What we're thankful for this Thanksgiving

While most of our posts are meant to be funny accounts {even sometimes parodies} of our lives as a family, I am forever grateful to the fiance, cats, friends, and family who make it all worth it. I've learned that happiness doesn't hinge on possessions or success - but instead on your perspective. Years ago, all I could see was what wasn't in my life. I felt like I'd failed because so many of my friends had more in just about every way {job, house, money, relationships, etc}. My relationship with Bear changed all that. Coming home from the vet one day, I realized that if Bear was all I got, that would be worth living for. For the first time in my life, I was happy with what I had. I'll never forget - my therapist thought this was horrible - that I shouldn't sell myself short. And I haven't. Just because one focuses on what one has doesn't mean that one stays stagnant. It just means that your focus is on the good and not the bad. So much of the bad has been fixed with this simple change in perspective. Bear and I have grown and changed and become better beings - in addition to The Boy and Ellie Mae joining our family. No stagnation in this house! So, dear friends, I wish you the kind of peace and happiness I've found. I wish you love. And I am grateful for all the ways you all make our lives better. Happy Thanksgiving!



Look at these faces! How can one not be happy in the presence of such wonderful kitties with even more wonderful personalities? Being a Momma to these two is truly a gift! {The newest pictures are first}.


































68 comments

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Sure do love all the pictures of you and some of them with you together.

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  2. Oh your two are just so gorgeous! Ellie is growing into a beauty and Bear has a special spark that really sets him apart (except from Ellie!!)


    Happy Thanksgiving! We are scampering round catching up * paw hugs * but so glad to visit you.

    The Dash Kitten Crew
    Marjorie

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  3. I think you're very rich!

    I love these pictures. Ellie's expression as she's lying on the pizza box says it all. I love them all, and even though I've seen some before, I never tire of them.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. Thank you :) I'm insecure about my photography skills so I love positive feedback!

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  4. Happy Turkey Day! Make sure you guys get some.

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  5. I am glad you have found peace and happiness.
    Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you.

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  6. We are so very thankful for your friendship. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!

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  7. Happy thanksgiving to all of you-wonderful you have so much to be thankful for!

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving! Always count your blessings. I need to remember that more often.

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    1. We feel the same way! Still, I don't always take my own advice!

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  9. We're thankful for your friendship! Hope your Thanksgiving has been just purrfect.

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  10. Happy Thanksgiving! We love you all and are SO grateful to have your friendship. ♥

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving!

    We are happy to hear you have found peace and happiness. Our humom says that certain people can make you feel as though you don't measure up which can make a person lose sight of all that they do have and of all they have accomplished. That's why our humom chooses not to associate with certain people ;p

    We are happy to call you friends!

    the critters in the cottage xo

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. This post was very insightful and I'm glad you shared it today. We're grateful that you all are our friends!

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  13. Happy Thanksgiving. We love this post.

    The Florida Furkids and Mom Sharon

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    1. So do I. Such an important life lesson that changes everything!

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for your friendship. XO

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  15. I LOVE this Bear and Smellie, er, I mean Elly May! You depict life for us the way it is meant to be and boy, would I love to come play over there with you all...if you like playdates that is.

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  16. We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are so grateful for having fur-iends like you guys! 😍

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  17. Your opening paragraph was beautifully written and heart felt. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
    I have two quotes at the bottom of my blog, #1 was on the program of a very funny play we saw a few years ago and #2 was on a friends blog. I think they say alot
    1. Life is short, spend it with those who make you laugh
    2. “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” (Leo F. Buscaglia)

    Hugs all around to all
    Cecilia

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    1. Number two really speaks to me. After several sudden surprises, I do all I can to see the future - but I've seen that it's not entirely useful.

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  18. Bear, did you know that you always have a smile on your face?

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    1. Even when I'm biting?! Oh yeah. ESPECIALLY when I'm biting! ~Bear Cat

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  19. Love you guys - thanks for the smiles, Bear and Ellie...dids you gets some turkey? we hope your Thanksgiving was full of surprises like pouncing on each other when least expected and... hey put me down! - Angel who doesn't like being held either. Hugs and purrz from the Katie Katz

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    1. We did! Piggy ... Err ... I mean SMELLIE ate most of it! ~Bear Cat

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  20. I love your thankful reasoning and I feel the same way. My cats have been a handful lately. Lots of territorial issues that we didn't previously have and it can be exhausting and stressful. But I am grateful to have them in my life - the issues mean that they are physically with me and I can love them and touch them. For that, I am grateful.Love and purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang.

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    1. I try to remind myself of that when Bear wakes me up at 2am to pet him. At least he's here with me. I know I'll miss those kinds of things after he passes.

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  21. Yep, it's all about perspective! I love being Mama to my cats, just like you love being Momma to yours! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  22. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when you speak directly from your heart, as you did so beautifully in this post! Loved everything about it!!!! Love your babies (but you know, since I am a Tabby girl at heart I am partial to Bear, plus I love BOY KITTIES!!) Loved seeing "the boy" on the blog too..........loved everything about this and we love all of you! Hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! xoxo Caren, Cody (and Dakota too!)

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  23. Happy belated Thanksgiving! I am so very happy that you guys are furrends. And Bear, I still think you are my hero!
    Purrs
    Marv

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    1. Marv, you have the superpowers to be a hero yourself. ~Bear Cat

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  24. The Tribe of Five and their Purrsonal Assistant are blessed to call you furiends! ����

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  25. Why do tunas live so far away in the ocean is kind of the age old question that has plagued kitties in the center of the country for ages. Sigh.

    But seriously, your message is beautiful and I agree. It is always easy to fall into wishing for what you don't have instead of appreciating what you do have. Comparing ourselves to others can cause so much pain and disappointment. I did that for years and really only stopped a few years ago - and still occasionally slip up. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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    1. We did, thank you! It's a hard life lesson to learn - but the sense of happiness is well worth it.

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  26. Sorry we're late getting here! Happy belated Thanksgiving to you, Momma Kat. We are so grateful for you, Bear, Ellie May and the Boy. Thank you for being our friends, and for being YOU. We appreciate you lots!

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  27. It's good to reach a point you are happy with what you have and not unhappy because of what you don't. :)

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  28. We're glad you had a breakthrough awnty Kat. Mommy said she didn't have enuff energy to focus on all the bad in our lives. MOL We figger ifin we spend enuff time countin' our Blessings, we'll furget all 'bout the bad. We're very grateful fur your luv, suppurrt, and furiendship. Big hugs

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  29. Happy Eeeek BELATED Thanksgiving, though every day is that around here, especially with Mrs, H's cooking skills. From one simple spark, one act, can come a whole world of light, fun, love, and laughter. And from sadness we truly know joy.
    Toodle pips and purrs
    ERin

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    1. That is so true! So many people think that humor means we don't know how to cry - but the tears are the inspiration for laughter.

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  30. We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We've had some tough times lately, and there are days that Sam and Luke are the only things that get me through.♥

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    1. I understand that! I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Bear! We had a good Thanksgiving and we hope you did too!

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  31. Mom says, "You are so right. Whenever I start to think of family and friends that have bigger houses, better yards, more $, are more organized, more fashionable, more cultured, etc. I look to my pets and realize that they are really what makes me happy day in and day out. They keep me grounded. I couldn't imagine a life without pets in it."

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    1. That is so true! If my Momma could spend her whole life with me, she'd gladly give up the rest!

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