Guppies, Guppies, Guppies

We have new pets.  After the loss of my beloved Lucy cat, in January, we decided that we would get new pets.  Noah is a fish fanatic. He loves every type of sea creature. Part of that is genetic and the other part is his room is an underwater theme, that I picked when he was a baby.  So, what better pets to get than something that lives in water, honestly I would rather have a tank of seahorses, which I plan on having some day or starfish or some really cool underwater creatures.  Unfortunately, that is not an option right now for many reasons, so we got some fish.  I didn’t want to do the whole aquarium thing because fish, the type I would buy, aka cheap ones, wouldn’t live long enough.  It is big and bulky and just a hassle. I had a fish named Jenny when I was little named after my first best friend and she lived in a fish bowl.   

So, Noah and I went to go pick out some fish. Thank goodness there was a man to help us and give us some advice.  Basically, since I just wanted to get a bowl or tank the fish choices were very limited. We got two kinds of guppies, which happen to be male and female. I guess the guy and  I both forgot to think of that before it was too late.   I guess Noah could open a guppy stand in our yard selling them for 50 cents apiece, if there are a lot of babies.  I have learned that guppies get pregnant vs laying eggs.  Noah was over the moon excited when we got the fish. He told everyone we saw about the fish. I thought he was going to burst.  It was so cute too see him that excited.  He named them, Fish, Fishy Friend, Fishy and Noah. We didn’t assign them a name that’s just their collective names. We have been spending our days watching them swim and making sure I remember to feed them.  I hate cleaning their tank though. Guppies are dirty little fish.

While I was cleaning their tank one night, I didn’t count the fish before I started.  I took out the plant I put in for decoration and went on my way to get the fish out.  I caught three of them and noticed one was missing. I looked all over the floor and counter and couldn’t find it.  I finally found the fish dead stuck in the plant. I am assuming the fish was already dead when I took the plant out because I always swished the plant and it would have swum or jumped out.  I asked Noah how many fish he saw swimming right before and he said three.  I tried to revive the fish but it was gone. I sent it to fish heaven.  I am thinking it was complications during pregnancy because I am pretty sure that fish was pregnant because it was getting really dark in areas.  Of course I didn’t mention that to Noah, it was hard enough for him. 

Noah asked me later about the fish we lost; I said it is in fish heaven with Lucy. He said cats aren’t in fish heaven.  I said oh silly mommy.  He asked me if God is in fish heaven too. I said yes.  Noah said so fish heaven is God’s Aquarium.  I think that is a beautiful thought.

God Bumps vs Goose Bumps

I am sure everyone has had goose bumps.  It is a normal thing that happens to you when you are cold or someone sneaks up on you. I am not sure exactly what causes goose bumps. It is just a weird reaction your body gives to cold and your hair stands up and your skin is covered in tiny bumps. I don’t like the feeling of goose bumps usually because that means I am really cold, which I don’t like what so ever or someone or something scared me, and I am a baby when it comes to getting scared.  The only time I like when my skin is bumpy and my hair stands up on end is when I have what I call God Bumps.   The name came from my ex’s aunt and I totally made it my own. 

What are God Bumps you are wondering? It is one of the most amazing feelings ever! It is when the Holy Spirit has filled you and you can feel God’s presence.  You are in awe and at the same time so calm and at peace with everything that your body just gives you that same goose bump feeling.  It is weird that something that you get from being cold and scared can also happen when you are so happy and in awe.   I think that when I feel God’s presence my heart is about to burst from God’s Love.  I have had God Bumps many times, usually when I am praying or talking to God.  Talking to God and praying is something I do often.   Other times I have been talking to others or just thinking about something and bam I just get a wave of the Holy Spirit and God Bumps.  I believe that you can definitely feel the Holy Spirit come in your body. It is really one of the best feelings, if you are stressed, worried, scared, in pain or whatever is on your mind just melts away in your mind and you are at ease.  It can be referred as being drunk in the Holy Spirit because you just feel that same way. You just feel happy and giddy and you aren’t feeling this way because you are consuming alcohol, you are consuming The Holy Spirit and God’s Love.

Have you ever had God Bumps?

Parenting is a Lifelong Commitment

I read something about a letter from your parents. It basically said you are still my baby and how much I worry about you and please tell me you are fine.  As a mom I totally understand that, especially when I still call Noah my baby, he says I am your big boy. He is right but I remind him he will always be my baby.  I think you should let your parents know how you are, it is important.  I also think that parents should help their children, even when they are adults.  No one is perfect and sometimes people need help from their mom or dad. I don’t understand the mentality some parents have where they can’t wait until their kids move out, turn 18 or they get as far as possible from their child.  I personally think the moment you become a parent, you are a parent for forever. Your job is not over when your child is not 18 or 21 or moves out.  You cannot retire from parenthood.   You are still required to provide emotional support for your children, be their crutch, be their rock, be the one that they can run to when they need help.

We grow up relying on our parents. That is something we figure out the day we are born. We know that these giant people are our parents and their job is to take care of us and comfort us.  It’s not a learned behavior. I don’t see why that should change when you are an adult.  You are not blessed with all the wisdom and knowledge on your eighteenth birthday, although some people think so. Life is just a series of choices and events and sometimes things don’t work out like we planned.   I believe in someone being able to make mistakes and learn from them, but sometimes you need help.  It might be financially, relationship wise or anything really.  You just can’t turn your back on your child and let them fend for themselves.  You can’t offer them suggestions like telling them they need to do something ridiculous. 

When Noah grows up, I want to make sure he knows he can always come to me for help and emotional support or anything he needs.  I will make sure he knows every day how much I love him, how special he is and how proud I am of him. After all that is what we do for our kids.  I don’t think that just because someday Noah will be an adult that I will turn in my mom card and be done.  Being a parent is truly a lifelong commitment.