Thursday, June 15, 2017

June 15 – “The Visitors”

We had a visitor yesterday afternoon.  We went to WalMart to pick up a replacement belt for the church vacuum cleaner.  When we arrived back at the house, Chris said, “What’s that on our porch?”  Not the kind of thing you want to hear … reeks too much of “potential project.”  This one was different, though.  Seems some friends of ours from Arlington had stopped by.  They have a house here in Galveston, too.  They left us some Dallas Cowboys paraphernalia (Mike works at the stadium), so we just might have to figure out a way to be a bit more Cowboys-ish next football season.  Also, their grandkids have outgrown all the usual implements necessary for effectively accommodating youngsters, so they blessed us with one of those car booster seats that has a back to it.  That will come in pretty handy, too.  We have already run into situations where Josiah hasn’t been able to ride with us because of our lack of a proper seat for him.  And we have three more coming up after him.  At least I think it’s three.  I lose count …

We had a visitor last night.  Around 7:30 or so we were watching the Astros baseball game (well, I was watching it.  Chris was reading a Harry Potter book for about the twelfth time).  I casually glanced out the back window as I am wont to do, hoping to catch a glimpse of some unusual bird.  As the trees and bushes and plants grow more and more, we are seeing more and more of the fine flying friends stopping off.  And catch a glimpse indeed I did.  This creature was not of a feathery persuasion, however.  Outside on the lattice surrounding our chimney was the unmistakable swishing tail of … a rat.  Not a small field mouse, mind you.  Oh, no.  This fellow had been eating just fine, no doubt dining on the influx of cockroaches we have been seeing this summer.  This fellow was almost the size of Freddy.  Well, not quite that big, but big enough that when I went outside to investigate up close and personal, Chris wouldn’t let Freddy outside just in case.  What’s that?  Well, of course I did.  I even offered to try to grab him by the tail at one point.  He couldn’t see me coming, but Chris was watching the action … from the safety of the house behind our nice, double-paned windows and firmly closed back door.  I never did get to go for the grab, though.  He got spooked and took off up the lattice and onto the roof. 

I guess now we know what the footsteps we have been hearing on the roof come from.  We thought they were cats or squirrels or opossums.  The rat was Chris’ worst nightmare.  She was ready to close off the dog door.  She did lock up the dog’s food for the night so the critter wouldn’t sneak in through the dog door for a midnight snack.  I jokingly suggested setting some rat traps on the roof.  She was all for it.  She even pondered getting a cat.  Personally, I think as long as he stays outside and eats roaches, we should leave him alone.  Stay tuned …

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”


Father, thank you for those weird critters that serve a purpose in your grand scheme of things.  Thank you for good friends, too.  Bless Mike and Celia for their generosity.  Amen.

No comments: