Walking into the Champ Assistance Dog offices on a Saturday morning in May, I am greeted by Christina Rustenhaven, the Champ Assistance dog trainer, Sue, a puppy raiser, and Gunny who is full of energy and one of the sweetest puppies I’ve ever met. Sweetness and energy aside, this is a working session and Christina and Sue are already hard at work discussing what Sue would like to work on in this training session. As an observer I can tell that Gunny has good energy and is a

We started the puppy raisers training class sitting in a circle with Katie showing the puppy raisers how to talk with their puppies so that the puppy would remain sitting by their side as she talked with us. She’s as calm as they come and the puppies pick up on this energy. She gently leads a puppy in front of her and easily demonstrates how to have the puppy sit in front of her keeping her eyes on Katie for further direction. Katie loosely has the puppy in between her legs w

Katie Leemon and Christina Rustenhaven Champ Assistance Dog Trainers were nominated for the Woman of Impact Project sponsored by Jill Gray of Higher Focus Photography. In my mind their impact is far reaching. They've worked with hundreds of puppies, dogs and humans. They are front-line workers and their inspiration and impact has made our community a better, happier, puppy-filled world. Jill and I thought it would be a good idea to have one photo session for both Champ Assist

As we walk into Mason Pointe Senior Living, we are met with smiles all around. Holly Nylander and Linda Thomas gently guide Hannah and Charlee into the building for their Therapy Dog commitment. The minute we walk in, humans begin to smile and walk over asking if they can say hello to the dogs. Hannah and Charlee know exactly what to do. They stand still and allow the humans to reach out and gently pet them. A few people talk to the dogs and then say hello to the humans. We m

Every year my sister and I spend a day making mint patty’s. We make hundreds each year and share with anyone who is mint-patty-worthy. We also keep a daily mint count in the weeks after we make them. This year I booked my sister for the end of January. Yes, you have to book my sister who is busy living her best life. In addition, we know we needed an entire day because we often combine mint-patty day with resale and thrifting, movies, and our favorite restaurant in St. Charle

Once more I’m in puppy heaven as I sit with Zion, one of the puppies from the National Park litter at Champs newest space. Beside me is Christina, trainer extraordinaire. She is showing me how to rub Zion’s pillow-soft ears and how to massage his head. “It’s like us getting our heads massaged,” she says. I follow her lead and Zion looks at me with giant puppy-dog eyes of thanks. In February after Champ Assistance Dogs had moved offices I am in a training session with Zion and

I am blissfully in a room full of puppies. Puppies! Yellow and black labs that are three months old. Three months old. You know what this looks like-Puppies! Seven labrador puppies. All in various positions of alert, sleepy, or curious. Their puppy raisers are tuned in to the trainers as well as their puppies. This is the National Park litter at Champ Assistance Dogs ( https://www.champdogs.org/ ) and I am a guest. Completely lost in this puppy heaven, I’m trying to pay atten

Dancing is one of my favorite activities in the world. I LOVE to dance, move, and feel the music. I’ve been dancing since I was 14 on drill team and I feel like I’ve never stopped. If there is music, I want to dance. Here’s the thing. I am not self-conscious at all. Maybe it’s at the cellular level, however, I am completely fine being on a dance floor with many people or with just a few. And when the music starts, you will find me ON the dance floor. The same thing goes for d

JOY is my intention this year. Not my resolution, plan, or goal. My intention. I’ve long since given up making New Year’s resolutions. There will always be chocolate in the world. Ice cream, opportunities to not be practical. Which means if you ask me to do something and it sounds fun, I’m going to say YES. That doesn’t need to be a resolution for me. I will always say YES. (Ask my friend Jenny. Or anyone who knows me.) Joy isn’t my resolution. Joy isn’t my plan. Joy isn’t my

At the January West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce meeting, we celebrated the First Responder of the Year Recognition Luncheon. Over 200 people attended. It was a joyous celebration and an opportunity for us to show our appreciation of First Responders. I attended the meeting with Nikki Carey of One Table STL. She came as a guest, and we decided to meet other guests together. That was great fun. I realized that I was sticking way too close to the people I already knew.

Chanukah is one of my favorite holidays. Ever since I can remember I’ve loved Chanukah. For many reasons. First and foremost, it’s the celebration of light. I love the light. I belong in the light, and I will always gravitate toward the light. Second, are the memories I have of the holiday both as a kid and as a parent. As a parent, we used to light a number of menorahs, sing songs, and play dreidel. Those games could get fierce! The kids figured out how to flip those dreidel

I met Thor a few years ago when my sister Staci was given an amazing gift of a cat. I didn’t know she wanted a cat; however, when it came...

I’m riding my sparkly, purple bike on a gorgeous Saturday in early August and riding beside me is Emily. One of the kindest, loveliest,...

On a Wednesday in April, I popped onto my podcasting platform to record a podcast for my St. Louis Girl Podcast after taking two classes...

On May 14th, Kate and I headed out for another evening of new places and chocolate. It was my turn to plan our outing, and I have to say...

It is 8:05 am on Sunday morning July 5th . I am standing in the gravel parking lot at The Cyclery in Edwardsville with my sparkly purple...

In a place, a world where perfection might rule and scare anyone away, there is a group of Friends and their moms who solidly embrace...

I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. I don’t want to go. There comes a point in everyone’s life when they have to...

My friend Kate loves chocolate as much as or more than I do. Kate loves all sweets and sugar, and we’ve shared many thoughts, texts, and...

Originally written and posted in March of 2022 (and edited now) this always makes me smile. Special shout out to Jill and Tim Gray of...