Being Thankful No Matter What

My head hurts.

My reading glasses are bugging me.

My head hurts for the umpteenth time.

The slightest noise from the kids sounds like a tuba in my face.

Its kinda gloomy out.

I am tired.

And snappy.

I post things Im thankful for every day. 

Each blessing is a gift from God.

Sometimes its easy to say what Im thankful for when I have an amazing day.

But on days like this it is hard.

Especially when youre dealing with wet affectionate cats who decided to go out and play in the rain.

Or when the kids are playing together, and show you with great loud excitement, the worlds theyve created in their Polly Pocket Land.

And then you remember:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

{1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV}

I remember the other day, when I was walking from the library, I thought of everything wrong at the moment. 

Yet God reminded me of Philippains 4:11-13.

It was a timely reminder to be content, appreciative, grateful, and thankful for all God has done.

So back to the beginning of my post.

 My head hurts, yet I have medicine to take to help and heal it.

My reading glasses are bugging me, yet I can adjust them a little and read properly with them.

My head hurts for the umpteenth time, yet I have a warm cup of coffee to drink to help soothe it.

The slightest noise from the kids sounds like a tuba in my face, yet they arent arguing and they are keeping themselves contentedly entertained with their Polly Pockets.

Its kinda gloomy out, yet its finally raining and we need the rain desperately.

I am tired, yet I can rest on the porch with my blanket and coffee.

And snappy, yet I can choose to be gentler with my remarks.

God has blessed me, and you, and all of us for that matter!

We need to choose to be thankful, no matter what!

Beautiful Blessings - 9/1/15

~ Waking up in a freshly made bed, sniffing my chlorine-scented hair, and feeling like Im in a hotel!

~ Kitties being garden statues and table-top decor!

~ Listening to my sisters sing "Rainbow Connection"! "The Lovers, the Dreamers, and CHEEEEEEEEESE!"

~ Getting lots done at work! (Chapeaued and ready for anything!)

~ Marveling how the moon has changed the past few days!

Beautiful Blessings - 8/29/15

~ Being the first to spot the beautiful moonrise!

~ Hearing about my family's adventures at the fair!

~ Being able to do my bible reading on the kindle when my eyes are bothering me!

~ Enjoying a yummy dinner of soup and toasted cheese with bacon ;~)

~ Having adoring kitties take care of me today when I wasnt feeling well! <3 

Beautiful Blessings - 8/7/15

~ Listening to Lil' G research horses in the encyclopedia so she can figure out what kind of horse her toy horse is.

~ Listening to all the night-time bugs and birds and tree frogs.

~ Listening to Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance music.

~ Listening to the kids I babysat for the first time in months play with my sisters in the play kitchen...all sorts of yummy goodies made in that lil' kitchen!
~ Listening to kitties' soft steps and perfect purrs. <3

(He curled up on the end of my bed while I was napping <3 I love my Ansel!!)

Beautiful Blessings - 8/4/15

~ Giving T-bug's cat a smile for her....her cat turned out rather cute!

~ Watching T-bug tuck her Turtlebunny into his bed before she gets into hers.

~ Affectionate kitties! I love returning after we are camping to them as they are super purry and lovey!

~ Peppermint tea and toast to calm my stomach.

~ Listening to Isaiah 40:28-31 being read! 

Beautiful Blessings - 7/17/15

~ Packing for our camping adventure!

~ Thanking God for my migraine medicine...4 hours later it was mostly gone!

~ Matching socks up!

~ My friend finally getting her new apartment after much searching and prayer!

~ Comforting kitties <3 

Overcome

(the neighbor's cat)

There is a cat. She's a cat of our neighbor's, but she has decided that she needs to be as annoying as possible to us and our cats. She's a sweet petite thing I will admit, but she thinks that we're now part of her family. I think she'd live with us if she could. How did she get this way? Subtly, very subtly.

We knew she was our neighbor's cat, so when she came in our yard the other day, she was welcomed warmly. A mistake on our part, I will admit. We enjoyed petting her, and watching her roam our yard. And within a few short hours, we realized our mistake. She doesn't get along with our cats for one thing, and when we tried to get her out of our yard, she refused.

When her owner came, he tried to take her home a couple different times, yet she still returned. She sneaked herself into our yard and next thing you know, she'd be laying in the middle of the garden, or staring down one of our cats. Now trying to keep her out of the yard is proving to be a difficult task. We like the sweet kitty, but she needs to stay with her family. Today alone I've already had to shoo her home a few different occasions.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)

Sin and temptations are the same way. They worm their way into our lives, and when we realize what's happening, they can be a pain to remove from our lives. Just like the cat, we need to be on guard for when the temptation returns. It's not a sin per-say, but something in my life that is like this is stubbornness. Oh, can I be stubborn!

Over the past several months it's something I've truly noticed, and with some prayer & work on God's part, I'm slowly trying to overcome it. Let me say it is so easy to be stubborn. In fact it's painful not to be stubborn. So then I have to make a choice, do I stay stubborn or do I yield & submit? It's hard to decide sometimes, but God's way is best.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. ~ Ephesians 6:21 (NIV)

If you just leave the sin and temptations in your life, it's just like letting that pesky cat roam into your yard and doing nothing to remove it. But, if you pray, stand firm, and remove them, then bit by bit, you can overcome them. Some of them will be pesky and continue to test you. Stubbornness is still testing me, and quite possibly always will. Three verses come to mind.

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (ESV)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33 (ESV)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ~ 1 John 5:4 (ESV)

So today I challenge you to take some time to think, pray, and ask God what in your life needs to be removed. What do you need to overcome? It is a hard, yes. But! It is worth it! 

Boy, is it COLD!!

It has definitely been a cold snap the past few days, and will continue to be a few more days.

I decided to post this today, so y'all know I haven't froze. ;~)

This was the temperature yesterday morning:

Cold, yes?

And just in case you can't read the TM-500 Thermocouple Thermometer it says -18.5*

Good weather for tea, chocolate, books, and kitty cats. :~)

Twas the night before Thanksgiving!

"Twas the night before Thanksgiving when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a cat,

The fall leaves were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that the Turkey soon would be there;

The kitties were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of drumsticks danced in their heads;

And Gillie in her 'kerchief, and Sully in his cap,

Had just settled with Ansel for a long winter's nap."

Our Pets

We have Ansel, whose full name is Ansel Adams:

Gillie, whose full name is Gilberta:

Sully, whose full name is Sullivan:

On Monday we got, Glowie the orange and white fish, and Gopher the orange and black fish.

And today we got Guy and Gal the snails:

And my newt King George the 1st of Newtonia! (Isn't he cute? I've never had a newt before! :~D )

Glasses

Wacky Wednesday: Kitty Nabbing!

Muhahahahahaha 

News travels quickly when a sneaky evil 2 year old tackles a cat thats half her weight. 

The evil 2 year old took down a cat today that was twice as big as her. The 15lb cat ran from the scene when she loosed her death grip. The child was saddened by the loss of the cat but the opposite side of the equation, the cat was relieved immensely. The reporters sped to the scene of the crime but found no one who would talk about the event.  

But who would guess the chain reaction among the village. Kitties were and are being snatched up right and left!

Many kitties are trying to run for safety, but the shopping carts nab them faster.

A warning to cats and their owners to keep their cats in safe places where kitty bandits won't find them. We would give you some recommendations, but unfortunately I can't due to the.....

Ansel the reporter has been taken, I repeat, Ansel the reporter has been taken.

#Ansel's News

Today is....

.... National Dress Up your Pet day!

Dress up your pets! 

WackyWednesday: Bundled for the cold

Un magazine de mode chat: pour des chats de style

(A Cat Fashion magazine: for styling cats :-D)

You can bundle your kitties against the cold using outfit A. A is a contemporary winter look.

A is a baby hat and a polar fleece scarf to keep the kitties toasty warm. You can also provide a wool blanket for the kitties' tummies to stay warm.

The next possibility for a warm fuzz ball is outfit B. B is a classic look.

B is a black beret so the little fuzzie ears will stay warm when they parade around down with the kute kats.

The last option is the one designed by our fur-ball fashion designer, outfit C.

C is a outfit that reflects the inner fur-ball.

Yup, he is a furry chicken, just in disguise...shhhhhhh....

My Mice

I used some candy canes, that I mentioned here, to create the candy cane mice. I will have a total of 7 when I am done, but right now only 3 are ready. Aren't they cute??

Wouldn't you like to wake Christmas morning

to see him peeking out of your stocking?

Aren't the adorable? I said it before. This is the cute kind of mouse! :~D Tasty too! My cat Ansel, tries to convince me the other kind are yummy, but I don't trust his shifty character. lol