Let go of the past!

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

3 Hours of Christmas Music Classics and Holiday Scenery

Christmas songs that will keep you happy for three hours.

Third Chance Pet

We adopted a "Third Chance Pet." Originally, we wanted a kitten but when we saw her sitting there looking so sad and lonely our hearts spoke to us. She was a medium size white cat with brown spots. She was 18 month old according to her biography. Kitty aka Cookie was at the bottom of all the cages. In order to see her, you needed to bend down and sit on the floor. She was hard to find. Our first visit was not good. She scratched and was a bit wild. Everything about her that day said that she had been through something traumatic. We were impulsive and said, "YES," we will take her to a forever home.

What followed next was amazing. The first six months, we cared for her with compassion and kindness. Cookie was extremely clean, followed bedtime routines and food schedules but was still shy and would scratch us here and there. We would have family over for visits and she would come out to greet them by nudging up to them on their legs. Friends that had visited would get a "let me check you out" sniff and nudging. As time has gone by Cookie and our family have formed a bond that is incredible. We love her so much that we talk to her as though she is another person. The fun thing is that she talks back to us. Cookie has transform how we see animals and the "Third Chance Pets."  

Cookie is loving now in her own special way.  She talks to us with quick, short "PRRRR" growl when you enter a room, she meows aggressively when she is out of food and she runs up to the patio slider, sits down, places one paw on the door and turns with a "RRROOOAAWW" when she wants out on the patio to sun herself.  We can leave the door open and she doesn't leave, she knows home.  If she does walk out the door, it only takes a call by name for her to come running back inside looking guilty and apologetic.  Cookie isn't a lap cat by any means however occasionally she jumps up on the kids beds to cozy up for the night. 
We are extremely thankful that we found her.   

If you are in the market for a pet, consider looking into The Third Chance program.

The city of Irvine Animal Care Center has so many pets waiting for a forever loving home. Please visit their website to get more information. http://www.cityofirvine.org/irvine-animal-care-center/programs-services#third

"The Third Chance for Pets program transfers animals from overcrowded Southern California shelters where they may have limited chances for adoption, and brings them to the center for a chance at finding their forever home. Over the years the program has expanded to include rescuing animals from hoarders and disaster situations. Since these animals come from outside of Irvine, their care is partially funded through donations. Why the name Third Chance? Their first home was their first chance, the shelter they were brought to was their second chance, and the center is their Third Chance."

Brené Brown: Why Your Critics Aren't The Ones Who Count

Great TED X Talk video that will help you make 2018 a great year!!!

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Katie Brown's DIY Homemade Halloween Mother Nature Costume

Katie Brown's DIY Homemade Halloween Mother Nature Costume video. Take a look and make your own. It is really easy to make. Happy Halloween.