Changes are Good

I love that as I look over some of the blogs I follow, people are talking about the new year and all the changes they are planning to make!  This excites me!

I love the New Year!   I love new beginnings and I love the excitement that positive changes can make in our lives.

Every year, I look forward to setting new goals for myself and the family.   Of course, some call these "resolutions" but I'm just setting goals; not making promises!   I know reality all too well, so I try to keep the goals basic and obtainable, so that I don't feel like a total failure if things don't go well.

Although I'm not ready to present my  List of Goals for 2012  just yet, I will share with you, one change we've made:

Meet Oliver (aka Ollie)

He is the first "new thing" or change

for our family, going into the new year.

It's been a few years since our 15 year old cat, Limbaugh, died and we decided not to get another one, due to David trying to keep the cars and screens from being destroyed.  So, over the past 3 years, I've pined away for another kitty, but knew he was right and I didn't want to make more work for him.

However........over the past few weeks, Collin and I visited our Vet Clinic several times; once to get food for Annie and twice more when we had to board her for our trip to see my dad.

Well.......during the few visits, we noticed the staff had strategically placed a "cat for adoption" on the counter (in a cage, of course), so we had to play with him every time we came in.    He had a sweet disposition and seemed very laid back.   After the first time I saw him, I didn't think much about him, but by the 2nd and 3rd visit, and noticing that he was still up for adoption, I started to feel like that was a cat meant for us. 

I went home and told David about him and for some reason - he said he was willing to take a look at him!  

We went to the clinic on Friday before Christmas and much to our disappointment, the cat's foster mom had taken him home for the holidays!  I was crushed!   We had to wait all weekend and hope that she would bring him back on Monday!

So Monday morning (yesterday), I called right away to say we wanted to see him.  Of course, when we got there and David saw him, it was a "done deal".    We paid the fees and voila! We own a cat!

After a pricey trip to PetsMart and a short ride home, we are now the proud owners of Oliver!

It took him about 2 hours of pacing and exploring, to get a sense of belonging, but after that, he became playful and relaxed.

I'm not sure what he did all night while we were sleeping, but I do know he was ready for company at 6:00am this morning!

I've pulled all the blinds up in the livingroom, just enough for him to watch the birds and their morning routines and he is a happy cat.

In reference to having a cat and dog both indoors, Collin said last night "yeah, our life was getting a little boring".   Ahhhh, to be 12 again and not know the stress and strains of adulthood!  

2011 has been anything but "boring", but along with a New Year and a new cat, I look forward to some positive changes in the future.

What about you?   Are you doing anything crazy for the New Year?  Out of the ordinary? 

If so, I would love to hear about it!