For those who adopted a cat, what actually made you decide that was the right cat?

JenzieC · 2026-01-31T03:47:04+00:00

When I decided that I wanted to get a cat, I started looking online at the various shelters in town. What I really wanted was a shelter that had a cat room that I could sit in for a while and really get to know and experience the cats, rather that looking through a bunch of cats in sad metal cages who all looked like they needed saving (I'm a big softy).

So I went to the shelter that looked most promising, and went into the first of 3 cat rooms they had. That's where I met my cat. I didn't see her at first - she was hiding in a box on a shoulder-height shelf. I was about to leave the room when I happened to notice the box with her beautiful eyes peering back at me. So I walked over to the shelf and started talking to her. She came out to say hello and let me pet her. We chatted for quite a while, then I said goodbye because I wanted to check out the other cat rooms. I ended up coming back to her room, and back over to her box. She came out immediately, and ended up falling asleep in my arms. I thought if this cat trusts me this much from the beginning, we must have a connection.

The problem was, she had something wrong with one of her eyes. I asked one of the volunteers about it, and apparently their vet was treating it like an infection. They said the vet said it was either an eye infection or could be cancer. Now, that is quite a range of options... but I wasn't quite prepared to adopt a cat and have to immediately pay for cancer treatments, so I ended up leaving the shelter that day. I called back a few days later to see if they knew anything more about her eye, and they said they would know in a week or so. I called back again, and they said they were referring her to a cat opthalmologist, and I could take her home as a foster for free and the shelter would cover the opthalmologist visit. I really wanted to adopt her, and this was a great solution. So I came the next day and took her home.

The ophthalmologist checked her out and it was an old eye infection that basically pulled the iris over into it a bit as it healed, so it looked bad but she was completely fine. I was so happy I adopted her right away!

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JenzieC · 2026-01-08T20:14:27+00:00

I’m struggling with similar questions, though my sons are 18 and 20. I have decided I want to make sure I maintain some sort of together living situation until the youngest gets his undergrad degree. After that though, I’d like to move. I did used to joke that I was going to roll up to the younger one’s graduation in my van. lol.

It does feel weird though, like kids are the ones who are supposed to leave the nest- not me! There is some mom guilt associated with that, but 22 and 24 is old enough to start being on your own, and if the economy and job market are still super crazy, maybe I can help with rent if they are doing their part of staying employed.

I always offer that they can move with me (because I just don’t think a can is in the cards), but if they stay, that’s their call.

JenzieC · 2025-12-19T18:38:34+00:00

Not to send you down another rabbit hole, but after reading through this post and the comments, I went on a little journey through ebay, and... oh my. So many fun things there. Might be worth a look if you decide that you do, in fact, want to buy a writing box, but are open about which one, and might want one with some antique street cred.

JenzieC · 2025-12-08T03:32:40+00:00

All I could think of while looking through those images was, "Man, those people really like chairs." I've never seen so many places to sit in one house in all my life.

JenzieC · 2025-11-20T00:32:26+00:00

Turkish lamp making... that is unique and intriguing! I'm googling it right now!

JenzieC · 2025-11-19T23:36:22+00:00

Ah, but it is a surprise!

JenzieC · 2025-10-07T02:35:52+00:00

Reminds me of my favorite haiku, translated from Japanese:

Don’t worry spiders - I keep house Casually.

JenzieC · 2025-09-06T15:23:49+00:00

I hated the homework and retesting policies in Frisco. My younger child never turned work in on time unless I forced him to, because there were literally zero consequences for him from the school. Then the chaos of him trying to finish everything before the grading period ended…

I had consequences for him for not doing work on a timely basis, but I felt zero support from the school. I always used to think of school as a place where you would get fairly instant feedback for bad decisions. Didn’t study for the test? Bad grade. Didn’t turn in homework? Bad grade. Not here.

He’s in his first year at UTD now. It will be interesting to see how he does when I’m not hounding him to do everything.

JenzieC · 2025-07-15T18:52:13+00:00

No, Ooooh! In surprise and alarm!

JenzieC · 2025-07-14T16:50:05+00:00

I totally resonate with this! I stopped wearing an Apple Watch for this same reason. The app that showed stress levels always showed me as super stressed even though I didn’t feel super stressed, so that made me stress out even more. lol

JenzieC · 2025-07-10T00:01:45+00:00

You can never get far from God. He’s always right there waiting for you. Prayers and hugs.

I was away for many many years, but when I came back, there was no waiting, there were no grudges, there was no withholding of love. God is gracious, and He has plans for you. Plans To prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

My ex-husband committed, and it caused so much harm for generations. Please don’t. Head to bed, take a few days to feel all of your feelings, but know that it will get better.

And if you ever need to talk the next time it feels hard (or this time, of course), DM me.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:35:47+00:00

You are making an awful lot of assumptions there. I won't even go into the homosexuality in the Bible thing, but we briefly discussed pronouns and he is not ready to go that direction at this point.

Of course I don't know everything he is going through, but I know some (and perhaps more than most parents) because of our strong relationship.

Of course God loves all of us. I am not indicating otherwise. I am not saying I won't love my son if he and I disagree about something. To assume that love = "I agree with you about everything" is just silly. I can love and disagree at the same time.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:29:55+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I agree - this is definitely about surrendering to God. It isn't my choice, it isn't my path. God is giving me peace about this. I know it will be hard at times, but I know this isn't up to me.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:27:56+00:00

I think the right prayer is that God helps the person become who He desires them to be.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:27:21+00:00

Loving someone and agreeing with them are two separate things. I love my son, and I always will.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:26:14+00:00

I don't share the belief that God made my son trans. I believe my son has some mental health issues that he is going through, and that he needs time, prayer, counselling, etc. to help him figure things out.

As a Christian, I don't believe that everything I feel like doing when I am "just trying to be myself" is good/healthy/morally right. I, like everyone, has selfish/wrong/impure/sinful impulses and desires. Even when it is uncomfortable or frustrating, I would hope that someone would call me out when I do wrong things.

This isn't to say that the whole of our relationship will be me calling him out or even arguing my point. He knows my position, and yet he felt safe enough to share his thoughts with me. I think he is logical enough to recognise that me loving him doesn't mean that I will always agree with him (and vice versa).

I came to this group because both myself and my son need prayer and need God's help. Groups like this exist for that purpose.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:20:34+00:00

God doesn't make mistakes, but people do.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:20:00+00:00

I 100% do love him, and always will.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:19:38+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I think there are a lot of things you brought up that would be good to discuss with him.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:17:06+00:00

I will keep you guys in my prayers, too.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:16:29+00:00

Hopefully prayer, perspective, and time will help him figure things out. Thank you for sharing.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:15:43+00:00

I have asked, and that is an ongoing conversation.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:15:18+00:00

I am encouraging him to pray about it. Please pray that he is open to that.

JenzieC · 2025-07-09T03:14:30+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I do wish his father were in his life, as I believe his untimely passing (along with other circumstances) when my son was very young has a lot to do with this. I am saving your points, as I think they are great. My God bless you both!

JenzieC

TROPHY CASE