Our New Additions

For several months, Carly has been saving her money to purchase parakeets. However, like many kids, the money tends to burn a hole in her pocket and she ends up spending it faster than she can save it. So as a surprise, we gave her a new birdcage and 2 parakeets for her birthday present.

The bird on the left she named Taz, because he's really wild! Anytime you put your hand in the cage, he goes nuts!

The bird on the right is ALWAYS singing, so Carly named her Zoe, as in Zoe Girl - one of her favorite singing groups.

Taz and Zoe in their new home

Just a few days after Carly's birthday, Wade had to go to Manila for a few days to meet with the ONG team as they came into the country. He was able to assist Dar in some of the training that first week. We will also be traveling (as a family) to Bacolod next month to participate in more training with the group.

(For security reasons, I can't tell you a lot about ONG at this point. Basically they are in the Philippines for several weeks to receive training in several areas before going to another part of Asia for a year. Please keep this group in your prayers.)

We were all excited when Dad came home - but even more excited to see what he brought us from Manila!!

However, we did have a little "surprise" for Dad when he got home. I won't go into all the details, but while he was away we "acquired" a new little calico kitten.

(You've heard the saying "Better to ask forgiveness than permission?" Well......Wade's not exactly a "cat person" but he's been a really good sport about the whole thing!)

This is Cali (short for calico) our newest addition. She is very sweet and really tame, which is unusual for kittens around here.

Cali is a little unusual in that she prefers Cody's dog food over her cat food. She also growls (a first for me) and "wags" her tail!! Maybe she thinks she's a dog?

Cali spent her first few days with us up on the roof of our generator shed. Needless to say, Cody wasn't too thrilled with her presence! Hopefully that will improve and they will learn to get along.

Can we say torture?? First 2 new birds and now a kitten?? Poor Cody!

Update: In case you're wondering....Cody and Cali have learned to get along quite well. In fact, they even chase each other around the yard just for fun!

But the sad news is that Taz and Zoe aren't with us anymore. One afternoon Carly and Caleb decided to take them outside and play "pet shop." Somehow, in the process, the cage was knocked over by either Cody or Cali and the birds flew away. Needless to say, the kids were pretty devastated. A hard lesson. We've told Carly that she can save up and buy more birds if she wants and the good news is that she already has a cage!