A sad day in our home. Dear little Marilla is gone. Her kidneys suddenly shut down, and Annie had to make the heartbreaking decision to have her put to sleep.

We've been crying all day.

Rilla was not only a beautiful cat, she was a complex character and soooo smart. She has written xanga posts for me in the past, you know, and her thoughts are saved here for posterity. We will be sharing stories about Seacloud's Lady Marilla Fiona von Altencat for years to come.

When Annie was twelve years old, her father told her she could have a kitten if she saved up her money and bought an Abyssinian. Annie work hard, doing laundry, babysitting, and any other work she could find, and she bought Marilla the following spring. Rilla was the most beautiful kitten we had ever seen! She was never as robust in health as she was in spirit, but she ruled the household with a velvet paw.

Nearly three years ago, we took Marilla down to Annie in North Carolina, and while it was hard for the rest of us to let her go, we were thrilled that she could live with her girl. And Rilla's health seemed better in the warmer climate, too.

But now she is gone, after a very happy and busy life of killing teddy bears and posing decoratively on furniture, snuggling and purring, and trilling pretty greetings.

She was a special gift from God to Annie, and to our whole family.

We loved you, Rilla

Currently The Shop Around the Corner By Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, Sara Haden see related

Yes, I'm feeling guilty for being such a bad blogger, but then few of you ever come here anymore, so I don't feel too bad! Myles is curled on my lap, Christmas music is wafting from the living room, and Peter and I watched the above movie this evening. He is such a good movie-watching buddy! I try not to inflict romance movies upon him as a rule, but he doesn't mind a bit of romance in a movie that has an otherwise good plot and no spontaneous musical combustion to wreck it.

We've got two weeks of school before vacation, and he will actually take his semester exam in a few classes before Christmas! He and I are hoping hard for a vacation sometime in late winter/early spring, probably down to NC to visit Annie, although we might convince Dean to take us to Washington, DC as well. Peter is at just the right age to benefit from such a trip, and he is studying (and loving) American history this year. We might add in a Constitution class this spring, something we all three would enjoy.

I am also praying about a trip to CA this coming year. I really need to see my parents again. Time is passing so quickly, and none of us are getting younger.

Tom is safely deployed to Afghanistan, by the way. He says they hit the ground running, so to speak. We are hoping to hear from him again soon, although his Internet time will be limited, of course. He will appreciate any letters from anyone who wants to let a lonely lieutenant know that he is appreciated. If you want his email, ask me, okay?

I'm so thankful for my family, for many friends far and near, for our church, for good health (in spite of mild maladies pestering all of us at present), and a beautiful and comfortable home. God finds various ways to grow and challenge each of us, and I'm thankful that He doesn't just leave me in comfort--He loves me too much for that. Sounds strange, but so true. Without pain and frustration and failure and humiliation and heartache, I would never bother to grow. Why would I? Why cling to God if life were always good? I might remember to throw Him an occasional bone of thanks, but I doubt I would seek Him daily if I did not feel such great need for Him every day--just to keep sane, at times! And He always gives us joy along with the pain, if we can remember to look for it.

I am slowly learning to love my life each moment, the good with the bad, and be thankful for the gift of right now instead of looking to the future or the past for my happiness.

A purring kitty in the lap is a very happy thing.

Sorry everybody--I'm a blogging dud lately!

Got a cold right now and the froggy voice to go with it. We need to grocery shop today, so I'm harboring my ambition to get that done. Tomorrow means some serious house-cleaning --cuz it's really gotten away from me these last few days--and pie-baking and cranberry sauce making. You know, essentials like that.

This year will be a smaller crowd at the table than we're used to--just six of us, if Jim makes it on time. But we can still give thanks for our blessings together, and also be thankful for God's loving care of Tom and Annie.

Here we go a-shopping!

Bye.

Currently Murder Must Advertise (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries) By Dorothy L. Sayers see related

It's done--Yay!!!

Actually, all that dread was for naught, because Dean did the lion's share of the work this year, mostly with the leaf blower. Peter and I put in mebbe three hours of work altogether! It looks good out there.

We also took in the dock and stacked three cords of firewood, and Dean took down a few dead trees--small ones. I'm thinking we're pretty much set for winter to come.

Our next-door neighbors, who now own the cabin that used to belong to Dean's brother, are preparing to build a garage. This week they took down a lot of trees, including the two huge basswoods that have been looming over the cabin for half a century. Those trees had to be 100 feet tall, maybe close to 100 years old, though I can't be sure of this. Our area was clear-cut sometime around 1890, so the oldest trees around here are about 120 years old. We have some white and Norway pines that must be nearly that old, though none that large on our property.

We're really enjoying our Wednesday night Bible study, which is on Galatians and titled, "How Do We Live Out the Gospel?" Much food for thought, particularly about the rules we Christians tend to set for ourselves then apply to others with a judgmental eye. What did Jesus answer when asked "How can I have eternal life?" He told the man to sell everything he had, give it to the poor, and follow. Is this literally what He requires of us? IMHO, His point was that everything we have and are belongs to God. It is not about setting certain levels of obedience and attaining them, but about surrendering everything, every day.

Quite a challenge.

I keep looking outside at all the leaves on the ground. . .and shuddering.

Can't evade it much longer--Rake Day is coming.

Yesterday, a nuthatch committed kamikazi on one of our quarter-round windows. Sadness! But actually this year the casualties have been low. We had no mass suicide of yellow-rumped warblers in September, for which I was grateful. In fact, we never saw the warblers at all this year. I wonder if word got around in their flock that our house eats little birdies?

Mimi is sitting on the fleece-topped desk, watching for birds at the feeder. I need to wake Peter up soon and get him started on the day, but it's nice to have these quiet moments in the morning.

I have become addicted to reading my Bible and devotional books on-line each day. It has a different feel, for some reason, and I see things I no longer notice in the actual books. Funny how a different format can do this to my brain.

I read one of Anne Elisabeth's manuscripts in two-page spread last night and saw it as an actual book--that was fun!

Perspective changes things!