smitten with my kitten

I think anyone who is depressed needs a new kitten. There is no way to NOT laugh at a tiny fur ball who thinks they’re a ferocious lion pouncing on such dangerous prey as an empty toilet paper roll. Our home has become Bit-bit’s playhouse. He can (and does) go anywhere he durn well pleases and it’s hilarious to watch his little adventures… scaling Mount Bed… hiking up the great pepto bismol colored recliner… climbing anything that dares to dangle in his presence. He’s bold and brave and adventurous and then… he will cry if he notices there’s no one else in the room with him. He can’t sleep unless he’s tucked in beside me or Austin or Stubby. He’s so curious and nosy… I was eating popcorn last night and he was trying to get the popcorn out of the bowl with his tiny paw. Austin had a tuna sandwich and he actually reached into Austin’s mouth trying to get tuna for himself. He is not content to be beside you, he has to be on your shoulder or chest – all up in your business. He is tiny enough that he can sit on my laptop while I’m online. (that will not work for long). He’s just absolutely precious and I am completely smitten with my kitten.

It’s a rainy day in Georgia and I am trying something new… making Thankful Thursday more than just a blog entry. We talked last night in bible study about making prayer time more than just a big spiritual wish list… or a mundane drive thru order, “Lord, I’ll have an order of patience, some financial blessings with good health on the side…oh! and bless all the starving children in Africa, amen.” What if… we went for 24 hours without asking God for anything… and only THANKED Him for what He has already done without making those prayerful accusations, “Dear God, please change Michael’s rotten, cheating heart… please make my kids’ dad stop being a deadbeat…” WHAT if… we kept an attitude of completely positive gratitude for a day. Save the gimmes for tomorrow. Save the pleas for Him to fix all that’s wrong in the world for another day. They can wait. One day of me not begging and pleading isn’t going to cause us to miss out on a chance for world peace. And I’m thinking if I focus a bit more on what’s right instead of what’s wrong, I’ll feel a bit better myself.

Today is a significant day in our family. On this day in 1969 my childrens’ grandfather, Robert Ned Sauls, was killed in Vietnam. He was a hero and every year on this day I thank God for his sacrifice, for his service and for the legacy that he left for my children. There are three monuments that mention him – the big one in DC, there’s one at the local military college here in Dahlonega (about 30 minutes from us) and there’s a big one just to him in Atlanta that was placed by a group of Atlanta businessmen that are Vietnam vets.

It’s also the birthday of my sister-out-law Candice. Candice and I couldn’t be more different… and she lives far away in NYC… but she has taken the time to get to know me and bond with me. We have been able to focus on enjoying our similarities instead of trying to change each other. She’s the city mouse to my country mouse. I refer to her as my “Sex and the City sister in law” She lets me live vicariously through her… enjoying the stories of her world travels and her fabulous experiences in New York. She’s beautiful, she’s smart, she’s articulate and somehow she manages to put up with my brother and his crazy family… so in my book… she’s good people.

My straightening iron and curling iron both broke in the past 24 hours, we have rain predicted through Monday and I don’t get paid until the 16th. I’m resigned to bad hair for the next few days.

I still haven’t lost any weight. I’m still trying… but today I had a bacon biscuit for breakfast. Last night at church we had spaghetti, salad and garlic bread with pound cake for dessert. I traded Sarabeth my cake for her garlic bread. We were both happy. Typically whenever she and I have a meal together there’s some swapping going on… she always goes after my French fries…. Which benefits us both. Someone mentioned in front of Austin last night that North Georgia BBQ has reopened for the spring. (Thanks y’all!) so he’s jonesing for some bbq. His unfortunate reality is that we’re living on wish sandwiches until payday. It will be awesome to see how God provides for us over the next few days… He always does. I’ve learned… am learning… present tense… to not stress… it always works out in the end. Sometimes it’s as simple as getting our wants in line with what God has already provided.

Just had a young client stop by. Her son was born in September with cystic fibrosis. He’s spent all but a few weeks of his life in the hospital. He just had another surgery yesterday. She asked about life insurance… his life expectancy is less than a year… gives me a little perspective.