My secret Santa asked me for some photos of my recently passed dog and my current dog, mentioned in my profile, so I knew it would be something personalized. But I never imagined something as beautiful and creative as this... She actually handmade figurines that capture my two dogs exactly, down to the tiny white blaze, short fur, and giant ears on Raven, and the feathery soft fur, floofy tail, and playful look on Buzz's face. I actually cried when I saw them. That's part of the reason I waited so long to post about my gifts, because I was having trouble thinking of the right words to express how thoughtful and meaningful these items are. I have them displayed on my bookshelf along with other keepsakes.

I also love the nosework shirt and agility shirt with a reference to Star Wars. I've worn the nosework shirt a few times now and it's sparked a few conversations with strangers about canine nosework and how fun it is.

I'm not sure how she knew to include frisbees among the dog toys, because Raven is a frisbee maniac. Very well chosen.

And finally, the plush personalized blanket with an image of my dog Buzz and a beautiful saying... wow. Again, I couldn't believe how thoughtful this gift was. Right now I have it displayed on top of Raven's crate (which used to be Buzz's) as the perfect reminder of both old and new.

I love everything I received, and I know I'm still not doing justice to how wonderful everything is. If we're allowed to edit this afterward, I will be sure to add some more thoughts later. This was my first time participating in a Reddit gift exchange, and I couldn't imagine it going any better.

Thank you!