Mancat Monday

We continue to have above average temperatures here, which we are not complaining about!  I thought that I would share some photos of the first snow/ice storm from early in January.

Harrison was not impressed and ready to get back in the house!

We were supposed to get an all snow event, but it turned into a snow/ice storm like always.

Cousin Georgie is at the door waiting and Harrison is next in line...

Tanner never made it outside...he decided he liked his toes warm!  We had to put towels down to make a path to the trash can because it was basically a sheet of ice. 

Flynn was chill like always...he doesn't let anything phase him!

Checking it out...this is his and Harrison's first snow.

Venturing a bit further...he has never been in the yard before either... 

Just hanging out... 

There isn't a photo of Oliver because I tried to bring him out, but he refused to be put on the ground.  He climbed to my back when I bent over to sit him down, so I walked back towards the door and he jumped back in the house.

We live in a neighborhood and there are two entrances.  Each one has a hill to climb to get to the main road.  We were stuck at home from Friday until Tuesday unable to climb either hill to get out!  Lots of kids sledding though and having fun.

I hope we have another snow this winter, although I won't complain about temps in the 70's in February!

Mancat Monday

We had an absolutely gorgeous weekend here in North Carolina!  We set a record high on Sunday with temps in the low 80's.  We had all the windows open in the house and the boys loved it.

Tanner is the only one of my four that can be trusted outside.  Highly supervised, of course! 

He didn't like that his favorite bush didn't have any leaves on it yet...this confused him... 

Better keep walking and look for leaves elsewhere...the garden patch is bare.

 

Checking out the Toad House...we have never had a toad move in, but it is cute. 

Settling for a bit of sage...

Tanner finally found a very small catnip plant...Love how his nose is crinkled

Yum!

Another crinkle nose shot

He stayed with his plant for quite a while. 

When he decided to take a nap, I knew it was time to move back inside!  Tanner is well behaved and very calm when he is outside.  I gave him a little pat and told him it was time to go back in, and he got up and walked to the door.

The panthers are too wild and crazy to be outside.  Flynn went for a stroll on Sunday afternoon.  We walked for about a mile and a half through some different neighborhoods.  He loves to stroll!

We hope you all had a nice weekend...spring is coming!

Mancat Monday

The almost mancats have had a fun and full weekend.  There is never a dull moment in my house!

Harrison has inherited the crazy gene!  He loves to lie in the heated bed, but when he gets too warm, he just melts onto the floor!

Flynn discovered the washing machine this weekend!  He loved the vibrations as it ran...silly boy!

Another shot of Flynn...he now weighs over 13 pounds!  He is tall and long like Tanner, but his arms are much thicker.  He is my gentle giant! 

Harrison will not be outdone and was curious about what brother was doing.  He also enjoyed a full body massage on the washer!  Harrison weighs just over 10 pounds.  He is my petite baby.

Harrison is a thief and loves to steal bags of treats or small bags of food from the pantry or the counter.  This bag was in my trash can and is empty...it makes a great toy, though!  Check out the video below.

Here it is on YouTube

Flynn loves to be vacuumed and enjoyed a session this weekend.

Here it is on YouTube

Flynn also went for a stroll around the neighborhood.  He LOVES to ride in the stroller.  This weekend we had a job to do, though...I am on the HOA Board and so I walked around looking for homes missing shutters.   Flynn took his job seriously and sat up so proud in the stroller as we walked!

Well, that's our weekend!  We hope you all had a fun weekend and were able to spend quality time with your fur babies!

Fair Trade Friday - Compassion International

In light of the recent Executive Order by President Trump on immigration and refugees, I feel led to talk about something that is important to me.  This is not really a political post, as I am not going to share my thoughts on the EO or the President.  However, it seems people are struggling with the desire to help, but unsure of how to make a difference.

Many people feel that the only way to truly help those in need, refugees, in particular, is to bring them to the USA.  I am not entirely sold on this idea.  I feel it is better to help people where they are, so they, in turn, can help those around them.  Where did this idea come from?  My thinking was shifted after reading a book called, "When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself " by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.  Now, I realize that refugees are not simply trying to escape poverty and therefore are a special situation, but do you still not think that they would prefer to stay in their own country if they could do so safely?  Could you imagine being told that you were going to be relocated to Zambia for instance?  A country where you do not understand the language or the culture and told to start over?

Immigration programs, on the other hand, take years of applications and interviews for a person to be considered.  Most of those accepted are the brightest or those with the most potential for success once they immigrate.  What if that potential could be applied in their own country?

I believe we need to empower people to take a stand for their rights and to equip them to make a difference.  In every corner of the world, there is poverty, oppression, and suffering.  How can we make a difference?

One way would be to shop Fair Trade.  Making sure that the items we purchase are made by people making a living wage in their respected countries.  Is the $5 t-shirt from Target a good deal if it means keeping a worker in bondage because of low wages?

Here is a link to a list of ethically made products.

Another way would be to sponsor a child through a reputable organization, such as Compassion International.  According to their website, "We partner with churches and denominations in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, and South America to help them provide children with the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be." They are making a global impact.

We have seen one success story of Compassion when we look at Maureen, Co-Founder of the Mercy House, Kenya.  Compassion gave Maureen the means to get an education and to rise above the extreme poverty and hopelessness she experienced growing up in a slum.  She has gone on to recognize a need and to meet that need in Kenya.  She is making Kenya a better place.

Thank you for listening today as I shared my heart with you.  Take a stand, make a difference, empower someone today and change the world!