We are on our way to the TPA conference in Wichita, Kansas. The boys loaded most of the trailer last night, and then this morning they packed our personal luggage and other miscellaneous things. A special treat this trip is the addition of Nathan and Melanie. They normally aren’t able to come, but since we’re so close to home, they were able to join us. Grandad and Grandma graciously offered to watch Honey, our golden retriever. Oh yes, for those who may still be thinking about little Chester, Grandad’s going to keep sunflower seeds in her food bowl on the tree.
Â
Grandad and Grandma joined us for the special prayer time as everyone stood in a circle while Grandad prayed. We’re looking forward to the conference this weekend, and our prayer is that the Lord Jesus Christ would be glorified in all that is spoken and received.
The house work is continuing to come along. Joseph has been diligently working on the plumbing, with Jesse as his helper. I took some pictures of them this afternoon.
There is definitely work for the “clean up” team.
Joseph was finished with his project in the ceiling, so he now was handing down his equipment to Jesse.
We’ve also begun preparing for the Kansas state conference next weekend in Wichita (TPA). Above, Anna’s helping out with putting covers in the albums.
For those who have followed little Chester, she’s still doing well–and very playful! This afternoon, John saw her venturing off, so I guess she’s becoming adventuresome.
Both of the new books, Spring with the Moodys, and Just Around the Corner,Volume 2 are printed and here! We receive regular e-mails from families asking when the next Moody book will be out, so I know quite a few children are anxiously awaiting this Moody installment. We also have been asked when the next volume of Just Around the Corner (this one includes four more years’ worth of the Corners) would be available. We finally had time to compile it! 🙂
This morning, several of the children brought our little anxious-to-be-released squirrel back to a tree behind our new house. Chester promptly scaled the tree and clung to it. At lunch, she was still up in the top of the tree.
Later in the afternoon, I went outside to take some pictures of our guys plumbing, and I decided to check on Chester. Dad told me where she had been, so I scanned the tree for her. Finally, I found her, and began talking to her. After about 5 or 10 minutes, she eventually came down the tree! I was delighted. I put her back in the cage, as I thought we might keep her in there a little while to help her adjust to a squirrel’s life in a tree. But, she was quite unhappy back in her cage.
She drank for a LONG time from her water bottle. Then John let her out of the cage, and she happily ate some cashews nuts. After a little while, Chester went back up the tree. She came down again—with some coaxing from Anna and me—and scrambled around on Anna. Yes, I’d say our squirrel is enjoying her freedom!
Christopher and I walk together on most Wednesdays. This past Wednesday, we had walked a quarter of a mile or so, when we saw a little figure charging us from someone’s lawn. Suddenly, we realized a small “teenager-sized†squirrel was bearing down to intercept us. Never having had this happen before we quickened our pace to “out run†the little guy who was moving surprisingly fast.
What would possess a little fellow like this to try and catch two grown men? What would posses two grown men to make them feel they needed to “out run†a small harmless squirrel? Surely something so cute and sweet looking couldn’t have rabies. Could it? Why would it chase us? Not wanting to find out we quickened our pace.
Here we were walking as fast as I could up the sidewalk and this adorable little guy was now on the sidewalk running as fast as he could after us and gaining on us. It was a most amusing sight, and Christopher and I had the appropriate response. We both were laughing as we were striding along. Christopher was casting backwards glances and giving me reports every 5 seconds or so. “He’s gaining on us.†“He’s getting closer.†“He’s just behind your feet.†“Careful don’t step on him.â€
Finally we had to stop so we wouldn’t step on him, and he promptly ran up Christopher’s leg and perched on his shoulder. Then like a cat seeking attention, he scrambled back and forth from one side to the other. Christopher felt at any minute one of his ears was going to be breakfast for this cute little guy who by now had worked up a pretty big appetite.
Being a little frustrated because our walk was now in question, we tried to figure out what to do with him. The squirrel let me grab him and set him over in the grass, and we made a break for it. Not to be out run and frankly not wanting to resort to running, we set out at a fast pace again. We were aware of the cars passing by on their way to work and could imagine those people telling their coworkers: “You should have seen what I saw on the way to work. There was this cute little squirrel chasing these two guys who were almost running down the street.†So there we went again, laughing as we tried to put some distance between us.
Our plan didn’t work. This time when he caught us, he climbed up me. With a fresh idea, I took him and put him in a nearby tree. Again we hurried off. Yes, he soon caught us once more and we had to stop so as not to step on him. We tried this several more times unsuccessfully until we were at the place where we normally crossed the street. Compassion ruled because we were concerned he would be hit by a car if he followed us across the street.
So we decided we would try taking him back to where we found him. Putting him on my shoulder, off we went. Would you think he would stay there? No of course not, as squirrels are not known for their intelligence. To try and bring to a close what has now become a long story, we phoned Joseph and Jesse who came and retrieved the squirrel so we could continue on our walk.
Now we have her home and in a cage. Obviously someone had found this squirrel as a baby and raised her with a great deal of human socialization. Perhaps they had put her out to become wild again, but she was still wanting people companionship and feeding. We will begin attempting to re-acclimate her to living in a tree this week after fattening her up a bit. The last squirrel we had raised and were able to successfully re-introduce to “tree-life.†I had thought one squirrel was enough, but it looks like we have one more for a short time. Having this squirrel “charge†her way into our life is especially funny considering Jesse and Joseph said earlier in the week how they missed the first squirrel and would love to have another one.
Steve
The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.
Volume 2
