Happy Tail on a Happy Trail ~

A happy trail in deed was the life of our sweet and gentle Toby.

This past week we said our goodbyes to our precious cat of 17 years.

Toby joined our family before he reached 6 weeks

coming from a home where there was the use of drugs.

Our niece picked him out for us, thus, saving him from

a life of who knows what.

Toby was special in more ways than one and brought great joy

into each one of our lives.

He was a Ragdoll ~ with a color point coat and blue eyes,

long beautiful soft silky hair ~ half Persian half Siamese

and one gorgeous handsome boy!

His temperament was docile and placid

making life with Toby a real pleasure.

Toby lived through three of our pet rabbits and because of his 

gentle nature he was like a daddy to those dear rabbits.

Those five week old bunnies would snuggle up in Toby's soft silky hair 
and find great comfort after having left their mother's so young.
Toby never turned them away.

There are so many things that make up the lives of our precious pets.

Those who have the joy and pleasure of a pet can attest to that.

Toby wanted so badly to be out doors, but I sheltered him trying to

keep him in doors where I knew he would be safe.

He was gentle in every way and with predators in our area

I found that to be such a concern. 

One day I caught Toby hanging on the screen door while reaching

towards the door handle with his right paw trying to open the door 
for his escape to the unknown world that he was kept from.

He would time it just perfectly waiting for one of us to head out the door then,

 he made his big escape and darted out the door

only to find himself carried back into the house.

Poor Toby 🐱

I used Toby and Lakota, one of our pet rabbits for character building lessons

for the children in Children's Church in between a missionary story,
 because Toby would entice Lakota to do wrong.

Those two were a riot playing together!

Toby would tease Lakota by dangling his tail as bait

to get Lakota's attention, then when Lakota went for the tail

Toby would slap him!

Other times Toby would get Lakota to chase him through the house

and end up in a place where Lakota would get himself into trouble. 

The Bible tells us ~
"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:
but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."
~ Proverbs 13:20 ~ 
"It is as sport to a fool to do mischief:
but a man of understanding hath wisdom."
~ Proverbs 10:23 ~
Proverbs is a great book of the Bible that teaches on character building 
and with those two I had many stories to share
and the children enjoyed them.
Toby became famous in the eyes of those sweet innocent children.

From the time Toby arrived he was forever in something,
be it in a basket ~ a box ~ a cooler ~ a bucket ~ a shoe ~ even a ladies purse.
Yes, if you were a visitor in our home and owned
a purse or even a diaper bag, he was sure to claim it as his own.

  If we had a delivery I would sneak the box in and try opening it
with out Toby knowing, but it was impossible.

 I could go on and on with happy stories of our beloved Toby,
but it would make for a long posting that has already become way too long.
 I have to tell you one last story ~
As you can see, Toby was a long haired cat and long haired cats shed!
Well ~ One of Toby's favorite spots to sleep was in the bathroom vanity
on top of the bath towels. 
We always knew when Toby was headed to his spot because we could hear
the slight banging of the cupboard door. 
He would take his paw and open the door, but it took him awhile, 
so you would hear bang ~ bang ~ bang until he got it just right
and off he went for hours. 
We have some dear elderly friends who come and stay with us often
and they are not animal people. 
No pets in their home, no sirree ~ no way ~ no how!
This one particular visit the misses was having her shower and I had FORGOTTEN
to take the top towel out beforehand which was covered with Toby's hair
 and I'm telling you it was grossly covered with hair.
To her horror and to our horror she was covered with animal hair,
face and all!
Behind closed doors my husband and I had a great laugh! 😂
From that time on I was careful NOT to let that ever happen again. 

We knew Toby's days were numbered and that we were coming to the close of his life 
but its still hard to let them go.

 We will miss our Toby in the window where he sat quite often
watching the world go by while he was safe and secure in our loving home.
Toby hated the car, but he loved traveling in the motor home,
maybe because of the big front window where he could see the world.
I was so hoping he would have the chance to travel just one more time to Canada,
 but he enjoyed his last hurrah and his last visit with Grandpa Bill in the Spring of 2018.
Grandpa Bill, whose now in glory was not an animal lover either,
 but he loved Toby, and Toby loved him. 
We have learned over the years to enjoy the moments we are given 
because they don't last forever. 🐾

Today there are two very special Birthdays being celebrated.
Stephanie  and my grandson share their Birthdays 
and I would love for you to stop by her lovely place
and wish them both a very Happy Birthday! 🎂

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength!
Debbie
♡