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...

and I get to watch as my first born chooses wisely and loves well!

And while Boots is still sporting "the cone of shame"...

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!

Rain, Rain Go Away or Maybe Not!!

If the rain went away, then there would be no need for really cute pink umbrellas or absolutely adorable rain boots!!

I believe that just as the trees, flowers and grass need the rain, so do little girls with pretty pink umbrellas and adorable rain boots!!!

n

Twirly Skirts and Rain Boots

These girls just make me smile:)

The fact that our back yard has been turned into a pond recently

did not stop the girls in their twirly skirts from sloshing around the puddles!

I never was a "fashionista"

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!  Hehe!!

Goalie Girl!

Ok, so it has been almost a week since I have posted about soccer! 

So....

Just a little video and  a lot of Mommie bragging!  Heh!

One of many goals (sorry for the quality - hate my camera - I've mentioned that, right?)

and the high five to Coach Daddy

I honestly don't know how many "goalies" she scored but it was a lot.  Lizzie just seems to have a natural feel for the game and NO FEAR! 

She is my little mighty mouse and so much fun to watch!  Even though her cleats are too big and stuffed with toilet paper to make them fit and her soccer jersey looks more like a soccer dress and her soccer socks look more like hip boots, she really LOVES it! 

So what do ya think?  Next World Cup?  She has 4 years, right???  Hehe!

Smokey Bear

So, if you remember a few weeks back, the great feral kitten wrangler had wrangeled herself a wild little black kitty. If you don't remember, you can read all about "my little prodigy" here, Crocodile Dunshe!

Both Lizzie and the kitty were in shock and scared and when they got home...

the real work began.

Sound familiar?

I watched as this precious daughter of mine fed and cared for and comforted and loved this tiny scared kitty.

It took great patience and faith as she nurtured through hissing and hiding and scratching and fear and as the days turned into weeks, she persevered because she knew.

She knew the love that was growing in her heart and that as frightened as this tiny one was...

that one day... 

he would know it too and while fear may always be a part of him...

she knows his familiar healing and now she is beginning to know ours.

And as she wrestled with the choice of finding him a good home or keeping him forever, she began to understand that as much as he needed her...

she . needed . him.

Through this tiny one, my tiny one is gifted a small glimpse into the love that grows by God's grace as He heals and restores the giver and the receiver... 

I watch her as she cares for him and I recognize the doubt and the fear and the joy and the love and the surrender and the embrace and . the . healing and it is familiar.

Lord thank you for your constant healing and the gentle way in which You care for us and restore us in ways that touch us so deeply.

So now I can officially say that we have our 2nd "grand" and he is also a CAT and his name is Smokey!

No worries Chewy, Lizzie's body may be tiny but her heart is HUGE😉!

 Besides... you are MY dog😆

You can read about our 1st "grand" here, Boots!

Now I guess I will be stuck with a name like Memaw!!

I . AM . THE . DOG . LADY!!!

I mean I could have had a cool grandma name like G-dog but noooooo...

My partner in crime rescue had to go and rescue a cute little kitten...

and oh my goodness just look at those squishy little cheeks😉

Welcome to the Ham Fam little Smokey Bear!