Counting my blessings

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Whilst the news on Bessie (who by the way now is Charlie - turns out Bessie is a boy!) is not the best (he is back in intensive veterinary care in a very serious condition), I still want to use this day counting my endless blessings from throughout this year. Last Christmas I had just taken on looking after Tiny and Ninja (and with some reluctance - I guess I knew where it would be headed from there!!) and I had no idea this Christmas would be more than 35 cats later. But what a year it's been - what beautiful souls have come my way. What gifts. What a development journey they have all offered me (inner and outer). Each cat has represented a new challenge and I can honestly say each cat individually has taught me new lessons and a whole lot about diseases and treatment. And I felt quite apprehensive when I took on this beauty - the irresistible Ellie. You might have watched the little video (a few posts ago) from the day I found her abandoned by kitty mom and in a state of hypothermia (only 10 days old). (These images are from a few days ago when she jumped a tree for the first time and I happened to have my camera at the ready).




How do you become a kitty mom?? Providing the baby kitten with a constantly balanced body temperature, making sure it does its toilet, keeping it engaged and basically knowing its survival depends on you. Well, Ellie is one among many of my lovely rescues this year and she has turned out just so perfectly perfect - I'm floored each day by her innoncent purity. It's very grounding.


And I feel so humbled by each little soul I've had the privilege of saving. They have saved me right back, they truly have. They call out every little bit of Godly humanity and compassion - is there a better place to be located in oneself? Not for me. 

And to you my lovely dear friends...
Thank you for all the loving sentiments you have expressed - and your beautiful encouraging words. And to those of you who have purchased cards - you all keep me going. And to my lovely blogging friend who generously donated towards these little lives - I know where your heart is!

Bless you splendid spirits! - and enjoy your holidays. 
Will you remember to keep Charlie in your thoughts - thank you.

xo
Joan
- and a little haven full of grateful kitties.
Update: Sadly we said goodbye to Charlie Christmas morning. There will be a tribute to Charlie in my next post.

Comments

Deb said…
I have been praying for Charlie for two days. Bless you for staying by his side. Have a beautiful Christmas and thank you for lifting my spirits with all that you do for the homeless cats. Hugs to all, Deb=^..^=x4
Grace said…
What a wonderful and inspiring trek you are on. God Bless.
Jules said…
A very beautiful animal! It takes a big heart to rescue animals and yours is truly BIG!
Sandra said…
Wishing you the best Christmas holidays ever and I hope with all my heart that Charlie makes a speedy recovery. Such a touching post... we do learn from the animals that we rescue, don't we? The courage, the will to live, the innocence, true love.
Dearest Joan,

May above all this Christmas shed the Light of New Life on Charlie and all other 'Charlies' that are still out there in this world...
Thank you for all the love and for showing us these precious photos with happy & healthy fur babies. It is such a joy to watch them venture out and becoming playful without any worries. Their fur shines, their eyes sparkle and yes, they each leave a soft, velvety foot print in our hearts...
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Love to you dearest animal friend,

Mariette
I am also keeping Charlie in my prayers that he continues to find the strength to continue!

Your tireless work and compassion continue to inspire me--Never doubt for a moment that you aren't making a difference, just looking at the pictures of Ellie and others show that you really are!

Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas Joan!!★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ | 田田 |門| ˚
sunshine said…
May the best of this Holiday Season reflects on every day and every act of your life. You are a wonderful person and I am very blessed to be able to call you my friend.

Sending many blessings for a Happy Christmas for you, your husband and those wonderful kittens, always keeping you all in my prayers!
thank you for all that you do for the precious little ones!

Those photos are amazing!

Sending purrs and prayers to Charlie....(((((hugs)))) and Merry Christmas to you!
Barbara said…
I'm so sorry to hear about Charlie. Sending wishes for many Christmas blessings to you, Joan. Thank you for your sweet heart!
Marg said…
Merry Christmas Joan. I am so sorry that Charlie had to leave us. The only good news is that he knew some love before he left. Thank heavens you found him when you did and you tried as hard as you could to save him. It just wasn't meant to be. But we sure do thank you for giving it the almighty try. Sending lots of hugs to ya. I know it is a sad time for you. Take care.
ANGEL ABBYGRACE said…
Dear Joan
YOu do have so many wonderful blessings. When you look into those sweet eyes of all of those furry souls you see the blessing multiplied. I am so deeply sadden to know that Charlie did not make it, but in the end he knew he was cared for and that he had someone on his side.
Merry Christmas
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Reena said…
I am so sorry Charlie had to leave us .. but his pain is no more! At least you were able to help ease his passing. so sad about this and know you are too... take care!
Cornelia said…
I become sick each time I hear about the atrocities and cruelties towards animals that happen so very sadly this minute at the hands of humans during winter holidays and every single day of the year. These need to be stopped immediately. If cruelty towards living souls is not stopped and prevented how can there be any talk of entering any new 'age og the aquarius'? Without a stop and prevention of atrocities and cruelties we might enter the darkest age of humanity.

We humans have so much to learn and we have so much to learn from out great mother earth from her planlife and faunalife. She is the space for all - not as is today the space for 'I', 'me, me, me' and 'only us, the human race'. I have seen from you, learned and experienced aa well that to be and communicate with an animal offers sacred communion and sacred Godly union.

Charlie was found by you and passed away being loved with compassion having found security and protection for the first time in his short life. Charlie's short new life is meaningful and significant as are the many 'God's Little People' who are now fully enjoying what is natural for them: playfulness, innocence and unconditional love. Each of your experiences, shared freely in your posts full of miracles, offer a sanctuary of a special kind. I am so fortunate to be one of many who sees and experiences how you do whatever you can according to what needs to be done, sometimes against some feelings and even at great cost to yourself, emotionally and financially and in many other ways as well. It is very enhancing and feel myself very fortunate again to see and experience how you bring together the many ways and knowings and knowledge about "God's Little People" and how you combine them within the special serum of kindness and compassion healing, warming and melting many living hearts. Having found your way to be and do makes a great difference in the world much greater that my words can describe as it is significant and meaningful in many important matters one of them concerns the future of humanity. Respectfull, correct, compassionate and meaningful attitudes and behaviour towards all living on this sacred planet we share with our most loyal companions at all times - animallife and plantlife - need to be grown in special ways. Your gentleness, acute sensitivity, motherly protection and safety, your wonderful passion, love and care for "God's Little People" are so very important. Your "little heaven" is a sacred home, the special sanctuary for humanity to become a fitting part of a needful continuance of all life on Sacred Planet Earth.
God bless you and your little ones, Joan.. and may you have many more blessed encounters with those God's little people you love so much..
So sorry to hear about poor Bessie/Charlie, but at least he died knowing and feeling he was loved and cared for...( but I do know this is very hard for you as it would be for me !) .
A big hug my friend.
XOXO
Anna E said…
Thank YOU for all the wonderful photos, stories, rescues and sentiments. It has truly touched my heart and soul, and whenever I see a cat it connects me directly to your blog and reminds me of how things are meant to be. Blessings and hugs from Anna E <3

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