Our answer to prayer

Our answer to prayer about a new kitty didn't come exactly the way I had prayed for it to come, but it did come, and in an even better way! After we had to return our previous kitty to the found owner that we only had for 5 days, the kids and I were really sad. I just didn't think that we would find one that was so mellow and so sweet. I prayed that God would just have another wonderful one show up on our front doorstep. Instead, he lead me to the place where my friend from high school is a veterinarian. When I realized she worked there, it was a great "coincidence". I had just seen her at my reunion in August and knew she was a veterinarian for cats, but didn't realize where she worked. When I got to the cat adoption place and saw her picture on the screen in the entrance, I was amazed. After seeing her, she told us about some foster kittens she had and we decided to take a look. When we went, my son loved the littlest brown/tan kitten, a girl, named Mary. He said he wanted that one and wanted to name her Olive. (I had told my friend that my son really had wanted an orange male kitty, but that I cared more about the personality). That night we were also going to go look at another set of foster kittens, but it was another 30 minutes away, and since he was happy, we decided not to go. Then, about a week later after taking a class, I checked my phone. I had a voicemail, an email and a text from my friend. She was certain that she had found the perfect kitty for our family (it was from the other foster home that we had not gone to visit the other night)! I explained the situation to my son that night and he wanted to go check out the new kitten, even though he already had a different one picked out. The next day, we met the sweet kitty, and of course, he came home with us. AND, yes, he was an orange male kitty! We named him Oliver, since Olive was a girl's name. He has turned out to be even better than Sam. He is so mellow. The kids carry him around with them whereever they go. He even tolerates the 2-year-old antics! I love that everything came together so well after the disappointment of just a few weeks earlier! What a blessing.

Soccer Season

Well, soccer has come to a close and we have moved onto basketball. I really loved watching the boys play soccer this year. I was amazed at how much better D has gotten since just last year. He has so much energy and quickness and runs all over the field. He can kick the ball a LONG way and has a good sense of the game. He did score some goals this year, but only did it when I was not at his game-turkey! O's first year of soccer was also a blast. He is fearless and surprised us with his soccer skills. He was able to score a goal in almost every game, which was fun to watch. These young years of sports to me are just so much fun!

!

Birthday Boy turns 6

I don't know how my sweet boy is already 6 years old, but he is. We had a great birthday celebration at Scotty's playhouse with many great friends. I got to go to his class and bring treats to celebrate. And, we went to a movie on his actual birthday! I'm so impressed how well he is doing in school this year as a big kindergartener! He amazes me everyday and I am so happy to be his mommy.

Halloween 2011

Pumpkin Patch

I love this time of year and all the fun activities that go along with it. This weekend we had a great time going to the pumpkin patch. Since we waited until the last minute, I'm sure glad that the weather held out!

Arizona

3 nights away + 100 degree weather + time alone with my hubby = priceless

When we planned our little getaway 2 months earlier, we had no idea how wonderful the weather would turn out when we got to Phoenix. It was wonderful. Except maybe the fact that I did get attacked by a jumping cactus while golfing the first day. If you have never heard of them, they do literally "jump" to stick to you with barbs that stick in your skin. When they are in your skin in multiple directions, the way to get them out is with a comb. I know, didn't make sense to me at first either. But, it worked, and it hurt! Now, 2 weeks later I have a weird rash where the cactus attached to me. I am assuming from the barbs. But, other than that little incident, a perfect break!

SAM

So, this is our kitty that we had for 5 days. My son has been wanting one for quite a while and saving up money for either a tortoise or a kitty. A friend of mine called and said she found an abandoned kitty in her neighborhood that no one had claimed. She said it was the sweetest kitty and did we want it. We went over that evening and instantly fell in love. After swinging by petco and my son spending his own money on litter box, food, litter, scratching post, etc., the kitty came home with us. He was such a sweetheart. He let the kids push him in the stroller, carry him around in backpacks and snuggle with him while watching tv. Then, 5 days later, we get a call that a sign went up in his old neighborhood for a lost kitty belonging to a 9-year-old girl. I was so sad as I called to see if our Sam might belong to her. It was even sadder as I walked in to tell my son while he was snuggled with the kitty on the couch, that he no longer belonged to us. I cried with him as I told him. We got a good last hour with our kitty before the owners came and picked him up. My son was so brave as he said goodbye and so mature as he understood that if we lost a kitty we would want someone to call us. I was very proud of him, but it also broke my heart. I prayed that God would just have a sweet kitty come to our front door. He didn't do that, but instead when I went to visit a cat adoption place a couple of days later, I found out the veterinarian there was a good friend of mine from high school. We are now on the hunt for a wonderful kitty to come and join our household with the help of my friend.