I Am One With The Mulch.

“I am one with the mulch.”

-Stealthy Vader while practicing his camouflage in various parts of the garden bed

(Humorously, he blended in so well that my dad did not even notice him when walking by and coming into the house!)

It's time to kill the idea that we can only grow and heal when we're uncomfortable. You heal every time you have a good conversation with someone. You heal every time you laugh. You heal every time something makes you smile genuinely. You heal every time you have fun creating something - anything. You heal every time you get so absorbed in something fun that you forget your struggles for a while. There is, in fact, lots of healing and growth to be found INSIDE your comfort zone.

Regal Vader posing in the walkway! 😍👑

This precious, spunky cat (Vader) was seriously ill about a month ago, and spent an entire week in the animal hospital fighting a high fever and gastrointestinal bacterial infection (cause still unknown), all while hardly eating or drinking on his own.

There was a pretty significant chance he could die from how ill he was, but he was determined to make a comeback!! I am so incredibly grateful (to say the least) that he’s still alive and making a great recovery and that he seems to have no residual bacterial infection (according to a follow-up appointment he had at the hospital today)! 🥺❤️

He has regained his enormous appetite and zest, and is once again strong and robust (plus, the fur is growing back into the shaven parts of his legs, which were absolutely pitiful to see when we got him back—they accentuated his weight loss and generally weak, frail body 😞).

It is amazing how much joy one small animal can bring to your life and how scary it is to almost lose them when everything seemed completely fine. 😥 I have learned even more to not take each day of my pets’ (and human loved ones’, of course!) lives for granted because each day is a beautiful gift. 🥰

🌸

Vader and pal Nigel lounging on the front stoop this afternoon!