#TBT

#TBT

Gracie

December 2013

Friday Flashback

These photos are all from May of 2013.

Abby finding an easy way to grab a few Temptations.

Yes, I caught you!

My pretty girl in the clean laundry.

Jinx was up on the side laundry hamper.

Gracie jumped up and SURPRISE found him there!

Jinx content no matter what.

#TBT with Gracie

#tbt

Gracie 

Sept 2013

#TBT with Abby and Gracie

#TBT with Abby and Gracie (in background)

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Don't forget to Enter our Giveaway!

#TBT

#TBT with Gracie

August 2013

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Sending big purrs and prayers to Samantha's Mom.

We are also joining Pepi Smart Dog for this week's
Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

#tbt with Gracie

#TBT With Gracie

C.2013

#TBT

#tbt

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This was from August 13, 2013.

Gracie and Ping joined me in the Dining Room.

***

This was the day after I had lost my Abby.

We were all lost. This was taken in our last Morning

with Abby in the house. Before we took

her on her final trip to the Vet .

It was a very hard morning.

***

Letting go

or

Holding on.

I don't know which is harder.

#misinggraceandabby

I did want to add one thing.
One thing the loss of Abby taught me.
She taught me when to let go.
With the loss of Gracie only 6 months
after Abby. I was able to see the
"mistakes" (if they can be called that)
I had made with Abby.
I didn't want to repeat them with Gracie.
Gracie was a far different cat too.
But, I firmly believe that losing
Abby gave me the insight into how to
see things far more clearer.
When you're confronted with this, no matter
what it is not an easy choice to make.

#TBT

I have a secret!

#TBT

c. April 2012

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest Gift

I always knew this time would come,

From the very instant our eyes first met.

How I loved you then! How I love you now!

I made a promise then, and I will keep that promise now...

You will not suffer from a pain that will not heal;

You will not know the loss of a life remembered, now gone.

It is for me alone to make this decision,

The price for the bright joy and pure laughter

You brought me during the time we shared.

I am the only one who can decide when it is time.

When my hope dies, and my fear rides high,

Just when I need you most, I must let you go.

It is for you alone to tell me when you are ready

For without your guidance, I will not know

When to lay my grief, my guilt, my anger

My sorrow and my selfish heart aside

and give you this last gift, this greatest gift.

You eyes will speak to mine and I will know.

The pain of this moment is excruciating.

Tears stream down my face in a river of sorrow.

And my heart drowns in a pool of grief.

For you have spoken and I have listened,

and unlike other decisions I have made

This one brings no relief...no comfort...no peace.

For if there's one thing you've taught me

If there's only one thing I've learned....

Unconditional love has a condition after all,

I must be willing to let you go, when you speak to me

I must be willing to help you go, if you cannot go alone

And I must accept my pain so you can be free of yours.

Go easily now, go quickly now,

Do not linger here, it is time for you to leave.

Go find your strength, go find your youth

Go find the ones who have gone before you

You are free to leave me now, free to let your spirit soar

Rest easy now, your pain will soon be gone.

I pray I will find comfort in my memories...

in the dark and lonely days ahead.

I cannot say I will not miss you, I cannot say I will not cry.

For only my tears can heal my broken heart.

But I promise you this; as long as I live,

You will live, alive in my mind, forever in my heart.

So I give you this last gift, all I have left to give,

And this will be my greatest gift...sending you away.

It is the measure of my unconditional love....

For only the greatest love can say

"Goodbye, go find the bridge, we'll meet again,

Loving you has been the greatest gift of all."

By Karla Bertram

Gracie

I purchased this little cat bed thinking that all the cats would enjoy it.

To this day the only one who has ever shown any interested 

was Gracie.

This was taken of Gracie on Oct 23,2013 around 7pm.

This is our first Christmas season since 2005 without Gracie.

Our second without Abby.

Much comes and goes, ebbs and flows.

The holidays have high points and low ones.

Always remember those who are no longer here in their

physical forms.

Hold tight to the ones who are.

Miss you dearest Gracie Grace.

10 months today.

Annabelle's Antics: Remembering

I don't have that many photos of Annabelle and Gracie together. 

This was taken the day before Gracie left us for the RB.

It was a beautiful winters day and both girls were enjoying being outside.

9 months have passed and although I know there was no other

options,it still gives me pause that Gracie is not still here with us.

Thankful Thursday In The Garden

 he who plants a garden plants happiness....

 Miss Boo is gazing out into the garden.

 Look Boo there's Abby's butterfly.

 AND a ladybug for luck.

 This is a photo I found of Gracie I never published from Sept 12,2013.

We hope your garden is still blooming.

__________________

We always enjoy joining the positive and ever Thankful weekly
blog hop of Pepi Smart Dog.

Black and White Sunday

 Gracie is joining the Black and White Sunday Blog Hop co hosted by Nola and Sugar.

Be sure to put your black and white on and come join us too!

Thankful Thursday

 Thankful Thursday brings me to a topic I have not expressed the deep appreciation I have for it.

This photo is the second one I took of my Miss Priss. It was taken inside the PetsMart where we adopted Annabelle from. I was in the process of filling out the paperwork to adopt Annabelle. There were  these open bookshelves in the adoption area where she made herself right at home at. She was very relaxed but wary.

 When I was drawn to the cat area last December I really wasn't thinking that I would be bringing this young cat, or any cat into my home. My heart knew I wanted to adopt again, but I was battling with the notion that it would be a betrayal to Abby if I did. It's a silly irrational thought, but I imagine one that many have had when their beloved cat or dog passes to the Rainbow Bridge. When is the right time? Is there a right time? Am I doing the right thing?

When I saw Annabelle, then Fritzie my heart started singing. But I still hesitated, for 24 hours I hesitated and then I starting wondering would she still be there when I got back? What would Abby think?

Now I believe whole heartedly Abby had a huge part in this entire event.

 Little did I know how much healing Annabelle would bring to my empty and broken heart. She made me smile and she brought life back into my world. Annabelle has performed a second miracle, she helped me so much with the loss of Gracie. Without her, the anguish and the sadness of going through those two weeks of intense care for Gracie would have been overwhelming and I believe would have made me tumble back into that doom of despair I had just begun to come out of.

 There was one very sweet and parting gift given to me from Gracie to Annabelle. I recorded a scene the day before Gracie left for the Bridge. It was of Gracie and myself at the kitchen table. I was recording Gracie to get her meow. She did meow for me, but while I was recording Annabelle jumped up on top of the table and she walked up to Gracie. Gracie gave her a head butt and Annabelle in turn began to groom her. It all happened so quickly and then Annabelle was off -- ZOOMING as she does-- into the dining room where she jumped onto the fringe of the rug. Something she relishes playing with. Gracie watched her intently. I pondered for a moment ... did Gracie think that used to be me? Now my time is nearly done here? It was a wistful moment. For me. For Gracie.

 The recording stops at that moment but it is a gift. One I was so happy to have, of Annabelle accepting Gracie. It made me sad too, because I thought of all the cats, Gracie and Annabelle could have been good friends who played together. Gracie loved to play and Annabelle does too. But there wasn't enough time for that to develop. Not enough.
***

I will always treasure that moment, it was special.
 I will always be thankful for Annabelle helping me get through these dark dark days.
So today what are you Thankful for?
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We are joining PepiSmartDog Blog Hop!
We hope you do too!!

Thankful Thursday(the girls edition)

Welcome Thankful Thursday

Our pretty girl from late in January
*Angel* Gracie

Another of our pretty girls playing with a stuffed kitty

Annabelle

Our last pretty girl wary over any kitty that comes near her.

Boo

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Yes today we are so thankful.
Blessings to all.
***
We are joining in the Weekly Thankful Thursday Blog hop, we hope you will too!

Graceful Angel

 I was glad that February 11th was beautiful sunny and warm.

 I spend all afternoon outside with Gracie and the cats.

 Gracie Grace I called.

It's time.

 She jumped down and I gave her a final ear scritch. Knowing in my heart I was saying my farewells. Letting go is never simple. How can it be that one moment you're here and then the next you're not? My heart is filled with emptiness. Abby first, Gracie next. Perhaps there is some synchronicity in Abby joining our family in June of 2005 and Gracie arriving in July of 2005, Abby and Gracie came basically together and left us as they came. 

Gracie I will miss my little cashmere kitty, my friend who played whap the pen off the desk, who meowed every time I called her Gracie Grace. My sweet quiet girl with the paws of a herd of buffaloes who enjoyed tormenting her orange brother and was her Daddy's baby girl. We will always miss you in our hearts and one day Gracie Grace we will see you again. I promise. You wait with Abby in that meadow and watch for us. I'll be there. Looking for you and Abby.