Someone who cared for Edison for a weekend when he was a puppy sent me this picture. She captions it best, “Edison spent 24 hours with that 6-year-old and passed that little test of character with flying colors. I'm here to tell ya, that accomplishment should earn him a free pass through the rest of his assessments. He is going to be one hell of a Service Dog. I'm certain of it.” And I say, that he is! #day60of365

Edison thinks there’s nothing better than a snowy Saturday morning walking around with a toy in his mouth after eating his breakfast. I didn’t say anything, or give him any commands, I just let him be his happy self. #day61of365

Edison was my greatest cheerleader as I went down five flights of stairs each day when we were visiting my sister in California last week. With him by my side I can conquer anything! #day62of365

Coffee time at Lorca Coffee Bar. Perfect post-snowstorm treat. Edison is always a great customer anywhere we go! #day63of365

Edison is ready for work today. I’ve got a bunch of errands to run and some doctor appointments. Edison is ready to give me a hand as always. Having him with me is not just helpful, it’s necessary! #day64of365

Bath time! Edison is not a fan but is definitely such a good sport about it. Keeping him clean is extremely important to represent the Service Dog community and, of course, NEADS dogs! #day65of365

Oh, hey! Edison wants to know, how is everyone is doing today? It’s a chilly but beautiful day today. Edison and I might go out for a walk. Edison needs his exercise! NEADS suggests that their Service Dogs get a minimum of 40-45 minutes of exercise and “free time” everyday. What’s your day looking like for today? #day66of365

I came across a clip of when Edison and I were in training together at the NEADS campus in September 2016. It’s amazing that we have been a team for over two years! He knows about 50 different commands/tasks that help me on a daily basis. In the clip he is practicing turning a light on and off. #day67of365

What dog doesn’t like treats?... Do you think their staring was a good tactic? Of course, treats also count as part of Edison's daily food intake, so I'm very careful about the amount of treats that he gets. One high-value treat for an extraordinary behavior! #day68of365

Edison and I had the opportunity to meet this incredible family! We traveled to Chicago for a quick 24-hour trip. Cameron (in front) champions #rettsyndrome. I have been following her Facebook page for many years and felt it was time to meet her in person. Kudos to all for raising awareness and being so transparent about their journey. #day69of365

You know how people say, “This is a day I will remember forever?” This photo represents that special day to me — the first time I met Edison. It was love at first sight! After what felt like a long year and a half of waiting, it was all worth it. The bond that he and I have has only grown. We are one. NEADS paired us perfectly, and I am truly grateful for such an amazing being. #day70of365

I first met the person I’m with in this photo at a local coffee shop. We started talking and I told her that I was fundraising for my future Service Dog. After a bit more conversation and without hesitation she asked if we could exchange contact information so that we could go into town together and fundraise. A few weeks after meeting her, we did just that! What an incredible gesture that meant so much to me. I am still in contact with her and we talk frequently. #day71of365

Every 6 months NEADS hosts a graduation ceremony to honor their most recent Service Dog teams. This event allows family, friends and the general public to hear firsthand from clients how a NEADS dog has changed their life. It’s hard for me to believe that this picture was taken over 2 years ago when I spoke at my graduation. I can’t even remember what my life was like without him! #day72of365

Edison is taking a mid-day nap. Whenever possible, I like to give him time to rest in between appointments and errands. Sometimes we stop home for a bit so that I can take his vest off. He does rest a lot when we are out and about but it’s not the same as when we are home. In fact, a nap sounds good to me to right now! #day73of365

So much gratitude for @aaronhwestdc! In the past few weeks he’s been helping me more than words can say. He welcomes me and Edison in a way that no other health professional does. He is going through schooling to do chiropractic work with dogs and when his training is finished, Edison will be first in line! #day74of365