Birds of a Feather

It's six o'clock, an alarm breaks the morning silence, light displaces the dark, silence gives way the radio, coffee maker, dog barks and cat meows. The Adventure Begins. 
It began this summer when Rachel's great niece came to live with us. She brought a trunk full of energy and an endless amount of conversation, which begins when she wakes up and ends sometime after she falls asleep. She talks to me, she talks to Rachel, the dog, the cats, the birds and when we've all run for cover, she talks to herself. I read somewhere that a female speaks about thirty thousand words a day, Aaliyah passes that mark around noon and then really hits her stride. One thing that has worked in our favor is that she's started writing. YEA!

We were talking about poetry one day and I asked her if she'd ever written a poem.....her hand hasn't stop moving. She's writing stories and poems and words with accompanying artwork. She writes on note pads, writing tablets, 3x5's, scraps of paper, and of coarse she has to make posters. Aaliyah's becoming so prolific that I built her a little desk.  Let's not forget to mention how appreciative of this wonderful respite which is allowing our weary ears time to rest and heal.

I was thinking the other day about the joy, frustration, energy, challenge, noise, upheaval, and blessing that's come with having a small child in the home.
I've had to dust off my parenting skills and sharpen a few of them because Princes A. is constantly testing the limits and we've had to gently keep her in check. I know it hasn't been easy for her having to leave her family, home, school, friends, pets.....It's been a big adjustment for her and us and most of the time we all do pretty good.

I noticed Aaliyah cleaning up around her desk today and thought about how much of a mess my desk is in. It seems no matter how much I try, and I do try, to organise this stuff it always looks the same. I'm convinced there is a conspiracy taking place. I'll have to keep an eye peeled for the culprits.

All this got me to thinking this:
We are Birds of a Feather.

Aaliyah: Shoes all over the place.

Jim:  Glasses and coffee cups all over the place. I can't find my shoes.

Aaliyah: Papers, charts, pictures scattered about.

Jim: "Have you seen that book I was readin', it was on my desk?"

Aaliyah: Clean desk.

Jim: I want a clean desk.

Aaliyah: Could eat pan-cakes seven days a week.

Jim: Call me Uncle Jamima.

Aaliyah: Likes to talk.

Jim: I recording all conversations. (Evidence)

Aaliyah: Young but thinks she old.

Jim: I am old. I look like my grand-dad.

Aaliyah: Knows everything.

Jim: I've forgotten what I don't know.

Aaliyah: Skips, jumps up and down, & spins.

Jim: When I get down (back in the day, that really meant something) I can't get back up.

 Aaliyah: Has a loose tooth.

Jim: I just paid twelve hundred dollars for a new tooth.

Aaliyah: Has a new crown. (She's a Princess)

Jim: I need another crown unfortunately I don't have another $1200.

Well, that's it for this bird. P.A is in bed now but of coarse she had a few questions that needed answers before she could finally settle down, and I think she's still listening, hoping to hear something interesting.  Our day ended on a good note, our cat Caillou made his way back home. He was AWOL for 2 days and so there were smiles all around and Aaliyah is taking credit for his return. She told me that she prayed for his safe return last night and she wore her cross all day.
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)