzing her. It still can be hard for her but she manages. And she keeps trying to expand her world. For example, she has a new friend in the neighborhood - a one year old black Lab with whom she plays chase whenever we see him on the trails. He's the first neighborhood dog who she's learned to trust enough to play with him. Way to go, Shyla!

For her birthday, we did a desert ride up to the "Top of the World". It's a long climb to the top of a high cliff that looks down on the desert floor. We saw absolutely no one else for the entire ride. It was a wonderful way to celebrate, doing something that we both love.

As I looked at her photo above, her epilepsy tag caught my eye. You never know what each year will bring. On her fourth birthday (celebrated in the same spot), I had no idea that she'd be wearing this tag this year.

In late November, the sun is never high in the sky in North America so our shadows were very long as we stood on top of the cliff. The cracks in the rock made it look as if Shyla had arms or wings in her shadow (she's on the left).

I think that she had a good birthday, all except for the end of it. She had a seizure that night. That was simply not fair.

But dogs don't think that way. They just revel in each moment, not stopping to feel sorry for themselves or worry about the future.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am thanking our lucky stars that we have sweet Shyla in our lives. She's a bright spot in our lives with her pure love for us and her joy in each day.