Goodbye

Yesterday my son's father was laid to rest. At 11, how do you handle this gracefully? Like my son did. He has a wonderful group of friends who have been there for him this week and their parents have been there for me. My husband, well, he just is the bomb. I am not sure how he handles this emotion but he just is a rock for us all.

I am doing OK as his father and I were at a place where we were not angry with each other and just enjoyed this precious child. OK, so he drove me crazy but that is what he was for! There is a lot of truth to finish your fights early if not by the end of the conversation.

I was able to spend time with his two other kids and I am still amazed at the great relationship I have with them. His daughter is 6 years younger than me and his son is 15 years younger than me yet they still wanted me there. They are amazing people who do not realize sometimes how wonderful they are. I was the third wife, the second wife was there so but the end of the evening we were number 2 and number 3 - it was rather funny. My son did not attend the after service - he was there for the visitation and then it started becoming too much for him so he went to hang with his friends. At 11, he showed all the grace and maturity that I could only dream about - I am so proud of him.

I just realized that Father's Day is next week-end so I am thinking that I may need to plan something outrageously fun for him. Friday before the service, I took him, 5 of his friends, his sister and her son to Global Wildlife for private tour to feed the animals and it was what he needed. I just need to remember to let him lead me through his grief. I pray that I am able to handle this right.


Well today is a new day and we will move forward. Thank you family, friends (and my one follower!) who have been such a wonderful support for us.

Sad News

So much has happened since I started this blog. I intended on following the lives of our various pets, who continue to have adventures despite their human's dramas.

Sunday, my son's father passed away. It was very sudden and I had to tell my precious 11 year old that he lost his dad. I thought before I would cut off my right arm to keep him from pain - I now feel I would give my life not to have him hurt like this. I hope I am doing the right things for him and his siblings (he has a 1/2 brother and 1/2 sister - both adults but both children who just lost a parent). I am so sad that his father is gone but hopeful that he is able to finally find some peace.

Enough for now - my imaginary horse is hugging me back.

Endy's medium adventure

One of the things I love about this house is when we bought it 3 years ago, it was essentially a tear down that we started renovating to make our own. One of the things my husband hates about this house is when we bought it 3 years ago, it was essentially a tear down. That includes the gate to the backyard, that just does not want to stay shut.

Sleepy husband hear's Endy wining: "Huh, you want to go out?"
Sleepy husband trudges down the hall past 3 windows with a view of the gate.
Sleepy husband lets Endy out.
Sleepy husband looks out the windows.
Oh crap, the gate is open.

So Endy got to run around for a little bit. Not a big adventure because he was back at the back door by the time my husband got dressed to go get him. Two of the neighbors were outside talking across the street and we suspect they shooed him back in the yard (embarrassing! got tons of stuff out in the back and this is like the bazillionth time that he had gotten out).

And Endy's medium adventure ends. It would have been a big adventure had he been able to run the street with my husband running after him. Now I need to remember to fix the gate.

On the horsey front, still no horse. Boo!

Great blogs (since I can't see to stay on topic)

So I missed seeing my post-Egyptian friend yesterday - CRAP, this work thing is really getting in the way of life. Time is too short right now for me to really post something worthy so check out

Green & Green = Black & Blue (http://wildponybeast.blogspot.com/) and
The Adventures of Jack and Jill (http://stonegatefarm-adventuresofjackjill.blogspot.com/)

for bloggers who actually can keep up with their animal's lives. These blogs are awesome in writing and content.

(My imaginary horse bit me but I was too busy to notice! Bad imaginary owner, BAD!).

Friends home (or at least in US)

It has been a VERY long week but the short story is my precious friend, her husband and three kids got out of Cairo about 12 hours before all hell broke loose. I have not spoken to them directly but know they made it to Fort Worth and hope to fly home if the freakish weather cooperates. I have the audacity to say I'm tired, but I am and am going to bed. Time to dream about my imaginary horse while Ashley, the queen of all there is, attacks my feet...

Ashley's mom??

What would you do if you found your rescued kitty's mother? It looks like I have found her! I am not sure what happened yesterday but for some reason, I decided to go on Petfinder.com's site and look at cats. I am usually on there to look at horses but have not been on in months.

Much to my surprise, on the first page popped this picture:

 now take a look at: 









Yes, that is Ashley on the right when she was a little younger. Ginny is in Baton Rouge (where Ashley is from), had kittens but had to be picked up because the owner could not care for her due to surgery. It literally fits the timeline. Ginny is at a cat rescue called Cat Haven and I have e-mailed them for additional information on her. I know we cannot possibly add any more animals to our clan but I am determined to find this girl a home.

Sooooo, please click on http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16821542 or go to http://www.cathaven.org/ to give Miss Ginny a home - she deserves it after all she has been through! 

Mini, the blogging cat

Mini, mini, mini. I am trying to keep up but she keeps on trying to walk on the keyboard. She is in one of her "love me" moods and is giving me sweet eyes as we speak. Makes it kind of hard to concentrate.

It is quiet today. The boy is with his father for the week so my husband and I have empty nest syndrome. I think I do more than he does. We spent the week before Christmas off as a family and while I was sick, I at least was with them and loved every minute of it. I wish we did not have to work so we could do this all the time. I don't mean we would be incredibly rich, just that we had the means so we could both be stay at home parents.

Anyway, this was Ashley's first Christmas. So far she has only broken one nutcracker and no ornaments. Which is incredible considering she loves to climb in the tree. I know, I need to get updated pictures of the crew but today is the first day in 8 days that I have felt descent.

This was a great Christmas, the boy got everything on his list...which was not very long - he told me he pretty much has everything he wants. Pretty good for an 11 year old! He and I were able to surprise my hubby with sets of Uncirculated and Proofs from his birth year. It was really fun. My inlaws were apalled at the amount spent on my son - they wanted to spend more! I had purchased their gifts from Best Buy because I had a coupon that would allow me to get a gift card based on the amount I spent. So they decided to add the rest in cash. Too funny! They make my heart warm.

Christmas at my mom's was nice. I got to see my cousin's beautiful baby - she and I are the only ones who have had children and so it has been 10 years without a baby for Christmas. It was great. She is 10 months old and was enthralled with my son. He did not know what to do so he made faces at her which she loved! I did have a couple of moments where I thought about the two that I lost. I could not help but think that my sweet cousin's baby should have a year old to play with and we should have another infant around. I wished my two angels Merry Christmas - I kind of feel like they are with me when I see my cousin's little one.

Anyway, hug your little ones, big ones, and, of course, your imaginary horse!