THE GIFT OF CONTENTMENT

Being thankful for what I have instead of striving for what I don't have.

Symphony of Contentment

To live content with small means;

To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion;

To be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich;

To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly

To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart;

To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, gro up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

-  William Henry Channing
Chaplain during the Civil War

WHAT PRAYER DOES

Washes away faults

Repels temptations

Extinguishes persecutions

Consoles the fainthearted

Cheers the low-spirited

Escorts travelers

Nourishes the poor

Governs the rich

Raises up the fallen

Arrests the falling

Confirms the standing

-TERTULLIAN

First-century lawyer and teacher

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

To those of you who guessed on my blog and those who guessed in your heads; you are all wrong!!!!  HA!HA!HA!

The beautiful little creature that Evan has wanted almost his whole entire life is a Chinchila!

He still hasn't named her - for the past couple weeks Victor and Patsy have been calling her "Little Girl".  That may stick.  Evan is at a loss for words.

Evan has been instructed on how to take care of her and how to keep her habitat clean.  They are funny little creatures.  They are very tiny and extremely active.  Their fur is very soft and delicate. 

I explained to Evan that Chinchila's take dirt baths; they are not to get wet; you feed them hay and seeds - not after mid night; and they are supposed to be handled every day and given lots of love and attention.  He asked me what would happen if she got wet or ate after midnight.  I explained that terrible things happen.  Little pustuals will form on her back and little baby man eating chinchila's pop out of them and ravage cities leaving only hair and bones in their wake.... :)

He was stunned!

So far she has only left trails of her own waste while running around in her exercise ball.  The remedy - a Kirby.

All the kids are taken with her and think she is absolutely adorable.

Depending on how Evan does with his new friend; we may get a second Chinchila.  Chinchila's are social creatures.  This Chinchila loves cats and would hop on and play with "Sparky" the cat at Patsy's house.  "Sparky" loved the Chichila as well.  He would be found inside the cage with the Chinchila or outside the cage resting his two front paws inside...  very funny actually.

So, we will send pictures once we can get some good ones without her moving around... she is fast!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

We have been ready for Christmas for nearly a week.  The gifts have been wrapped and placed around the tree - taunting my children since last Saturday.

There are two more gifts that need to be placed by the tree.  One is an item that needs to be wrapped.

The other can not be wrapped - It will remain at a friends house until tomorrow evening.  This is a special gift.  This is a gift that my son has been requesting since he was five years old. 

It is a cute, fuzzy creature.  She loves people and hops around when excited and happy.  She loves sun flower seeds and dirt baths.  This particular creature is a black.

Can you guess what it is?