October 1, 2008
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The Dog Ate My Homework
Yes, it’s happened. Lucy ate Gockle’s homework while we were out. She was on the porch, whining, so Hunter let her in. She was unsupervised for about 20 minutes until the rest of us got home, and she decided that it would be fun to chew on the leaves Gockle had drying between encyclopedias. Yes, this is the leaf collection we’ve been working on for THREE weeks. Yeah. That homework. It is difficult to past back together a puppy-chewed, dried leaf.
While I was cleaning up the big puddle of urine on the upstairs carpet she found time to make while not chewing leaves, I thought, “Am I content?” You see, I’m doing this Sunday school on contentment, so I’m asking myself the question more often.
I had to say, “No, I’m not terribly content at this moment with the kitten stomping through the puddle of pee I’m trying to clean, Gockle ready to hang the dog by her ‘I’ve used these to dig holes in your wooden porch, lots and lots of holes’ claws, and Little Miss howling about how it is unfair that she has to go to bed at 9:00.” So, I think I need the Sunday school lessons more than the class.
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethern, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgement.” James 3:1What lessons are you learning these days?
P.S. Just discovered that the kitten ate my mom’s Mimosa plant. Chewed it off to a one-inch stub. Yeah.
Comments (19)
Dogs don’t really eat homework, silly.
I’m sure you really wish that was true.
My last excuse for not turning in homework was that it wouldn’t print (it really wouldn’t!).
What a day! I’m just trying to re-learn how to stay warm in a cool house so I don’t have to turn on the heat yet!
lessons? Same ones as always NEVER RUN OUT OF COFFEE OR WINE! NEVER!
Love the verse there at the end. Totaly convicting!
I am laughing at your initiation into pet mom land, not to be unkind, but just because I have been there so many times and it is like that cancer survivor laugh, like find it funny or shoot yourself! Isn’t that what so much of marriage and parenting is?
The Bible is a living book, isn’t it? As I teach it seems like I’m often getting the opportunity to really experience some of the lessons especially personally. And I’m always realizing how far I fall short.
We have 8 cats. I decorate my house with empty planters, lol. God bless you, Mary. This situation really will get better.
I am learning patience for sure.
SO often I find that the lesson I teach is the one that I need myself. (What a coincidence–NOT!)
I must admit, I’m not sure that I’d be feeling too content if I were you!! Sorry that the new pets aren’t as fun as they could be!
So when’s NaNoWriMo start?
Boy it’s hard to teach those lessons when you don’t quite ‘feel’ the message…
I am very grateful for all I have, and I think gratitude even in the midst of difficult, trying, and hard times can make contentment an easier attitude, but, to me, trust in God in all circumstances can bring peace. My life isn’t perfect, I have issues and issues with people, and I do find that at times, I’m far from content. Remembering God sees the big picture and the finished product and in the midst of all circumstances, He’s at work making me more like Him.
Even so, I would struggle with contentment while cleaning the pet urine too. We live to serve-even our pets don’t we? *Gosh…it’s humbling at times…
oops! I forgot, you asked what am I learning??? If you read the above comment about my ‘issues with others”, I am learning patience while God grows some people in my life and
IT’S KILLING ME!!!!!
AARGH! It’s a tearing-the-hair-out kind of day!
Ugh! Considering that you got these pets not for your own wishes, but because your kids longed for them, this has got to be a huge struggle in graciousness!
There’s a product called Nature’s Miracle…gets rid of blood, urine, and all sorts of other smelly things out of your carpet. My dog bled all over the ground floor of our house and you’d never know. I bought a gallon while I was housebreaking a dog I was fostering last year, and didn’t use it all. I’ve seen it at a big chain petstore, but i have to buy it online because we have no such stores in the boonies.
It really does help if you limit where the puppy will be allowed until she is potty trained….I know…easier said than done, but it does save on the clean-up areas…. We were able to not go and purchase a baby gate for our house, but the thought crossed my mind when we were house training the second puppy. Needless to say, he just went to live outside before he completely ‘got it’.
Are you sure the kitty chewed the plant and not the dog? Our dogs like to eat my rose bushes…..you think all the thorns would deter them!!
Don’t you hate it when you are doing a Bible study and it seems like your life gives you every opportunity to try and exemplify what you are learning…..
I feel your pain. I’ve been there. Too often.
Sorry the pet thing isn’t working out so well at the moment. I had really hoped it would work out better! I know our dog made great progress from when we first got her (accidents in the house, chewing things), but now I can’t remember the last time she had an accident and we’ve learned what situations she chews things and avoid the situation all together. She quite well-behaved these days. Hopefully Lucy will come around!
Hey, TeacherPerson! I’ve been dealing with a new kitten too!
I went without nuts this time! (on my carmel apple! and it was really yummy!)
Ewww, pee on the carpet. I can deal with people pee, we’ve had our share, but pet pee? yuk. Our cats have occasionally offended in this manner, but thankfully it was on hard flooring. We do not have wall to wall carpets. Hard floors are so much easier to clean. I have thought those carpet squares look intelligent. Pull out the offending one and throw it away, but at, what, nine dollars per 20″ square? It’s not going to happen much.
Am I content? I try to be, but I have a lot of things I am working on in me and the environment.