Something only William can do

Is hold two of our cats this way. They will only do this for him, why, we don't know. But sometimes he walks around our house holding Polly Kate and Alton like this. We just shake our heads and go on.

He needs to learn to relax

This is Alton, which means gold in Turkish, and he is the most relaxed cat you will ever meet. Nothing gets him worked up except cutting his nails. He lets Anna carry him around and he and Lucy have a grand time playing.

We are always telling "Alton, relax, don't get so worked up", when we see him in this position.

I found him at gas station in Greenville, Alabama. Someone had put him out and I found him there and brought him back up to our house, about 50 miles away. We have had him about 2 years now. I don't think he likes me that much but that is OK. He loves Anna.

I have to sweep my floors just about every day because he has so much hair and sheds year round, it seems.

Polly Kate

This is our cat Polly Kate. She is a unique cat. We call her "cat dog" because she will lick us like a dog. I got her from an older lady who had a bunch stray cats that lived at her house. I thought I would get an orange cat from her but we couldn't catch the orange one. We saw this little ball of fur on the porch and the lady said "that cat is feisty, she is serious about her food". Polly Kate had an eye infection and we looked at her, put her down and went home.

When we got home I found some old antibotic in our refrigerator. I was going to take it to the lady because Polly Kate would lose her vision if this infection was not stopped. Win said, "that lady won't give that kitten that medicine, you either have to go by there every day and give it to her or go and bring that kitten home." So, I went back to Mrs. Jones house and got that kitten.

She would growl when we fed her because she was so hungry and she was so used to being hungry. But she soon stopped doing this because I think she realized that food was always around for her.

She loves me and I really love her. Anna named her. I affectionately call myself "momma cat" to her and I refer to Win as "Tom Cat" to her. She acts like she understands. She will let William hold her in very strange positions. Only he can hold her like this.

She doesn't like for me to raise my voice. If I am yelling at the kids, she will come to me and stretch up and touch my hand to get my attention. If I am raising my voice at Win she will do the same thing. Sometimes she will lick my face if she can reach it. If Anna is yelling or crying, she will bit Anna. I think the Lord uses Polly Kate to help me control myself and stop yelling. Something I am always working on in my life.

Polly Kate has gray, orange and white. Our other calico has black, orange and white. After we had had her for a few months we took her back by Mrs. Jones house and Mrs. Jones said to Polly Kate "you are a rich cat now". So sometimes we will remind her of this.

Putting Christmas away

That is what we are doing today. Anna said this is her least favorite thing to do. It is the mark of the end of the season. The house looks bare after everything is put away.

I am one to do a lot of organizing the week after Christmas. Win says I throw too much out. I say he doesn't throw enough away. I like to start the new year off with a clean, clutter free home.

I love our children being home during the holidays. There is a closeness with my three children that I feel during this time. I know this season of life is coming to an end. William has 2 1/2 years left before he, Lord willing, heads off to college. Our holidays will take a turn when that happens.

Our cats will also be sad that Christmas is being up away. They have loved our tree. They don't climb up the tree but they play under the tree and run around the tree. It has been fun watching them. When gifts started going under the tree they all started, except for our oldest cat, sleeping under the tree. I guess they liked the crowed feeling under the tree.

My prayer for my family is that we keep the meaning of Christmas close by in our thoughts and our actions. I pray we remember that through the humility of a poor and lowly birth came our salvation and eternal life with Christ.