Goodbye 2011 - Hello 2012

I'm Anna Key and this is my first blog entry.  2011 was a heck of a year, but most of you already know that.  2012 is going to be better, I feel it in my gut!

This was one of the worst puppy/kitten seasons in the last couple of years.  Between the economy and irresponsible owners, animal shelters saw a huge intake of animals.  This is the first year that I really dug into rescue work.  I had volunteered for years, but this year I got dirty.  I asked the hard questions and got the hard answers.  At one time I had 20 kittens that I was fostering, plus my permanent animals.  I have helped to save more lives than I can count this year.  I cry, I curse, and I love them unconditionally.  I love fostering!  I wouldn't stop doing it for anything.  Just knowing that this tiny, black kitten that is purring on my shoulder right now, is alive because I opened my home to him, WOW, that is amazing to me.  Not to mention that I have made some incredible friends in rescue.  And let me tell you, those rescue friends would do ANYTHING for me and I for them.  Right now I have 2 foster dogs, an abused pit bull and a deaf aussie, and I have 4 foster kittens.  Want an animal?  Rescue or adopt from a local shelter or rescue group.  Want to save a life?  Spay or Neuter your pets!

2011 also saw my Food Addiction rear its very ugly head.  Hi, I'm Anna, and I'm a Food Addict and an Overeater.  Good I got that out of the way.  (deep breath)  I realized in 2007 that I was a food addict and have been fighting addiction ever since.  But this past year just about did me in.  I gained more weight, faster than I have before and I couldn't stop eating.  I was miserable.  But I knew what to do and on September 30th I walked into a meeting for the first time in over a year and picked up a white chip of surrender.  Since then I have picked up 30, 60, and 90 days!  I am slowly, but steadily losing weight.  Meal plans, exercise plans, and more meetings are all in my future.

2011 also brought more heartbreak than I ever want to feel again.  The search for love is ongoing, but I get daily doses of love from my animals and boys, and for now, that is enough.  Of course, God sends his unconditional love daily.

I am hoping and praying that 2012 is going to be a better year....for business, for rescue work, for love, for food.  God is in control of my life now and He will guide to me where I need to be.  As long as I do the footwork, God will do the rest.  Give Him something, and He will do everything!

Purrrrs to you!