Sugar

We buried Sugar today ....


I am a Junior at McMurry University, engaged to this wonderful guy. Unknown to me he has been planning this great gift 3 months before. His family has found a litter of kittens in the wood pile. They manage to catch one, the runt, a little black and white female. Over the course of the next months, the "Roddy kids" proceed to tame this wild cat. When they are not playing or feeding the thing it lives in a cage outside. An especially heavy rain comes through,
the mom thinks she hears a faint meowing and remembers that the cat is still outside in the cage. They all run outside to rescue the cat to discover she is not only very wet but almost drowned as the cage is right under the eave of the house where a waterfall is washing over her. Thankfully she has 8 more lives to spare.

This wonderful guy and I are married and the wild cat, Sugar, is our first born companion. We are always amused at her antics: playing fetch with the shower loofah, dropping q-tips in the toilet to watch them sink, reaching under closed doors with her furry declawed paws (she hates to be left out), sleeping on the highest peak of the bed (usually Jason's hip). A funny thing about Sugar, even though Jason is the one who feeds her, lets her out at night, changes her litter box...I am the one she loves. If given a choice, she will sit in my lap everytime. I am the one she will come to when she is prowling outside. I need only say her name in a whisper "Shuga-Shuga" and she comes running. She speaks when spoken to and rubs against the nearest door post or furniture leg to show her contentment.

More pets and children are added to the family. Sugar manages to stake her claim on the family. She molds herself to fit in. The dog just needs an occasional swipe across the nose to keep her at bay. The kids just need an occasional warning bite on the hand when they are being too rough or scratching too low below the collar. Let's not forget the time that after many spurned attempts at waking me in the middle of the night to go outside, she simply took care of her business ON ME. Boy that got my attention at 3am! She only did it once but I learned my lesson.

She was a great cat as far as cats go. Even Luke liked her and he's never met a cat he likes. I loved that cat.

....and as I am crying in the car on the way home after only finding out the news, Emma begins to cry as well. "Emma, what's wrong baby?" "I miss my bunny!" Wow, how long has she been trying to processs that? We take the next few minutes to talk about mortality and eternity and the God who loves us and is waiting for us and can't wait to see us. But all in His time. And who knows, maybe my heaven and Emma's heaven will include Sugar and Little Bill. Not for the sake of the animals but for ours.

Let's play

Tatum goes in waves. Sometimes he can't get enough of you. Sometimes he only comes out to eat. Today, he wants to play. "Mom, play trains with me. Mom, let's puzzle. Mom, picture me"(take my picture). So I run to his side and we've been training, puzzling, picturing ever since. "Mom, what are you saying?" So I read him his story. He says "The End" so that's what I type.

Praise God

A quick shower prompts praises from the mouths of babes. I say outloud "Oh thankyou God for the rain" which inspires Emma (my worship and prayer leader) to shout "Thanyou God for the rain" with her arms lifted high. The others see her and join in with "Praise God for the rain". Even little Tennison joins though he thinks it's more fun to mimic his siblings. Later as the rain slacks off, I explain that God is the one who controls the rains so again Emma shouts, "God make it rain". Almost immediately another wave of showers comes down to booster her faith in the Almighty (as well as mine). Her eyes get wide along with her mouth. Such a tangible showing of God's power and love for us.

dryer lint

Seriously, when I say that Tennison is into everything, I mean it. This took him 1.6 seconds to accomplish then he proceeded to smash the door on his fingers (which he has done before might I add) The boy is BUSY! He can open the pantry door and help himself to the marshmallows, climb the bathroom cabinet to turn on the water, and open the drawers to brush his teeth with whatever toothbrush is closest. We call him the terrorist and Tatum calls him the destroyer of the world. He is like the little baby on the incredibles, faster than lightning and almost as destructive. He does it all with a smile on his face.

fancy girls

One of the greatest things about Emma, though there are more than I can count, is that she loves to be fancy. Whether it's wearing jewelry, hairbows, princess dresses, etc, if it sparkles she loves it. A girl after my own heart. Today it is sparkly nail polish. The best part for her was that she was the painter today. To look at my nails others would think that I painted them blindfolded. She also has my opinion, that if a little is good, a lot is better. Hence the 4 coats of paint.

pretend land

When our friends Tyler and Tucker come to play, the game is on. All the kids play so well that I can get all kinds of things done around the house. My kids don't want me! If they happen to be watching a movie at the same time, they can be seen taking short movie breaks dressed in full gear. Otherwise, they are off on some adventure or taking on some alter ego.

cookie thief

Tennison has learned how to open the pantry door and now is able to help himself to anything within reach of his little chubby hands. You notice he didn't choose the whole grain fig newtons or canned peaches. It's all junk for him.