Emma McGovern: Beginning Obedience Certified

My little girl graduated from beginning obedience school on Tuesday. I am a proud mom. :) She did so well... she got "sit"... "heel" (sorta)... "stay" (sorta)... "down" (when she wants to)... "come" (although she gets realllllly excited)... and "stand" (seriously, stand?). She didn't win a prize (1st-4th place) out of 8, but we didn't expect one. The goal was to finish and she did and so we're really happy!

Us getting ready: me prepping Em, Em watching the scene. She knew it was a big night.

It was an intense scene. (Notice the doofy neufy... he got first place! Way to go buddy - I have a special place for the newfoundlands because of my own sweet Sammy).

Coaching. Go team 14!

The best we could do for a "backstage area."


This is the first part of the course.... the heel and sit. Notice the first time she sat, she turned all the way around to face the lady. Well gosh, what do you expect when you walk behind us!

They brought in an outside lady to do the judging - an "objective" person, they said. So I wasn't super interested in what she said. Because our instructors loved Emma. Listen to what they said about us to J! (they didn't know he was videotaping... so sneaky).

And she won a blue ribbon, score sheet, and certificate. We have to find a place to display it prominently for all to see. Or maybe that's setting her up for failure...?

Yay Emma! Hooray for no more Tuesday night classes! That was kinda stressful. Obedience school is a really good idea, but man it is sure not very fun. Now we're gonna try it all our way. We'll see how long her training lasts... :)

Listen to My voice

Tonight was Emma's first obedience class. Well, we went last week, but this was the first week she got to come. And man was I nervous for her. J had to meet us there, and I talked to her the entire way there.

It's gonna be ok Em. There will be lots of doggies there, but Mommy and Daddy will be there, just listen to my voice Em.

I prayed with her in the car in the parking lot.

We waited for J to get there and boy was she excited to see him. Then they said, spectators to the side. Only one trainer. J said, go for it. So he went to the side, and I stayed with her.

We had to line up with the other dogs and "heel" down the asphalt. She got to go with the little dogs. She was so good. She walked with me and listened to my voice.

I cried when we got back and the big dogs took their turn, and I hugged her and told her how proud of her I was. I looked at my proud husband standing on the sidelines smiling, and I returned the smile through wet eyes.

Gosh I'm ridiculous.

I love my dog like I birthed her. Have I mentioned that? Just wait til I have kids.

The first day of kindergarten is gonna be rough.

Heck, the first day doing anything new is gonna be rough. Riding in a car seat. Sleeping in a big girl/boy bed. Going to the doctor. Crawling.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father...[The sheep] will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd." John 10: 14-16

Some days are rougher than others. Sometimes letting go is hard to do. Sometimes I have to trust that someone else knows better than me. Like these dog trainers. And my God.

He has a plan that is bigger and better than anything I could come up with on my own. He's shown himself to be faithful and true, when I listen to His voice. I am His sheep and He is my Shepherd. I need Him to lead me like Emma needs me to lead her. I need to hear His voice.

Thanks, God, for using my dog to remind me yet again of your simple truths.