Jewel Kitty, March 1998- 3/16/2018

The day has arrived. We've all known this day would come. We had prayed that Jewel would go peacefully in her sleep. But proving again and again, that she loved her life, she wouldn't give in to what her body was saying. And today, she was in pain. So we made the hard decision to let her go peacefully.

When we moved from South Carolina to MN in 1998, life was hard. We missed our friends and this state was nothing like South Carolina. And as I reflect on the past 20 years, one thing is clear, Jewel was sent to us right when we needed her. God knew we needed a constant companion. We didn't even know that we needed her. And None of us thought she'd live 20 years. But she has been the best pet we could have ever dreamed of. She never did any of those odd yet funny cat behaviors. She left moms plants alone, she didn't climb curtains or scratch everything in site. When we were kids, Jewel followed us around outdoors, she let us dress her in baby clothes and bonnets. Somewhere there is a photograph of Jewel in a dress and bonnet strapped into a stroller, that was before the digital age. She loved to snuggle. She was a master mouse hunter and for most of her life she refused to eat cat food. She lived on mice she found, chicken, beef and random left overs. She loved gravy. She survived an accident that dislocated her hip but she healed and was stronger than before. We aren't sure what happened, but she had gotten out one night and must've encountered a neighboring cow or something. She's been here through all of our Minnesota memories. It's amazing that I'm 30 and just now having to say goodbye to our childhood pet.

She had the best raccoon tail and the cutest chubbiest face. Her stripes were gorgeous. I'm going to miss her terribly. We all will. Maybe it's for our own comfort while we are still on earth missing them, but thinking of Jewel with a young and strong body running with all of my other pets on golden roads, sounds wonderful. I'll love you always, sweet Jewel. You changed our lives and gave us something special. And I didn't know it as a child, but you were one of the many signs God gave me, to remind me I am seen, I am loved and my feelings matter. God created you for our family. And we are so very grateful. Only He could've written this beautiful pet owning story.

2005

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8