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Greeting! This is Daffodil, and I am confiscating my mom’s blog for the next couple of weeks. I have a very big event coming in my life, and I’d like to share some insights with you while I have the time and energy.

On August 1st, I’ll turn 17 years old. (That’s 17 cat years, but 84 human years). If I make it to that birthday, it will be such a huge accomplishment for me. You see, on March 7, 2014, I was diagnosed with severe kidney failure. I shouldn’t have lived through that time, but I did. Here it is nearly a year and a half later, and I’m still here. I’ve heard multiple vets tell my mom in this time that I have little time left.

Ha! I’m here to report that I’m still here! But I too can feel that my time is limited. Certain things are more difficult than they used to be, and my mom has to water me once-a-day. If I make it through these next ten days, I’d like to share with you something I’ve learned in my many feline years each day.

For today, I’d like to share that it is a blessing to live each day like you’re dying. I do my usual things each day, although sometimes a bit slower than usual. I spend time with my mom when she is around. I sit in the sun with my fellow felines in the afternoon when I feel like it. The only difference is that I push my way into a couple of things I used to feel like I shouldn’t do.

Now, I ask for those things, and the answer has changed to, “Yes, my funny pants!” at least some of the time. It’s worth asking again. She thinks the long hair on my thighs looks like pantaloons, whatever those are, so she sometimes call me funny pants. Because I’m getting some extra loving, I don’t cough up hair balls by her shoes anymore when she calls me funny pants. So you see, we both win!

Fun Facts about Fathers: Census Bureau News — Profile America Facts for Features Father’s Day: June 21, 2015.

My dad was pretty awesome. I’ll be giving thanks that he was in my life on this Father’s Day, just like everyday.

I so wish everyone had a father like mine. Too many don’t have the comfort of a good father or father figure or parent in their life. I am so glad that my nephews are amazing father’s who would move sun, moon, and stars to care for their children and their wives.

Of all the gifts my father gave to me, the two I joke about the most are the small, gappy teeth, and the wide, wide, wide feet. But the best gifts he gave are not seen but felt in the heart.

May your heart be filled with all good things.

This afternoon my mom said that she would go out and mow the lawn. I asked if it was dry enough from earlier rains, and she hoped it would be so. However, she no sooner opened the garage door and started the mower when it not only rained again, but in a torrential downpour with nasty and whipping winds. It only lasted a few minutes, but it left leaves and small branches scattered. She turned it off, shut the garage door, and returned to the house.

When she said that she would mow, I was laying down to read and nap. I didn’t feel one bit guilty because I buried my cat Daisy this morning, with help from my nephew Chris and brother Bruce. Since she passed on in January, my brother has kept her on ice for me so that we could wait until the ground would be more kind. For one moment of fright while digging, we cut through what we thought was a root, but turned out to be an electrical wiring.

Fortunately, a few years ago our home was separated from the farm electricity. Today, our home did NOT lose power, nor did any of the barns, and my brother did not get electrocuted. I am not about to forget this burial of my beloved Daisy. She whom my dad chose and then she chose to thank him for her freedom from farm life with all of her days. She is now in the earth my dad cared for all of his days.

This evening I keep in prayer all who have served in the military. I give thanks that nephews Bill and Ben and uncles Ralph, Jim M., and Robert all came home to live out their lives. Many cousins have served as well. May all have peace of mind, respect, and find joy in life. For some, it’s more difficult than others.

A cloud with the rainbow beneath it.

Today I learned a few things…

I can be ready on time! That would be when I think I’m to be somewhere at 10 a.m., but the event is actually going to be at 11 a.m.

It’s very hard to find the Russ’ restaurant in Grand Rapids on 28th street … when you use GPS to search for Bill Knapp’s instead.

So much for my old argument to live in Michigan: We don’t have earthquakes (at least of any consequence), but today’s 4.2 totally shook me!

I also learned how to repair a grumpy printer: Buy a new one (at Office Depot on West Main’s location – going out of business – 1/2 off printers) and set it on the old one! It has only been printing when I systematically do 4 separate things in a specific order between each and every print request. Not so when I set the new one on it – it printed just fine and dandy all evening.

Lastly, stopping at Goodwill for directions can be costly. At least it’s for a good cause … and they had much desired bathrooms.

I think I’m sick.
I just feel … ick.

My eyes are red and blurry and have sprung a leak.
And while taking antibiotics, my toots absolutely reek.

I’m so filled with snot,
I feel like my tummy’s full … but I haven’t eaten, so it’s not.

My ears and throat and eyes and face ache.
It seems there’s only decongestants and Tylenol in my wake.

Each time I swallow,
it feels as if cut glass follows.

My head feels so swollen, it must be the size of a hot air balloon,
And my eyes are so puffy, I probably look like a raccoon.

There’s ringing in my left ear and no hearing in my right.
If someone were to attack me now, they’d get quite a fright.

My voice is not much different than the sound of crunching gravel,
At least people can’t hear my usual babble.

My cat is so distraught by my whining and nose blowing,
She’s sleeping at the other end of the house under the pile of fabric for sewing.

The dog is so tired of hearing me sneeze and cough without any poise,
He’s pawing at the television remote to find a better noise.

I hope you don’t get what I’ve got.
You deserve better than days filled with snot.

My Daffodil has longevity. She was diagnosed one year and one month ago with kidney failure. Our vet gave her from 2 months to one year to live from that horrible moment in time. Today, she is one month past her potential expiration date. Amen!!!

It’s been a long year, a year of many disagreements about her meals, a year of surprises at losing her sister first, a year of joy in celebrating their lives, and a year of contemplating the value of life.

In that same vein, yesterday would have been my niece Erin’s 36th birthday. She made it to her 26th birthday. We did not know when we celebrated that joyous event in the home of our friend Lynn that six months, one week, and two days later she would die suddenly in a motor cycle accident. Life is precious and short.

Between the three of us, Lynn, Erin, and I, we all thought Lynn would be the first to go, because she has a disease that is known to shorten life. (Seriously, we talked about these things … and so very much more. I miss those talks, laughs, and hiccups that followed.) We thought I’d be next, because I’m a chunky monkey and the least active of the three of us. But no, it was Erin, our vivacious, intelligent, talented, and inspiring friend who left us first.

We never know the order of things. Sure, there’s the most likely order, but that doesn’t stop life from interfering. Too many friends and family are enduring cancer and other illnesses at this time. Remember to love your loved ones while we get to have them in our lives here on earth. I send my love to all of mine, those here on earth and those otherwise engaged.

It’s spring. Go forth and enjoy the Daffodils and Erins of the world!

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I am bummed. I’ve been traveling for work during Holy Week, so I’ve  missed most of the services. And now I have ear and sinus infections, so I missed the Good Friday service, and I’ll miss Easter Sunday’s service.

I can see why some people are C & E people (attending church only on Christmas and Easter Sundays). Those are two of the most celebratory services in the year. I enjoy church all year, but these two services are celebrations of joyous events: A Savior is born at Christmas and a Savior rises from death to grant us eternal life at Easter. There is definite reason to rejoice in these events.

However, I can celebrate in my heart no matter where I am. Since I’m not contagious, we’re still planning on having friends over for dinner. I’ll listen to a past sermon in the morning and get the Pysanky eggs out to decorate the table in the afternoon. May your Easter be delightful in every way.

My mom always said that the only wart my dad ever had was his wife, the worry wart. In reality, he had more than one wart of worry in his life. He had at least two, because I am also a worry wart.

Now, with Daffodil coming up on a year of living with kidney disease, I worry of losing her. I worry if she eats too little – will she quit eating? If she eats too much, is she getting sick again? If she plays too much, is she stressing out? If she sleeps too much, are her kidney’s failing again?

There are so many things to worry about … physical health, mental health, emotional health, losing your job, losing faith, losing loved ones, getting my car washed before it rusts into the snow from the salt, getting gifts completed before they are due to be gifted, getting enough fruits and veggies so I can avoid the doctor but also avoid an IBS adventure, keeping up with my laundry (a necessary evil), keeping up with grocery shopping (and getting all that’s on the list), and getting enough sleep so that I’m not any loopier than usual.

Yet the Bible says in Matthew 6:27 (NIV), “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

And then Matthew 6:34 (NIV) goes on to say, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Well then, it’s tomorrow’s responsibility to worry, and not mine. I just like to help it out from time to time.

It is the season of Lent. I have had a lot of activity at church in the last few days. Ash Wednesday services over lunch last week, Bible Study on Thursday night, District Conference yesterday, and both worship and Sunday School today.

Every activity was enjoyed because the leadership was inspiring, my fellow attendees were generous, and the content was moving and invaluable to my soul.

I know that not everyone has this experience with church or religion. I am fortunate to have positive experiences and guidance. I pray for all who don’t know the love there is to be found in a church with open arms, open hearts, and open minds. Granted, my denomination is not there yet, but I feel that my church home, for the most part, is there.

May you find that God is Love. God’s arms are open to you, his (or her) ear is ready to hear your story, and compassion is waiting patiently to be shared with you. Whether it be at my church home or another, may you find peace, sanctuary, and rest.

God is already in love with you, because he created you. God is waiting for you to accept that love. The arms are open, the door is unlocked and ajar, the candles are lit, and the table is set with abundance for you to walk in, rest your weary soul, and partake.

The Queen has decided this weekend that it is best to be fed while her royal servant holds the dish … preferably while her royal servant is squatting in the most uncomfortable position and the Queen stands prettily lapping up her delish dish. (As delish as her master chef can make it with that nasty kidney failure medicated cat food.)

This servant is glad to do whatever it takes so that this Queen reigns for as long as possible.