Zoo Life

Lions and tigers . . . . and a flamingo, oh my!

Yesterday was quite an adventure - a safari of sorts if you will. Two school buses boarded dozens of little bodies. Teachers counted, parents waved their good-byes and we headed out of the parking lot. Makayla's kindergarten class was headed for the zoo. Makayla's kindergarten class was the zoo.

We arrived just before eleven, sporting sack lunches and an appetite for wildlife. After chocking down peanut butter and jelly, and using the bathroom one more time, we entered the park in single file. Parent chaperons were assigned a group, maps given and we were off!

The kids were really excited going from one animal to the next. There was hardly a pause between each exhibit, as their attention spans mirrored that of the pincher bug I stepped on. Their movements were quick, voices were jovial. I wondered how much the animals were admiring the kids.

We saw many familiar species, and some animals I have never seen before. We spied the tortoise eating grass with electric speed and two foxes who were napping in the sun. We saw shiny black seals and a family of giraffes. There were anteaters and parrots, tigers and bears. Wildlife surrounded us on all sides, making it seem like we were stepping into their world instead of the animals finding a place in ours.

My favorite were the flamingos. Graceful and still, taking in sips of water. Perched on one leg while the other was tucked underneath, these birds were fun to watch. A pink bird - God has such a wild imagination.

As we headed back to the bus, I tucked my camera away cherishing the shots I got of my baby girl. What a wonderful memory we will always share.

Prairie dogs and zebra might seem run of the mill to some. But like the flamingo, a day at the zoo with a Kindergarten class is anything but ordinary.

A Good Read

I turned the last page yesterday, hoping to lull myself to sleep. It was almost midnight, and my body seemed just as jumpy and the pages set before me. The story came to a mind altering crescendo. I was spinning as I turned off the light.

A dear friend of mine invited me to read this Pulitzer prize winner with her. How could I resist? Neither one of us had read this classic, and with our eyes set on becoming writers, reading always seems like good schooling.

I was never much of a reader growing up - labeled a "reading comprehension problem." All through school anytime I was instructed to read, my brain would clam up and my stomach would tighten. Oh sure, I could read okay, but ask me about what I read and I wouldn't have a clue.

I really believe that God has healed me from such discouragement. Nowadays, I can actually pick up a book and genuinely follow along. I know who the author is referring to, and I am able to follow the pronouns and nick names. This has not always been the case.

Reading has become a favorite for me, discovering how amazingly God can heal through the story of another person - real or fiction. I will often times find myself in the shoes of the protagonist, working my way out of this corner or that. I am taken to other lands, and even to other time periods, all while reclining next to my dog Ginger.

If you are like me, and have managed to grow up without reading this story, I encourage you to pick it up. Every book has the potential to stir something new on the inside of you. This book is filled with likable characters and the wonder of adolescence.

If you decide to tag along, you'll be amazed at what's found through the eyes of a young girl some folks like to call Scout.