Jo Jo Dog!!! Everyone once in a blue moon we've had a special puppy that has come into our lives (of the 13 raised to become guides for the blind) that you know you were more bonded too than many of the others. That would be Johanna! Born of Elena (pup number 11 whom we also loved) but yellow instead of black. She was flown to Utah in late February and we picked her up from SLC airport. She traveled with Isadora, another very white yellow lab puppy of the same age. At first when I saw them I was hoping that ours would be the white one. Johanna was more honey colored and smaller ... but oh how she started to take up a big spot in our hearts! We already had Nigella, a golden retriever pup who was about 7 months old at the time that we were raising. The two became fast friends curling up to sleep on each other all the time. Nigella was perfect with Johanna ... although it was a little time consuming I really enjoyed having the two pups together. It was so much fun to watch them interact with each other. Johanna (name picked by us ... after my grandmother...Louise Johanna Fellger Johnson) had a few little quirks but for the most part was one of the easiest pups we've raised. She LOVED to please. She was always, always happy to see you. So happy that she would jump up and run straight at you if called (we called it her bunny hop!). She would go full bore straight at your legs and you'd have to stop her with your hands. Her whole body was HAPPY!!! Well good things often come to an end and Johanna had to go back for the rest of her training or to become a breeder. We haven't heard yet which path she will take but we have already told our club leader that if for some reason they call and career change her we want her back! We miss her ALOT. We miss her happiness, her staring at you with her head in your lap like you were her idol, her tight little curled up ball when she slept by the bed, her running and jumping off the landing on the patio and so many other things that just made her wonderful. (Don't miss a few of her tricks though like an occassional counter surfing and eating of scrubbies or other un-edible stuff.) JoJo we hold a spot in our hearts for our little yellow lab. Happy trails always!

Amy shines.... This year Amy received the "Teacher of the Year Award" from her school. I tried to find the article online but for some reason I couldn't find it in the Herald Journal archives. But here is what the article said: The Logan City School District and The Logan Schools Foundation announce the following: Amy Nollner is the teacher of the year for Wilson Elementary. She teaches first grade. She is respectful and patient with her students. She handles all situations with care and puts the needs of the students first. Amy has continued her education and implements the skills and strategies she has learned. We are so proud to call her our daughter and know in our own hearts that she is a great teacher!!!