"There is always, always, always something to be thankful for!"

I usually have my camera with me all the time and I take pictures just about every single day!

However! Sunday I went all day without taking one single picture.

We had a good day - went to church, came home and worked on our projects. Mine was the sewing room where I cleaned out a cedar chest and found all sorts of sweet things from the past. Lots of stuffed animals which I washed and put in a bag for the quads. I found Amber's very favorite 'Puffa Lumps!' Her cousin, James, gave it to her on her third birthday. It still looks brand new. While I sorted and reorganized Louis Dean was working on the back patio. He had torn it up to put in the sewer line to the camper so now he's putting it all back - or restoring it to its proper form - as he puts it! He was in his work clothes and so was I when we got a message from Amber.

Pic from Labor Day 2012

When she came home Sunday afternoon she found Snowball lying in her little bed - still as stone.

She must have passed away that morning.

She was a beloved cat! She loved their new home in Dallas and had a special place on the landing going upstairs. The babies would stop and pet her on their way up to their nurseries.

Amber was 12 years old when she got her. Snowball went with Amber to college and every move that she made - except for the year she spent in Scotland. Snowball nearly died that year but we nursed her back to health and she continued to live for four more years! She was with Amber as she grew up, married and had children. We went over as soon as we heard about her passing away. July is buried in a special place in our back yard and Amber wanted Snowball to be beside her.

The babies had just finished dinner when we arrived so I DID take ONE pic - of Harrison!!

We brought Snowball home. Then several hours later we went BACK over there because Amber was so very sick. I think Snowball passing was one thing too many and she ended up with a terrible migraine headache. Thankfully Mike took her to the ER just as soon as we got back over there to spend the night and stay with the babies. I guess I was too worried about Amber to even think about pictures today. She slept while we did breakfast for the quads. Louis Dean had to go back home to let Lucy out of her kennel - we had left in a mad rush! Fortunately she had her husband home today so she wasn't alone with the quads but I didn't want to leave until I had seen my daughter with my own eyes. We were asleep when they got home from the ER early this morning. Praise God she was much better by afternoon and I left with a peaceful heart knowing she was going to be okay. Sometimes life is just hard!!!

We came home and I took a nap.......

Its' been a beautiful and slightly chilly day here in Texas!

Louis Dean has been hard at work and I joined him after I woke up.

It's amazing how much you can get done in a short amount of time.

LD cleaned out the back pond and got it running again.

I pulled weeds and dead grass, pruned up some monkey grass and planted 36 little bedding plants - Dianthus! Then we built a fire and poured our tea - and a glass of wine later - and hung out this evening in our gazebo - just like old times!

It was so nice I brought my laptop out here to do my journal.

This day is done and as sad as I am at losing Snowball and as concerned as I was - and still am - about Amber - I am grateful for all the happy times and good memories I have remembered today.

Amber has a plaque in her foyer that was a gift from a good friend.

It says.......

"There is always, always , always, something to be grateful for."

That is so true!