Thursday, December 31, 2020
Crocodile DunSHE!
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Mary, Martha and Maggie
Saturday, December 19, 2020
I Got Many Beatings...
Boots
So a few months back, there was this cat...
and he kept hanging around...
cause apparently stray cats just love homes with 8 kids, 4 dogs and 2 resident, crazy cats!
I mean come on!
I am the "Dog Lady"...
except now I am the "Dog Lady" AND the "Wow, You Have 8 Kids Lady"!
Somehow out in stray cat land, things got all jumbled up cause "The Cat Lady" is NOT one of my official titles!
For real!
However, every cat that we have owned (and I use that term lightly😉) has chosen us!
From Memow...
To GiGi aka Grumpy Girl...
To Boo...
To Doc...
And now Boots!
For months and months, he watched us.
At night, I would see his face looking in but he would not let me near.
Slowly, the end of our porch became his safe spot and slowly some of the fear began to fade...
*some*
He began to hiss less and "talk" more and then one day...
He came close enough to actually touch my leg...
with his tail😉
He still wasn't sure, but after months of feeding and patience and lots of cans of Tuna...
I got him!
And he wasn't happy!
And I was worried.
After working so hard to gain his trust, I just knew we would be starting all over so I prayed.
I took him to the vet and I prayed.
When I picked him up, he wasn't sure and he wasn't happy but he was calm.
So I watched him this time and as he began to understand that he was "home"...
he melted into me and allowed me to pet him...
as well as my partner in crime rescue, Lizzie...
Not only was his trust restored but God seemed to place such a peace within him.
He exhaled and finally seemed to feel safe.
So now what!
We have these other two crazy cats who don't really like each other, much less this porch prowler!
But with age comes wisdom... and older children!
*wink*
Because now I have this grown child and this grown child has an apartment and...
a sweet girlfriend...
and they needed a cat!
Right?
Right!
Done!
And while Boots' health journey hasn't been easy so far, his life now sure is...
I think he has determined that even with the "cone of shame", apartment life is way better than porch life!
He is sweet and snuggly and I honestly cannot believe that our first "grand" is a cat and not a dog!
Go figure!
Friday, December 11, 2020
All I Want...
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Tis The Season
No, not that season...
With 8 kids, Christmas is never far from my thoughts.
*wink*
No, the season I am referring to is that season in life that overtakes you before you even have a chance to exhale, that season that takes all of your moments and flings them into a future that stands there waiting, as you breathlessly catch up.
Some anxiously race toward that future while some (me) deliberately meander through each moment, clinging even to those memories that are yet to be made.
For me, this season is a incongruous jumble.
With six still at home and four of them exhibiting all the signs and symptoms of teenage girls...
*gulp*
I'm still livin' large in the land of chores and curfews and consequences and "make it all better" hugs...
but I am also learning how to let go and allow the Lord to do what I have prayed for as my two oldest begin their seasons...
cause I don't think you have seasons until you are at least 21... right??
*grin*
I will never forget the day I walked in and saw Christian's b*llet proof vest on my kitchen counter.
NOT something I see on my kitchen counters very often ever!
In the past, my kitchen counters have been the depository for books, school papers, snacks, sweatshirts and yes, sometimes even dirty socks!!!
*gasp*
but I can say with certainty that this was the very first time for a b*llet proof vest and unlike the afore mentioned items, I did NOT threaten to throw this one in the trash, if not removed from my counters!
My Christian has graduated and now feels called to join the P*lice Ac*demy and I am proud and nervous and humbled by his desire to serve but his timing stinks😉
those are the nights that I held and rocked and sang to my first born baby boy.
It was during those moments that the Lord ministered to my heart and began to prepare me for this season.
And then along came Charlie.
*snicker*
Charlie is not quite 21 yet but I am beginning to believe that Charlie IS a season!
*haha*
Charlie is a junior this year and was offered a most amazing internship, one that keeps him busy and out of trouble (mostly😉), but one that keeps him away from home...
Again, Charlie is his own season... you know, sort of like hurricane season!
Bwhahahahahaha!
In other words...
I MISS HIM!
He is a presence and when he is not here, he is missed and this was our very first Thanksgiving without him.
Thankfully, my sweet Sis-in-law and her family got to enjoy Hurricane Charlie for Thanksgiving.
He wasn't alone, and for that...
I am thankful.
Jealous but thankful!
*wink*
and while I am having to dig deep to be thankful for this season that has come way to fast for him, I am thankful; as this internship and the people he finds himself surrounded with, answers a constant prayer from the heart of this Momma who has lived the difference between believing in God and walking with Him.
So while I don't always find myself "jolly" in this particular season...
I do find my peace in the One who never gave up on me, as I trust that He will relentlessly pursue my p*lice officer and my hurricane and all my other "yet to be's" as they lead me into seasons to come.