This is my favorite time of the day- The house is still quiet, and the Human gets her coffee and I snuggle up on her lap and fall asleep while she reads her Bible and gets some direction and strength for the day. She’s going to need it when the Critters get here. And I’ll have to be ready for them too.
Let’s start the day off with a reason to smile! (Besides coffee),…
I know that Twilight thinks she’s going to keep me out of this bed. But That little flea could sleep in a matchbox. I need a little more room to spread out in all my glory. Therefore, I NEED the Queen sized bed. If she tries to get on top of it- (like she plans to)- I’m going to wait for her to fall asleep, and reach up and bite her tail. Problem solved.
I mean, seriously- she’s 9 lbs. She’s the size of a hairball. Just look at her!
Now, how do I get up on top of that desk shelf?
I came in and saw a new surprise all set up just for cute little ME! I was so happy, since Sushi the Brat Cat claimed my boppy that the Can Opener keeps on her desk so I can sleep by her while she’s working at her desk.
See? The big, round, comfy pillow she’s laying on was all MINE until the barge came along and stole it. Did I try to get it back? Does a cat have whiskers? YES I DID. But that thing is bigger than a ship and she could flatten me with no more effort than a horse needs to knock a fly away with his tail.
But I saw the new bed first- and of course, I immediately rubbed my scent all over it, walked through it, walked on top of it, and deposited enough of my fur to make a polar bear blush.
Did that matter to the mountain? No. After I left my scent, my fur and my pawprints (literally) all over it, I gave Mom tons of head butts and snuggles to thank her for it and ran outside to tell my Mama.
And later, when I came back inside to enjoy my new bed, I saw this…
The Tiny Critter had put my snake and my kicker toy inside the bed before her nap. And I came in to discover that Sushi not only stole my bed, but also my toys!
So, I did what any self-respecting kat would do…
I took it back!
It was a happy day for most of yesterday, as the Can Opener was busy with the Critters visiting and helping them with their schoolwork- but then a neighbor’s daughter came to see her Mom, crying because something happened to her step- daughter that morning which she had just moments before been notified of.
Her 16 year old step-daughter had taken the second shot of the covid vaccine – she had taken the first shot and had ‘problems’ with it- but she wanted to enroll in the nearby Community College, and was told that she wasn’t able to enroll unless she got both of the shots. Her step-daughter is 16 years old, and her parents were not consulted before she was told she had to take the vaccine if she wanted to attend classes.
So, she took the second shot and the next thing they knew, her stepmother got a call a few hours later from the girl’s father, saying she had been rushed to the hospital, and “is dying…bleeding out.”
The girl’s Mom couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, neither could her mom. The Human and her friend dropped everything else they were doing to comfort the Mom- (no name being disclosed to protect their privacy)…
And while Mom cried, not even being able to visit the girl, and anxiously awaited any further news, the Human started taking care of her little one and invited her to have lunch and play with our Critters, so she could talk privately and try to calm down.
Soon the little tiny ones were happily distracted and playing, and the our Human encouraged her and asked if she would like prayer. Well, she welcomed prayer, so the three of them prayed for the young girl who was hemhorraging that the bleeding would stop and she will recover.
“Mom” was still waiting hours later for an update on her daughter’s condition, and there was a call from her Dad saying they were going to give her a blood transfusion and take her to surgery to try to stop the bleeding. “Dad” also said they intended to “remove her uterus.”
I saw all the grown up humans look at each other with a big question written all over their faces- “Why?” She’s only 16! Letting that sink in for a moment, with the realization that this young girl was in danger of dying and also losing the abiltity to have any children of her own, I got nervous. I could tell they didn’t like what they were hearing.
When the Critters went home for the day, there still was no further news, so the human went about her usual routine, and kept praying for the daughter as much as she was able. Late last night, when she was already half asleep, she got a message that they had avoided surgery, and had stopped the bleeding and she was back at home with her dad!
That’s the last report from last night. It was great news- but there was more news today. And we are still waiting to hear what happens next. This girl and her family still need prayer. Thank you to those who pray for her and her family!
More tomorrow. Have a good night!
I hear it all the time. My human Can Opener telling the little critters to be thankful in all circumstances. You know, to actively look for reasons to give thanks even if you can’t see a reason. Sometimes I think she’s nuts. Ok, maybe she is. But I notice, that when things aren’t going well, and there’s a lot bothering her, if she just thinks about the things that are not as they should be she gets upset.
And there are those times. But I’ve also noticed that sometimes, she feels everything beginning to weigh on her heart, and she starts thanking Jesus for everything she can think of -(and she can think of a lot).
I hear her teaching this to the little ones when they start to grumble and complain. And I notice that when I hear her starting to thank the Lord for something, pretty soon she starts to think of other things she’s thankful for too. And little by little any discouragement, anxiety or frustration melts away.
Why? Because she has deliberately shifted her focus from the things that would weigh her down, to the ways God has been good to her. And it shifts not only her mood, but the atmosphere too.
Here’s what I’m thankful for:
Any self-respecting cat will of course, demand that the humans immediately get busy clearing the air, and bringing out the sunshine. But of course, Humans can’t do that – (and most of them would just ignore it, anyway), so what is a cat supposed to do to escape what would otherwise be a long, boring day trapped inside?
1.) POUT. Make your displeasure evident. The humans will know they can’t fix it for you, so they should feel sufficiently guilty enough to fall all over themselves trying to make it up to you- something like this would work well….
2.) If they don’t do whatever is necessary to fix the problem for you, continue pouting- no matter what they do to distract you.
3.) Of course, if your humans are of the stubborn variety, you may have to show them who’s boss and then give them a stern warning….
If that doesn’t work, then set about making your own indoor fun… and soon they’ll be happy to let you out!
The Can Opener has made several attempts to trim Sushi’s claws, by herself, but without the Marines, it’s just not going to happen. Today she watched a few videos on YouTube looking for tips that might help since she can’t get her into the vet for a trim for at least a few weeks. They aren’t making many appointments.
After watching several videos, she finally decided to try some tips from a Vet who clipped his own (angry) cat’s claws. It looked a lot easier than it actually was- because even though that cat was also angry, it wasn’t “Ms. Alligator Roll.”
Maybe the video will help someone else out there with a militant cat, but for the Can Opener, Sushi won- again.
I think Sushi knows those switchblades on her feet are her only means of ruling the roost around here, and she’s not planning on giving them up. No matter how many treats she’s offered. So, what’s next? I’ll be watching… with a big bowl of popcorn!!!
How to Train your Humans 