of loss and love

We had to make a hard decision this week; we had to put our ten-year-old cat, Kramer, to sleep.  It was difficult and sad, and in the throws of grief I proclaimed that I would never get another pet.  As the week went on, our sadness lessened.  Yes, we still miss him a lot.  We still look for him in the sunshine or snuggled up on the back of the couch.  Lily Mae, our two-year-old cat has been looking for him and calling to him, which makes all of us sad.  Still, as our grief has ebbed away, we've enjoyed sharing our funny Kramer memories.  It became clear to all of us that although it is terribly hard to deal with his loss, we wouldn't trade our time with him for anything.  So while we adjust to the idea of being a one-cat-family, and get used to not seeing our Kramie around, we know that we will be able to open our hearts to another animal some day in the future.

Summer!

I could say that I've been ignoring this blog because of such a busy summer, but that would clearly be a lie.  I can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted last.  Bad blogger!

This summer has been busy, though.  My family went on our first trip to Myrtle Beach in June.  We've decided to make it an annual trip; we loved it that much!  With the end of June came the start of my first summer course.  Right after that started, we traveled to Pittsburgh to visit family.  As soon as I returned, I was immersed in the busy-ness created by taking two graduate level courses.  Not fun, but challenging.  I wrapped up the first course on July 12, and then scurried to finish the second course material early so that I could go on a weekend trip with my hubby to Shenandoah Valley.  I did it, and earned an A in both courses!

So now I have three weeks left of summer, and I can't wait to spend every minute with my family. I just need to fit in some blogging time, too!

Neglected

If you are feeling neglected by my lack of writing, fear not!  And don't take it personally.  Just ask my library books.  You know, the ones that I checked out, renewed, and are now overdue?  There are some that I haven't even read yet!  And how about the movie that I checked out and then forgot I checked out?  Ten dollar fine on that one. 

This weekend was lovely because I was able to get to some of the things I've been neglecting.  I finished a book, vacuumed under my bed, and gathered bags and bags of clothes and shoes for charity.  My hubby was the spearhead on that one.

I also got to spend real time with my family.  We went to the pumpkin patch and went on a hayride.  We picked pumpkins, sipped cider, and enjoyed the fall weather.

I need more weekends like that.  They course through my veins and make my heart sing.

Perfect Equation

fall day + apple cider + pumpkin/chocolate chip muffin = pure bliss

I see the moon, and the moon sees me. God bless the moon, and God bless me.

The moon has been spectacular lately.  His beauty has surprised me on two occasions this week. 

The first time, I was driving with my children, listening to the Haunted Mansion cd that my hunka hunka hubby bought as a surprise.  Please understand that it is the soundtrack/story from the ride, not the movie.  I haven't seen the movie, but I haven't heard too many good things about it.

ANYway.  We were driving and feeling deliciously spooked, when all-of-a-sudden we spied the moon in all of his October glory.  He was just right there, out of nowhere.  He was huge and orange and just so perfect that for a moment my breath was stolen.  I actually gasped, I did. 

What was even more spectacular was when we went the opposite direction and I watched the moon quickly rise in the sky from my rear view mirror.  Gorgeous, I tell you.

And then there was tonight, which also involved a bit of spookiness.  I was alone in the car, and as I flipped through the radio there was a song about Transformers.  There was a robotic voice in the song, which immediately gave me chills.  I have a fear of robots.  I'll tell that story another day.  But as I ascended the hill, on my way to the library, there was the moon, ready once more to set the scene.  Again, he was huge and shocking. 

There is so much creation to simply delight in.  I hope that my children inherit my love of it all.