A Reason for Everything...

The progression of my relationship with Arie and her adoption into our family has been posted on Facebook on a regular basis all summer. She was born at the very start of the summer season, Memorial Weekend. But even before then, I knew I had a baby on the way. 

Arie~Blue's Daddy looks so much like my beloved Blue who passed away at 12 years old. It was a loss I sometimes still have a hard time coming to terms with. Blue was my best friend, my baby. and the best version of a cat and dog rolled into one BIG package! My babies grew up with him and he was a constant source of comfort through my hardships of divorce, single parenting, my husband deploying, and he even stayed in the hotel room with me when Tad has his accident and I was staying at the hospital with him for four months. It was difficult to say goodbye. 

We moved to Utah shortly after and adopted a kitten whom I had hoped would lift my heavy heart. Kibby is an amazing cat... he has quite the personality and let me tell you... he is one VERY handsome boy.

But he just isn't my cat. Anyone who knows Kibby and knows us... Kibby is Peyton's cat.

He is my sons best friend. Kibby "likes" the rest of us to his own tolerance but he loves Peyton unconditionally. As happy as I am for Peyton and as touching as it is to see Kibby be such a devoted loving friend to Peyton, I was very sad. I missed that bond I had with Blue. I missed him by my side during the day and at my head at night. 
After two years of living here I became online friends with a woman from the Tooele Mommies group and she has a cat she posts pictures of from time to time that looks so much like my Blue. After chatting one day, she told me this cat was going to be the Daddy to some kittens she was expecting. 

I was hopeful but tried to keep my hopes in check. When they were born there was only two that had the possibilities of looking like my Blue. Neither were male. I thought I knew for sure which one I wanted until Erin text me a picture of the kittens and I knew the minute I saw her little face at the bottom of her brothers and sisters she was my baby. 

I was determined to replace Blue and to find a cat that looks as close to him as I could find. I knew in my heart he was not replaceable but I just wanted to find any possible way I could to hold on to him and to have him back here with me. But as I sit here and watch Arie grow and change into her colors I know she will never be anything but Arie. 

And I am so incredibly thankful and blessed for that. She is such a ray of sunshine in our lives. Even Tad has said constantly since I have brought her home how cute she is, how tiny she is, and how cuddly she is. She is such a love bug! 

She cuddles with me every night and any time I pick her up she lets me cradle her like a baby and she starts purring. She has even begun to come into another room to look for me. 

But what makes her meant to be mine is her timing. She showed up when I needed her the most. I have a very lonely year plus some months a head of me and she is just the distraction I need to get me through those rough lonely nights. 

 It's almost like she was meant to be a reminder to me that everything happens for a reason...