Just wanted to share something that happened this weekend. As you know, I'm so NOT a pet person. But 18 months ago, Ryan brought home that little itty bitty precious kitten that he found wandering the streets of Eastern Idaho. Thus Liberty has been our special kitty for a very long time! We got home from Mexico a week ago and after being indoors for 9 days straight, Liberty took off. She returned after a couple nights, but it wasn't like her to spend her time outside in the freezing cold weather and go without food. She went missing again last week, and after 3 days of not being home, the kids started asking questions. We went to the pound a few times to see if they had her, we drove around the streets to our house looking to see if maybe she was squished by a car or something. She didn't show at all and Ryanna cried herself to sleep for 2 nights in a row. It was HIGHLY unlikely that she was coming home. Something told me that I should research how to tell your children about pet death/disappearances, etc. I was on my knees more times than I could count those few days she was missing. I would get over the loss, Liberty snuck her way into our hearts. The boys would miss her terribly, but they would get over it. Ryanna, however, would be absolutely crushed.
I said a prayer aloud on Saturday night, alone and cold, sitting in my car outside in the driveway. I sobbed and sobbed and pleaded with the Lord to send our kitty home. She's found her way home before, why not now? I was completely distraught and pleaded with Him to help Ryanna's grief be shortened. My heart was so broken and I was very saddened. Ryan went to bed after the kids did and I sat on the couch watching for her, just in case. I put some food outside on the doorstep, in the slight chance she was still alive, maybe this would entice her. I kept looking out the window in the 15 degree weather, then I'd go stand on the porch for a while and call her. (I taught her when she was a kitty to respond to a sound that we could make, "calling her" so to speak. It's a pssst pssst sound) No response.
My eyes were swollen, I was tired and achy. My heart was broken and I was just about to go to bed. I had a fleeting thought to go check the doorstep again, and I brushed it off. I had the thought once more and checked the back doorstep. Sure enough, she was sitting there waiting to be let into the house. She was dirty and dishevled, her collar was gone and she couldn't meow because she was so weak. I brought her in, prayed and cried out of gratitude and was so thankful she was home. I woke up the kids and we had such a nice reunion.
It was just so out of character for her to be gone so far and I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father could protect and look out of our special kitty! Such a small thing, but since we love and adore this special part of our family, it's important to Him also.
My testimony grew, we are so precious to our Father in Heaven. And I had no idea I loved an animal that much. I'm so thankful!
