Goodness Gracious

September 28th...a day that I will never live down the rest of my life! The day I brought home a kitten knowing full well my husband and I have a history of feline allergy. Knowing my husband *HATES* cats. What possessed me to do such a thing?!?

The story goes like this: The kids and I went to the dairy to pick up milk for our milk co-op. As I was getting the milk we heard this loud continuous, "Meeeoooow, meeeooow..." Of course the kids went on an expedition to find the source of all the commotion. "Mommy, mommy there's a kitten in a hole under the barn....I have to get it out!" says Callie. She pulls the poor little thing out...dirty...pitiful...scared of the big dog that had chased it under there.

She hands it to me and it clings onto me for dear life with that constant meowing!! All I can think of is that it must be a hungry stray. "Mommy, can we keep it...can we...pleeeaaaase?!" No we can't possibly....then it looks into my eyes still clinging for dear life. I think..let me call the owner and ask him if it's his....I leave a message saying we found a cat, a stray, I think. We'll take it home and feed it and bring it back if it is his and if it's not I had every intention of taking it to the pound if Daddy absolutley said No. I just couldn't leave it. The kids are so excited as we drive away...a cat in the car.. still meowing continuously.

I'm thinking we could make it an outside cat! That would work wouldn't it? "What should we name it Mommy?" I was not sure if it was a boy or girl kitten at this point. After arriving home we feed it some fresh milk which it scarfs down quickly. It's lunch time.... I hear the garage door opening....reality sets in, "Daddy's home!" Quick, throw the kitten in the laundry room! Don't say anything about the cat kids. Let mommy handle it! Daddy walks in...."Meeeoooow!" GULP!

"What in the world were you thinking Cheryl?! #$%&*"!!!! Well to make a long story short.. Daddy now tolerates the cat. He actually remarked to me the other day, "You know...cats really are fun pets..AND... you must be keeping it really clean because my allergies are not bothering me." *SMILE* He's even been known to play with it once in a while!

I decided to name HIM Gracious. To remind all of us to show Grace to others when difficult situations come up...for instance when your wife brings home something your allergic to. "We also showed grace to him by rescuing him, Mommy!" Yes, that's right! Then I realized Gracious is a Gray kitten!! A (Gray + Precious) Kitten...... Providence I would say!

Gracious has been part of our family for 3 weeks now. He has one of the sweetest cat personalities I have ever seen. So playful and loving. And so smart...he is only about 2 mo. old and he has never had an accident and actually meows and scratches at the door if he needs to go to his litter box! That is amazing to me. I now remember how comforting and therapeutic it is to have a cat purring loudly in your lap! AND...I never thought in a million years I would ever hear my kids fighting over who would get to take the poop out of the litter box!!!