It’s Rachel’s Special Day. I have some sweet pictures of her day but most of this blog is going to be a Welcome To Matthias (the guinea pig) posting.
First some snapshots of Rachel’s day.
Practicing the Piano (lesson tomorrow)
Working on her handwriting
Trying out the timer on my camera
Ending the day with a game of Bang!
Now on to the Story of Matthias. I wrote most of this post back in September but forgot to post it (couldn’t get the pictures to load).
Rachel spent a good portion of the summer pleading for the purchase of another guinea pig. We put her off until our return from Texas in August. She agreed to the wait but kept up her pet campaign with subtle ploys. She left notes by the bed reading, “Think Guinea Pigs!” Every time we had a family meeting or discussion she would pipe up, immediately, “I think we should get another guinea pig. Let’s talk about guinea pigs.” And so on. It was relentless!!
A girl and her rodent are a beautiful thing to behold???
Finally Rachel came up with a location for the guinea pig cage that appealed to me–the upstairs bathroom (in the tub). It’s the kids’ bathroom and no one uses that shower/tub (they all prefer the master bathroom for bathing). The room is a small, contained area and a guinea pig would get lots of attention and notice from the children but cause me relatively little trouble. The cage mess (inevitable) wouldn’t be in my space and could be handled by the children.
A palace fit for a guinea pig!
Once a location was determined I caved to the Rachel/Guinea pig pressure. Now to raise some money. Tim told Rachel she had to come up with the money for food and bedding. My goodness, the work we got out of her for a good week. She cleaned floors, bathrooms, put away laundry/dishes/toys, you name it. We did have to watch her as every simple request was countered with, “Will you pay me?” I mean, I understand the desire to raise some money for a new pet but I don’t think I should have to pay my daughter to make her own pb and j sandwich. Ha!
So on a Tuesday night in September, Rachel had the younger kids working hard with her to clean out Martin’s guinea pig cage and get things ready for a new guinea pig.
Team work!
When everything was all in place and ready to go, Tim and all the children (except for Joshua who was out at the Duckabush) went to the pet store to pick out a guinea pig. Such excitement!
Guinea Pig travel bag.
Everyone agreed that we needed another name from the Redwall series. Martin was named after the book, Martin the Warrior. The kids liked Matthias or Mattimeo. A quick call was placed to Joshua (off with grandparents) who said we should go with Matthias–Matthias it is. We welcomed the new little guy to our house and the kids got him settled in his new home. Ah, the joys of parenthood.
The Lord has definitely given Rachel a love for animals. She has a sensitive, caring place in her heart for God’s small creatures. It stretches me and pleases me to see how she is gifted in ways that are different from me.
A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12: 10
Rachel and her little buddy.
Kathy
What’s Rachel playing on the piano? I hope her lesson went well!
Great photos and great story…..The verse in Proverbs you share is one of my favorites….
Hi, I’m delighted also with Rachel’s love of animals. I think it can be found in most children if allowed to flourish. I may be wrong it this theory. But I am so happy that R. is getting to try out her hand at pets.
When our son Travis, age 10, begged and begged for a dog- Jerry gave in and we got Sue-our wonderful black lab. We all loved her for 13 yrs. I am sure she changed my attitude on pets!
God created animals! I love you Edgrens. A.K.