Meaningful Odd Quotes

   Do you ever have certain sayings that play through your head? Especially at times when you need them most? I love movies that are generally targeted at a much younger audience. Not preschool level, but whatever level the average animated Disney, Pixar, or Dreamworks movie is aimed at. Mrs. Potts saying of "It'll turn out all right in the end. You'll see." has played through my head for many, many years. It is like God takes phrases from some of the oddest spaces in my life and goes, "Hey, my dorky, nerdy daughter will remember this, and I will use it to help remind her of my truths." This is one of those things. I might be worrying about choosing the wrong major or making the wrong decision and traveling down the path of worrying that I might have just messed up my entire life, because, hey, there are all of these amazing stories of how one choice, sometimes a seemingly insignificant choice, led someone down this amazing path that was better than anything that they could have imagined for their life. But then God quotes Mrs. Potts at me, and reminds me that He is in control, and He can orchestrate my mistakes, my failures, my decisions-good or bad- into the plan He has for me. I might make a wrong turn, but as long as I am trying to seek and follow His will for my life, He will help me find a new way to the right destination. And sometimes, what looks like a wrong turn is actually a pretty jaunt down a country road that serves as an incredible shortcut. And sometimes wrong turns were actually right turns- we just don't always get to see it in the near future. Sometimes we don't realize it this side of heaven. But God gets us where He wants us to be. If He used a whale to get Jonah to Ninevah after Jonah did everything he could to avoid that particular destination, I'm pretty sure He can get me where He wants me when He wants me there. Hopefully via a different mode though... I'm pretty sure the inside of a big fish stinks!

In which I finally stitch

   On Sunday, I finally got a chance to stitch! Well, frog, then stitch, but still, progress was made and happiness mingled pleasantly with peacefulness! I love the hearts on Momma Cluck's umbrella! 

  How are all of you doing?

  I'm pretty sure that Smokey would like for me to tell you that he has a new toy.

 The frog thing has a face that truly creeps me out. I might've let out a tiny shriek of fear... ok, ok tiny shriek of terror when I first saw it, but he loves it, so that is all that matters, right?

  He is also a fan of Rudolph.

  This picture does not really show it, but Ladybug is growing like a corgi-cat- long and short! Mr. Slinky and Ms. Lady are getting big! Excuse the slight mess behind them. It was raining, so I put off taking the trash out at the moment. And of course, these the little cuties chose in front of the trash to pose! Well, Ladybug did.  Slinkmeister 3000 was not in the mood. 

  I hope all of you are staying warm and happy! November has been a roller coaster. One day it is in the 70s, the next the low 40s. The 70s are nice though! In case I don't post again in time, Happy Thanksgiving!

  Happy Stitching!

 Emmy

IT WAS AN EXCITING DAY!!!!!!

 Yesterday was a most exciting day! I'm not sure who was more excited- Banjo or myself. The concrete trucks came to pour the concrete for the footing. Banjo loves big trucks, especially ones that make a lot of noise, so he was on cloud 9. Especially with the first guy- that guy would pet both Banjo and Guinea, so they adored him. 

  All went well with the concrete, at least as best as we can tell right now. The first guy was super sweet. He would stop pouring to give us advice and tips on how to get the top as smooth as possible and little tricks for making sure it was (and stayed) level. He was really cool. Unfortunately, there was water in the trench. We had to make forms from all of the cave-ins from rain. And of course, it had to rain again. Dad was able to siphon quite a bit of it out, but not all of it. Which made it extremely difficult to level off the fourth side. We are hoping that everything held level when the water rushed around the entire footing, over top of the concrete. Here's hoping! 

Ladybug was quite cozy on top of the dirty whites this morning. She purred when she heard my voice, but was not too happy when I sat her down to let her go outside. She stared outside for a moment, then went, "Nope, too cold!" I had to be the bad guy and set her outside. She was none too pleased with me. 

Smokey was posing for me the other day:

 This was Ladybug after the extra bit of concrete was poured next to her area in the barn. She did not care as long as she had something to lay in and a warm patch of sunlight.  

  Banjo was so excited, but we had to make him calm down and stay out of the way at times. Whenever that happed, he would sit on either my foot, or Dad's foot, just like he did as a puppy. 

  So, the first time this was put on Smokey, he was rather ticked and vocal about the whole ordeal. Kirst put it on him again the other day, and he was incredibly happy the whole time. 

  He thought it was quite convenient whenever he got cold- he would just tuck his little paws inside until they warmed up enough. It was adorable!!!

  It was interesting seeing what everyone was stocking up on in Walmart yesterday when I went with Mom after my appointment. One lady had a lot of kitty litter and some kitty food. Others had a bunch of junk food. Still others had games, clothes, or movies. You could tell what each cared about most. 

  I think that is all I have to say for the moment. A lot of people are panicking around here, so toilet paper and bullets are in short supply. Can you tell what the average Missourian cares most about?

  Happy stitching!

 Emmy

Weirdness

  It is total weirdness that today is November 9 and that I currently have my bedroom window open at work. It makes no sense. Then again, yesterday was March, so why should it make sense?

  Miss Ladybug had to go through quite the experience. Banjo apparently decided that the appropriate way to deal with having a feline sister was by attacking her. Thankfully, Kirstie was home and rescued her. She spent a few days inside, as did Slinky, until she was acting more like herself. Thankfully, nothing appeared broken. She was sore for a couple of days and did not like being picked up, even though she wanted held, because of the soreness. Slinky and Ladybug have both been clamoring to go outside. They miss the great outdoors. After church yesterday we did a trial run. The dogs were mostly good. When they started eyeing the kittens was when Kirst and I first got home (I rode with her after church to get lunch and run an errand). At that time we did not have the remote for the shock collars (not ideal, but better than a dead kitten). I think that Kirst is going to set up food and water in the barn for the kittens in the hope that they will stay there, at least until I can figure out a better solution regarding Banjo. I'm trying to find an affordable invisible fence that will (hopefully!) work. So far, that has been difficult. 

  Here are some pictures of the cuteness:

I must lay on her to protect her.

 Shhh, its ok, Slinky is here. 

  Kirstie got each of the kitties a Christmas shirt:

Smokey was not amused. He was already mad about the kittens being inside the house, even if it was just inside the mud room. Clothes was far too much on top of such a travesty. 

What up, homie?!?

Ahh, this is the life. Hanging out in my own house, with my own cardboard, my own toys, and my own Christmas ornament pillow. 

Hello, Mother, I am not planning on leaving my cottage today.

MY COUCH!!!!!

This is not the best picture to show it, but Ladybug really looks like a Corgi cat. 

  I do not have too terribly much else to add. Mom went with me to Pratt, KS to find out more about their paramedic to RN bridge. I would have to drive there weekly for clinicals. I was hoping to do them in a block so that I would be able to make the drive as little as possible. It is a 4.5-5 hour drive one way. The online part would have been good, if not for having to make the drive at least once a week. Oh well, I shall simply look a little closer to home. Lord willing, the right one will become available and obvious quickly!

  I do not have too terribly much to report on the stitching front. I am hoping to stitch soon, but it keeps getting pushed back. There is a lot going on, plus I have to frog an area before I can stitch. Oh well, at least frogs can be cute at times!

  Happy Stitching & Have a Great Day!

 Emmy