Good-Bye's and Hello's

Today was a day of "Good-Bye's" and "Hello's".....

We met Char, the boys and her parents at Denny's today, as they were on their way to AZ. They were hoping to make Redding tonight--as travel caravanning with a U-Haul is not always the fastest. Al & Kimberlee are already in AZ (For those of you who don't remember, or know...Al was the first pastor we had here in OR and Char & Al were our first friends....lifelong friends)....and Char & the boys are on their way to meet them. Mom & Dad are helping the traveling, and will fly home once things are settled.

We had a nice visit and a good breakfast, and we said good-bye--knowing it won't be forever, as even after they moved away from Sweet Home to take another call in Portland, we still managed visits and even Christmas together in Washington at Char's folks. We just have to drive farther now....

After breakfast...we headed to Jenifer's ( a very good friend of Tracey's) to check out (OK--BRING HOME) a kitten. Bill originally said...."Why don't we wait"--but these kittens were ready, coming from a nice family, and it seemed perfect timing with Ashley's disappearance....so Bill said "OK--get a darn cat"---now you all know Bill...has to be tough on the exterior....but when we got there....he said "OK...pick two"!! It was good, because if allowed, I'd have taken all four...One looked SO much like Ashley as a kitten it was tough to leave her there, but knew it was impossible, since she was staying with her Mama and her family, and not being adopted out. It took us 45 minutes, and the kittens made the choice for us, but playing with each other....there was no way we could break them up. Jenifer's kids had named the one "Zorro"--and the other "Bandit"....after watching them tussle, play & roll...it seems so fitting, we're hoping to keep those names, as the kids picked names that really fit the kittens!! Kristin is not home yet, and has NO clue there are kittens home. She spent the night with "Grandma" Alice, and they had a "girl" day today. She will be SO excited...since Ashley was technically "her" cat. Secretly I am still praying for Ashley to come home...as adding two more to our zoo would do it!!

Once the kittens get acclimated to us, the house, and the animals, I will get some pictures online...every zoo needs a picture book!!

Thanks Jenifer & family for easing some of pain of losing Ashley....we appreciate it!