Today is a special day! My sweet dog-ter, Xena, is celebrating her 12th birthday!

Xena is a beautiful Norwegian Elkhound who introduced herself to Dan and me by bounding down a mountain road with a huge smile on her face. That was nine years ago, and we have shared many years of love since then.

She was our neighbors’ dog, but after meeting and feeling such a strong connection, we have been almost inseparable since. Thankfully, through a series of miraculous events, she was able to come with us when we moved five years ago – and we are forever grateful that we get to share each day together.

She is having a great birthday – we took a walk in a brand new park, so she could smell and explore. She met four new dog friends – all of whom were wearing cute sweaters. She got to eat her dinner early. She has eaten several extra peanut butter sandwiches. And she’s gotten extra belly rubs and love.

To celebrate, I wanted to tell you about a wonderful website that is close to my heart. It’s called Fun Time Dog Shop, and it’s run by a friend of mine.

ALL profits from this website are donated to dog rescue groups! They have donated over $5000 so far, which is amazing! And Sarah picks out the cutest things to sell there – including our notebooks, cards, and notepads! She even has two sweet Elkhounds of her own: Max and Daisy!

If you are a dog lover, get yourself a fun gift! If you have a dog, you could get them a treat! If you have a friend who loves dogs, this is the perfect place to shop for them!

I adore Sarah and all that she does to help dogs who need some extra love and support.

I definitely recommend that you check it out!

Animals have always been a huge part of my life. Their sweet souls fill my heart up every time I am around them. And I feel so blessed that I get to share my days with such amazing fuzzy loves who make me feel extra grateful and oh so loved.

Happy birthday, sweet Xena.

I would love to hear about your fuzzy friends, too! Please feel free to share how they make your life brighter and fill it with joy!