Helping Grandma

Last week my parents left town to go and visit my sister in Ozark, Missouri. Grandma asked us to go down a few times while they were gone to check the mail. Well, we ended up also helping them out by watering their lawn a few times while they were gone. Since they don't have a sprinkling system, it takes hours and hours to water it.

While I was adjusting the sprinkler in the backyard I saw a birds nest that must have just fallen out of the large tree in the backyard. I quickly went into the house and told the boys to come out and see what I had just found. Peter was thrilled. We took it back into the house and found this little birdie that Grandma keeps in her houseplant. The size of the nest ended up perfect for this little bird. Peter was so excited about it. 

Since Grandma doesn't have a TV, we have to come up with creative things to do while we are visiting. Peter decided to color super hero's for himself, and Luke. Then, they took these pictures and were playing a game with them. I was thrilled with their ability to entertain themselves, since that doesn't happen as much as I would like it too.

Luke was very excited when Peter drew him a picture of The Hulk. We still have that green guy hanging around here at the house.

They also asked me to draw a picture. For some reason, whenever I start to draw something, I always resort to drawing a house with large trees, or a park (swing set included) with large trees and a bright yellow sun. I wonder if subconciously I am returning to my happy childhood memories of safety and fun times.

Just as we were getting in the car to leave I noticed a cat sitting underneath the clunker car my Dad keeps around because he wants to fix it. Nearby was a bird that it had caught. The poor bird was still alive and the last thing I wanted that cat to have was the satisfaction of eating that poor bird. Can you tell I despise cats? So I hollered for the boys to get out of the car and come keep the cat away so I could get a shovel out of the garage to move the bird to safety. Sadly, while I was getting a shovel the small bird gave one last all-or-nothing effort and died. Peter watched the entire thing and he was quite sad about it.

So, we held our first little birdie funeral. I must admit I got tears in my eyes when I thought of the tiny bird soaring in the heavens above - perhaps even flying nearby my brother. Peter was also pretty sad about it. But we created a lovely place under the lilacs for it, and even put some current berries there so the bird could look down from heaven and remember what a lovely thing berries are. Spending time in the "country" really does teach you life lessons that you wouldn't figure out any other way. My boys are anxious to return and tell Grandma all about the small burial place. I wonder if this will be one of those rare experiences that Peter will remember of his childhood.