The Best Presents Can't Be Wrapped...

Mama reminded me of something very impawtant about presents over the holidays.

It all started when I got a little too excited about Mama's gift-wrapping paper, but in my defense, it was VERY crinkly and shiny.

You see, last week, Mama was wrapping holiday presents for our friends while I was napping. But I heard something that sounded fun, and it easily woke me up – just like when I hear mama sneaking to the kitchen to get treats without me!

First, I peeked with one eye. Then I opened my eyes and saw what I was missing—shredding boxes and paper, one of my favorite things to do – and the paper I saw was very shiny and crinkly - even more fun to tear up! So, I quietly got up and took off towards all the excitement, doing my best: "don’t notice or hear me walk." But my wagging tail ruined my plan and my fun.

Just as I was about to do a very careful investigation of some of the wrapped presents…with my teeth, not my eyes...my wagging tail knocked over two presents and whacked Mama, and just like that, the fun was over. I was very mad and very sad! But Mama always knows how to make me feel better, and because she’s a rock-star coach, she also always teaches me an impawtent lesson at the same time."Toffy, come here. Let me show you something so much better than these presents. The presents that are so special and precious that they can’t be wrapped up in boxes or bags. ”I wasn’t sure that was possible, but I went to sit next to mama anyhow – maybe she had some treats nearby that she was hiding that would make this crazy idea worth listening to. But what she showed me got me panting and my tail wagging SO much. She was right, like she almost always is. What she showed was something so special –even more special than the treats I get. And I never ever thought that was possible. But just to be clear, it was not a replacement for my treats, just a very impawtent addition. Mama pulled out her phone and started showing me all our photos of our awesome year together—me getting bundles of love and cuddles from my best friend Luca, who always shares his peanut butter sandwiches with me, the super cool outings I had with his fun family who are my best 2nd family, taking my puppy for a walk outside to see what’s happening in the neighborhood, doing my security job, being brave, doing hard things, digging on the beach, road trips, watching movies and so many other fun and interesting adventures we had this year.

That's when Mama told me something very important that I’ll never forget – just like I never forget all her “hiding” places for my treats. She said the memories we made in all those hundreds and hundreds of photos are the best presents we could ever wish for and that I should know that many, many people never get these types of presents in their lives.

At first, I wasn't totally convinced - I mean, have you seen my uber-cool crocodile – it’s super soft, squeaky, big, and bright green. Or my dragon and balls and puzzles…

But then I p-a-w-s-e-d and really thought about it... Yes, the boxes, crinkly wrapping paper, toys inside, and even the holiday treats are super fun to get, but what made my heart feel extra full of love and so happy that my tail could barely keep up with all the waggingwas remembering all the special moments we had in the hundreds and hundreds of photos we were looking at.

Here's what I learned about pawsome presents: 

1. The best presents are the special memories you have that are with you forever and ever - that make you feel as happy when you think of them as you felt when you made them.

2. The absolute greatest gift of all is the people who love you no matter what - even when you accidentally ruin the white coaches or eat chocolate and need to be taken to the emergency animal hospital - but that’s a different story for a different blog.

3. If you don’t take time to p-a-w-s and remember these special presents you have, then you can easily forget about them and think the best presents are wrapped in boxes and bags with crinkly and shiny paper.

So, what are your favorite unwrappable presents from this year? Please share one of yours because another unwrappable and special present is sharing yours with those you love so they can feel the happiness of your presents too! How pawsome is that?! But before you go, I wanted to wish you a very happy New Year and also let you know that l have an exciting new addition to Toffy's Dog Blog, so be sure to sniff it out next year :)

Toffy xoxo  #lifewithtoffy PS! If you liked this edition of Toffy’s Dog Blog, please share it with your friends and family and help me share my message to live*love*play!