Today is Taylor’s turn to write the notes. He is working on a college assignment so I am coming in clutch for him tonight and will write them. “Coming in clutch” is something the kids are saying these days so I thought I would try to use it in my everyday vernacular. LOL! I am writing this while the water heater is heating my shower water. Until tonight I have been taking my showers with cold water. I decided to treat myself to warm water tonight. You might be wondering why I have been taking cold showers? Well…we were warned that if you tried to take a shower while the water heater is turned on you might get a little zap from the electricity. I don’t know about you but getting a little shock while in the shower sounds like a death trap to me. I have just been forgoing the warm water. The cold water is quite invigorating! I know where there are 2 other perfectly wonderful bathrooms. But if I used those to bathe then what would I have to complain about? LOL
This morning we picked up Timothy and drove out to the village of Nadundo for morning services; Taylor preached and did a wonderful job. The preacher and his wife had a baby about a month ago and we were having a naming ceremony for them following services. The baby was adorable and the mother and father were young and this was their first child. I was hoping they would ask us to give the baby a name. On the way, I was trying to get everyone to brainstorm for a name. I began naming off all the names I really liked and thought would be good. I really like Christian but decided I would name him Samuel. Much to my surprise the parents had already picked out a name for the baby. How dare they name their own child! He looked like a Samuel to me. Maybe better luck next time 😊. Goosie had brought a baby bag full of clothes etc. They passed the same collection bag around as they had for the offering. It began to fill up. Everyone was putting in their bills and coins. By the end, it looked very full. Goosie leaned over to me and said the reason it looked so full was because some give bars of soap or baby powder. It was so heartwarming to see the kindness that was shown to parents from their brothers and sisters in Christ that have so little.
After the ceremony, off to the house we went. Goosie prepared us some amazing chicken pot pie and fresh sauerkraut. After we ate, we all went to lay down; including Skeeter. There is just something about being in Ghana that zaps you. I used to say it was the heat but I cannot even say that this time. It has been warm but very pleasant. After taking a short nap I got up and got into action. I had an idea.
Our sweet Skeeter! Two years ago, my husband and middle son came to Ghana and met Skeeter. When they came both had mouth size bruises on them. Multiple of them. I felt deep in my soul that I could come home with zero nips. I started by asking Goosie what his favorite toys and food was. She said he really likes to look at himself in a mirror. I got onto Amazon and purchased unbreakable children’s mirrors. She said his favorite color was yellow. I purchased him a yellow stuffy. She said he liked raisins and dried cranberries and informed me his dried fruit needed to be sulfur free. I made sure to read the ingredient list and purchased him dried blueberries, cranberries, and raisins.
I thought I was prepared for a nip free trip. How long do we think that lasted? LOL
Skeeter has decided that he likes us all. It took a little long for Taylor. He has a full beard and I am wondering if he thinks he is my Uncle Paul. Skeeter did not care for Paul very much. He was on high alert the first few days. Goosie thought if she held on to him, I could slowly approach and sit down about 4 or 5 feet away from them. We must remember that he is extremely protective of her. So, I sat and once she let him go, he came over and bit the plug out of my arm. It happened so fast I cannot really tell you how it happened. It is as if he bites you and retreats and you are left putting the puzzle pieces together as to what just happened. I have a large bruise and I am assuming he pinched and bit me. But there were no teeth marks. Only a slow-motion camera could tell me what really happened.
About 3 days ago he got me pretty good while I was standing in mom and dad’s bedroom doorway. He was on his leach and it was just long enough to get to my feet and dress. My dress had 2 tassels hanging on it and he was messing with them. I heard a crunch and he had bitten off the decorative bead on the tassel. There were 2 of them so I gave him the second one to bite off because there is no need to have just one. As soon as I gave it to him, he bit it off. I pulled up the tassels and that was the wrong move. He perceived I had stolen them from him. He got me really good on my wrist. Like the first one, I really cannot tell you what he did except this time I did have 2 rows of teeth marks. It was nothing Neosporin and a band-aid could not fix.
He got himself put into time out. That was a sight to behold. Goosie was fussing at him about biting. I mean just a fussing! There were sounds of a struggle and then she came out of the room. Skeeter had been put in the cat carrier to think about his actions. Blah!! Ha!! He was only in there for a few minutes. Mom had closed the door and we heard all this racket coming from the room. Then mom would pop her head back in there and he would be in a different spot than where she left him. He would be crying and she would be sternly asking him if he was sorry. Then she would tell him she didn’t think he was actually sorry and she would come back later. Then 30 seconds later she stuck her head back in and asked him again if he was sorry. That time I guess she heard enough sorry cries that she took him out of the carrier. In the US, usually time-out is calculated by taking their age and adding one. How does one calculate monkey timeout?? It is by how much sorry crying you hear! It was so funny!
Today I decided to try something different. This afternoon I went in armed! I put on my sweatshirt I brought to wear on the plane. I sat down on mom’s bed just out of his reach. He let me put lotion on his hands and face. I had a toy he kept attacking and playing with. Mom made a bad move. She tossed over something to put on his lips. It fell and when I picked it up, he got me on the back of my arm. My sweatshirt came in handy. Only a little bruise this time 😊 He is cheeky but he really does like me and the boys. Parker was so proud because he allowed him to pet him through the cage. He climbs up on Parker and jumps off. He has allowed both the boys to feed him his bottle. The thing is that he will never like us as much as mom. It is like we have entered into an abusive relationship and we like it!
We drove back down the same road tonight for services at Jagrido. Of course, Goosie and Taylor and Parker sat on the bench in the bed of the truck. They love this!! Parker and Taylor stand up and holler hello and wave at everyone they see. Everyone in town seems to love to see 2 white people waving and shouting like they are in a parade. What a show!
Parker presented his lesson and did a grand job. Afterwards, he opened it up for questions. Parker answered the first question, then someone asked about having church on Saturdays. They had been hearing on the radio about some church that has them Saturday and not Sunday. Dad helped Parker and answered the question very thoroughly. Let me tell you, when Dad answers a question, you better believe there will be no stone unturned! He makes sure it is thorough and includes scriptures. There is none of this, I think or I heard. Tonight, he even got a piece of paper and drew a visual for them 😊
We had caramel popcorn and leftovers tonight. It was mighty fine. I then trimmed Taylor and Parker’s bangs. Goosie tried her best to get Parker to allow me to cut off more of his bangs. She begged but he would not go along with the plan. I cut Goosie’s hair and while cleaning up our mess the night watchman came to the door because he had somehow hurt his eye. They gave him eye drops and told him since he recently had cataract surgery he needs to go tomorrow to the eye clinic to have it examined.
I will close for now. I am sure my water is hot and my bed is calling my name.
Goodnight,
Steve
Kandie
Charity
Taylor
Skeeter the Time-out king!
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