The O'Brien Family Pets a.k.a. Weird, True, and Freaky

Somehow our family seems to get pets with the most interesting personalities.   For instance, a parakeet, who we called Napoleon, would follow the children outside to "play" with them.  If the children were in the back yard, Napoleon would be in the back yard tree.  If they went to the side yard, the bird would hang out on that side of the house.  When they would come in the house he would eventually fly back inside with them, back to his cage.  When dad would come home and start eating dinner, the bird would fly over to him and beg.  He would also partake of dad's beer right from his glass!  (don't worry, he never drank too much.

We also had a cat named Latte.  Latte was similar in the fact that he would follow the kids around outside when they were playing or working.  He came whenever we were all together in the livingroom, as if he was one of the family, and would watch TV with us. We had to get rid of him, a year or two ago, because he was getting to old to move around.

Presently, we have an inherited a cockatiel that used to be our Uncle Dave's. He was a mean little thing, at first, but has now learned to behave, though he enjoys a peck or two at your hand  at rare times. It doesn't really hurt. He seems to like girls more than boys and he craves attention from my Mom. One time, when Mom refused to let him climb up on her, apparently hurt by the rebuff, he turned his back on her whenever she passed! It's as if he was a person. He likes when we talk to him, but you'd never know when he will let you draw near him, or turn his back on you. Sometimes it appeared that he read the newspaper in the bottom of his cage, because he would peer at it for a very long while. It's a wonder that we always end up with the most strange animal friends. Maybe, we inherited this from my Grandpa O'Brien, who has a variety of wild squirrels, peacocks, turkeys, cats, dogs, and raccoons that comes to his back door and eats the corn he sets out for them.

post written by Amy

Perfect Imperfections

Mom, I am going to brush my teeth.

One of my greatest treasures is to have notes from my children when they are just learning how to read and write.  They write everything how it sounds and just how they hear them.  I have kept many "writings" from my younger children just because of their perfect imperfections.  Sam wrote this while I was busy talking the other night.  He knew it wasn't a good time for him to interrupt, but he wanted to communicate with me about what he was doing.

Today's Kid Logic Comment

Said Molly teary eyed after getting a bonk, "I bonked my head and I started to cry and now my eye is melting, see?!"

Graduation Day!

Steve and I took a short trip to San Diego to watch Seth graduate.  It's amazing when you see 470 young men all marching in uniform.  All of those young men have been, and are being prepared for war. They will be ready to fight and die for their country whether anyone is aware or appreciates it or not.  It reminds me
that Christ died for us, the ungrateful, indifferent, ungodly haters of Him. It also brings to mind that there are things to fight for, like sons, daughters, wives, husbands, neighbors.

We had a hard time finding Seth in the crowd of his platoon because everyone had the same uniforms and haircuts.  After all the marching was done and each platoon settled at attention, Seth ending up being right in front of us! My first thought was, "He's got a gut!"  One of the DI's was telling everyone that we will notice our children have slimmed down now that they are in shape - I should have known Seth would gain weight instead of lose it. I forgot how scrawny he was when he left.

Platoon 2115

Seth

Day one:  we spent the afternoon at the base with Seth and let him talk and talk some more.

Seth & Dad

Seth is excited to call home!

Day two: Graduation. The order of the procession was incredible!  The band played, many aspiring speeches were made by men who certainly know how to use words, and then...........dismissal!

Getting ready for the ceremony

On the parade deck!

Graduation of platoon 2115

We have been given so much! We have a rich godly heritage. We have God's word, the communion of the saints, forgiveness of sins, and family and neighbors to give to daily.

He Taught Us To Pray

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer has had me in amazement these days.  It is so complete!  Everything I need or want is included in this prayer. God cares for us so much that He gave us just the right words to say.  I also really enjoy reading Martin Luther's Large Catachism on the subject. 

"........God takes the initiative and puts into our mouths the very words we are to use. Thus we see how sincerely he is concerned over our needs, and we shall never doubt that our prayer pleases him and will assuredly be heard.  So this prayer is far superior to all others that we might ourselves devise.  For in the latter our conscience would always be in doubt, saying, "I have prayed, but who knows whether it pleased Him, or whether I have hit upon the right form and mode?"  Thus there is no nobler prayer to be found on earth, for it has the excellent testimony that God loves to hear it.  This we should not trade for all the riches in the world.

                        Dr. Martin Luther, The Large Catachism

2 Minute Phone Call

We got a call from Seth today - that was a surprise!  It was good to hear from him.  He was allowed two minutes to talk so we talked about travel plans to get home.  He only has about two weeks of boot camp left, then he will come home for 10 days before he leaves again for basic training.  He said he has learned a lot, feels like a "different" person as far a physical abilities go, and appreciated the letters he has received from people.  Thank you.

If you want to see Seth and his platoon go to http://devildogs.info/Echo%20Company.htm. He is in platoon 2115. As the video scrolls through everyone, you will see Seth at 1:01 on the counter, on the very left.

Today's Kid Logic Question

Steve, Peter, and I were stepping out of the house for a little bit.  This would leave Ben in charge for the time we would be gone.  I told the younger ones that Ben would be taking care of them while we are out.  On the way out the door Sam runs up to me and says, "Is that taking care of me if Ben told me to clean my room?"

Yes Sam, it is. : )