Letter to Reno the dog

I solemnly swear that I am not taking you outside at 2:30 AM in the rain, or drizzlies after the rain, to eat dead grass from the yard. You are allowed to wake me up during the night only in case of EMERGENCY!

This means, you have to go out and immediately tend to business...you know what I mean. Another reasonable reason to wake me up is if someone is here. That would be an emergency, I'm sure. Lastly, if something is wrong in the house, like a fire, or a very sick family member.

Nowhere in the above rules does it say you may wake me up at 2:30 AM so you can go outside and eat grass. Dead grass at that! And just because you asked this morning, NO I won't FEED you at 2:30 AM! Breakfast is at 7:15 am with dinner at 6pm. Exceptions may be made if I have an opportunity to sleep in. 2:30 AM is not one of those exceptions.

Thank you
Mom

Remembering Swiper

We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into the day we decided to bring home a ferret. I should have known when the lanky fur ball bit my nose in the pet store's parking lot.

Still, we carried on, and welcomed nature's slinky into our home. Little did we know that ferrets get into stuff, and steal stuff, and worm their way so thoroughly into your heart. We named our ferret Swiper after the fox on the television show Dora. The fox always stole stuff, and Dora would have to connive a way to get the item back. At least she did. Swiper would steal stuff, and we'd never see it again.

The first thing she stole was a quarter, and stashed it under the chair in the living room. Then she discovered food. People had good food, and a lot of it could be stashed away for later. Things like oatmeal cream pies, crackers, pop tarts, and fruit loops, which she stashed behind the refrigerator. She also loved chocolate milk, and she'd be in your cup before you could say Nesquick.

Swiper would also play with the kids when they sat down with their toys. She loved to dig in the basket of army men. I don't know what she was digging for though, exactly. One time the boys caught her heading into my room with a bag of Leggos.

One day I'd left each of my children a wrapped oatmeal cream pie as a treat before I headed out to work. Sometime later, my daughter called me and asked if she could have another pie, as hers was missing. Months later, I found it next to my bed when Swiper had done some housekeeping.

Swiper was really interactive with our family. She enjoyed spending time with us, and getting into the middle of whatever we were doing. She especially loved to attack our feet so we would giver her fruit loops, her favorite treat.

Ferrets have two speeds-full steam ahead and sleep. They play hard, and they sleep hard. When Swiper would tire, she would find a warm place and curl up to sleep. Often times, she'd curl up in a dresser drawer, but she also found comfort in our beds. That would lead to quickly hopping up when you sat on the bed and discovered a warm little lump. She'd also sleep in our linen closet. Occasionally she'd curl up in a kitchen drawer. How could it be comfortable to sleep in measuring cups and utensils?

Our dog Reno became very adept at finding Swiper when she did this. We liked to put her up before we left, and when we retired at night. Unfortunately, sometimes she hid so well Reno couldn't find her. Then, Swiper would wake up about 3 am, and expect us to play! She'd lick our ears, and stick her whiskers in our noses.

Our son Matt would hold her on his shoulder, and talk to her while they walked around the house. I'd go over and we'd touch noses while he had her. One time I did this, and she sneezed in my face.

Swiper was a darling, and a pet like no other. I'll never forget her, she taught us so much. Most of all, never underestimate a ferret. Miss you sweetie, thank you for all the years of love, friendship, and laughter you gave us. Sleep well Swiper, we love you.

Chela

Gotcha!

I was sitting on the couch earlier, watching a movie with my kids. It wasn't too scary, but had parts where things jumped out at you suddenly. I'm sitting on the couch, on the edge of my seat watching this, and suddenly feel tap tap tap on my leg. Talk about wanting to jump off of the couch! My cat Taco wanted to sit on my lap, but I was covered with a blanket, and she couldn't see where my legs were exactly. She was testing the waters, so to speak. Either that or she thought it would be funny to scare mommy. Probably the latter.

Recently, I was listening to the radio, and they were having an "impossible trivia" contest. The question was, 90% of Americans did not do this last year. Hmmm....There were many great guesses, such as exercising, or going camping. However these weren't the right answers, and the contest went on for some time. I was thinking writing a letter, with a pen and paper, because no one does that anymore. Well, I do sometimes, as some of my family is not technologically connected.

The answer was read a book! I find it astonishing that no one curls up with a novel at night before bed, or totes a book along to fill the time in waiting rooms at the doctor or dmv office. My mom always has a book along for those types of situations.

I've been on quite a book binge the past couple of months. I'm currently on my....3, 4, 7th book. It's like a disease perhaps, but I can't wait to open a new book, and see what adventure lies between the covers. Where do I get to journey to this time?

The past couple of months, I've been in the Deep South of America in the early 1900's, learning about the horrors of racism, and lynchings. I've criss-crossed the country following a brutal serial killer. Then to Nigeria, learning about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great brutality. I traveled all over Europe, following the journey of the Shroud of Turin, and to Sweden, and Australia to find someone who didn't want to be found. I've been to Montana, tracking a deranged man with his eye set on the curator of a wildlife sanctuary. Currently, I'm in Washington DC, tracking a huge mess of a scandal that threatens the White House and everyone's good standing.

Characters in a book become friends, family while you share their stories. You cringe, celebrate, cry, and hope with them. You miss them when you're through, their lives put carefully back on the shelf for next time. A life without books? I just couldn't imagine...

Books cited here: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Steig Larsson, The Shroud Harold Robbins, Deeper than the Dead Tami Hoag, Alex Cross's Trial James Patterson, Little Bee Chris Cleave, I, Alex Cross, James Patterson, Black Hills Nora Roberts.

Remembering...

I cried my heart out tonight for a young man I have never met. My husband sat on the couch and held me while the tears flowed unchecked. My daughter lost a friend tonight, a young man of 16 who she met at a youth event with her church. I may have never met him, but I know he was taken from his loved ones way too soon. My heart breaks for his family tonight.

He was active in his church, and planned on going on a mission trip this summer to Zambia. From what I have learned about him, it seems he was close with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My daughter said he was crazy, and a lot of fun to be around, and that he was an awesome Christian.

Events like these also lead me to think of those around me, and how much I love them. It might sound cliche, but I hope they know how much I love them. Perhaps I'll try and spend more time with those important people in my life, send a few more emails, make a few more phone calls. I'm also going to cover my children in prayer, that the Lord spread His wings over them.

I love You Jesus, please welcome Thomas with open arms, and send peace and comfort to his family.

Amen

The kids have had field days all week, to celebrate the last days of school. So instead of work, they wander in and out of the classrooms playing games, buying snacks, and watching movies.
I've been at the school every day this week with either Angie or Josh celebrating field day with them. Well today, Angie asked me to spend an hour with her. I got there around 11, and we were hanging out in the classroom. The kids started talking about lunch, and Angie got up to check the menu. Hot dogs were on the docket, so she asked me to take her to McDonald's for lunch.
We told her teacher we'd be back after lunch, and left.

After lunch Angie talked me into letting her skip out the rest of the school day. We ended up at Kolomoki going paddle boating. It was such a pretty day, and the water was so calm and nice.
Walking from the truck to the boat, we were watching the red winged blackbirds nesting. We saw one chick resting his beak on the rim of the gourd. The parents were very busy bringing food and water to the nest.
We found our boat, and got comfortable in it. We had been given a key, but the boat was simply tied, so we didn't need it. The next 20 mins or so were spent just lazily paddling along, enjoying some peace and quiet. It was nice to spend some alone time with Angie and talk. Also to relax-this week has been hectic and crazy.
All was quiet and still when suddenly a big hawk flew right in front of us and tried to catch a fish. The fish jumped, but I think the hawk missed it. Awesome-right in front of us.
We noticed that the storm clouds that had been behind us seemed to be following the boat. It blocked the sun, and cooled things off for us. We kept paddling along, looking for critters and talking.
Then we noticed it was getting really dark above us, and the wind was picking up. The previously calm lake was getting rougher. We thought about it a minute, and decided to head back to the dock. We were quite a ways away from it.
As we paddled back, the wind picked up even more, and it started to sprinkle. Everything progressed quickly from there, until it was pouring rain and gusting wind. The lake had moved from small ripples to good sized swells. We were going against the current, and it was nearly impossible to pedal. In the midst of all this, an alligator jumps out of the water right in front of us. I think Angie and I about wet our pants.
Alligator disappears, but it starts to thunder and lightning. (only me, I swear, only I would get into these messes). Angie is scared to death, we can barely get the boat to move, paddling as hard as we can. Now we're soaked to the skin. We could actually see the lightning-ground lightning we call it-ahead of us. Straight lines right to the ground. Booming thunder. And to think it was sunny and blue just 30 minutes ago. The only thing that got us through that was praying to God and asking Him to keep us safe. We prayed and sang praise songs all the way back.
We finally get the boat back to the dock, and parked. I tie the boat as best I can, and we run for the truck. Which of course is locked. I did have the key, it just took an extra minute to get in.
We sat in the truck for a long time calming down and thanking God we got thru it all okay. Also telling Him we'd never skip school to go paddleboating again.
We drove back to the museum to drop off the lifejackets and key. They invited us to stay for a while until the storm blew over. We walked around looking at the things on display.

Then we sat in the rocking chairs and talked. Angie was really scared out there-to the point of shaking. She finally started to calm down and relax in the museum. Poor girl, I didn't intend for it to happen that way. When she started flipping cartwheels, I knew she was okay.
The storm moved on, and bright sunny skies returned. The whole storm probably lasted an hour tops. We headed back to the school to pick up Matt, Josh, and Angie's stuff. It hadn't rained a drop at the school. Talk about isolated thunderstorms.
We sheepishly returned to Angie's classroom, and decided there was nothing to do but tell the truth. It's not like she was missing anything anyway. We walked up, and her teacher met us, saying, "That was an awfully long lunch hour missy! Leave at 11:30, and get back at 2:55." She was lighthearted and all about it. :0) Everyone was amazed when we told them our story.
So the moral of the story is, don't skip school. And if you do, don't go paddleboating. If you must, take the Lord along. And before you tell me to check the weather next time, I did. It was only a 20 percent chance of rain. We also learned that in times of great trial, cling to God, and just keep praying.

Good Morning

I was reading an internet forum the other day, and the question had been posted, What do you do when you first wake up in the morning? The first reply was, " I grab a diet Coke and get online."

Really? You have no other obligations in the morning? This just baffles me, as my morning routine is crazy no matter what day it is. Here is an example of a usual weekday morning:

6:30am wake up
bathroom
take dogs out for business
make sure kids #1 and #2 are up and getting ready for school
snack money, find coats/shoes/etc

6:55 leave for the bus stop
7:15 home from bus stop, feed dogs, outside cats, and guinea pig
get a shower/dressed

7:45 get kid #3 up and make sure he gets dressed and ready for school
make kid breakfast and a lunch for school

8:15 take kid #3 to school

8:40 home again. Now maybe I can spend some time online.

On the internet first thing in the morning? Maybe someday!