Exciting Updates!

 We have a few updates! Kittens and momma are doing very well at the home they have been adopted into.  The kittens are starting to open their eyes and Momma Cat is adapting well, loving the new-to-her space and the dogs in the home as well.  She rubs up against and purrs constantly when the dogs, or the humans, are around.  So pleased that they are safe and cared for <3

In other news, the girls had their Confirmation and Affirmation of Faith :)  It was a pleasure to hear them speak about what their faith means to them, how they view faith as is applies to daily living, and how the bits and pieces we have worked so hard to foster and instill into them has come to mean so much for them as they are growing into amazing young women.  

Each girl spoke well and read from their own words about living in a community with others, how they are moved by the hymns, and the ways the Bible has been applicable in how they view the world and the interactions they have in it.  I might have had a few tears in my eyes (maybe it was the pollen in the spring air?) from time to time during the service.

  It was a fantastic morning filled with such affirmations of how much effort we've out into our not-so-little crew and just how fantastic they all are.  It was the first Confirmation hosted for this particular congregation in 14 years; these special people made it super special for everyone there.

Now we are counting weeks and days until the packers come and box up our belongings and we start the next steps of our adventure!

A Tail of Three Kitties

 Life certainly isn't boring!  Hubby and I successfully made our way north and were able to look at the place we're going to call home for the next while, our house is officially sold, new house is officially purchased.  The high school put on an amazing musical, and Mother's Day was nice and relaxing.  

Yesterday afternoon, though, we had a curve ball thrown at us.  I was sitting in the office doing my work, when I heard the absolutely loudest  meowing I've ever hear coming from the front porch.  I take a look and I discover an itty bitty black cat that seems desperate to come into the house.  Smarty pops out and takes a look, tries to calm her down.  When he picked her up he thought "uh oh" and called for me.  Turns out she was pregnant.  And not just pregnant but VERY pregnant.  I set out box with towels on the porch thinking "nope, uh uh.  Maybe she'll find her way somewhere else."

Hubby got home.  Talked with the little cat, but when he picked her up he told me to get a bigger box, more towels, we were bringing this momma-to-be inside. 

She was not happy to be confined to the office but I sat with her and she ended up calming down. There were visible contractions and every child wanted to be in with her, to help soothe her but the more is NOT the merrier in this case.  Hubby and I left for a walk (we knew exactly how long the early labour stage can last...) and the girls kept the momma company.

When we returned from our walk we asked Girlie how things were going.  More contractions, more meowing.  When I went into the office I settled right in, massaging the tummy and saying supportive and soothing things.  It made me smile as I reflected on my own labour stories!  Every one is different and each one unique even though the same thing was happening each time.

With encouragement Girlie and I helped Momma deliver 2 healthy little ones.  Girlie was grinning ear to ear.  She has wanted to be a vet since the day she discovered she couldn't grow up to be a cat and this experience, this miracle of life, completely solidified that decision for her.  After me reiterating just how young I thought Momma was Girlie said "Don't support teen pregnancy, support pregnant teens?" such a funny girl.

As the evening went on it appeared that Momma was so young, she didn't really know what to do with her new status of motherhood.  We carefully placed all 3 into the cat carrier we brought out and made sure she got food and water.  Birthing is a lot of work!  Mommas need energy.  But because we were sure if Momma would step up and know what to do, we mentally and emotionally prepared for the thing that sometimes happens in nature - mortality at its most sad.

There were tears, there was processing.  But when Hubby and I got up this morning and looked in on them, what we saw made our hearts smile.

A caring Momma with clean little ones.  Throughout the morning the Littles went in to sit with them and watch, hearts full and happy that everyone survived the first night.  Today we are working on finding where we can place them for fostering and/or adoption.  Right now they are happy enough to be in our office with water, food, and a litter box.  They aren't always happy the door is closed, but this is the best way with the other things in and around the house.

I am refusing all attempts of the Littles to name them, though.  I am absolutely putting my foot down on that one.