After suffering the loss of Cruella seven weeks ago, I was heartbroken, and my life felt empty. Adopting another dog was the furthest thing from my mind – until I realized that Molly was grieving perhaps more than I was. While I was at work, she was spending her hours all alone. She needed a companion.

After making a couple of unsuccessful trips to the shelters here in town, I found Roxy through PetFinder.com. I adopted her from a wonderful woman named Libby who was in the process of moving and wouldn’t be able to take Roxy with her. It worked out well for all involved. Roxy has a wonderful home with me. Molly has a new sister to play with. I have a new baby to love. And Libby can rest assured that Roxy is in good hands!

I am still incredibly sad that Cruella is no longer here with us, but it gets easier with each passing day. Whereas my thoughts of her were previously focused almost entirely on her final moments, I have begun to remember her as the amazing dog that she was – so loving and loyal until the very end.

I will never stop loving Cruella, but I am so happy to have Molly and Roxy in my life. I pray that they will be with me for many years to come.

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t leave my life to chance. So, in true Tish fashion, I made a choice to find another job right away. And find another job I did. Despite a struggling economy, I had a great offer from a rapidly growing professional employer organization within two weeks. I gave a two week notice to my old employer and did my best to finish up as much work as I could before leaving.

A week after turning in my notice, I lost my sweet Cruella. It was by far the most traumatizing event I have experienced. God had entrusted me with her care for nearly eight years, and I never took that responsibility lightly. The last three years of her life had been tough – full of surgeries, medications, and numerous hospital stays. But I did all I could to keep her healthy and happy. And she did all she could to be there for her loving mommy. She was the greatest blessing I have ever known, and I will grieve her loss always.

I just finished my first week of work at the new company. Though I’m still in the same field, my position is much different from the last. I am enjoying it very much so far, but there is still so much to learn! I do hope that I’ll be able to contribute much to the company’s future success.

Molly is doing well, and I am so thankful to have her. She and I don’t have as close a bond as Cruella and I had, but I still love her very much. She is a good girl, and she misses her sister like crazy.

I feel like my entire life has changed over the course of the last five weeks – almost like one life has ended and another has begun. A guy in church told me that I’m writing the next chapter of my life, and I like that explanation much better. May this next chapter be full of life, love, and happiness!

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

I truly believe that she was sent to me directly from Heaven. She was my best friend, my loyal companion, my angel. The nearly eight years that we spent together were the best of my life, and I can’t imagine my days without her in them. Miss Cruella was a blessing in every way.

The past three years were difficult for us. Cruella battled and defeated cancer, peritonitis, Cushing’s Disease, and Addison’s Disease. She stayed strong and endured much. She valued the close bond that we shared, and she fought hard to preserve it.

A new and sudden illness presented itself on Tuesday. Cruella’s doctors worked feverishly to cure her, but in the end, there were no medical options. I went to the hospital on Thursday to pick her up and take her home, hopeful that we would have a few more days together. By that time, she had taken a turn for the worst. My heart was broken. I knew that she was clinging to life just to be able to see me one more time. So with a heart overflowing with love, and in the most selfless act of my life, I chose to let her go.

I have never known such a feeling of loss. My heart is empty, my eyes full of tears, and my world is forever changed. I pray that one day we will be together again. Until then, rest in peace my sweet, beautiful angel. If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

“It is far more comforting to think that God listened and said no, than to think that nobody’s out there.”

Like most, I tend to say more prayers in my hour of need than in my moments of bliss. I should be singing praises of thanksgiving each and every day for the many blessings in my life. Instead, I have often found myself wondering just why God chose to ignore my requests – my pleas for that guy who would be so perfect for me if only he would wake up and realize it. I’ve found myself wondering why I’m lonely when everyone else seems to have found their perfect mates. I’m a fairly intelligent woman, yet this very simple and common sense truth dispensed by the rabbi Albert Lewis has taught me something far more important than dozens of college courses. God listened and said no.

When I was married, I asked God to turn my abusive husband into a loving man. He said no.

But when I asked to be delivered from the abuse, he said yes.

Years later, I asked God to help me move to another state to be closer to my boyfriend. He said no.

But when the same boyfriend dumped me, and I asked God to heal my heart, He said yes.

I think back to these two chapters of my life – and the final outcome of each. And I realize that the things I had asked for would have taken me down paths better left unexplored. When God said no, he spared me a lot of heartache.

God is now telling me no again. My first instinct is to disagree, to ask why, to plead with Him that this one thing will make me happy. After all, I’m a good person and I deserve happiness. But instead, I am choosing to back away. As difficult as it is, I am choosing to put my trust in Him, for He will say yes when the time and circumstances are right.

Thanks be to God!

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

Cheap Stingy Bargains offers printable coupons and online coupon codes for hundreds of popular merchants. As I scanned their list of stores, I was surprised to see Redbox listed there – and Domino’s! That’s right, gentlemen. Cheap Stingy Bargains is looking out for you. If you’re between paychecks and running low on cash, you can still treat that special someone to a cheap stingy date!

You can find a lot more than just a New Promo Code at Cheap Stingy Bargains. The site offers a blog, forums, and a really cool price check feature. Just type in the name of the item you’re searching for, and you’ll be presented with a list of those merchants with the lowest prices. To make a purchase, simply click the link to visit the merchant’s website – and don’t forget to snag a coupon code on the way!

If you’re in the market for a new computer, be sure to check out the list of Newegg and HP coupon codes. And if you don’t see what you’re looking for there, don’t fret. There’s a good Dell Coupon Code too!

With the way the economy is right now, we’re all looking for ways to save a few bucks. Cheap Stingy Bargains makes it easy!

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

For the last decade or so, I’ve continued to read but with no particular interest in a specific author – until now. I am happy to say that I finally have a favorite author again. And as you may have guessed from some of my previous posts, his name is Andy Andrews.

Andy was a bestselling author long before I discovered him, but I’ll never forget the moment he came into my life. I was browsing the bestseller aisle in Books-A-Million and The Noticer caught my eye. After reading the cover, I decided to purchase it. The book was was an upcoming selection in one of Books-A-Million’s book clubs, and there was a 20% off coupon right there for the taking. But there was one problem. The coupon wasn’t effective until the following month! I could hear Dave Ramsey’s scolding voice in my head, so I decided to postpone my purchase.

Imagine my surprise when my friend John, another loyal Dave Ramsey fan and follower, stopped by my office a couple of days later. “Tish, Dave Ramsey recommended a book on his show the other day, and I want to read it!” I asked the name and was shocked to hear him say The Noticer. I went that night and bought the book – without the coupon. After all, I now knew that Dave would approve!

In his early twenties, Andy Andrews was homeless and living under a pier in Alabama. It was there that he met a mysterious old man named Jones. Jones taught Andy some valuable life lessons, the most notable being that sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective. And a little perspective is exactly what Andy got. His eyes were opened to opportunities that had been there all along, but that he had somehow failed to notice. Jones gave Andy that push he needed to become not only a bestselling author, but also one of the country’s leading corporate speakers.

The Noticer is a blend of autobiography, fiction, and inspiration. It tells the story of Jones and his positive influence on the lives of Andy and others living in Orange Beach, Alabama. It is entertaining, but more importantly, it is life changing. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

After reading The Noticer, I decided to pick up some of Andy’s other books. The Lost Choice is the story of a young boy who finds a piece of an ancient artifact in his back yard. His parents are intrigued and embark upon a journey to trace the relic’s history. As it turns out, the item has been in the possession of some extraordinary people, including Joan of Arc, George Washington Carver, and Oskar Schindler. This story motivates and inspires the reader to harness the power within himself to become extraordinary in his own way.

Just last month, Andy released a new book – Return to Sawyerton Springs. It is a collection of funny and heartwarming stories from the small town where Andy grew up. Like Andy’s other books, this one is an enjoyable read woven with inspiration and life lessons.

I am now reading The Traveler’s Gift. It’s the story of a man who has lost hope and is given a chance to find it again by traveling through time and meeting some of the greatest individuals the world has known. I’m only a few chapters in, but so far, David Ponder has met Harry Truman and King Solomon. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Once I finish The Traveler’s Gift, I’ll move on to Island of Saints, the story of Nazi artifacts that are unearthed in Andy’s yard and the subsequent search for their meaning. On a deeper level, it is a story of forgiveness. I’m sure it will be just as touching and just as meaningful as Andy’s other writings have been.

I can’t tell you how nice it is to finally have an answer to the question I am asked so frequently – who is my favorite author? And when I answer, it is with incredible enthusiasm. After all, I know that each person I convince to read one of Andy Andrew’s books will be touched by the positive messages in it, and will be inspired to greatness.

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

If you do a lot of online shopping like I do, it’s well worth your time to browse for coupon codes before making your purchases. By simply entering a code a checkout, you can receive a considerable discount. There are a number of coupon websites out there, but http://www.couponchief.com has one of the largest databases of coupons available on the net. They currently work with more than 8,000 merchants and have more than 40,000 coupon codes.

One of the things I really like about Coupon Chief is that in addition to saving money, you can actually earn money by utilizing the website! Their Pays-2-Share program allows you to submit new coupon codes. Whenever one of your codes is used, you’ll receive 2% of the commission earned by Coupon Chief. I just entered two great Books-A-Million coupons and am excited about earning a little cash when they’re used.

I have to share a story about the Doctors Foster and Smith coupons. Cruella’s thyroid medication costs about $30 for a three month supply at the vet’s office. I have been purchasing it through Doctors Foster and Smith for $5.40 with free shipping! And it gets even better! Every time I order this medication, I use a coupon code for $5 off any order. Yes, I pay only 40 cents for three months worth of medication!

Eventually I’ll complete my Total Money Makeover, and I’ll be calling the Dave Ramsey Show to scream, “I’m debt free!” Certain aspects of my lifestyle may change at that point, but one things for certain. I’ll still be using coupon codes!

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

Instead of choosing another charity, I decided to just sit this Blogathon out. But since I had so much fun raising money for The Glaucoma Foundation in 2007, I may consider participating again next year.

I checked in on the other Blogathon participants a while ago, and that’s when I found this video that you absolutely must see. At the time he filmed it, Donnie had been awake for about 46 hours and had spent the last 20 of it blogging. I think that’s the only explanation you need.

I remember the 20th hour of Blogathon 2007. I had run out of steam, the hallucinations had started, and I could barely move my fingers. Those last four hours were anything but pleasant. I’d like to send a big THANK YOU to Donnie and all the other Blogathon participants who gave up 24 hours of their time to support so many worthy causes.

By the way, Donnie raised $292 for RAINN – the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. Be sure to check out his blog, Voice the Silence. And you can still support his efforts by making a pledge of your own. You have until Friday to do so.

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

There are several new posts on the site, and I’m sure you’ll find at least one blog you love there. Check it out, and be sure to read about how you can have your blog featured as well.

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks to some wonderful friends, you will now have the opportunity to win even more great prizes.

Mark Sierra from Darn Good Reviews has donated a free blog review. The winner will receive lots of free publicity for their site, as well as some great tips for improvement. There’s also a nifty little badge you can post on your site to show off your review!

J. Paul Mashburn of Mushy’s Moochings was kind enough to donate a copy of his book, The Laugh & Times of Mushy. The book is a compilation of posts from his blog. “It covers his life from birth forward, and takes us through the building of his life values. His hope is that what he ‘borrowed from life’ will help others. The short chapters cover childhood in rural Tennessee, his ‘nine first days of school’, during his first twelve years of education, to his four years in the Air Force, including a year in Vietnam during the early years of the war. The author also allows us inside his mind as he experiences the ups and downs of everyday life – marriage, divorce, the loss of pets, friends, and family. Mushy was and is a ‘Boomer’ who loves life, and lived it large, and he has given us the documented proof of what it was like to be a child of the sixties!”

Please consider making a pledge to support the lifesaving work of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. Everyone making a pledge will be entered into the prize drawings! Thanks for your support! I hope you will all keep me company during the Blogathon!

©2010 The Kat House. All Rights Reserved.