New Members of Our Menagerie

Feb22

Yesterday, Morgan and I added two more members to our family: hermit crabs! Morgan had expressed an interest in getting one, and would be paying with her own money, so I agreed (Dad simply acquiesced). I put it out on Facebook for a crabitat and a friend came through with a 10-gallon aquarium, food, extra shells and a lot of good advice. She has 8 of the little guys herself. So with the purchase of sand, we were in business to buy crabs.

So yesterday afternoon, we all (minus Dad and Grandma) trooped down to our local Petland and, after a detour to pet puppies, Morgan acquired a crab (and I had to get one, too, just so the poor little guy wouldn’t be alone. “Hermit” is a misnomer, don’t you know.)

Morgan with "Charlotte" and "Titan"

So now we’re a family of Grandma, Mom and Dad, two brothers, one sister, one dog, one cat, 8 fish and 2 Ecuadorian hermit crabs.

Taking care of animals seems like it might be an easy task, but taking care of them properly is quite another proposition. That’s why I’m so glad to have people to whom I can direct questions. My friend Tiffaney is my fish expert. She’s helped me many times as I tried to get our fish tank in order. Check the water chemistry. Don’t put too many fish in the tank. Don’t feed them too much. Don’t buy them from a big box store.

Now Robin is our hermit crab whisperer. She directed me to websites and is always willing to answer any question. Keep the humidity between 70 and 80%. Feed them people food from an approved list. They don’t like to be alone, so get them a companion.

People who know what they’re talking about are very helpful and should be listend to.

This is Berkeley (on the right) with his favorite neighborhood friend, Sebastian

We have friends who recently adopted a yellow lab puppy. I have gladly and willingly shared my experience with them as we have already navigated the waters of dog ownership–and big dog ownership at that. Use treats to teach. Let her know who’s in charge. Get her socialized as soon as you can. We’re anxiously awaiting the day Berkeley and Zoey get to meet.

That’s what Paul was telling Timothy in his second letter: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Learning ourselves, and then teaching others. That’s a beautiful thing.

And let's not forget Oreo in all this

And the fish

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankful today for:
45. chocolate and peanut butter

46. a soft kitty

47. new pets

Time in a Bottle

Feb21

There’s an old Jim Croce song that says “If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to do, is save everyday like a treasure and then, again, I would spend them with you.”

And then there’s the Steve Miller Band and their philosophical words: “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.”

Or what about Chicago? “Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?”

Those were just three songs that immediately came to mind when I thought about time. Showing my age a bit, aren’t I?

How many times do you hear people complain that they don’t have enough time to do the things they want to/need to/have to? Seems to me that God gave us 24 hours in a day for a reason. If He had wanted us to have more time, He’d have given it to us.

I’m thinking He gave us the perfect amount of time. A friend of mine reiterated that same thought a couple of weekends ago in a talk she gave to the group of moms from Trace Academy. Do we only have a certain amount of hours in our school day? That’s the perfect amount of time.

If we feel rushed, that’s not God’s fault. “I need more time!” falls on deaf ears. You have all the time you need–how you’re using it just may be the problem.

My dad died almost six years ago. My kids were 9, 7 and 3 at the time. He didn’t spend spend hardly any time with them at all. That wasn’t just a matter of distance, it was a matter of choice. My mom would say, “Your dad’s not into little kids. When they get older he’ll enjoy them more.”

Well, guess what? He didn’t live long enough to enjoy them, and he robbed my kids of their grandpa. (Do you think I still have issues to work through?) 🙂

Kids are only kids for a short time. People will only be with us a given number of days, and we aren’t told what that number is. I am guilty of putting my responsibilities before my relationships often. I don’t want to regret that later.

Reminds me of another song: Slow down, you’re moving too fast. You’ve got to make the morning last. Just kicking down the cobblestones. Looking around and feeling groovy!

I’m going to rethink how I use my time. Won’t you join me?

Thankful today for:

42. less coughing in the house

43. an anticipated horseback ride on the beach

44. phone calls from distant friends

Follow the Leader

Feb20

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG).

Some people think that once they have “asked Jesus into their heart,” that they’re done with their part of the bargain. They’re “saved” now and have that fire insurance. They think that’s all they needed to do.

Maybe that’s why so many people are turned off by Christianity: Christians don’t act much like Jesus.

Remember the childhood fame “Follow the Leader”? You had to do exactly what the leader was doing. Go where they went; hold your arms like they did; skip if they skipped. Do what they did. Act like they acted.

What a great idea. Let’s follow our Leader. I bet if we do, others will want to join us.

Today I’m thankful for:

39: a 3-day weekend

40: a son who likes to help cook

41: an approaching anniversary getaway with my love

Partnership with God

Feb19
I’m a tree hugger, I admit it. Born and raised in California, I saw recycling as a normal way of life and conservation as necessity.

I don’t like guns (and now I have a son wanting to go into the military, which I heartily support, and who is making guns a hobby, which I am forced to tolerate at this point.).

I hate sport hunting with a passion–but I’m not a vegetarian. I have a nice roast beef sandwich waiting for me in the fridge right now, in fact. Would it be bad to have it for breakfast?

I think animals should not be mistreated. But they are not human.

I like to visit zoos. I think they serve a rehabilitative and educational purpose.

I love animals, but I don’t rescue every stray I see.

I kill bugs in my house, but capture snakes that slither their way into my abode, and I set them free.

I hate to see land stripped for more subdivisions and shopping malls, but we buy cut Christmas trees.

My point is, I think, balance–hopefully not hypocrisy. When, in Genesis 1:28, God told us to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. He really gave us management over all that He had made. And, like managers in industry, we can either prosper or run what is our responsibility into the ground.

I’m not a fanatic, believing that animals are on equal ground with humans. But good management says that I should care about those in my charge.

I turn off the water when I brush my teeth. I walk or ride my bike if the distance and task and timeframe allow it. I keep my thermostat at 82 in the summer and 68 in the winter. Do I do all that I can? Probably not. Do I do some? Yes. Do I listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling me to do? Hopefully in increasing measure.

I’d love your feedback and thoughts on this subject.

Thankful today for:
36: the beauty of creation
37. a quiet Sunday morning
38. a 20-year birthday celebration for our church

The Golden Rule

Feb18

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3 NIV).

What would happen if everyone, and I mean everyone, followed the golden rule? Treat others the way you want to be treated. Can you imagine? It’s pretty unimaginable since we’re so used to not living that way.

The police and military would be unnecessary. I’m thinking there would be no national debt. Certainly no prisons or justice system. There would be no poor because everyone would give generously. Health would improve–both mental and physical. No greed, no crime, no selfishness.

Ahhhh, It would be heaven.

Oh yeah.

Heaven.

Thankful for:

33. nice weather for a family and friends bike ride

34. fresh made muffins

35. hot tubs