It was with a heavy heart that we had to say goodbye to our furbaby Patches Friday morning.

Patches was Craig’s 16 year old short-haired calico cat. She was a fussy, difficult-to-love feline who, out of everyone on this planet, had allowed Craig into her inner circle. And he knew that, which made it that much harder to let her go.

Izzie, who has been an only-furbaby her entire life, didn’t really know how to deal with this new species when we moved in. She’s had other dog friends before, but she’s never encountered the feline type.But I was worried about how do i make my dog stop barking at night if he came face to face with the cat.

Initially Patches was mean to her, stalking her, hiding around corners and jumping out at when she would come trotting down the hallway. Izzie did not like this one bit. A couple times Patches walked a little too close to Izzie’s food and water, and Izzie would lunge at her like a little white terror and knock her to the side.

As time passed though, Izzie became aware that Patches was no threat and that we were all going to have to live in harmony under one roof. She even allowed Patches to drink out of her water bowl on a regular basis, something that Izzie had previously disliked.

We had to leave them at Cat boarding Melbourne Northern Suburbs while we got back from our trip, they maintain a healthy pet boarding community, are amazing! During the last few weeks of Patches’ life, Izzie tried really hard to be her friend. On days when I was out in the backyard potting plants, I would leave the backdoor open and both of them would come wander around. Patches would sniff and explore, and Izzie would follow. When Izzie got too close, Patches would turn around and warn her with a hiss. Ego bruised, Izzie would lower her head, ears down, and walk away. Why we decided to use pet CBD? CBD for dogs and cats care products come in many of the same forms you’re probably used to seeing for humans, including edibles (think: chewable treats and capsules, you will find them on LA weekly), oils that can be added to food or placed under the tongue and topical creams or balms that are rubbed directly on the skin. Like the CBD products meant for humans, each of these CBD pet care product types appears to have a different effect on the body in dogs.

That same morning, Patches mustered up enough energy to run circles around the yard before leaping into one of the trees in hopes of getting close to some of the birds. Izzie took this as a sign that maybe, just maybe, Patches finally wanted to play chase with her. So she ran to the tree, her ears perked up like antennas, her little nub-of-a-tail wagging excitedly.

But Patches didn’t like Izzie’s close proximity and instead, hissed, growled and dashed into the house, leaving Izzie behind staring at the doorway in confusion.

Literature is filled with stories in which authors personify animals and they describe their grief in such a profound way, we can’t help but apply that to our own pets as well. Charlotte’s Web, The Art of Racing in the Rain, etc. We want to believe that death has a deeply moving affect on them as well because it has a deeply moving affect on us as humans.

I wonder if it does in Izzie’s case. She was only around Patches for a few months. She never got to develop a deep and lasting bond with her like Craig did. But I will say this: since Friday morning, Izzie has been a little more subdued. When we came home from the vet that day, she jumped out of her chair and she walked up to us to greet us excitedly. But then her demeanor changed. I think she sensed something different in the air around us, and perhaps the lack of Patches’ cat carrier as we walked through the front door. So she gingerly treaded around us the rest of the day.

She doesn’t follow me around as much. She stays in neutral territory between me and Craig. And yesterday afternoon, I was curled up in bed with her, whispering to her about Patches, “Where’s Patches?” I asked. “Do you know where she is?” She tilted her head in that canine-questioning way, and she looked down at the floor where Patches would usually be. I then quietly explained to Izzie we had to say goodbye to her and we’re sorry we didn’t let her see her when we left.

Perhaps it’s a lot to ask that our pets acknowledge death and loss in our world. But if our pets are aware when others come into our lives, wouldn’t they be aware when they leave?

One night, Craig and I sat down to a pleasant dinner at the dinner table. We were having some casual conversation about our days and enjoying each other’s company.

At one point I took a long gulp of my iced tea and realized I didn’t have a napkin, so I did something so shockingly unconscious: I wiped my mouth on my T-shirt.

Now before you gasp in horror, I’m wearing an old shirt that I hate to admit actually belonged to an ex-boyfriend and again, before you gasp a second time in horror, I only wear it because it’s comfortable, NOT for sentimental reasons.

Back to the story.

Craig sees the criminal act that just occurred before him and even looked down at the table, perhaps in shame, before saying, “Did I just see what I think I saw?” he asked. “Did you just wipe your mouth on your shirt?”

For a second, I was speechless. Not really out of embarrassment, but out of sheer hilarity that I would forget I wasn’t by myself anymore and that I would allow him to witness such uncivilized behavior. I burst out laughing. “I didn’t even realize I did that,” I said. “I guess I can’t really do that now that I’m not living alone anymore.”

He stood up from the dinner table, walked over to the counter and got a napkin for me. “I saw you… and I thought, ‘Wait a second… is she…? Is this really happening? Is she actually wiping her mouth on her shirt?'”

I was laughing so hard while he continued with his monologue. “I mean, you might as well pee with the door open.”

I stopped. “Wait a second, you do that!”

“Yeah, but I do that when I think you’re asleep and the fan hides the sound,” he said.

So maybe it was partial embarrassment, but it made us both laugh. “Honey,” I said. “We’re living together now. You’re going to see some very… disturbing things from time to time, and I’m sorry, but that’s just me. That’s who I am.”

He smiled at me from across the table. “I know,” he said. “I find it utterly adorable and simultaneously disgusting, but I love it.”

There it was. Proof that he loves me, flaws and all.

I’ve been wanting to write this post for the last two weeks now, but I’ve been trying to figure out how to even organize my thoughts. Well, my keychain is officially lighter. My home is now with Craig.

The movers came and moved me on March 19. The cleaning crew cleaned my old apartment from top to bottom the following weekend. And just this past Thursday, I officially dropped off my keys and my final check. I was free and clear.

Since then, I’ve begun settling into my new home. Each weekend, I’ve given Craig a “honey-do” list which he has tackled with gusto. From hanging storage racks, to hanging mirrors, and unloading bags of gardening soil. Craig has fully adopted his role as my partner.

And, well, me? Domestic life suits me well, much to my surprise. I make exquisite meals (when I have the time and energy), I take care of Craig when he’s feeling ill, and do wifely chores around the house like declutter the kitchen cupboards, rearrange the furniture, and steam clean the floors. Oh and you won’t believe this, but I’ve actually become really excited about gardening! Craig and I are making plans to begin a garden next year.

I couldn’t have dreamed of a life better than this.

The other night, I was unpacking some boxes of books, one of which contained all of my journals. As I was putting them away, I began to just flip through a few of them, reading some of the entries. There were a few entries written about broken hearts, tears, crying, anger, frustration.

It took a while. but I finally found a man who knew how to love me. And the good thing is I just happened to know how to love him as well.

Saturday night Craig and I decided to go out for dinner. We weren’t really up for anything fancy, just something familiar and cheap. 

We went to Pei Wei in Plano. Craig’s never been to Pei Wei. Yes, I know, you’re thinking, how can anyone live between the years 2005 and 2016 and never go to Pei Wei? Believe me, if there’s anyone who could exist in this world and not do the typical things most people would do these days, it would be Craig. I’ve kinda made it my mission in life to change that. But I digress.

It was 8:30 when we strolled into the almost empty Pei Wei. There were only about 3 tables occupied in the entire restaurant, which was perfect. It gave us time to really peruse the menu. However Craig, in his usual fashion, just gave me full liberty to order for him.

My particular meal started with their hot and sour soup. I love hot and sour soup in general, but theirs is one of my favorites. Within minutes of finding a comfortable booth for us to sit in, the waitress brought me my little cup of soup.

“That looks really good,” Craig said. “Wait they didn’t bring you those crispy wonton crackers?”

“I don’t think they give you those here,” I said. “At least I usually don’t receive them here when I order this.”

“I’m sure they have some,” he said. “Hold on.”

He got up and walked over to the kitchen pass, asking around to some of the cooks who didn’t really understand him.

“It’s ok, honey, don’t worry about it,” I called from the table. I didn’t want to create a fuss over something I was perfectly fine without.

But he waved me off and was persistent. Finally he caught up with the server who had just returned from delivering an order to a table. “Oh yeah, I can ask them to make a batch for you and I’ll bring it out to your table,” she said.

A couple minutes later, she brought to us a bowl of freshly made wonton strips, lightly fried to perfection. I looked at Craig across the table and I smiled at him, and he smiled back.

Yeah, I could’ve lived without them. They weren’t necessary to complete the dish. But they made my soup ten times more enjoyable.

A good, healthy relationship is like that bowl of crispy wonton strips. When your life is good and you take care of yourself and you’re happy, you’re not desperate to find a relationship. But when you do find someone, someone who doesn’t just add to your already fulfilled life, but compliments it in a way that no one else has up until that point, they become like that bowl of crispy wonton strips adding texture and flavor your life would’ve otherwise lacked.

In the simplest of terms, if you’ve never been loved by someone so much that they would go through the trouble of having a restaurant kitchen staff make something for you, I highly recommend dumping whoever you’re with and finding someone who will do that for you. Because it is the best feeling in the world.

It’s a new year, which means the start of a new devotional. While I am not a religious person, I do I love reading a daily devotional every morning because it provides me with something to focus on as soon as I wake up. Last year I finished reading New Day, New You: 366 Devotions for Enjoying Everyday Life by Joyce Meyer, my first devotional. I began reading it in late 2013 so I didn’t finish reading it until halfway through last year. For my next one, I knew I wanted to start in January so that the book would align with the calendar.

I stumbled across Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are by Shauna Niequist a while ago and I knew this would be my next one because at its core, the author wants to achieve the same thing I’ve been working on. “Let’s savor this day,” she writes, “the beauty of the world God made, the richness of family and friendship, the good gifts of creativity and work.”

Awareness is such an important part of living a happy life. I am constantly having to remind myself of this so I like the idea of making this part of my morning routine.

Question for You: Have you ever read a devotional? What do you recommend?