The Call of the Wild

Molly, Molly what are you looking at?

Proof positive that the mom in this house officially lost her mind!!

Shall I introduce you to the newest members of our family?


This is Pippen.
This is Merry. (Gracen has been watching Lord of the Rings.)

They are...hamsters...of the rodent family. The thing I said I would never have, well, along with snakes, frogs, and other reptilian creatures.

Yet, here they are--housed in a pink cage critter lodge.

How did we get here?

God blessed us with a child 10 years ago. From the very beginning she loved animals and not in the "oh they are so cute" kind of way. She was drawn to animals of almost any kind in a way that I had not seen before. Her dolls are all dolls that come with animals--and 9 times out of 10 she'll play with the animals and leave the dolls. Most of the books in our home have some kind of animal connection.

I truly believe that it is her God-given, God-designed bent. Her dream is to become a vet--it has been her dream since she was 2 and old enough to know about jobs. I don't know if that will indeed be her profession but I do know that animals in some form (and, probably, very numerous forms) will always be in her life.

Our struggle as parents has been to provide her with opportunities to learn about, enjoy, interact with animals without turning our entire home into a petting zoo--and thereby solely completely Gracen focused. In addition to learning about animals, she has to learn that a family is made up of members with different interests and hobbies.

The hamsters were a sort of consolation after it became apparent that the chick incubator wasn't going to be something we could do right now.

She and her Daddy spent much of the weekend learning about hamsters. She spent a portion of her saved money on all the "stuff"--the lodge, the food, the bedding--who knew a small hamster needed so much stuff?

And Molly, well, poor Molly has spent all of her time sitting in a chair in front of the lodge staring and whining.

I'm not sure if she wants to play with them or is hoping they will just disappear.

As a parent, I have eaten lots of words and done lots of things that I said I would not do. Here is yet another. However, there is one to which I will adamantly hold...

There. will. be. no. reptiles!

Carnival Time

Kellie is hosting a blog carnival today!

This provides an excellent opportunity to write something without actually having to come up with the subject!!

If You Came to My House Today...

You would hear the washer and dryer going. Friday is typically laundry day.

You would hear my girl coughing and sneezing...the cold has hit.

You would hear classical music from the radio.

You would hear discussion about which book to begin next. The choices? Calico Bush by Rachel Field or Lad: A Dog by Albert Payson Terhune. I'll be surprised if the dog doesn't win!

You would hear the scratch of crayons and markers on paper. Creativity seems to be bolstered by a cold.

At some point, you would hear the age old question: what's for dinner?

You would most definitely hear (probably several times a day) the click of the keyboard. The computer...our surrogate brain.

At day's end, you would hear "I love you" all around, covers pulled over a stuffy head, and the end of the week exhale.

How about you? What's going on in your neck of the woods?!

A Few Fall Pictures

One afternoon last week, Gracen and I took a blanket outside. We sat on the blanket and read her history reading for the week. (She is finishing up her study of the Civil War and is currently reading Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule.)

As we sat, several birds came to visit the feeders. We stopped reading for a bit to watch them--and take pictures, of course!

Recently we watched the movie, The Fox and the Child, a really charming French film in which a little girl tries to befriend a fox. She learns all about foxes and tracks "her" fox eventually finding her den.

I think Gracen was inspired by the movie because she has since been trying to find an animal that will let her get close. While a bird will do, I think she's really hoping for something more exotic!

On another note, Gracen has been making her Christmas wish list. The top item? A chick incubator. She really wants it. She wants to be able to watch the chicks (and pheasants and other kind of egg that will fit in the incubator) hatch.

Problem is, we live inside city limits. While we can legally have a pet chicken, the cage has to be 300 feet from all neighbors and that is the problem. So, if anyone (local or, ahem, grandparents who live in the country, hint, hint!) wants to have the privilege of raising the chicks after they come out of the eggs, please let me know!!!

Focus

The last month to 6 weeks have been pretty tough. I got a new leg (a very pretty one, I might add--will have to post a picture) and since getting it, I have been out of it more than I have been in it.

Perhaps it is a mechanical issue (trips to the leg guy for adjustments haven't helped so far) or perhaps my skin is in rebellion. Either way, right now being in my leg is a lesson in pain and being out of my leg is a lesson in patience. Neither of these are lessons I like.

Fall has traditionally been the time of year that I felt most alive. The air is cooler and crisper and less humidity means getting out more. Gracen and I enjoy getting out with dogs and the camera a lot during the fall.

Problem is this fall it hasn't happened much. Mostly I have been doing what is absolutely necessary with a little fun thrown in to keep the guilt monster at bay during the time that I am in the leg.

Church has also been a hit or miss (mostly miss) thing. Going anywhere isn't easy on crutches and crowds, stairs, or rainy weather all make it that much more difficult. I miss my church family, the fellowship, and, most of all, communion. (Fortunately, the sermons are on the website!)

So, poor pitiful me, right? Not exactly.

Lately, I have been thinking back to last fall. It seemed that we were going and, honestly, not so much going as just spinning that our days were filled with busyness. Nothing truly constructive was getting done. My prayer for this fall was that our days would be more focused, more productive (especially with regard to school but in other areas as well).

By necessity, our days have been more focused. School--and our attitudes toward it and toward each other--are much improved. It seems that my prayer for a more focused, more productive school year and better attitudes from teacher and student alike has been answered.

My problem has been that my prayer wasn't answered in the way I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be answered easily. I guess I wanted a spiritual magic wand to be waved and my prayer answered with no inconvenience on my part.

I never thought that I would be cooped up during the time of year I look forward to most. I never thought that my new camera would not snap a single. picture. of the leaves (yet--still hopeful!). I never thought that I would have a brand new, very expensive leg that I haven't been able to wear much. I never thought about being emotionally down during a beautiful season.

But, I also never thought that the joy of teaching (and planning lessons) would come back. I never thought about having more quiet moments to read, pray, or maybe, most importantly, just listen. I didn't think about the opportunities to really focus on Gracen--helping her navigate her changing, growing up too fast world. (Friendships are an interesting creature when you are a 10 year old girl!)

This hasn't been the easiest time by any stretch--and I'm ready to see more "legged" than "crutched" days but I also can't deny the fact that some of the changes have been extremely beneficial and very needed.

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear;
rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God whose you are,
will deliver you out of them. He has kept you hitherto--do you but hold
fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you can not stand, He will bear you in His arms...The same
everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
Francis de Sales

The Costume

When Gracen saw a cupcake costume in a magazine and told me that that was the costume she wanted this year, I have to admit I groaned! It looked simple--usually a sure sign that it is going to consume large amounts of time and, probably, money.

I agreed to try it. The magazine directions called for brown corrugated paper on a roll to make the cupcake liner (skirt). I looked everywhere for such a thing. Convinced that the beast did not exist in our neck of the woods, I looked on the Internet. You can find everything on there, right?

Sure, if you are willing to pay--which I wasn't--at least not those prices! So, we improvised.

I had a piece of striped fabric that I had bought when Gracen was probably 4. I had grand notions of sewing her a dress. Ah, the best laid plans of an over ambitious mom...

The striped fabric worked. Fortunately for me, the directions called for gluing rather than sewing. I did have to sew straight lines to make the top part but that even I can handle.

She loved the costume--and, in all honesty, it wasn't that difficult. And, surprisingly, it made it through trick or treating Saturday night and through our church's Reformation Celebration Sunday night! The sign of quality craftsmanship, I'm sure!

I love it when the plan works.

It doesn't happen often!

Pumpkin Carving

Our traditional pumpkin carving happened last night. Everyone has a job. Gracen has a design in her head and I draw the design on the pumpkin. (I have no idea why this picture is so blurry--it was clear when I uploaded it!)

Gracen digs the goo (the technical name, I'm sure) out of the pumpkin.
Daddy carves, trying very hard to follow the exact pattern!!
Biscuit thinks that since there is something on the table, she better hang close. This is her hoping for a hand out look.
All done and ready to welcome guests--and goblins, too!

Getting Crafty

I was perusing a new to me blog yesterday and saw this really cute craft.

Glass jars, tissue paper, and a bottle of Mod Podge just happened to be in the craft cabinet. So, after school Gracen and I made these. She was thrilled with them!

It was the best kind of craft: quick, easy, and not too messy!!

Now I'm off to figure out how to make a cupcake costume by Saturday!

School Time

Gracen is doing handwriting.

I guess Biscuit is offering moral support.