{"id":347,"date":"2018-11-25T22:25:52","date_gmt":"2018-11-26T04:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/?p=347"},"modified":"2018-11-25T22:25:52","modified_gmt":"2018-11-26T04:25:52","slug":"confessions-of-a-crazy-cat-lady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/2018\/11\/25\/confessions-of-a-crazy-cat-lady\/","title":{"rendered":"Confessions of a Crazy Cat Lady"},"content":{"rendered":"<table id=\"templateContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\">\n<table id=\"templateHeader\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"headerContainer\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/31aa8d2d31b3e18299f120386\/images\/3231dd89-a05b-4420-a130-1ea4a47d0f2a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\" width=\"528\">November 18, 2018<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\">\n<table id=\"templateBody\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"bodyContainer\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\">\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h1>Confessions of a crazy cat lady<\/h1>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnTextBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/31aa8d2d31b3e18299f120386\/_compresseds\/3fd82448-5623-46fd-97b3-664fd97886a2.jpg\" width=\"350\" height=\"262\" data-file-id=\"3534189\" \/><br \/>\nAs I&#8217;ve mentioned before, our cat had 5 kittens last month. \u00a0I LOVE those kittens. \u00a0I go out on the porch to pet them and play with them whenever I can, I take pictures of them, and I&#8217;m pretty sure no one has ever come on my porch without me imploring them to look at them and see how cute they are. \u00a0I&#8217;d be lying if I said I haven&#8217;t thought about keeping all 5 of them (Don&#8217;t worry, I&#8217;m only keeping one. \u00a0The rest have loving homes waiting for them). \u00a0I&#8217;ve googled a lot about how to care for them, and I always do what I can to make sure they are healthy and safe. \u00a0The other thing I do is I worry about them. \u00a0A lot. \u00a0However, Rambo, their mama cat (Yes, it&#8217;s a girl cat named Rambo&#8230; we thought she was a boy), is a very good mama. \u00a0She always knows what she is doing in taking care of them. \u00a0In fact, I&#8217;ve been amazed through watching this process at how God has designed animals to know just what to do in caring for their young. \u00a0I don&#8217;t need to worry so much about the kittens. \u00a0Their mom is looking out for them.<\/p>\n<p>I wish I could say the only thing I obsessively worry about is my cats. \u00a0However, I am constantly fighting the sin of worry in other areas of my life. \u00a0And yes, worry is a sin- not just a personality tendency or flaw. \u00a0Jesus commands us not to worry, so worry is disobedience and also demonstrates a lack of trust in Him. \u00a0And the thing is, I can trust Him because He is a good Father. \u00a0In fact, He is a perfect Father. \u00a0He always knows what is best for us. \u00a0A verse I have been dwelling on a lot lately is Psalm 84:11b &#8220;No good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.&#8221; \u00a0God is not withholding good things from me! \u00a0Sometimes it sure feels like He is. \u00a0There are things in my life I desperately want and do not have. \u00a0But I know that either they are not good for me, or I will get them someday, either now or in eternity. \u00a0I think a lot of times we fall into sin because we believe that God is holding out on us- we believe we need this thing to be happy, and God is not giving it to us, so we pursue it in other ways. \u00a0But I want to choose to believe God. \u00a0I desperately want what is best for my own children, and would never withhold something good from them. \u00a0Why would I doubt that God wants what&#8217;s best for me, His child?<\/p>\n<p>So, that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve been thinking about lately. \u00a0The next verse is Psalm 84:12, &#8220;Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.&#8221; \u00a0I am choosing to trust in my Almighty God who loves me. \u00a0You may not have kittens around to remind you of this truth, but my prayer is that you will do the same.<\/p>\n<p>Till all know,<br \/>\nMatt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\">\n<table id=\"templateColumns\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"columnsContainer\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" width=\"50%\">\n<table class=\"templateColumn\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"leftColumnContainer\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/31aa8d2d31b3e18299f120386\/images\/a6567d3e-2e78-40e9-81af-f7221dd2a0ce.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\" width=\"228\">My kids, who God loves even more than I do.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"columnsContainer\" align=\"left\" valign=\"top\" width=\"50%\">\n<table class=\"templateColumn\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"rightColumnContainer\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageCardBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageCardBottomContent\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageCardBottomImageContent\" align=\"center\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/31aa8d2d31b3e18299f120386\/_compresseds\/fa1ad723-3019-4ca9-b880-bfe957fcf859.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\" width=\"228\">Ty playing Settlers with his friends. \u00a0How did he get so grown up?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"center\" valign=\"top\">\n<table id=\"templateFooter\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"footerContainer\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentColumn\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\">Please Pray:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; That God will provide another family for us to partner with<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; That God will guide our team in future decisions<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; That we can trust God<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; That we can serve God well in each day He gives us<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnBoxedTextContentColumn\">\n<table class=\"mcnTextContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnTextContent\" valign=\"top\">Praise God:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; God continues to provide for us<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Matt&#8217;s construction\/ maintenance role is going fine<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Matt continues to enjoy teaching Bible to junior highers<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; We have much to be thankful for<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnImageBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnImageBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageBlockInner\" valign=\"top\">\n<table class=\"mcnImageContentContainer\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnImageContent\" valign=\"top\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mcnImage\" src=\"https:\/\/gallery.mailchimp.com\/31aa8d2d31b3e18299f120386\/images\/8920a1aa-4d7c-42d7-a885-268af3653866.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"center\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table class=\"mcnDividerBlock\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody class=\"mcnDividerBlockOuter\">\n<tr>\n<td class=\"mcnDividerBlockInner\">\n<table class=\"mcnDividerContent\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>November 18, 2018 Confessions of a crazy cat lady As I&#8217;ve mentioned before, our cat had 5 kittens last month. \u00a0I LOVE those kittens. \u00a0I go out on the porch to pet them and play with them whenever I can, I take pictures of them, and I&#8217;m pretty sure no one has ever come on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1074,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[448],"class_list":{"0":"post-347","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"tag-ethnos360","8":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1074"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=347"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ethnos360.org\/matt-long\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}