Step By Step

Here's what happens when I decide to visit the foster kittens.

First, Miss Dora hears us coming and jumps from the enclosure and runs to meet us with one and only one meow.

Second, I grab a can of food or the litter scooper and a plastic bag.

Third, I take care of the feeding, watering and litter chores.

Fourth (sometimes I get to skip #2 and #3 if that's already been done for the day and I get to go straight to #4), I walk to the foster kitten enclosure and hear their greeting (mew, mew, mew, mew, mew).


Fifth, I try to find a clear spot to step into the enclosure. This can be difficult because the foster kittens are gathered around and looking up at me. Sometimes I have to scoot them away with my feet so I can get inside.

Sixth, when I finally get inside, I find a place to sit.

Seventh (this is indeed a lucky number), the kittens climb into my lap from every angle. Today, Alaska started purring as soon as I was seated. It was a powerful purr. The foster kittens love to snuggle and have human contact. Miss Dora is not far behind. Even though it might be easy to give the foster kittens all my attention, I never forget Miss Dora. I respect her superior mothering skills and her sweetness. I try to pet everyone equally. At first they snuggle. Tonight, August settled in my arms and looked up at me with a sweet, sleepy face. I thought he might take a nap. But no, the foster kittens just have to wrestle - each other, my hands, my toes, my legs, each other. Sometimes they try to entice Miss Dora to join in the fun, but she's not having it. She'd just like some of my attention and no shenanigans. Tonight, my husband was waiting for me to watch a movie, and I found it hard to leave them behind. Spending time with the foster kittens can be addictive.

If I Had To Choose

If I got to keep one foster kitten, here is how I would choose.

I would choose Friday because I've never had a black and white cat.

I would choose Alaska and Indiana (one of the solid black kittens) because I have a soft spot for the smallest, and they have a powerful purr.

I would choose August because he doesn't have a tail, and he has a sweet expression that melts my heart.

I would choose January because I named her first and because she is different from the rest.

If I had to choose, it would be really easy.................

How You Know You've Married The Right Person

Sorry if this post gets too deep.

I'll start out easy. When we first brought the foster kittens home. I looked around our huge garage and said, "We have plenty of room for a second set of foster kittens." Without pause, my husband looked around and said, "Yeah, I guess I could build another area over here."
I just couldn't believe he said that. He'd really do that for me and our daughter.

When Miss Dora moved the foster kittens and we couldn't find them, he readily agreed to help us find them, and he was the one who found them. When we realized that we'd need to create a new space for the fosters to live (because Miss Dora wouldn't quit trying to move them), he got right to work making a new space for them. I didn't have to beg for help.
My husband isn't perfect. He hasn't offered to scoop any litter boxes. But he also hasn't asked me how much I'm spending on food or litter. And he hasn't complained about anything.

The thing is is that I think he "gets" me. It's never been a secret that I'm an animal lover. I come home all the time telling him about my latest animal rescue. Many times, we've been in the car together, and I've had him stop or turn around so I can help an animal.

I believe that God created all people for at least 2 reasons: 1) to be happy and 2) to make the world a better a place - to do good while you're here. There are more reasons, but I won't go that deep. I personally believe we all have a purpose in life. Some people are meant to help the homeless, or teach, or foster children, or be a missionary. There are so many possibilities for doing good in the world.

I know my purpose is to help animals. I believe God meant for me to help his creatures when I can. Knowing that brings me a huge amount of peace. I know I'm on the right path. And I know that my husband knows and that he understands my purpose. And he's okay with it. Imagine if he wasn't? No one would be happy.

We're all happy here; not perfect; but happy.

The other day, I encouraged my husband to sit with me and our daughter and the foster kittens. The kitties were climbing all over him. He had such a big grin on his face. And he was making that noise he makes when he's playing with a cute little animal - can't describe it. He was happy. Even though they have claws and teeth and know how to use them, sitting with the foster kittens is very relaxing!

I know I married the right man.