Chapter 16 – New “Fur”mily

God’s Makes Things Beautiful

Psalm 27:14

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Proverbs 27:17

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11

“He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

The weather was warming up nicely and the late winter rains had left a fresh feel to the desert and new life was starting to bud wherever the eye could see. The golden yellow creosote flowers had begun to blossom. The tiny little leaves were popping out along the tall ocotillo canes. And wildlife was busy enjoying all that comes with the edge of spring time just ahead. Like the flora, fauna and desert creatures Peter and I were transitioning to the appointed time of our wedding. We had been modestly preparing and building toward the blossoming of our love as we entered into our marriage.

It was an exciting time and also one of deepening prayer and evaluation. We both earnestly desired for our Lord to be the center of our relationship and our marriage and we still do. We knew our marriage was going to bring big changes for us and it did. We both had been through much getting to that special day. I had been holding on to the Promise in the Passage that says, “God makes everything beautiful in His Time…” He Knew the work He was doing, He always does. Two different lives coming together as one in living, sharing, and all the amazing intimate and social ways God instituted and blessed to be in marriage. Truly marriage is designed to be a very special “iron sharpening iron” and nurturing environment. There is so much to our story but a comprehensive version of our journey is for another time.

One of our many new aspects included Peter having never had cats as pets and that would take time to adjust to for sure. And living with Kaiyah of course would be needing time as well. Peter only had one little dog friend, Gina, early on in his boyhood and that little friendship had ended with some heartache for him. He had many other pets to love including birds and reptiles. Thankfully the bonds with Kaiyah, Gideon and Pumpkin had already been building.

My mom and Peter’s family would finally get to meet in person. And with that came my mom, at long last, getting to meet her dear Kaiyah for the first time. The kindness and generosity of my Mom, my new parents in law, friends, co-workers, my new sister in law Nicole who made us the most beautiful and delicious wedding cake, and my best friend, at that time, Rachel who went out of her way in so many ways even watching the furbabies during our honeymoon. Each and every one of them made the occasion as special as it could be. We could not have been more thankful and looked forward to finding ways to acknowledge and bless them in some way.

Kaiyah was subdued in her usual manner with meeting new people even if she had heard them talking on the phone like she had done with my mom. Having Marmi coming to my home for the first time was exciting and hopeful yet felt like a dream. Being concerned for my mom’s health and continuing grief over the loss of my dad, I sure was thankful Jose’s sister, Isabella, chose to accompany Marmi. Jose and Isabella were close family friends and they had continued to be good to her even after my dad had passed away. Kaiyah, Gideon and Pumpkin were all resting peacefully when the moment arrived for them to meet. After the incredible reunion at the airport we had a pleasant trip home sharing little things about the flight and such. As I unlocked and opened the door it was total quiet inside. We came in toting the small luggage brought for the short but much welcomed visit. Marmi looked around taking it all in and then asked where her grand cats and dog were. The first one to greet her was Pumpkin with the official Pumpkin roll and his fluffy tail swishes. She was so excited at his handsome sweet demeanor and clasped her hands with joy. Gideon who had been quite the phone communicator meowing and engaging in many long “conversations” with her was as shy as could be. We all laughed at his hiding and peeking and tiny mews meeting her. I had suggested we call him and see if that would help with introductions. And when it came to Kaiyah my mom almost cried at meeting her and they had a quiet gentle interaction with Kaiyah laying nearby as Marmi settled on the couch to rest a little bit. As I was preparing things and getting Isabella acclimated to my home and where she would be sleeping, Marmi and Kaiyah were taking in each other’s presence for a short time. That was a sweet point in time for me to see my Mom in my little home with her grand furbabies laughing and just being… precious.

That week went so quickly with all the preps and goings and comings with work and meetings. Marmi and Kaiyah had a few endearing moments that week. They found themselves in the backyard sitting in the shade, walking the space with the kitties and enjoying the lovely weather and visiting backyard birds. My mom also found time to work a few of her much loved crossword puzzles and time to reflect away from the immense world she had left across the country. We spoke of my dad and brothers and so many things that week and Kaiyah was usually right there with us.

Another special occasion occurred when my in-laws came to meet my mom; what a time that was. The voices chattering, the food, the laughter, the prayers, the furbabies basking in all the attention, all the bustling, and Peter and I were happy to see and hear it all.

We had hardly caught our breath from our wedding rehearsal, wedding party dinner, wedding and reception and getting things ready for our honeymoon. Before we knew it, it was all too soon time to say good-bye to my mom and Isabella. It was a different heartache that time but one with valuable healing and many happy moments. We had already said good-bye to Peter’s lovely family after the reception as they had to get back to their lives as well. Rachel had kindly offered to take Marmi and Isabella back to the airport with full tummies and see them off safely, and to care for our furbabies while we were away. She was an incredibly generous blessing to us. The animals loved Rachel and I knew they would be happy under her prayerful attentive care, we both knew it. My heart was so happy and yet there was deep sadness as well. It is hard to communicate how profoundly complex the emotions were in my heart that day but it was still very special.

With God’s Grace and Courage undergirding us, we both had waited many years to discover each other. We waited to see what the Lord had in store, and then we waited to receive the gift of the marriage of promise and the intimate embrace that was reserved within that promise. The enemy of God’s Faithful does not like those kind of choices but God Protected and Strengthened our hearts all the way. I found solace that very special day in the Truth that The Lord is Faithful and He does make everything beautiful in His time. He can be trusted with everything and He will steady us in the waiting rooms of life if we let Him. He knows what He is doing and we can rest and trust in Him. One of my favorite verses to remind myself is found in Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Peter and I returned home with happy furbabies waiting to greet us officially as furmommy AND furdaddy. It was time we resumed our lives as newlyweds. Many things were different. And my daily mission hikes with Kaiyah occasionally had furdaddy Peter joining us. It was a new beginning that came with beautiful new furmily to embrace and we were on our new adventure together.

…Until we meet again…