Hard to believe that we have now been living here at the Resqranch, for one whole year. It is much easier time now, than it was then. Moving in the middle of winter is no fun. Thank goodness for my friend Ed who faithfully put in posts, and hung wire, to build fence, no matter how nasty and cold the weather. Thank goodness for ALL the good people who helped us out, all year long.
Early in the year we lost Timba our Toyger (a very rare breed) cat, to illness. I am grateful we were able to give him a few more years of life after taking him in when he was slated for euthanasia. Thank you Timba for beautiful pictures of our time with you, may you finally have peace.
In February we adopted a bearded dragon from the Foothills Animal Shelter. I learned what it is to know, appreciate, and fall in love with, a reptile, a creature so different on the outside, but so just like us all, needing love, on the inside.
And once settled in somewhat, with the spring, it was good to the horses and the donkey running free, and realizing that perhaps yes we moved out of one dream, but that we moved into a bigger one. I would choose my animals over a house, again, any day. And then, I was featured on the front page of the Denver Post, right next to President Obama.
The height of the summer was marked by the American Veterinary Medical Association convention, where I was entrusted by my colleagues to help teach other veterinarians about fish medicine. And where I was then able to rescue all the surviving koi and goldfish from the hands on ‘wet’ lab (who would often be euthanize afterwards). And yes those Petsmart fish are much loved and doing great!
In September I was supremely honored to speak at the International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health, which only happens once every 4 years, in Portland, Oregon. I never dared to dream that big.
Then later in the fall I achieved something even bigger, by becoming the 21st person in the world to achieve the CertAqV designation for my dedication to the pursuit of aquatic animal medicine. Thank you to all who supported me, a most unlikely person to become a fish doctor!
Finally I began my writing career in earnest, and have been blogging on my website with purpose. It is a work in progress, but imperfect action is better than no action. It is tough sometimes to stick to your own self inflicted task list. You have to possess unyielding resolve, and a hardy dose of faith, to see and believe in the bigger picture, even when many others around you, do not.
I am thankful every day for my Mother, the most amazing person I have ever known, for being there for me every step of the way, moving boxes, washing kids laundry, making cat food, studying business with me, and helping me apply what we learn. For being there tirelessly cheering me on, and having blind faith in me, no matter how ridiculously out of reach some goals may seem. Thank you.
I have no idea if I will have the same level of opportunities in 2015, but I do know I have much to be grateful for at the start of this new year. Thanks to the Prince of Flame Charity Fund we are in the process of putting up a barn for the animals, and I am looking forward to planning a Resqranch open house and volunteer orientation in the spring. I am excited about how we will be able to teach people so that we may fulfill our vision of decreasing insurance, shelter, animal injuries and costs, while strengthening the bond between animals and the people who love them. Thank you for reading and being a part of the story. Here is to optimism for the people, the animals, and the planet in 2015. May we all find the shortest path to more love in the world, every day.