Easter Blessings

This Easter week is gonna be unlike any other I have ever experienced.
Why?
Because this is Pasqua's FIRST EASTER EVER.
And for those readers unaware, his name means "Easter" in Italian.  You may notice Easter gifts with the saying "Buona Pasqua" in your local Italian shops:

This is a very special week for us here. We are excited to be able to celebrate together. 

We are doing well. I recently had my annual doctor visit, and I am happy to report that I am in tip top shape. Doctor gave me a clean bill of health. Another reason we are happy to celebrate together this year. This is my best profile shot, ever. Don't I look stunning? A picture of health right here:  

 

As always, Pasqua is happy napping - certainly dreaming of cat nip flavored treats: 

Little Pasqua Scheggiare is our special Easter gift this year. Easter is our mamma's favorite holiday.  And, her favorite singer, back in 1992, sang a lyric about a cat named Easter, so she always had in in her mind to name a cat "Easter" one day.

In honor of his significance in our hearts, we share with you some of the many Easter symbols of our faith. Easter is the most significant holy day to us.

The Easter egg has a lot of symbolism - the Easter Egg Roll represents the rolling away of the boulder in front of Jesus' tomb. While the egg itself, represents new life, or Jesus' empty tomb. Interesting note: original Lenten observations included eggs and other dairy products as forbidden, so believers marked eggs to signify the end of the Lenten observation.

The white Easter lily symbolizes purity and honesty. Some believe, these were the flowers in in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus cried.

Since Jesus is often referred to in the Bible as the “Lamb of God” , lamb is another symbol of the season. Lamb was a sacrifice made during the Jewish Passover, and it in turn became a symbol for Jesus’ sacrifice.

We all know that a butterfly emerging from her cocoon is a symbol of  transformation, change, and hope. Did you know it is also an Easter symbol? The caterpillar stands for Jesus’ earthly life, the cocoon portrays His crucifixion/burial, and the butterfly represents His resurrection.

Isn't that interesting?

Lastly, how about the Easter bunny? 

Remember a couple of years ago, mamma made Stray Cat and I wear Easter bunny ears? ma-says-she-loves-us-but-then-she-does-this post

Haha! She better not take those out this year - they are much too big for Pasqua!

Bunnies are an ancient symbol of fertility, new life, and the coming of spring. Even more interesting to note, the use of the Easter bunny goes all the way back to the 1700s, when German immigrants brought the Easter Rabbit with them to America. Back then, children made nests for the bunnies out of bonnets and hats, which eventually became the colorful baskets we now use today.

Even if you don't celebrate Easter, we hope you liked learning more about what we believe, and where the symbols of this significant holy day stemmed from. 

So share with us, what is your favorite part of spring? We appreciate your comments and like reading them. 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 

"I know a cat named Easter he says, Will you ever learn? You're just an empty cage girl, if you kill the bird."- Tori Amos.

My story isn't over yet.

Thank you, Dear Readers, for your prayers, thoughts, and hopes for my health and overall peace.  They worked. My ma had called the doctor last Monday morning, as you read in the hope hope post. She asked if she could increase my diuretic dosage and the doctor agreed; with guarded monitoring to see after a week how I react to it.

Each day is different. Some days, I don’t breathe heavy, and I am cooing and purring like my ma is used to. Other days, I do breathe heavy, I am lethargic, and want to be left alone. No purring.  This is upsetting to mamma. She said, though, that each day is a gift, and so it is. She loves on me and loves on me each day we are together.

I am a blessed cat.

Are you familiar with the beautiful song, “Never Been a Moment” by Micah Tyler? If you do not know it, I encourage you to listen to it – it is such a beautiful song. My mamma changes the lyrics a little bit and sings it to me, as if the song was written about me. She is so funny!

I think, though, if I had a singing voice that wasn’t equipped with just chirps and trills I would sing it to her. Of course, changing her kitty lyrics to human ones. She is a good human. Here is her version of the song she sings to me:

♬"You were lost, but somehow you were found.
There's been some pain, been some regret, been some moments I'll never forget.
But when I look back from where I'm standing now, I know -

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms.
And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are.
Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you.

You've been my rock, you've been my peace, always showing your good heart to me.
My days are marked by grace I don't deserve, no, you've been the kitty who is always ready to play. You've been the light that has led my way. No matter where I am, there you are!

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms.
And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are.
Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you.

So where could you go that you could wander from my sight?  Where would I run and never leave behind your all consuming, heart pursuing, grace extending, never ending love. Stray Cat’s love! 

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms. And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are. Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you."🎶

It is true. She is mine forever. I am hers forever, and it doesn’t matter where I am or where she is – there was never a moment I was not loved by her – nor a moment where she was not loved by me.  This is true. 

Hug tight those you love, Dear Readers!