January 2013 ~ Amanda's Books and More

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

A New Kitten

We have been so sad not having a kitten in the house, that we adopted another one yesterday. The lady had three kittens and was giving two of them away. We got the last one. We've named her Sheela and it means "musical." Amanda came up with the name all on her own and Samantha decided on the spelling of it after looking it up in my baby name book.

Our new kitten has had her vaccinations and de-worming medication, but she's not used to people. She's a bit wild, which is not what we were expecting. However, she's very cute and we all love her. Since she is a bit scared, we decided to make her a little home inside a box, a place to feel safe.

These first two photos of her were taken yesterday evening outside. She climbed onto our windowsill after climbing halfway up a tree. She seems to like it there, because she went back there today. The third photo is of her little make-shift home inside our house.

We are still hoping and praying that Tabitha will return home to us.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #24

Everyone at our home is sad. Tabitha, the kitten, has been missing since Tuesday 22 Jan. 2013. Every morning and evening we've gone on walks looking for her and calling her name. I also phoned the SPCA on the second day that she didn't come home, but she hasn't been picked up or brought in.

Today we put up posters with her picture and our contact info. at the SPCA, the vets, pet shops, and the main grocery stores with community boards. We also placed some flyers in mailboxes. We want to do more tomorrow, but we're tired and sad. So sad.

Amanda said that it feels like we're not a family anymore! She misses her friend. The kitten spent lots of time with Amanda, even visiting her at almost every bath time. It was really cute. Life without Tabitha is just not the same!

We've been praying too. We'd appreciate any prayers from our online community.

By the way, it's summer here in South Africa, so she's not freezing. In case some of you were wondering.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
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Follow any new blogs that you like.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #24

This has been a rough few days for at least three of us. I've been sick. Some of you might have seen my message on my Facebook page. Monday morning I went to see the doctor and she said I didn't look too good. It's nothing serious, only my stomach felt terrible for days, I also had a cold and fever. So, with some simple medication and antibiotics, I am on the mend.

Samantha's kitten, Tabitha, had her own ordeal. One night she didn't come home. Early the next morning our neighbor saw Samantha calling for it and showed her a kitten in their lemon tree. They passed Hubby a ladder and he brought a very unhappy kitten out of the tree. This photo was taken of her sleeping soon after being safely rescued.

This past week, Amanda has been sleeping in Jessica's room and sharing her big sister's double bed with her. She likes it there and doesn't want to go back to her bed. Even after this happened...

That is what happens when a four year-old climbs out of bed in the morning and a fourteen year-old has momentarily placed her hot curling iron on the carpet. Thankfully, I arrived immediately on the scene and quickly applied wet ice wrapped in paper towel, because Jessica didn't realize how bad it was. Amanda is doing well.

So, that has been our week. I'm sorry if you've left me a comment in the past few days and I haven't replied. I'll try my best.

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)

or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me

(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you're interested to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,

please send an email to:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on

Leave me a comment with a link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me. Please leave a comment so that I can follow back (as long as your blog is family friendly).
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like. Make sure you let them know that you’re following through this P.P.P.L. hop, tell them how you are following them and add your URL to the message, so they can follow back.
Grab the button below and add it on your post or on your side-bar, so that we can spread the word and get more people to the party.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

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Friday, January 18, 2013

Make My Saturday Sweet - Blog Hop #23

Here is my first attempt at taking part in the 5 Minute Friday writing prompt. I confess, I did edit and I did backtrack. I even went over by 3 minutes, but I was interrupted for a moment, so maybe that’s not too serious. I hope I’ll be able to follow all the rules next time. Today’s word is…

Cherished

My youngest daughter is cherished. She came at a time when I wasn’t ready to be pregnant a fourth time around. I had three kids who were growing up and finding their independence. I was starting to dream again about the things that interest me.

But she has been such a blessing to us. She came when we all needed her. She has brought us all closer together. She is a joy and a pleasure. She brightens our world and makes it a better place.

I would have missed this treasure if I had had my way. Abortion is not an option in our home, but not getting pregnant in the first place was what I had decided was right for me. Do we always know what’s best for us? Do we always make the right choices?

Daughter, I’m so glad that it wasn’t up to me. I’m so glad that I didn’t have as much control in this matter as I had hoped. I’m glad that I fell accidentally pregnant with you. The pregnancy was rough on me and the birth was tough. Your colic was terrible and my arms ached from holding you, but those days are now past. You are growing fast. The world is a place to discover. Making new friends is always a delight. You are cherished.

Amanda drew and painted this yesterday.
She's 4 years old.

Now on to the blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet (M.M.S.S.) blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you would like to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or on my
Saturday hop, then contact me at:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on

Leave me a comment with your link and I will follow back!

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) @ Amanda's Books and More.
Link up your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your most recent post or on your side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit at least the last two blogs before your link and leave a comment.
Follow any new blogs that you like.

Blog Button Code:

This is a blog hop!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Picture Perfect Party Linky #23

Amanda took swimming lessons before Christmas. She had eight 30-minute lessons over two weeks. When she started, she was scared to get her face wet, even though we have a pool and she loves the water.

The first year of her life, whenever I washed her hair, she would scream and scream until we were finished. I always tried to make bath time fun and would also hold a cloth above her eyes so that the water wouldn't run down, but she would still scream.

Look how much fun she's having in these photos! You'll see in the one picture, her teacher is introducing her to the idea of putting one eye under the water to look at the toy fish through her goggles. Now at home she puts her whole head under water and has begun to swim under water too.

These next few photos are of Samantha's kitten, Tabitha. The first couple of times she climbed this tree, she would cry for help. After a few minutes of meowing, she would get the courage to climb down. Look how cute she is!

Linking with:

Now on to my blog hop...

Here's your chance to link up your Wordless Wednesday (with or without words)

or any picture post at this Picture Perfect Party Linky (P.P.P.L.)! Come join me

(Tina @ Amanda's Books and More) on this fun and easy blog hop!

If you host your own blog hop(s), then feel free to link them on my Blog Hops page!

If you're interested to be a guest co-host

on my Wednesday hop or my Saturday hop,

please send an email to:

morleychristina[at]gmail[dot]com

I would love for you to follow me on Google Friend Connect

and also on