Time is running out. Baby Joey’s arrival is coming fast. Today adorable infant cloths were pulled out of the attic and are being washed, thanks to a special Grand-mom Zookeeper. Tiny little diapers have been purchased and stored, very similar to a squirrel gathering and accumulate nuts for the winter. Everyone is buzzing around with babies on the brain. Even little Monkey is constantly saying, “bay-bee. bay-bee.” The Zoo will be forever changed with its new addition. There is no way to prepare for the mental part of the unknown. I simply can not grasp how much louder the Zoo will get with the new attraction. Currently with only three animals, the Zoo is so loud that I find myself having to close my eyes and take a deep breath. Sometimes with a little prayer as well. The unknown is so exciting. I can not wait for Baby Joey to bless us with his or her presence.
First snow! January 19, 2009
I have only seen snow once in my life. At the top of a mountain in Palm Springs, CA. Down the mountain, the high for that day was probably in the high 90’s. Doesn’t count. When I arrived to Baltimore, the thing I had been looking forward to the most, was snow. Every time I walked past a window, I longingly look out for snow. Beaver and myself have prayed several prayers for snow. This morning during breakfast I repeatedly thought I spotted snow. I was brokenhearted to find out it was just my wild imagination. After we cleaned up breakfast and Beaver started school, the younger ones and myself went to the living room and I realized my prayers had finally been answered. It was snowing! At first, just in flurries but then, actual snow. I became absorbed in watching the snow fall all around. I could not hold in my excitement. As soon as Beaver got a break from school, we all bundled up and went out to play.
Monkeys like snow too!
The layer that had fallen so far was not very thick but that did not stop us from making and throwing snow balls.
"I'm going to make a real big snow ball!"
Beaver’s favorite thing to do with the snow was eat it. I still don’t understand why he thinks it tastes so good. I tried some myself and wasn’t impressed.
Elephant stomping in the snow.
During our highly enjoyed time in the snow, the silly sun decided it wanted to come out and play as well. The snowfall let up and the fallen snow started to melt. I was pretty bummed and we ventured back inside. I didn’t realize how long we were actually out there and we ended up eating snack late. None or them showed any symptoms of starvation. No crabby, whiney, or grouchy animals. Another positive for it to snow. As if it needed one!
After being inside for awhile, the sun went back to where it should be on a snow day and it started snowing again. This time, the flakes were bigger and more solid. I find that I am constantly being judged at the Zoo for my snazziness and didn’t want them to think I was anymore weird than they already do. I needed an excuse to go back out in the snow. It was almost lunch time and could not ‘watch the boys outside’, I needed to think fast.. Then I remembered that Mrs. Zookeeper thought it would be neat if we looked at the snowflakes under a magnifying glass and put some special cloths in the freezer. I went outside with a black velvet cloth, that was in the freezer, to collect some snowflakes to look at under a magnifying glass. By the time I got them inside to examine and show beaver, the flakes were already melting. So I wrapped the cloth around a ice pack and placed that on a metal cooking sheet. This worked a lot better. The flakes were big enough to see. It was very interesting.
Look at all the beautiful snow.
After lunch beaver and I went out for round two. This time in the backyard. We had so much fun throwing snowballs at each other. Both of us were too excited that we were unable to focus long enough to make a snowman.
"I'm going to get you!"
Beaver spent most of his time in the treehouse. I believe it was a great investment. It is even getting use in the snow. Twice while we were out playing, the sun tried to show up again. Beaver and I told it to go away and to our surprise it complied.
Snow still tastes good!
We ended up playing outside for more than a hour. We had gone back inside long enough to defrost ourselves when the snow stopped falling. The clouds parted and neighbors were out shoveling their driveways and walkways. I offered my services to the Zoo. Mostly another excuse to get to go out again and play in the snow. Beaver offered to help me. We bundled back up and got down to business. I have never shoveled snow before, obviously. It was not as bad as I thought it would be. After we finished the dirty work, Elephant came out and joined us in round 3 of snowball fights. We made our first snow angels. The only problem with wiggling around on top of the snow, was that the snow ended up in places where I would not care for it to. It was a ‘melting’ experience.
Overall, my first experience was a memorable one. I am already longingly looking out the window, praying for snow.
Whoda thunk it? January 5, 2009
At feeding time last night, Mr. Zookeeper was asking the Zoo different questions about things they are learning. Mr. Z and I were discussing, Symposium, by Plato, being that we are currently reading it. I, for the first time and him, the thousandth time. In the mist of our discussion I mistakenly called Plato, Pluto. Of course immediate action took place and I was corrected, maybe even frowned upon a little. Even though I don’t make big deals about his faults, like his dancing (somethings just can’t be fixed). I struggle at times to pause and edit my thoughts before the words pour out of my mouth. As a result, a lot of the time my wording and/or enunciation, (proclamation, demonstration, transportation, Californication) is incorrect. Sometimes I am in the middle of my thought and am unable to come up with the word I wanted, so I choose to use a word that kind of sounds the same or make one up. Most of the time this is just so I don’t forget what my overall thought is. Maybe even for a little laugh. All the same, this is becoming a bit of an issue. I think this may be a result of the amount of sleep I get. (I don’t think the Zoo is a big fan of sleep). Or Perhaps, this is because I attended public schools, in which the teachers did not help me reach my true potential. Making a big mistake, such as calling a Greek philosopher, a Disney character, is something that is inexcusable. I will continue to work on my choice of words and broaden my vocabulary. My apologies to Mr. Zookeeper and to Plato.
Where did that come from? January 3, 2009
I am constantly surrounded by the animals. They are everywhere. Even when I leave the Zoo, I can’t really escape. Just this last Sunday at church, I was grabbing something out of my purse and I discovered a nice red Duplo block. And it hits me, this hippos life has changed drastically in the last month. I have gone from being a single lady, doing as I please, when I pleased, to caring for a whole zoo! Mr. and Mrs. Zookeeper and the boys; busy beaver- 6 years, cuddlesome elephant- 3 years, and mischievous monkey- 20 months. My aunt, Mrs. Zookeeper, is 30 weeks along with the newest attraction to this wild zoo, the Joey. A couple of weeks ago, we found out that there were some slight complications with the baby and my family, the Zoo needed some help. I decided to pack up my little life in California and move cross country to Maryland to assist them with a little help. Is that service or what??? Needless to say, the Duplo block actually came in handy a little later at the grocery store. It kept squirmy Monkey occupied for at least 5 aisles, not at all as long as I had hoped. Oh well, I’ll be better prepared next time. [I may need a bigger purse!]
Just show me where… January 2, 2009
God has granted me this amazing opportunity to continue to grow and expand my faith. My life had always been exactly that, my life. A little more than two years ago God intervened. I lost so mush of my independence and was able to become dependent upon Him. I decided that this life is worth living for Him alone. When He calls, no matter how much I wish to stay in my “comfortable lake”, I go. Before I would have never thought of even moving to the other side of the state, let alone the other side of the country! Look at me now. I am immensely blessed to be here, no matter how intense it is. The Lord is not only present in the Zoo, this is His Zoo.
I’ve got to write that one down
It is completely fascinating to observe how the Zookeepers parent. The animals are not close to being tame yet but I can see them growing. I see Mr. and Mrs. Zookeeper making choices to better their animals futures. They are constantly looking for the bigger picture. They try to teach as many things possible with just one lesson. Instead of acting on impulse and possibly reacting to a situation irrationally, they brainstorm what tools they can give their animals. They think about how they can help mold and shape them into animals that live and serve the Lord.
I’m not saying that the Zookeepers are perfect, but their hearts are in the right place. I am defiantly learning a lot about raising a family for Christ. For being human, they are doing pretty darn good.
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