Sarah's Back!

We got Sarah back. Someone in the neighborhood found her. We are so relieved. I cried like a baby when Andy told me someone called and he was going to pick her up.

Annabelle kept asking me where Sarah was, and I told her "she's on a journey." When she asked when she'd be back, I told her, "cat business sometimes takes a long time."

Thankfully, it only took five days for Sarah to complete her "cat business" (and for us to find her). We feel a prayer was answered.

Funny story. When Annabelle saw Sarah she said -- very matter-of-factly -- "You're back."

I guess these things don't register as hard on a toddler. Andy and I were so upset.

Later, Annabelle patted Sarah and said, "we got a net to catch you ... it's outside!" (The "net" she was referring to is actually a humane cat/varmint trap we bought to try to catch her.) Now we have a 50-dollar cat trap and nothing to try to catch. It's been used and the box was thrown out, so we are thinking about donating it to the animal shelter to rent out to people. (All the traps were rented out when we visited or we would have rented one!)

Anyway, all's well that ends well. She's home. She's home!

Now we're wondering: "Who ate the cat food that we left in our half-open garage last night?" The world may never know.

A Sad Kind of Day

Where to start? I can't even begin -- and that's saying something for me.

Our cat, Sarah, is lost. She slipped out of the house and we can't find her. We're desperately sad and worried for her welfare.

Christmas is just closing in on us and I feel so unprepared. Because we are.

Annabelle participated in her first Christmas program earlier in the week and she was so cute. I cried my eyes out when she walked in the church and all the way through her class' rendition of "Away in a Manger," complete with hand gestures. It was the most adorable, precious thing.

Please join me in a prayer for Sarah's safe return and that, wherever she is, she is OK.

Hair Bands

Annabelle told me today I needed a haircut. To her, a "haircut" is putting your hair up. I normally put her hair in ponytails or pigtails everyday and, you know how it goes, you throw your own hair into a chip clip or do the ponytail too. So today, I actually had my hair down and Annabelle noticed.

She said, "Your hair long."

"Yes," I said.

"You need hair cut. ... Hair band."

(Then I laughed to myself about hair bands and moved on.)

*

In other news, I swear, some days, some months it feels like the entire world and everyone in it is against you. I feel that way right now. :-(

Potpourri For $100

We have to remember: God has a plan for all of us, we just have to believe in it and trust it. That He's in charge. That what is meant to happen, will. That what we hope for isn't always what's meant for us. Or, as my yoga teacher long ago said: Maybe it's not what you want, but what you need. I think about that all the time. Anyway ...

Amidst it all, we are blessed to have family and friends who love and support us. We'd be nothing without them.

The Thrashers did win tonight -- in spectacular fashion. Three players had two goals -- three players could have had hat tricks ... awwww! It almost makes up for all the struggling we've had to do lately. Almost. And I guess that's the value of sport and movies and, seemingly mindless entertainment isn't it?

It's been hard traveling without Annabelle. I don't know what I am going to do when I go to Moscow!

Spokoinoi nochi!

Another Successful Weekend

Two more highly sought-after job offers.

Apps for rs. are in -- signed, sealed and delivered.

We saw a lawyer about something pressing -- biz related. I think a person should get paid for the patients he sees, don't you?

This post is deliberately vague. Feel free to ask me for more info if you want.

xoxo to family and friends who have been there for us. You know who you are (and aren't)!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Happy Days

My old friend Kim got married yesterday and it was a joyous occasion. It was wonderful to see her so happy. She's been through a lot since the high school days, having had a stroke (and brain surgery!) just a few years out of college and dealing with the long-term ramifications of that. But Kim always pressed on and pressed through the difficulties she faced. I am so proud of her and so happy for her.