Sick Kitty and Thoughts on the Pope and the Death Penalty

1.  Our poor kitty is sick. 

Doesn't he look pitiful?  And he likes to sleep in a box of Christmas beads. 

 It all started on Saturday night...he started making this awful caterwauling sound.  Awful.  Sunday, he wasn't eating or drinking and kept trying to use the litter box, but nothing came out.  Sunday, night I figured it all out.   Apparently it is super common for male cats to get completely blocked and unable to pee...at all.  This is extremely painful as you can imagine. So, Monday morning, we took him to the vet and sure enough he was completely blocked. His bladder was the size of a baseball.  Poor guy. 

2. At one time in my life, I wanted to a vet.  Now...I still love animals, but we're at the point in our lives where we really can't spend a lot of money on vet bills for a pet....beloved as that pet may be.   So, it was hard choosing whether to have him treated or put to sleep. I couldn't just let him to continue to suffer.

3.  Turns out that treating him wasn't as expensive as I was thinking, so we had him treated. Our vet is pretty down to earth and understands that not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on their pet.  So, we had him treated.  They catheterized him and he stayed at the vet one night. 

4. Now he's home, but still not doing well. Slowly he may be improving, but it's very slowly.  I have the vet in my frequent calls now.  Thankfully, they don't charge for phone calls!  He still isn't really eating...although he is drinking and peeing (all over himself), so we have him shut up in the basement (don't worry the basement is actually finished and nice) and we stopped the medication the vet gave him (that was probably making him pee on himself).  He's definitely lost weight though and is pretty traumatized by everything.   Poor guy.   I'm hoping he starts to pick up soon.  I miss my naughty kitty that jumps up on the table and gets into everything.

5.  On a totally unrelated note...did you see my post about the Probiotic giveaway?  There are still a few days left to enter.   I'm going to randomly pick a winner and announce next week.

6. The Pope is in America and my Facebook feed is blowing up with posts about him.  It seems about half my friends are thrilled with what he says and the other half are critical. Personally, I like what he says and I like that he is so social-justice orientated.  I'm not a fan of the death penalty and I am a big fan of subsidiarity and helping those in poverty.  I know a lot of people think he should be doing more to end abortion, but I do feel that helping the poor and abolishing the death penalty (in America, where it is not needed, we have the means to keep dangerous people imprisoned for life) is a step in the direction of abolishing abortion.  You can't garner respect for the unborn, unless you garner respect for all the born people...even those our society deems less desirable...those in poverty or prison.  The people that society tends to want to throw away as worthless. It seems as though a lot of people only value those who are innocent or productive. Yes, many people make very wrong or poor choices, but I think the saying "There but for the Grace of God, go I" is important to keep in mind.  Yes, it's important to fight abortion, but it is also important to fight for the rights and respect of ALL people. So..go Pope Francis!

7.  And that is probably the most controversial I will be in this blog for the next year or so.  So enjoy it now!

(Linking it up again!)

What I Wore Sunday

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Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! I just love the image of Divine Mercy...because heaven knows..we could all use more Mercy.  Thinking about God's Mercy, reminds me to be more merciful with my children. 

Now, back to our regularly scheduled topic...What I Wore Sunday. 'Cause I know you are just dying to know what I wore to Mass today..okay, maybe not.  But, posting these helps me be more mindful of my outfit and dressing up a bit nicer on Sunday for Mass, reminds me that it is a special day.

So, here it is!

I apologize for the weird angle. You'll just have to tilt your head to look at the picture.  My photographer thought it would be funny to hold the camera upside down.   Whatevah.  Since she is  just an amateur and works for free, I can't complain too much.

Shirt and Tank: Shade Clothing.  Purchased with a gift card given to me after the birth of Elsa.  If you're reading this..THANKS CMs!

Skirt: Given to me from a friend who "would never fit into it again".  This skirt is a repeat from a WIWS a few weeks ago.

Shoes: Given to my 2 years ago from our neighbor when they moved.

I love it when other people give me their clothes...especially when they are moving away.  Wearing that item, always reminds me of that person and makes me think of them!


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And, then there is this:

It's kinda a blurry picture, but that is a St. Francis of Assis Medal that was blessed by Pope Francis!! Jealous??  I stole it am wearing it for safekeeping for my son.  My friend's husband was in Rome for the conclave and he brought back blessed medals for all the children in our homeschool coop. Yay!!   The girls happily wear theirs, but John doesn't want to wear his. Necklaces are for girls.  I tried to tell him that's not true..but there's no arguing with a 5 year old.  So, I'm keeping it for him..and the safest place for me to do that, is around my neck...so there it is!

So, that's what I wore.  Go visit FLAP to see what everyone else wore today!

7 Quick Takes Friday...in honor of Pope Francis

So, I realize I'm a little late to the party..but I just wanted to blog about how excited I am that the Church is no longer Popeless.  So, joining up with Jen at Conversion Diary, this 7 Quick Takes Friday is in honor of our new Pope!

1.

 And, not only do we have a pope...we have an AWESOME Pope, who took the name Francis! Francis! After St. Francis of Assisi. After one one of my favorite saints! Hooray! I come from a family of Franciscans...my sister is a real, actual, live, Franciscan Sister (she's not just my sister, but she is a Sister.)  Technically, she's not a nun..not sure why..but apparently there is some sort of difference between nuns and Sisters...so whatever..she is a Sister.

Future Franciscan Sisters in the making. ;)

 And, my parents are part of head of a lay Franciscan order...Franciscan-ness runs in the family. So, even though Pope Francis is *gasp* a Jesuit, we're all very excited about his chosen name.

2.

This guy is HUMBLE.  And humbleness is great.  And, humble people make the best leaders!  Stories abound..he rode the bus with the cardinals,   He went back to his hotel himself to settle his bill.  When he was living in Argentina as a cardinal, he took public transportation, lived in a tiny apartment and cooked his own meals.  

3.

This picture!   Which is from an Argentinian article about the Pope before he was Francis. And look..there is a mother, *gasp* breastfeeding in very close proximity to our future Pope.  And, he isn't horrified or disgusted..he's just sweetly kissing the feet of the the baby next door.   

And, while everyone always jokes about politicians kissing babies, I've never actually see a modern day one do so!

4.

And, he did this! 

In 2008, on the Holy Thursday, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio(Pope Francis) washed the feet of 12 recovering drug addicts at a rehabilitation center in Buenos Aires, Argentina(in this Pic).
As Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he showed compassion for the victims of HIV-AIDS and in 2001, visited a hospice to kiss and wash the feet of 12 AIDS patients.

True disciple of Christ!!! To be more precise True Vicar of Christ!!! True Alter Christus!!! Catholic church, Feel proud of Pope Francis!!!
True disciple of Christ!!! To be more precise True Vicar of Christ!!! True Alter Christus!!! Catholic church, Feel proud of Pope Francis!!!

5.

And while he was Cardinal Bergoglio he said this:

 “In our ecclesiastical region there are priests who don’t baptize the children of single mothers because they weren’t conceived in the sanctity of marriage,” Bergoglio told his priests. “These are today’s hypocrites. Those who clericalize the Church. Those who separate the people of God from salvation. And this poor girl who, rather than returning the child to sender, had the courage to carry it into the world, must wander from parish to parish so that it’s baptized!”
Bergoglio compared this concept of Catholicism to the Pharisees of Christ’s time: people who congratulate themselves while condemning others.
“Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit,” Bergoglio said.

6.

His Father was an Italian immigrant...which makes him a half-blood Italian.  Just like me!  But, he's from South America..our first American Pope!

7.

And, then of course, there is this meme..which is so, so popular on Facebook and always makes me smile.

God Bless Pope Francis!

Now, go see Jen for more Quick Takes!