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About a month or so after some renters moved out of the house next door to us, a small tortie kitty started coming to our door. Of course my daughter and I fed her and gave her fresh water whenever she showed up.

After a while, she became very friendly and never missed a meal. Already having cats in the house, I was (as usual) reluctant to take in another. Our vet once told us that we had a welcome sign in our yard that only cats could read!

As I was sitting on the step one day with her, I noticed her side really protruding. All I could think of was a litter of kittens. As I examined her, though, I noticed the protrusion was only on one side. My daughter and I grabbed her up and headed to the vet.

It took two expensive surgeries and many months of care to get her healthy. Our vet surmised that she had been kicked and, as a result, developed internal injuries. We named her Gracie because it was by grace that she came to our door and was saved.

That was at least eight years ago, and now that my daughter has gotten married and moved out, Gracie is my little snuggler and cuddlebug at night. She even has her own pillow that she sleeps on beside me. She kisses me when I ask her to and sometimes will give me a kiss to wake me up.

She also loves it when I share my chicken or turkey with her. When I get out of my car with chicken, I can look at her in the window and mouth the words, "Mommy's got chicken", and she runs to the door.

I pray she continues sharing dinner with me and loving me with those kisses for a very long time.