Children and Pets

More often than not this is the best combination ever--a child and a pet. Often there's a special bond of love and understanding, and often children are taught very good qualities of character via the care of a pet. They can and most likely will also have one of their first encounters with grief when a beloved one of God's creatures who has shared their life and home departs. It might even be a fish or a little hamster. Whatever its nature, the shared love and/or responsibilities of its care are worthwhile in any child's development. So if you can, and there are no health issues or other legitimate hindrances, I would highly recommend you enrich your child's life this way.

We have a new board at Pinterest, and it's called "Children and Pets" and there you'll find other pictures like this one. To qualify for this board, there has to be a pet and a child together, and oh, some hint of the love factor. The pin this photo is from is here, and the board is to the right of that. Enjoy.

Happy Labor Day

(Image from Snoopy on Facebook)

Hope you have a great Labor Day! Thankful for all the hard workers who helped make our country prosperous.

The Defiance of the Dragonfly

 

O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions--Psalm 104:24

The above creature is a dragonfly. If you were to study the intricate and sophisticated system that is built into its design, you would agree with the video I saw a few years ago. This creature, and many others, defy evolution. The earth is full of them. The earthworm, the elephant, the beaver, the giraffe, the woodpecker, the hippo, the lowly sparrow, and on and on--they are all incredible. Their structures are just remarkable. And how could they live for one minute without all of the components being fully functional at the same time? How did these intricate designs come to be? By chance? Random process? Naah!!! You have to come up with something better than that! I choose to believe the only logical explanation. 

Back in 2007 I posted about this at my devotional blog. At that time, my oldest  granddaughter was learning the first question to the children's catechism. Who made you? it asks. I'm very thankful that she learned the only rational answer: God. What else could it be? Next she learned the second question: What else did God make? And the answer to that one is also the only reasonable one: God made all things. May she embrace this fully in her life is my prayer. 

 So, folks, I present to you the dragonfly. I suggest you and your kids read up on him and the way he is designed. He defies evolution. 

[Now I can't remember the name of that video and who made it, but if I find out I'll include it here as a postscript. For now, I did look up and find this series of videos here but I don't know much about them.]

Apparently we watched the same series, but it was Number III rather than the above link. I would imagine they're all good. The link to Number III is here then.

Bye Now May

Source: Uploaded by user via Snoopy on Pinterest

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal-an Addendum

After my post earlier today, I ran across this picture at Pinterest (my favorite place) and feel compelled to add the pin to this blog in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, as well as in honor of spring. After pinning it onto our Creator God board, it seems others like it too, since at present it's being repinned by quite a few folks. That's because these two are so precious. Enjoy them.

Source: enchantedcookie.tumblr.com via Speakable Gifts on Pinterest

Lessons from Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal

Below is a female Northern Cardinal and I got this photo from Wikipedia.

The author’s name is Geoff Clarke.

 We’re all familiar with the brilliant red color of the male and see many pictures of him, but not so often of the female. But I think she has a beauty and loveliness of her own, though I'd say hers is a more subtle beauty. 

Most of my family and friends know how much I enjoy feeding the birds and not just feeding them, but observing them. It all started with a pair of cardinals who decided to build a nest in the bush right outside my kitchen window, giving me a “ringside seat” of the whole process. I learned a lot about birds from them, as their nest was a successful one and I got to watch the mama roosting on the eggs and all the comings and goings of both parents. And best of all, I got to watch and hear the parents calling and urging their two young ones out of the nest at the right time (now how do they know when that is?) and watch them “leading” them, walking backwards and flapping their wings, across the yard to safety in some branches in the yard in back. It was quite an amazing spectacle to to say the least.


I just wanted to take this time to say a few things about some behavior patterns that impress me about this father and mother. I like how with cardinals they both sing. A beautiful song. But I like it that he sings loudly from high in the trees, and she sings a softer lovely song from the nest. I like it that while she’s contentedly resting on her nest, he brings her food and places it in her mouth. I like it that when the eggs hatch, both parents bring food to their hungry offspring, but that she tends to stay awhile and clean things out a bit. And she keeps cover over them still, after hatching, in bad weather and during the night.  I like it that when the little fledglings come out and begin life in the world, that both parents  call them out and both parents lead them where they want them to go. When I observed it myself, I liked how they flapped and flapped their wings at the little guys, not just telling them what they needed to do by the calling and chattering, but showing them how to do it. Then, it was the dad who really caught my attention and made me become a fan of this bird. Once the “children” are out of the nest, it’s their father who so zealously and tirelessly goes about the feeding and teaching and protecting of his offspring. Usually, you see them with him, and as they grow older, they follow him about from place to place until he no longer takes heed to their noisy pleas for food.  And from what I read, their mama is usually somewhere starting a new nest while their father teaches them the ways of the world. Until fall comes, that is, and then you may see the mom join in more with getting everyone ready for the winter.


Can you see any lessons to be drawn from the way God made this one creature in His universe? I think there are some nice ones to be drawn from this beautiful and familiar bird. Maybe nice applications for children in a science lesson or during family time. Oh, and one other thing I learned about Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. They mate for life. Need I say more about that?

Maxine a/k/a Nanna

Happy April First

Source: Uploaded by user via Snoopy on Pinterest

"I Will Love You Forever"

This pin we made recently is being repinned like mad and can't you understand why? Last I heard, the Golden Retriever was the most popular breed in our country and it must still be true because the only pin we've made which beats this one insofar as repins is one from a couple of weeks ago of a bunch of gorgeous Golden Retriever older pups being let out of the back of a SUV with the caption "Who Let the Dogs Out?" 

Lets see if there's ever a pin that gets a higher repin count than these two (that is, for SG). And whether it's something that's not one of our beloved best friends. Do you have a pet? Whether it's a dog or something else, I hope your youngsters get many good lessons in love and compassion that can be had in pet ownership. If so, that critter will indeed love you for as long as it has an existence on this earth. And even the sadness and grief of seeing them go is a needful growing experience for your children. 

Smart Dog

Smartest dog in the universe.

Forward March

(From Snoopy Facebook)

Be Right Out!

Happy February

Bulldog Pups

A notice in a weekly newspaper advertised Bulldog puppies:

"Cute. Already housebroken," the advertisement promised. "Eat almost any food you put in front of them. Love children." 

Isn't that funny? Do you get why it's funny?

On the Ball

It's been reported that this fella has just signed with the Harlem Globetrotters. Just kidding! You must admit, he's awfully cute.

Polar Bear Attack!

Having Fun!

We all know that we should never leave a small child alone with the family dog, no matter how wonderful our pet may be. But when properly supervised, the relationship between these "siblings" can be rewarding for both. What fun these two are having! Your kids of all ages will enjoy this one and you will too.

Look at me!

Look what I can do, Mom!

Aww...Don't Be Shy!

Unusual Playmates

Unusual playmates at a zoo! Wonder how these chicks got in there!?

"I Wuv You"