How to get rid of mice

We dashed out of the house this morning as we always do and made it to the car @ 7:28 AM which is just the right time to beat the 8:00AM traffic and get to school just before they open the doors. Rose and I returned with anticipation of a play date with cousin Julia. We came in the house and set our things down and the first thing I see is a tiny mouse trapped under the leg of one of our rocking chairs. And then Julia arrived and I ushered them to the den and told them to play, play, play with a fake smile on my face. I am not equipped to deal with mice, living, dead or squirming under the leg of a rocking chair. I frantically paged Super Daddy, twice and called his office desk, twice, while standing on the nearest chair to guard the squirming creature. The girls chattered and giggled out in the den, completely unaware of my pathetic situation. I thank God that Chloe and Ethan were not home because Ethan would have grabbed the creature's tail and tossed it into his plastic habitat and claimed it as his pet. And Chloe would have tried to pet it and name it. Super Daddy called and laughed and agreed to come home and rescue me. So I stood on the chair staring at the clock and watching the creature squirm and almost set itself free! After about 10 minutes of being completely pathetic, I started to go about my business, making coffee and sweeping the kitchen and peeking on the creature every once in awhile. But my bold movements were providing the needed adrenaline that the creature needed to free itself. So I returned to my post and sure enough Super Daddy arrived and had so much fun with my pathetic situation.
He put rubber gloves on and grabbed the tail and whisked it outside, across the street where I have to wonder about its disposition while I rest assured that it is out of my house. I give SD a big hug and a fresh pot of mocha for his drive back to work. Somehow, my pathetic situation has made his day. So, I go to the computer and google mice and I see two categories of hits: How to Get Rid of Mice and Mice as Pets. You can see by the title of my blog which way I am going with this. If anyone has any ideas, please comment! Otherwise, I will have the pricey professionals come in and do their business.

The most wonderful boy

I had a sad mommy morning. Last week was a blur of activities, what with soccer, and brownies, etc. On Thursday afternoon, I checked Ethan's folder, scanned his homework assignment and announced that he did not have homework. The next day, my husband picked him up from school and Ethan told him that he had a bad day. Apparently, the entire class had a "dog show." They were allowed to bring in their favorite stuffed animal dog, name it and make a tag for it. Ethan did not have a dog for the show. Rather, he had a note stapled to his folder that said "homework not completed on 10/4." I did not discover the note until I dropped him off this morning because when his dad picked him up at school on Friday, he forgot his bookbag at the school (I have to find some way to blame my dear husband). In addition to not being able to have a dog in the show, it appears that Ethan was put in "stop and think" one too many times for the day and he ended up with a "yellow" day. And now I think back to friday and I wonder what he thought of his mommy when everyone else had their FAVORITE stuffed dog at school and got to parade it and all he got was a note from the teacher that he DID NOT DO HIS HOMEWORK! I don't know what I read that blurry Thursday afternoon on his homework assignment! All I know is I left him at school this morning, walked with Rose to the car and cried! I was flooded with guilt and wondering if his teacher was compassionate. Did she lecture him? My poor baby! Exhale...I suppose he will survive this. I just hope his teacher knows that he is the most wonderful boy in the whole wide world! I am being silly, but if I feel this way about such a little event in the life of my son, what must the Blessed Mother have felt on that Friday when she watched her Son on the cross. And how she must weep when people do not love her Son the way that she does. Funny how this little moment gives such insight. Ethan and I will survive this little bump and we will both forget about it next time he pinches his sister or throws the soccer ball in the house! In addition to being the most wonderful boy in the world, he can be quite the boy...you mom's know what I mean!

Therese of Lisieux

Today is the feast day of our little Rose's patron Saint, Therese of Lisieux. I have always had a fondness for this young Doctor of the Church. She encouraged the path to Sainthood through what she called her little way. It was her vision that she could become closer to God by doing little things that went unnoticed to all but God. This idea resonates with something else I have come across and I cannot remember the exact source, but the sentiment is that we should do all, say all, and write all with the intention of pleasing an audience of One. That One would be God. These are such simple truths. In my googling of Therese today, I came upon the brief life stories of her parents. They are being considered for Sainthood. It was Therese herself who said that she was blessed with parents that were made for heaven more than they were for earth. So, on her feast day, what better way to honor Therese than to learn about her mother and father.

Here is a lovely prayer in their honor:


God Our Father, we praise You for Louis and Zélie Martin, a truly faithful husband and wife, who lived their Christian life in an exemplary way through their duties in life and practice of Gospel teaching. In bringing up a large family, in spite of trials, bereavements and suffering, they showed immense trust in You and obedience to Your will.

Lord deign to manifest Your will in their regard and grant me the favours I implore while praying that the father and mother of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus be presented as models of family life today.

Amen.



Learn More:
http://www.sttherese.com/Louis%20and%20Zelie.html