Thankful Thursday

Today, I am starting a new weekday meme - Thankful Thursday. I know the cool thing right now is Throw Back Thursday, but I think this is more important. I hope that we can get Thankful Thursday to be just as big as #TBT, but in my opinion Thankful Thursday will do more for us as a people than #TBT.

My very first Thankful Thursday is to be thankful for my family. I am an only child, to parents who didn't want their children to out number them (at least that's what they always told me!). But, my mom is from a very large family - she is one of eight. My father was an only child as well and I only knew his mother. But, my mother's family? Well, that's a totally different story!

My family became my mom's family. My grandfather was one of seven, my grandmother has a half-brother in England with a family of two. All of my aunts and uncles are married, then there are the cousins...18 first cousins (19 grandchildren) and 10 great-grandchildren (and counting!). Then my uncle in England has two daughters, who have five children between them. And that big family my grandfather has? As many of us as possible would get together at least once a year at Christmas, so we got to know all those other great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, and second cousins!

Then, I went to college and met my hubby - well, I didn't know I would marry him at the time! But, I did meet the boy I would marry. So, I now have an even larger family with in-laws as well. Of course, I prefer hubby to all of them. ;-) My husband and I have been together 18 years (4 years dating, 2 years engaged, 12 years married), so he's become a very close member of my family.

Today, on the very first Thankful Thursday on the Never Trade blog I am thankful for my family. They made me who I am today and for every member of my family I appreciate what they have done for me.

Who and/or what are you thankful for today?


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Some positiveness

Lately I've been a little down on the ole blog.  Sorry!  It wasn't my intent.  So, in honor of trying to get things back on the positive side, kitty pictures!  Cats have taken over the internet and I for one approve.  Here are my cuties and a little personality description because cats DO have personalities!

Higgenbaffum

Higgy, Higs, Baffum, H-bomb, Tabby, Tabs, Higgy the Baffum

Higgy was the first kitty I adopted in 1998.  There was an ad in the newspaper offering free kittens.  My mom and I headed over and the woman brought out a basket with three kittens in it, two black and white kittens and a tabby.  I'm partial to black kitties and figured they would be making the trip home with me.  And then I looked at the box I brought with me to take home said kittens.  There was a tabby in it!  And sucker that I am, I did not have the heart to take him out.  He came home that day.

Personal

Insane

Obsessive Compulsive (seriously, the vet diagnosed him with this...twice!)

Hyper

CuriousPeron

Cunning

Creative

Empathetic

Evil Genius (hubby's description)

Pooka

Pookabear, Pooks, Bear Cub, Tail, Bear, Fluffybutt

Pooka is Higgy's brother.  He was one of the little black kittens in the basket.  Once I realized the tabby was coming home, I had to make a decision between the two black kitties since I was only allowed two.  I put my hand into the basket to see if one would come over.  One did.  I picked him up and he immediately purred.  I was done.  He came home in my little box.  Such a sucker for a purring kitty...

Personality

Sweet

Friendly

Laid back

Soft (not a personality trait, but hubby thinks so)

Occassional moments of brilliance

Single-minded

Loving

Accepting

Elizabeth

Lizzie, A-Lizza-a-kitten, Kitten, Lizzybeth, Little One, Miss Elizabeth, Missy, Missy May, Squeakers, Little Friend, Little Miss, Squawker

Elizabeth is a PetSmart adoption kitten.  Hubby and I were volunteering at PetSmart by cleaning the kitty cages and playing with them when we met Elizabeth.  She was a skinny little thing who was very clingy.  She would curl herself into a little ball and settle onto my lap.  She would lie there and purr and purr and purr.  We fell in love with her.  After about a month we decided this little cutie needed to come home with us and we adopted her in 2006.  When she was weighed by the vet, she was 6 pounds!  She has since gained more weight, but I still remember her being this pathetic little thing we brought home.

Personality

Sweet

Insane

Friendly

Cuddly

Silly

Intellectually challenged

These furballs are 100% members of our little family.  I can't imagine life without them.  What about you?  Do you have furfriends?  Do they have their own personalities?