How We Got Our Kitties!

So this is a little overdue I think but it's something I'd like to remember and maybe some of you out there were wondering so here goes...

I think I gave some of the back story about my hubby winning the Husband of the Year award by getting allergy shots...so continuing from that thread:

We found out in January/February that hubby had reached his maximum tolerance with cat allergies despite still needing the weekly shot (upkeep and maintenance they say=we want more of your $).  So I started dropping a hint or two and he did as well without meaning to.  My neighbor even whispered to me one night in January when I went over to ask for an egg "I think you're getting a cat soon...he came over here asking about apartment pet fees."  I brushed it off because I didn't want to get my hopes up.  Hubby, without meaning to, asked probing questions out of the blue every now and then that got me thinking.  I continued to try and keep my hopes suppressed.  Until I could let them run wild and free on my birthday weekend getaway when my card said "You're getting a kitten!"  He may as well have been Prince Charming from Cinderella slipping my missing slipper on my dainty little foot.  My hero! 

Now, I'd been doing research already about where I'd like to adopt from.  At first I was only looking into no-kill rescue shelters/homes in the area.  But none had kittens yet...it was a little too early in the season for kittens.  I kept thinking though that training a kitten to use the litter box when we both work would not be so fun...and maybe it would be better if we got a cat that was a little older and more mellow for hubby's first adult experience with a cat.  But I didn't want one too old that wouldn't live a long time with me.  So I decided to look into cats that were 1-3 years old...preferably with a sponsor who had already paid their adoption fee...and preferably orange and male.  Hubby had an affinity with orange cats:)  Well, I kept striking out....either with selection or with cost of fees being too high, knowing we'd still have to pay the apartment a fee on top of that. 

Though I really wanted to support the local no-kill rescue places, I got that glimmer in my eye that reminded me of why I taught in Durham, NC instead of Chapel Hill...I wanted to rescue those that needed rescuing, and solve the big problems...at least that is how my narrow mind saw it when I was a fresh college grad.  So I started looking into Young-Williams Animal Center...a local kill shelter for cats and dogs.  Now, they have a whole page on their website explaining why they are a kill shelter (though they word it this way..."What is a No-Kill Shelter and Why We Aren't One"), and I want you to know that I don't support killing animals...so please don't think that just because I got my kitties from there that those are my beliefs...they aren't.

But I had officially changed my mind and wanted to rescue a sweet fur baby from being killed, so my research resumed at YW.  Their selection was A LOT bigger than the small no-kill rescues I'd looked at (probably because they are so well known in the area for accepting strays) AND they had several cats in the age range I was looking for AND a lot of them were FREE because a sponsor had already paid for their adoption fees.  SOLD. 

I looked online and wrote down the names of about 15 cats I wanted to meet and learn more about upon my first visit to YW.  That list quickly narrowed when I got there and saw that some of the online information had not been accurate, or one had Feline HIV or other health issues I wasn't willing to take on for a first pet, or their fur was really long (due to allergies, short hair was our priority)...etc. etc. 

First of all before I go further, this place STUNK.  Like bad y'all.  I spent 3 hours there meeting different cats on my first visit and dumped all my clothes in the laundry basket that evening.  It was nasty.  Cats sleeping in their litter boxes, that hadn't been changed lately, their fur matted, dusty, dirty, stinky...most of the cats had a URI (upper respiratory infection...basically a kitty form of the human cold=highly contagious) and they were all in these relatively small metal cages that made horrendous noises when opened and frightened many of them.  I want to grab them all and run out the door! 

But I didn't.  I met, petted, starred longingly at some sweet faces, talked to them, read about them, and made some cuts from my long list.  Hubby only cleared me for one OR two cats and my list of 15 was, well, too long.  Darn.  (Not really, I'd never want 15 cats...two or three is most sufficient.) 

There was this one sweet baby.  Just a year old...sick as a dog (or cat) and more or less quarantined in his own little room because he couldn't handle the cage.  He was too affectionate they said and kept rubbing his little face against the grated metal cage and scratched his fur off his face and had scabs from it.  Plus he sounded like he was on his death bed.  I mean, he was wheezing like a chain smoker of 80 years, sneezing all over me (hence another reason my clothes went into the laundry basket), had snot literally dripping out of his nose, swollen puffy eyes, and had barely enough life to wake up from his nap in his litter box, jump into my lap and nuzzle my chin (I showered later...trust me).  Then he almost fell asleep again.  I had to wake him up to leave (which I didn't want to do) and shut the glass door behind me.  He groggily walks up to the door, mewing at me.  I crouch down to talk to him through the glass and put my hand up...pretending to pet him and tell him I'll be back to visit with hubby soon.  He continues to talk to me and puts his paw up where my hand is on the glass.  Decision MADE...this sweet cat is mine.  Stole my heart in that moment.  This exact story would steal my hubby's heart that evening when I told it to him...and he hadn't even met the cat yet! 

Even more perfect, this sweet cat's fees had been paid for by a sponsor...he was FREE!  The only problem we had was the stupid name YW had given him...Catsper.  Eeww.  Granted, he is white...with tabby splotches and a completely tabby tail...but did they seriously have to give him the worst punny name possible?  That was remedied very quickly when we brought him home.  Welcome to our lives RINGO!

Next, it was time to find a good cat buddy for Ringo...because if I had talked hubby into getting one, why not shoot for the moon and sneak a second one home!? Am I right?  

I made another list, and a second visit.  I narrowed it down again...because you have to understand...this shelter was getting cats in like crazy...so even though my second visit was only 3 days later, there were a lot of new kitties to choose from.  Through the narrowing down process of holding different cats up to Ringo/Catsper's glass door and seeing how they'd respond to each other...I had finally narrowed it down to 2 other choices, both girls of the same age as Ringo.  Hubby and I had already planned on meeting later that evening at YW to make our decisions final and sign paperwork.  This was perfect.  We visited with my two choices and with Ringo and finally settled on our sweet princess.  YW named her Bonnie.  No offense if that is your name or a family name...but for this beautiful girl, it wouldn't do.  We renamed her Cassie.  Welcome Cassie to our home!


February 20 we signed the papers and paid for Cassie (she wasn't free obviously but since she was over 8 months old her fee was cut in half).  A week later, we brought them home!

One happy momma!

 Ever since then, we've loved on these kitties...fed them a ton, took care of them and watched them blossom.  It's been so great to see them get used to being around each other...now they'll give each other baths, cuddle in the sun, and play with each others' tails!  They are just too cute together!  Cassie chirps like a bird, Ringo jumps almost 3ft high to catch toys, Cassie is surprisingly very playful given she's more shy to open up to others, Ringo nurses on blankets while making muffins, they'll both be waiting outside our bedroom door in the morning (we keep our bedroom doors shut), and on and on and on.  We've laughed so hard in the last month and a half:)  We love you kitties! 

Oh, and just in case you're wondering...hubby...a self-proclaimed major disliker of cats, (hate is a little too strong of a word)...has morphed into this:

Total Cat Person

I'm Okay With Being Busy

I know I've been kind of absent on the blog lately...I hope you understand, we've been incredibly busy.  We had 8 weekends in a row with guests or important church related events and are finally experiencing our first weekend without guests...though hubby ran a half marathon this morning and we had a hike and picnic with folks from our community group yesterday.  That is what a low key weekend looks like in our household. 

Someone told me yesterday that hubby and I are too busy.  That we don't live life free enough.  We're too scheduled.  That we need to just be free from the schedule and all the things we are doing. 

And I have to say, there may be some truth to that. 

Here is my alternative opinion though...hubby and I love to do things, together and with others.  We love being involved.  We love having friends and hanging out with them.  We love serving our community.  We love being outside.  Could we benefit from more "unscheduled" down time....of course we could.  Everyone to some extent probably could.  But one day it's going to be harder to get out of the house and do all of the things that we want to do with the same frequency we're currently doing them.  Whenever we have kids roaming around it's just a fact that things will change.  That doesn't mean we'll be any less busy, it will just be different.  So for right now, I'm content to soak up as much as possible, as often as possible.  Because one day, things will change...and I'll be soaking up other things. 

Right now I'm going to soak up some sunshine (FINALLY!) while hubby and I wash our cars.  Winter is finally over, praise God. 

I know I mentioned in a previous post about catching you up on all that has been going on....well, I will.  I promise.  Here is a teaser:

Playing near railroad tracks

Cassie being cute

Ringo being mischievous

Louisa and I enjoying Apple Cake Tea Room

Red Velvet from The Cup - yes please:)

On our way to pick up my cousin in Nashville...we stopped by this fancy hotel and walked around their indoor gardens.

My 1st baby hat, for the girls at HRC - I have 19 more to make before their baby showers.  Help.

My cousin and I - out to dinner @ Riverside Grille for her 21st b-day dinner:)

A Long Post About the Shortest Month

If I told you everything that has been happening lately, it would be a novel...and I'm not sure you'd have the stamina to sit and read the whole thing.  (Maybe I don't have the stamina to sit and write it all right now either.)  So I think I'll break it up into chewable pieces for you:)

February was a month full of family because February is birthday month.  My birthday and my sisters' birthdays (blood sis and sis-in-law)!  My dad and stepmom visited us at the beginning of the month and we ate at a delicious spot on the river for dinner.  The food was amazing:)  Riverside Grill on the Clinch River in Oak Ridge, TN.  Go early enough to have daylight to see the view.  Excellent.

Then hubby took me out of town for my actual bday weekend and surprised me throughout the entire weekend!  He's so sweet to me.  He took me downhill skiing near Asheville, NC and to the Biltmore House, which neither of us had ever seen before.  It was so much fun.  I enjoyed the house tour much more than skiing in 21 degrees of cold but it was a fabulous weekend.  He made reservations at the fancy dining room in the Biltmore Inn and we ate by the massive fireplace.  Heaven!  To make the weekend even better he announced his present to me was...A KITTEN:)! 

Soak that announcement in if you're a cat person.  Big cheesy grin, squeals of delight and jumping up and down and asking over and over again, "Really?  For real?"  Best. Gift. Ever. 

I grew up with cats and always wanted my own.  When hubby and I met I found out he was severely allergic to cats.  Epic disappointment.  Almost a deal breaker (not really but I did at least pause a little).  I'm allergic to dogs and I really don't like dogs AT ALL.  For good reasons.  So we decided we'd just have a lot of kids and no pets ever. 

Fast forward 2.5 years and a move to another state.  Mind you, the Allergy Capital of the USA...no kidding.  Knoxville is in a pit surrounded by mountains so the air just sits.  This explains why every other billboard is for a local allergist.  And our new neighbors found out I was a cat-lover and informed us of some awesome news...there is such a thing as allergy shots:)  Please do not picture me forcing my husband to mutilate his arms with pricks.  That isn't what happened.

What did happen was we BOTH went to the allergist and got tested.  If you've never been tested for allergies before, here is what happens: They take a small, tiny amount of serum and prick it onto your back.  Yes, prick it.  Something tiny and sharp deposits the serum on your skin.  Then you have to lie there for 20 minutes, no scratching allowed, and they come in and see how your skin reacts.  Big red itchy bump = you're allergic to whatever was in that liquidy stuff. 

Now, multiply that agony 90 times.  Because they prick you with 90 different serums at the same time in a grid pattern on your back and then make you wait for 20 minutes.  We both went through this craziness.  I ended up having to get several shots in the arm because I didn't show up being allergic to some things on my back so they give you a larger dose under the skin in your arm and make you wait again.  I think I got 9 shots in my arm.  Nice.

Well hubby blew up like a Macy's day parade...turns out he's allergic to air.  No seriously, to basically anything in the air.  EVERYTHING they put on his back became the size of a 50 cent piece almost.  No lie.  So he went forward in getting the allergy shots bless his heart.  Not just in hopes of a future furry pet but also for his general breathing abilities:)  2x a week for several months increasing in concentration...and now only 1x a week...:)  He's a trooper.  A real winner my hubby:)  I love him for it.

And I thank God that the shots are working:)  We have 2 of the cutest kitties ever and he's having no issues.  He loves our cats:)  They bring us BOTH such great joy. 

Thanks hubby!  You made my 27th the best birthday EVER.  No foolin'.

I Surrender All...

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all.

Do these lyrics sound familiar?  This is a beautiful hymn written by Rev. Judson Wheeler Van De Venter in 1896.  No offense to his parents, but that name is a MOUTHFUL.  I think I would've just not given my child a middle name if we were set on naming him Judson and had a last name like Van De Venter.  Phew. 

On a more serious note, Rev. Judson wrote this hymn as a response to his personal struggle with the Lord to give up his full time work as a supervisor of the arts at a high school in Sharon, PA and to enter full time music evangelism.  (He was a talented singer!)  He wrestled with this decision for 5 years.  Finally falling on his knees he told God, "If You want me to give my full time to Thy work, I'll do it, I surrender all to Thee."  (Morgan, Robert J. Then Sings My Soul - Special Edition)  For the next several years, he travelled throughout the US, England, and Scotland, preaching the Message of Christ. 

In 1923, he moved to Tampa, FL to teach hymnology at Florida Bible Institute.  After several years, he retired but still returned to campus to lecture or speak in the chapel.  In the 1930's, Rev. Judson was speaking at the university and what he had to say captured one of the students in the lecture hall.  Rev. Judson probably had no idea the influence that taking place and the Divine Appointment that lecture must have been.  The wide-eyed student, listening intently, was Billy Graham. 

We sang this hymn today in church.  I'm writing about it, because while singing it, I made a very careless error...an error that honestly revealed the natural state of my heart.  I wanted to share this with you, because I feel certain I'm not the only one that struggles with this.  Here is what I sang before catching myself:

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to ME
My blessed Savior
I surrender all.

The immediate realization of what I'd just sung ripped me out of my worshipful stance (sometimes I sing with my eyes closed and hands raised...) and I shook my head...thinking "I didn't mean to say that."

But did I...mean to?

All to me.  Selfish.  Naturally selfish.  Born selfish.  Sinfully selfish.  Subtly selfish.  Obviously selfish.  Quietly selfish.  Obnoxiously selfish.  All to me.  I surrender all...as long as it's to me.  That is a natural response of a sinful heart.  Every one of us has this heart problem.  We are ALL naturally, born selfish people.  Me, me, me me mememememe!!!!!!!!!!  Isn't this what you inwardly cry sometimes...what about me???  I do.  I so do.  Just ask my husband if you don't believe me. 

I could have easily sloughed this off of my shoulders as an easy mistake...Thee and me rhyme for crying out loud.  Honest mistake, right?  Honest admittance is more like it.  Honest confession.  I've not been able to get it out of my head all day.  I'm selfish.  And I'm not proud of it.  It shows up in little ways and in not so little ways.  Here is just one of many examples:

I don't generally do the dishes in my house (hubby and I have this agreement...don't be jealous)...but occasionally the dishes sit for longer than I'd like by the sink, soaking, or just sitting and waiting.  And I'll see them...perfectly capable of doing them myself...and I'll say something like, "Hey, do you want help with the dishes?"  But in my heart I'm really saying "I am reminding you to do them and I have no intention of helping.  Surfing on my computer or phone is WAY more important to me than doing the dishes."  I could say to him, "Babe, you like you're enjoying what you're doing; why don't I do the dishes tonight?" 

But my MO is to be selfish.

I'm thankful for Christ's death and resurrection...this gives me freedom from the dominion of sin in my life.  This does not mean that I'll never sin again...it means sin no longer holds any power over me.  Because of Christ, I am free.  Free from the death of sin.  Forgiven from my sin.  Redeemed from my sin.

To Him, and Him only...I surrender all.  

What Have We Been Up To?

So it's been a while...I hope your holidays were great!  Here is a quick recap and maybe then you'll understand the slight blogging hiatus.

Dec. 20 - KWood came into town and spent the night with us:)  Miss her.  Enjoy Costa Rica chic!
Dec. 21 - I met Ashely W. halfway in London, KY for lunch at Crackerbarrel, but mostly for the warm conversation and catching up time.  I love her heart for Haiti.
Dec. 21 late at night - newlywed cousin Hannah and her beau stopped at our place to rest between Boone and Nashville...spent the night and had pancake breakfast in the a.m.
Dec. 22 - We left for my mom's house. 
Dec. 23 - Christmas with my extended family in Cary, NC and then driving to the in-laws.
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve at our former church in Durham, NC - so nice to see some familiar faces.
Dec. 25 - Christmas at hubby's family's house (my first Christmas without my family), late lunch with his grandma and games all afternoon.
Dec. 26 - Breakfast with sweet Meghan - miss her being right down the hallway.
Dec. 27 - Breakfast with Lori and Pat - miss their hallway closeness as well.
Dec. 28 - Drove to see Holly and Andrew in their new house!  Spent the night in Wilson, NC.  Thanks for gingerbread cookies and a great visit.
Dec. 29 - Stopped in Raleigh to see Kristin and Erik's new home!  Dinner:)
Dec. 29 - LoYo with Kristy and Lauren (!!!!!)
Dec. 30 - Drove back to my mom's and had Christmas with mom, Mandy and her hubby.
Dec. 31 - Saw Shannon and her new home!!!!!  Spent some of NYE with her and Eric and other friends at dinner and Buckhead's Saloon.
Jan. 1 - drove back to Knoxville
Jan. 2 - hubby returned to work
Jan. 3 - I returned to work with my increase in hours (29.5 hrs a week now!)

Whirlwind right?  Yup.  But really fun. 

Now, since we've returned...

Jan. 7 - Bible Study is back in session:)
Jan. 8 - Great Expectations class began (I'm teaching a parenting and life skills class for first time moms)
Jan. 12 - We took down our tree and all Christmas decorations - sad day.

Sorry I don't have pictures...I didn't take many and honestly, I don't know how to add pictures to a blog yet!  I have a lot to learn.

Hubby and I very much enjoyed our Christmas travels and all the family time.  We are both glad to be home though and resume a more "normal" routine.
Phew!

Finding Hope Amidst Impatience and Grief

The past few weeks I've found it very hard to be patient and content with where I am in life right now.  I'm not sure why I've been so pouty about it lately...all I know is that I have been and it's not good.  The things that I want and desire are good things but being all  "down in the dumps" about not having these things right NOW....not-so-good.  (cue:CanyoutellthatIworkinapreschool?)

Things I have yearned for lately include:

1. A kitten:)  If you're a cat person, this needs no explanation whatsoever.  If you're a dog person, imagine it says "A puppy" and you'll get the picture.

2. A house to have the kitten play in.  No I don't mean a kitty playhouse...I mean an adult house so that I don't have to give our apartment complex some outrageous pet fee just to save a sweet little kitten from getting euthanized at an overcrowded shelter.  If I can adopt the kitten for under $20 why do apartment complexes think they have the right to charge like $300 to keep it in my apartment????  Sheesh.  Also, paying rent is like throwing money away...and even though I understand that we have NO CLUE where we'll be in July 2014 (thus why we have to rent right now) and that it would be silly to buy a house for only 1.5 years of guaranteed living in it.....I just.....ugh.  Eventually it would be kinda nice to own something house-like...(soIcangetakitten).

3. Kids...this is in two parts...
             A. I'm reaching a point where I'd like to have a baby.  At least in theory.  In reality, I just think I'd be really cute pregnant (which is probably a big fairy tale...like watching Disney movies and expecting relationships to be like that)...The idea of having a baby sounds like fun...until you see a frazzled new mom who doesn't get enough sleep and the baby cries allthetime!!!!!!!!  That doesn't sound like fun...so on to part B.
             B. Hubby and I feel overwhelmingly called to adopt.  I cannot tell you how awesome it is to live in an area and go to a church where adoptions are very common:)  I've learned a lot from talking to people and it gets me all jittery excited for us to start the process.  I'm the kind of person that doesn't like to waste time with things.  I'd love for us to have started paperwork yesterday but realistically that is just not where we are right now.  For a lot of reasons.

4. Then Friday happened.  I'm a teacher...close in age to at least 2 of the teachers that were killed at Sandy Hook.  I'm a sister.  I'm a wife.  I'm heartbroken over what happened.  I spent the bulk of both Friday and Saturday crying, praying, and texting all of my teacher friends telling them how much I love them and adore them and wish I could hug them.  I miss my students from NC.  This weekend brought that to light.  So I yearn for Jesus to come back, end this suffering, take me Home, and bring justice to this world. Romans 8:18-25 We yearn, we wait, we groan in waiting.

Throughout the past few weeks, when I've felt particularly overcome with a pity party or overwhelmed with grief, I've turned to a song.  This song was introduced to me by the worship director at our church when someone you know decided it would be a good idea to join the Christmas Choir (hint - it was me, and it was not the best idea I assure you - but it was fun).  He gave everyone a cd of the music we'd be singing.  And really, up until the past 2 weeks I hadn't been practicing on my own at all and thus hadn't been listening to the cd, even though it's been in my car.  But a few weeks ago we practiced this song for the bulk of our practice time and I knew...this song gave me the Hope I needed to emerge from the stupid pity parties I was throwing.  It's so powerful.  And it's the perfect reminder in light of my silly self, in light of the horror of Friday, in light of Christmas.

I've listened to it or sang it probably over 50 times in the past weeks...letting it remind me that He is here, and He's here to save.  I'm so thankful I'm never alone.  I'm so thankful that He is here to save me and love me and comfort me.  I hope and pray that this song provides you with comfort and peace, reminding you what Christmas is really all about.

You can listen to it by clicking on the link below and watch a powerful video to go along with it.
"Here With Us" By Joy Williams

I'm ready...

...for Christmas!

Someone asked me last week if I was ready for Christmas and I responded with an excited, YES! 

Here are reasons why I'm ready...in no particular order:

1. We picked out a lovely 7ft. Fraser Fir courtesy of Home Depot on Nov. 27 and my sweet hubby put all the lights on that same night!

2. All of the ornaments were placed on the tree, plus some silver icicley things I bought last year by Nov. 28.

3.  As of a few days ago, ALL of my Christmas shopping/gifting AND wrapping is COMPLETE!  Phew.

4. Our stockings are hung by the digital piano with care.

5. The Christmas dishes and place mats have been making an appearance since Nov. 26.

6. I bought cute decorations a week after Christmas LAST YEAR at 90% off the original price and got to use them THIS YEAR!  I have garland on our banister, snowmen at the 1/2 way point on our stairs, over 30 new ornaments, and a Happy Holidays welcome mat. 

               6a.  My mom moved into a new house and the people living there previously gave her a lot of their old things...and she gave what she didn't want to me and my sister!  Score:)  So I walked away with even more ornaments and a wreath for our front door!!!!

7. Our church is beautifully decorated!

8.  The children's choir sang last week and the adult choir is singing next week - so fun!

9.  I got a manicure (for free!) last week and made sure the color was as close to Christmas red as humanly possible.

10.  We've attended our first of 3 Christmas parties already:)  Yay for meeting hubby's work friends!

11. We went to the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade last night and it was so much fun.  There were over 100 floats to see.  It was a great parade, and we got some free candy to boot!

12. We have a basic traveling plan already laid out. 

13. The series at our church this month is called Glimpse.  We are going through the OT looking at glimpses of our Savior who is coming.  It has been very good and rewarding.

14. I'm eagerly anticipating the celebration of Jesus' arrival.  My Deliverer.  Immanuel.  God with me.

Are you ready?

Honestly now, this is the first year where I'm not seriously stressing about this holiday.  It's very tempting to get stressed this time of year.  But because of #14 on my list, I don't have to stress.  And you don't either.  He is coming.  Whether your gifts are all bought, wrapped, and delivered on time, or not...whether your tree is up or not...whether you've drank egg nog already or not...He is coming...whether you visit your family or not...whether you sing carols or bah humbug your way through the season, Christ is coming.  For you.  For me.

He is coming because we need saving, and He loves us that much...to humble Himself in the form of man, to walk on earth, and deliver us from sin's grasp.  He is coming to offer you freedom.  This Christmas season, will you be set free?  Or will you remain wrapped up in just a "snuggie" feel good Jesus that sounds nice, and looks cute in a nativity scene...never to really impact your life at all. 

It's your choice.